Apparatus and methods for a dual dwell weight for direct gas operated firearms

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a dual dwell weight for optimizing the operation of a direct gas operated firearm. The dual dwell weight comprises a forward weight and an aft weight with a centrally disposed spring. The weights slide within an undercut portion of a cylindrical interior of a bolt carrier of the firearm. The forward weight is a rear dwell enhancer while the aft weight is an unlock dwell enhancer and an anti-bounce weight. A longitudinal pin maintains alignment between the forward weight and the aft weight. A transverse pin maintains clocking of the first weight and the aft weight. The interior includes a keyway that enables installing the weights into the bolt carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bolt carrier for a direct gas operated firearm, comprising:
 a cylindrical member having a cylindrical interior;   a bolt disposed at a distal end of the cylindrical member; and   a dual biased dwell weight incorporated into a proximal end of the cylindrical interior.   
     
     
         2 . The bolt carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the dual dwell weight comprises a forward weight and an aft weight with a centrally disposed spring. 
     
     
         3 . The bolt carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the forward weight and the aft weight are configured to slide within the cylindrical interior of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The bolt carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the mass of the forward weight and the aft weight provides additional inertia to the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The bolt carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the forward weight is configured to be a rear dwell enhancer while the aft weight is configured to serve as an unlock dwell enhancer and an anti-bounce weight. 
     
     
         6 . The bolt carrier of  claim 3 , wherein stop wings are incorporated into the top and bottom of the forward weight and the aft weight. 
     
     
         7 . The bolt carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the stop wings are configured to slide within an undercut portion of the interior of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The bolt carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the stop weights are configured to allow the first weight and the aft weight to move forward and rearward within the interior of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The bolt carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the interior includes a keyway that enables installing the forward weight and the aft weight into the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The bolt carrier of  claim 9 , wherein the forward weight and the aft weight can be installed into the bolt carrier by inserting the stop wings through the keyway and then rotating the forward weight and the aft weight such that the stop wings move into the undercut portion. 
     
     
         11 . The bolt carrier of  claim 10 , wherein a shaped recess is configured to facilitate rotating the forward weight and the aft weight within the interior. 
     
     
         12 . The bolt carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the spring is disposed within a central hole of the forward weight and a central hole of the aft weight. 
     
     
         13 . The bolt carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the spring biases the forward weight and the aft weight to opposite ends of the undercut portion, giving rise to a distance between the stop wings of the forward weight and the aft weight. 
     
     
         14 . The bolt carrier of  claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal pin installed into a hole in the forward weight is received into a clearance hole disposed in the aft weight so as to maintain alignment between the forward weight and the aft weight. 
     
     
         15 . The bolt carrier of  claim 2 , wherein clocking of the first weight and the aft weight is maintained by a transverse pin that slides within a recess disposed in the top of the forward weight. 
     
     
         16 . The bolt carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the transverse pin is pressed into holes disposed in the bolt carrier such that the transverse pin extends across the recess. 
     
     
         17 . A dual dwell weight for a bolt carrier, comprising:
 a forward weight and an aft weight with a centrally disposed spring;   a longitudinal pin for maintaining alignment between the forward weight and the aft weight; and   a transverse pin for maintaining clocking of the first weight and the aft weight.   
     
     
         18 . The dual dwell weight of  claim 17 , wherein the forward weight and the aft weight are configured to slide within a cylindrical interior of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The dual dwell weight of  claim 18 , wherein the forward weight is configured to be a rear dwell enhancer while the aft weight is configured to serve as an unlock dwell enhancer and an anti-bounce weight. 
     
     
         20 . The dual dwell weight of  claim 19 , wherein the interior includes a keyway that enables installing the forward weight and the aft weight into the bolt carrier.