Firearm barrel having improved stiffening and/or cooling
View Patent ↗A barrel having a monolithic body comprising an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end; a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to the muzzle end; one or more elongate recesses formed in the body, wherein each elongate recess is defined by an elongate hole extending from an open end formed proximate the muzzle end; a sleeve positioned around at least a portion of the barrel to encompass at least a portion of the barrel; and a radial ring, positioned between the barrel and the sleeve.
1. A barrel, comprising:
a monolithic body comprising an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end;
a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to said muzzle end;
one or more elongate recesses formed in said body, wherein each elongate recess is defined by an elongate hole extending from an open end formed proximate said muzzle end;
a sleeve positioned around at least a portion of said barrel to encompass at least a portion of said barrel; and
a radial ring, positioned between said barrel and said sleeve.
2. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said projectile bore comprises a single projectile bore.
3. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said breach end comprises external threads, which allow said barrel to be threadedly attached or coupled to a receiver of a firearm.
4. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said muzzle end comprises external threads, which allow a muzzle device to be threadedly attached or coupled to said muzzle end of said barrel.
5. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said one or more elongate recesses are formed so as to extend from a shoulder formed proximate said muzzle end.
6. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said one or more elongate recesses are substantially tubular or cylindrical, with a substantially circular cross-sectional profile or have a substantially circular, rectangular, square, or triangular cross-sectional profile.
7. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said one or more elongate recesses are arranged in a radial pattern, at spaced apart locations, around said projectile bore.
8. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said elongate recesses are arranged at a consistent distance from said projectile bore.
9. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said elongate recesses are arranged at various or alternating distances from said projectile bore.
10. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said elongate recesses are evenly distributed within said body of said barrel.
11. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said elongate recesses are unequally distributed within said body of said barrel.
12. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein said elongate recesses are formed so as to have a longitudinal axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said projectile bore.
13. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of apertures formed through said body of said barrel, wherein at least two of said plurality of apertures provide fluid communication between an exterior of said barrel and at least one of said one or more elongate recesses.
14. The barrel of claim 13 , wherein said one or more apertures are arranged in a substantially spiral arrangement along at least a portion of said barrel.
15. The barrel of claim 13 , wherein said one or more apertures are arranged at various spaced apart locations along at least a portion of said barrel.
16. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein each elongate recess extends from said open end, along one or more side walls, to a bottom wall.
17. The barrel of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of said side walls of each elongate recess includes at least some internal threads, stippling, surface preparation, coating, or texturing.
18. The barrel of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of raised ridges, a plurality of recessed grooves, stippling, knurling, an exterior surface finish, coating, and/or texture element is provided on at least a portion of an exterior surface of said barrel.
19. A barrel, comprising:
a monolithic body comprising an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end;
a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to said muzzle end;
one or more elongate recesses formed in said body, wherein each elongate recess is defined by an elongate hole extending from an open end formed proximate said muzzle end; and
a sleeve positioned around at least a portion of said barrel to encompass at least a portion of said barrel.
20. A barrel, comprising:
a monolithic body comprising an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end;
a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to said muzzle end;
one or more elongate recesses formed in said body, wherein each elongate recess extends from an open end, along one or more side walls, to a bottom wall; and
a sleeve positioned around at least a portion of said barrel to encompass at least a portion of said barrel.