Firearm barrel pre-loading devices, connection assemblies, and firearms

Abstract

A firearm barrel preloading device can preload threaded connections. The preloading device can include an outwardly facing barrel-contact surface, an outwardly facing receiver-contact surface, non-planar surfaces between the barrel-contact surface and the receiver-contact surface. The non-planar surfaces can include mated pairs of axisymmetric surfaces that cooperate to spread apart the barrel-contact surface and the receiver-contact surface when the preloading device is moved toward an expanded configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm barrel preloading device, comprising:
 a barrel interface element; and   a collar movable from an open configuration toward a dosed configuration while an end portion of a barrel extends through the collar, wherein the collar slidably contacts the barrel interface element such that the barrel interface element gradually applies increasing pressure to the barrel when the collar is moved toward the dosed configuration, thereby preloading a threaded connection between the barrel and a receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm barrel preloading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver interface, wherein the collar wedges apart the receiver interface and the barrel interface element when the collar is moved toward the dosed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm barrel preloading device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of non-planar surfaces that slidably contact one another such that the barrel interface element moves away from the receiver as the collar moves toward the dosed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm barrel preloading device of  claim 1 , wherein the collar has a partially conical or toroidal portion that slidably contacts the barrel interface element, 
     
     
         5 . A connection assembly installable on a firearm and movable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration to tension at least a portion of the barrel while a barrel is threadably coupled to a receiver, the connection assembly comprising:
 a receiver engaging element configured to contact the receiver;   a barrel engaging element configured to contact the barrel; and   a split collar with a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface, the first sloped surface slidably contacts a first axisymmetric surface of the receiver engaging element, and the second sloped surface slidably contacts a second axisymmetric surface of the barrel engaging element.   
     
     
         6 . The connection assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the split collar collapses to push apart the receiver engaging element and the barrel engaging element without causing corresponding collapse of at least one of the receiver engaging element and the barrel engaging element. 
     
     
         7 . A firearm comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel; and   a connection assembly movable from an unexpanded configuration for threadably coupling the barrel to the receiver to an expanded configuration to tension at least a portion of the barrel while the barrel is threadably coupled to the receiver.   
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the connection assembly includes a split collar with a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface;
 a receiver engaging element configured to contact the receiver, the receiver engaging element includes a first axisymmetric surface that slidably contacts the first sloped surface; and   a barrel engaging element configured to contact the barrel, the barrel engaging element includes a second axisymmetric surface that slidably contacts the second sloped surface.   
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the split collar includes a threaded member that is rotatable to move the first and second slope surfaces inwardly to drive apart the first and second axisymmetric surfaces, thereby preloading a threaded connection between the barrel and the receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the split collar includes a threaded member operable to drive the first and second slope surfaces radially inwardly 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver engaging element is a recoil lug or a thrust washer. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the barrel engaging element is a barrel nut or a thrust washer. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the connection assembly includes a first interface element;
 a second interface element; and   a split collar with a wedged-shaped annular body positionable between the first and second interface elements, and wedge-shaped annular body spreads apart the first and second interface elements when the split collar is collapsed.   
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the connection assembly includes a split collar with a sloped surface configured to bear against a sloped surface of the barrel. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the connection assembly includes a split collar with a lug positioned to bear against a stock of the firearm. 
     
     
         16 . A method for installing a barrel of a firearm, comprising:
 threadably coupling a barrel to a receiver; and   moving a barrel preloading device from an installation configuration toward a preloading configuration to gradually apply pressure to a portion of the barrel to preload a threaded connection between the barrel and the receiver.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising rotating a threaded fastener to collapse a split ring that causes preloading of the threaded connection. 
     
     
         18 . A method for tensioning at least a portion of barrel, comprising:
 threadably coupling a barrel nut to a barrel;   threadably coupling the barrel to a firearm receiver; and   adjusting the configuration of a tension control element to alter engagement between the tension control element and the barrel nut to adjust tensioning of a portion of the barrel between the barrel nut and the receiver.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tension control element includes a split collar. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tension control element includes a force distributor positioned to bear against a receiver of the firearm and/or a stock of the firearm. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the force distributor is a recoil lug that is part of a body of the tension control element. 
     
     
         22 . A method for tensioning at least a portion of barrel, the method comprising:
 threadably coupling a barrel to a firearm receiver; and   adjusting the configuration of a tension control element to alter engagement between the tension control element and the barrel to adjust tensioning of a portion of the barrel.