IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,663,227
Granted Patent B1
US 12,663,227 · App. 19/364,037 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Quick-release firearm gas block

Inventor: Geoffrey A Herring (Melbourne, FL)
Assignee: Ares Defense Systems, Inc.
F41A5/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,663,227
App. No.
19/364,037
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A firearm gas block assembly includes a gas block having a central bore and a retention member passage. The gas block engages a gas block journal of a barrel via the central bore. The retention member passage intersects the central bore to define an opening between the central bore and the retention member passage. A retention member within the retention member passage is moveable between first and second positions. A portion of the retention member extends through the opening when in the first position. No portion of the retention member extends through the opening when in the second position. Gas flow control discontinuities are within a surface of the gas block defining the central passage. A travel limiting member is engaged with the retention member and the gas block for limiting axial movement of the retention member to being between the first and second positions.

Claims (47)

1 . A firearm barrel system, comprising:

a barrel including a gas block journal at an exterior surface thereof, a retention member recess extending through the gas block journal, a bore extending longitudinally along a length of the barrel, and a gas port having a first end exposed at the gas block journal and a second end exposed within the bore;

a firearm gas block assembly including a gas block, a retention member, a gas tube mounting body, a gas routing passage, and a travel limiting member, wherein the gas block includes a central bore engaged with the gas block journal and a retention member passage intersecting the central bore to define an opening between the central bore and the retention member passage, wherein the retention member is engaged within the retention member passage, wherein the retention member is axially moveable between a first position within which at least a portion of the retention member extends through the opening into engagement with the retention member recess and a second position within which no portion of the retention member extends through the opening into engagement with the retention member recess, wherein the travel limiting member is engaged with the retention member and the gas block for limiting axial movement of the retention member to being between the first and second positions, wherein the gas routing passage has a first end exposed within the central bore and a second end exposed within a gas tube receiving cavity of the gas tube mounting body, wherein the first end of the gas routing passage is at least partially aligned with the first end of the gas port for enabling flow of gas therebetween when the retention member is engaged with the retention member recess; and

spaced-apart surface discontinuities within at least one of the gas block journal of the barrel and a surface of the gas block defining the central bore thereof to define a leakage control zone therebetween within the interface between the gas block journal and the surface of the gas block defining the central bore thereof, wherein the first end of the gas port and the first end of the gas routing passage are exposed within the leakage control zone, wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities provide an increased volumetric space into which combustion gas flowing into the leakage control zone from the gas port expand to generate a gas flow perturbance in the leakage control zone for limiting flow of the combustion gas through the interface between the central bore and the gas block journal.

2 . The firearm barrel system of claim 1 , wherein the firearm gas block assembly comprises a rotational alignment member extending from an end face of the gas block into engagement with a mating positioning feature of the barrel for positioning the gas block in a prescribed rotational position relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the barrel.

3 . The firearm barrel system of claim 1 , wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities include at least one of:

spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the central bore with the first end of the gas routing passage exposed between the two spaced-apart grooves; and

spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the gas block journal with the first end of the gas port exposed between the two-spaced-apart grooves.

4 . The firearm barrel system of claim 1 , wherein:

the travel limiting member is in spring-biased engagement with the retention member; and

a tip portion of the travel limiting member is engageable with one or more mating features of the retention member for limiting movement of the retention member to be between the first and second positions.

5 . The firearm barrel system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more mating features of the retention member includes a groove.

6 . The firearm barrel system of claim 4 , wherein:

the one or more mating features of the retention member includes spaced-apart position control recesses that each define a respective one of the first position of the retention member and the second position of the retention member; and

the tip portion of the travel limiting member engages a first one of the position control recesses when the retention member is in the first position and engages a second one of the position control recesses when the retention member is in the second position.

7 . The firearm barrel system of claim 6 , wherein:

the one or more mating features of the retention member includes a groove having opposing ends; and

the first one of the position control recesses is located at or adjacent a first one of the opposing ends of the groove and the second one of the position control recesses is located at or adjacent a second one of the opposing ends of the groove.

