Firearms – Muzzle loaders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-04-17
Ark, Darren W. (Department: 3643)
Firearms
Muzzle loaders
C042S084000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216380
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to muzzle loading firearms and, more particularly, to breech plugs which adapt the firearm to utilize percussion caps as the ignition means.
As is well known, percussion caps are preferred for ignition of the black powder charge in muzzle loading firearms, and various types of nipples using such caps have been developed. With the increasing use of inline firing systems because of better ignition characteristics, there has been a move to use primer or percussion caps in breech plugs providing such an inline firing system. Shotgun shell primer caps have been considered highly advantageous for use in such inline ignition systems.
There have been a number of breech plug constructions to adapt the muzzle loading firearm to use a primer cap which is detonated by a firing pin. The hot gases from the detonated primer cap travel in a passage through the plug to ignite the black powder at the barrel end of the breech plug. Exemplary of such structures are those illustrated in Carron U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,677 granted Apr. 30, 1991; Mahn et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,776 granted Apr. 25, 1995; and Osborne et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,232 granted Jan. 30, 1996.
The problems encountered in such breech plug adapters have included (i) holding the primer cap in the plug, (ii) expansion or deformation of the casing of the cap by the hot gases so as to make it difficult to remove from the plug, and (iii) contamination of the firing mechanism by the particles in the exhaust gases. Although it is necessary that the cap be securely seated in the plug, it is also necessary to be able to extract it readily from the plug.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel breech plug adapter for seating firing caps in an inline firing system for a muzzle loading firearm.
It is also an object to provide such a breech plug adapter which may be fabricated readily and relatively economically.
Another object is to provide such a breech plug adapter which seats the firing cap securely but avoids a tight friction fit which would make removal difficult upon expansion or deformation of the casing of the cap.
A further object is to provide such a breech plug adapter which diverts a substantial portion of the exhaust gases radially to the periphery of the plug to minimize distorting pressures on the casing of the cap and contamination of the bolt or other firing assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a cap adapter breech plug for muzzle loading firearms which has a cylindrical plug with barrel and breech ends. A passage extending axially through the plug and a coaxial counterbore is provided about the passage at the breech end of the plug. An axial slot extends along a side of the counterbore and an exhaust passage extends generally radially from the passage adjacent the inner end of the counterbore to the outer surface of the plug for exhausting gases from the axially extending passage. A spring member is seated in the plug and has a portion extending through the axial slot and into the counterbore to bear resiliently against the casing of a cap seated in the counterbore to hold it in place.
Generally, the plug includes a well in the breech end adjacent to and communicating with the slot, and the spring has a body which is seated in the well and the aforementioned portion extends from one end of the body into the slot and into the counterbore. This portion of the spring is preferably of generally C-shaped configuration with its center section extending into the counterbore.
Desirably, the breech end of the plug also has a shallow channel extending radially from the well to the outer surface of the plug, and the body of the spring is of generally U-shaped configuration with an arm portion extending from its other end which is seated in the shallow channel.
Generally, the exhaust passage comprises a radially disposed exhaust channel extending to the outer periphery of the plug from a depth below the inner end of the counterbore. Desirably, it extends diametrically across the width of the plug and has a bottom wall which slopes downwardly from its outer end to the axis of the plug.
In a preferred embodiment, the bottom wall has a trough centrally thereof which extends to a depth below the inner end of the counterbore. In another embodiment, the exhaust passage comprises a radially extending bore extending from the coaxial passage below the counterbore.
The breech end of the plug also has a collar about the counterbore, and the breech plug has a body portion which is externally threaded for threaded engagement in the barrel of the firearm.
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Echeberria Julian
McGarity, Jr. William D.
Ark Darren W.
Blackpowder Products, Inc.
Pepe & Hazard LLP
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