Weapons system modification for improved piston system

Abstract

This invention is directed to a rifle barrel sleeve system for a piston operated weapon system comprising: a rear sleeve surrounding a rear portion of the rifle barrel; a front sleeve surrounding a front portion of the rifle barrel; a gas elbow support surrounding the rifle barrel disposed between the rear sleeve and the front sleeve having a gas chamber allowing gas to escape from a barrel gas port into the gas elbow; and, a void defined between the rear sleeve, front sleeve, gas elbow, barrel having filler material, a cylinder attached to a chamber bushing, sizing member and piston and rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weapon system including a barrel, a gas escape opening defined in the barrel, a receiver and a gas tube opening defined in the receiver comprising:
 a front sleeve surrounding a front portion of the rifle barrel;   a rear sleeve surrounding a rear portion of the rifle barrel;   a gas elbow support surrounding the rifle barrel disposed between the front sleeve and the rear sleeve wherein the gas elbow redirects gas escaping from the gas escape opening;   a cylinder attached to the rear sleeve;   a gas tube connected between the gas elbow and the cylinder directing gas from the gas elbow to the cylinder;   a piston slidably received in the cylinder so that when gas from the gas tube is directed into the cylinder, the piston moves toward the receiver; and,   a rod slidably received in the cylinder and the gas opening in the receiver so that when the piston moves toward the receiver, the rod extends into the receiver and contacts a contact member of a bolt causing the bolt to cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  including:
 a void defined between the front sleeve, gas elbow, rear sleeve and the outer surface of the barrel; and, 
 a filler material disposed in the void. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the filler material includes material taken from the group consisting of: hydraulic cement, at least 50% by weight of calcium sulfate, 48% of less by weight of portland cement, epoxy, resin, graphite and metal particles. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  including an adjustment screw in the gas elbow to adjust the amount of gas received in the gas tube from the gas elbow thereby varying the force placed on the piston by the directed gas. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  including a sizing member received in the cylinder that receives the gas tube to reduce the amount of gas escaping from around the gas tube. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  including a chamber bushing carried by the barrel and attached to the rear sleeve and cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  including a cylinder exhaust port allowing gas directed into the cylinder to exit the cylinder once the piston travels a predetermined distance to prevent overpressure in the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . A weapon system having an action, chamber area, a barrel, a gas escape opening defined in the barrel, a receiver, a gas tube opening defined in the receiver and a gas elbow for directing gas from the gas escape opening into a gas tube attached to the gas elbow comprising:
 a rear sleeve surrounding the barrel and disposed at the chamber area;   a cylinder attached to the rear sleeve and in fluid communications with the gas tube;   a rod received through the cylinder extending into the gas tube opening of the receiver so that when gas is directed into the cylinder from the gas tube, the rod extends through the cylinder into the receiver and contacts a bolt causing the bolt to cycle while preventing gas from entering the action.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  including:
 a void defined between the barrel and the rear sleeve; and, 
 filler material disposed in the void. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  including a cylinder exhaust port allowing gas directed into the cylinder to exit the cylinder once the rod travels a predetermined distance to prevent overpressure in the cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  including a sizing member disposed between the gas tube and the rod reducing the amount of gas that can escape from around the gas tube. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  including a piston disposed between the gas tube and the rod so that when gas enters the cylinder, the piston is forced toward the receiver, contacts the rod and forces the rod into the receiver to cycle the bolt. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  including an adjustment screw in the gas elbow to adjust the amount of gas received in the gas tube from the gas elbow thereby varying the force placed on the piston by the directed gas. 
     
     
         14 . A weapon system having a barrel, a gas escape opening defined in the barrel, a receiver, a gas tube opening defined in the receiver and a gas elbow for directing gas from the gas escape opening into a gas tube attached to the gas elbow comprising:
 a rear sleeve surrounding a rear portion of the barrel;   a cylinder carried by the rear sleeve having a cylinder opening aligned with the gash tube opening of the receiver;   a rod slidably received in the cylinder that extends outward from the cylinder and into the gas tube opening of the receiver; and,   a gas tube in fluid contact with the cylinder to direct gas from the gas elbow into the cylinder so that the rod is forced in to the received to contact a contact member of a bolt to cycle the bolt when the weapon system is fired.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein 25% or less of the rod is exposed outside the cylinder or receiver to reduce the rod flexing during operation. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  including a piston disposed in the cylinder between the gas tube and the rod. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the piston floats in the cylinder between the rod and the gas tube. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  including a sizing member received by the cylinder to reduce the escape of gas from around the gas tube. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  including:
 a rear void defined between the barrel and the rear sleeve; and, 
 filler material disposed in the rear void. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  including:
 a front sleeve surrounding a front portion of the barrel; 
 a front void defined by the front sleeve and the front potion of the barrel; and, 
 flow channels included in the gas elbow allowing the rear void to be in fluid communications with the front void.