8 . The firearm barrel system of claim 4 , wherein the firearm gas block assembly comprises a rotational alignment member extending from an end face of the gas block into engagement with a mating positioning feature of the barrel for positioning the gas block in a prescribed rotational position relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the barrel.

9 . The firearm barrel system of claim 4 , wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities include at least one of:

spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the central bore with the first end of the gas routing passage exposed between the two spaced-apart grooves; and

spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the gas block journal with the first end portion of the gas port exposed between the two spaced-apart grooves.

10 . The firearm barrel system of claim 9 , wherein the firearm gas block assembly comprises a rotational alignment member extending from an end face of the gas block into engagement with a mating positioning feature of the barrel for positioning the gas block in a prescribed rotational position relative to a centerline longitudinal axis of the barrel.

11 . The firearm barrel system of claim 4 , wherein:

the one or more mating features of the retention member includes a groove and spaced-apart position control recesses;

each one of the position control recesses defines a respective one of the first position of the retention member and the second position of the retention member;

a first one of the position control recesses is located at or adjacent a first end of the groove and a second one of the position control recesses is located at or adjacent a second end of the groove; and

the tip portion of the travel limiting member engages the first one of the position control recesses when the retention member is in the first position and engages the second one of the position control recesses when the retention member is in the second position.

12 . A firearm barrel system, comprising:

a barrel including a gas block journal at an exterior surface thereof, a bore extending longitudinally along a length of the barrel, and a gas port having a first end exposed at the gas block journal and a second end exposed within the bore;

a firearm gas block assembly including a gas block, a gas tube mounting body, and a gas routing passage, wherein the gas block includes a central bore engaged with the gas block journal, wherein the gas routing passage has a first end exposed within the central bore and a second end exposed within a gas tube receiving cavity of the gas tube mounting body; and

spaced-apart surface discontinuities within at least one of the gas block journal of the barrel and a surface of the gas block defining the central bore thereof to define a leakage control zone therebetween within the interface between the gas block journal and the surface of the gas block defining the central bore thereof, wherein the first end of the gas port and the first end of the gas routing passage are exposed within the leakage control zone, wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities provide an increased volumetric space into which combustion gas flowing into the leakage control zone from the gas port expand to generate a gas flow perturbance in the leakage control zone for limiting flow of the combustion gas through the interface between the central bore and the gas block journal.

13 . The firearm barrel system of claim 12 , wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities include at least one of:

spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the central bore with the first end of the gas routing passage exposed between the spaced-apart grooves; and

spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the gas block journal with the first end of the gas port exposed between the spaced-apart grooves.

14 . The firearm barrel system of claim 12 , wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities include spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the central bore.

15 . The firearm barrel system of claim 14 , wherein the first end of the gas routing passage is exposed between adjacent ones of the spaced-apart grooves.

16 . The firearm barrel system of claim 12 , wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities include spaced-apart grooves each extending circumferentially around the gas block journal with the first end of the gas port exposed between the spaced-apart grooves.

17 . The firearm barrel system of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the gas port is exposed between adjacent ones of the spaced-apart grooves.

18 . The firearm barrel system of claim 12 , wherein the spaced-apart surface discontinuities include a first row of discrete recesses spaced apart from a second row of discrete recesses.

19 . The firearm barrel system of claim 18 , wherein one of:

the first and second rows of discrete recesses each extend circumferentially around the central bore; and

the first and second rows of discrete recesses each extend circumferentially around the gas block journal.

20 . The firearm barrel system of claim 18 , wherein each of the rows of discrete recesses extends circumferentially around the central bore.

21 . The firearm barrel system of claim 20 , wherein the first end of the gas routing passage is exposed between the first and second rows of discrete recesses.

22 . The firearm barrel system of claim 18 , wherein each of the rows of discrete recesses extends circumferentially around the gas block journal.

23 . The firearm barrel system of claim 22 , wherein the first end of the gas port is exposed between the first and second rows of discrete recesses.