Harmonic optimization technology

Details Harmonic optimization technology Harmonic optimization technology

1999-04-01

2001-05-01

Johnson, Stephen M. (Department: 3641)

Firearms

With recoil reducer

C089S014300, C042S075020

Reexamination Certificate

active

06223458

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to apparatus with a cantilever portion from which a projectile is fired or launched along the centerline of the cantilever and in particular to the controlling of vibrations of the cantilever component of such an apparatus. More particularly this invention relates to rifles, where the rifle barrel is a cantilever portion, and methods and apparatus for increasing the accuracy of firing projectiles. The invention is principally directed to a method and apparatus including a mass device affixed to a flexible cylinder extension at the muzzle end, inertial mass devices affixed intermediate the muzzle end and the cartridge chamber, and a spring suspension system affixed proximal to the cartridge chamber. This system decreases the angular dispersion of barrel vibrations at the muzzle resulting from the firing of projectiles through such barrels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Accuracy and consistency in striking a target is a principal goal of marksmen in hobby and military applications. A non-military application involves rifle target shooting competitions. Methods and apparatus have been developed with the intent of reducing factors which adversely affect accuracy and consistency in the delivery of a projectile at a target. Several solutions have addressed the issue by modifying the barrel or cantilever portion of the device of concern. The focus of such changes have involved the positioning of a mass or muzzle brakes at the muzzle end of a rifle barrel and the use of bench rests during firing. Prior art notes two of the factors adversely affecting accurate rifle marksmanship to be barrel vibration and recoil with solutions posed in the form of modification of the barrel or cantilever portion of the projectile firing or launching mechanism and in the development or change of firearm supports. U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,200 of Jan. 18, 1994, reissued as U.S. Pat. No. RE 35,381 of Nov. 26, 1996 to Rose et. al. recites the state of the art relating to reduction of vibration in rifle barrels observing that with such advancements target pattern inconsistencies remained as an inherent characteristic of rifles. Such a characteristic applies, by extension, to the apparatus which incorporates a cantilever for final projectile travel and exiting in determining the projectile trajectory. The '200(RE 35,381) patent notes, for the rifle marksman, that inconsistencies are of particular concern in the firing of certain factory loaded cartridges from a firearm not designed specifically for use with that particular factory cartridge. The issue of matching a particular rifle with a particular cartridge, as a recognized method of adjusting vibration frequency so that the vibrational velocity is nearly stopped when the bullet exits the muzzle and increasing consistency, is addressed in the '200 patent. The patent to Rose, et. al, discloses the ability to match a rifle to a particular ammunition and that with appropriate system adjustments, of the position of a mass at the muzzle, to fire different factory loaded cartridges.
Rose, in the '200 patent, recites U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,280 to Frye disclosing a muzzle member at the muzzle end of a gun barrel. Although not stated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,280, it is generally understood that such a muzzle member may serve as a mass for the purpose of vibration dampening. The muzzle member is threaded onto the barrel, and is locked in place. Anschutz and Co. G.M.B., through the 1989 catalog of its distributor, Precision Sales International, Inc., of Westfield, Mass., discloses, at pages 11 and 16, barrel extensions for rifles that include removable weights. Although not stated in the 1989 catalog of Anschutz and Co. G.M.B., it is understood that varying such masses will enable a marksman to vary the dampening effect in relation to the barrel vibrations resulting from the discharge of different cartridges.
Prior art also addresses muzzle brakes in functioning to exhaust propulsion gases as a means of reducing recoil and of dissipating propulsion gases in a direction or directions other than out the muzzle of the barrel. Attention is called to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,279,200(RE 35,381) to Rose; U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,942 to Cave and U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,223 to Hudson. The known muzzle brakes comprise a mass and are recognized to change vibration characteristics potentially performing a dampening function.
Firearm rests and supports may also perform a dampening or control function. U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,302 to Minneman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,208 to Reinfried et. al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,563 to Gray and U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,532 to Wright are noted. The foregoing patents and printed publications are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97 with the exception of the reference to Anschutz and Co. G.M.B. which has been obtained and submitted. Additional domestic and foreign patents and publications have been submitted in the prosecution of the parent application. This Continuation in part relies on and incorporates prior art as submitted and identified in Information Disclosure Statements in accordance with 35 CFR 1.97 in association with the parent application Ser. No. 08/846,375.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a vibration control system developed by use of harmonic optimization technology (H.O.T.). The H.O.T. system addresses the improvement of rifle accuracy by controlling barrel vibration in a manner differing from approaches of other methods such as using extra heavy (bull) barrels, “tuning” cartridges with powder loads and bullet weight, or varying barrel vibration frequency with an adjustable mass at the muzzle.
Variations in either powder loads or bullet weights cause changes in muzzle velocities which result in different times between powder ignition and the time when the bullet leaves the muzzle. The barrel undergoes many complex and superimposed vibrations when the powder is ignited and the bullet is progressing down the barrel. Vibration dampening or minimization methods known in the prior art are directed to tuning the time the bullet leaves the muzzle with the barrel vibrational frequency. The intent of such tuning is to result in the bullet exiting from the muzzle at a time corresponding to a major vibrational mode at its position of extreme deflection.
A particular load will have some muzzle velocity variation from cartridge to cartridge, so that any variation in the angular deflection of the muzzle in time will result in a statistical variation in dispersion angle. Minimizing the time rate of change of the muzzle deflection, coupled to statistical variation in muzzle velocity, and thus the time of flight of the bullet to the exit point at the muzzle, will minimize group size making the rifle less sensitive to small variations in the bullet travel time. While this will reduce the group size of bullet impact, the point of impact may vary significantly with different loads and bullet weights inasmuch as the objective of the approach was to make the bullet exit the barrel while it was at the point of extreme deflection. This extreme deflection may direct the muzzle at different points of impact for different loads.
A system or apparatus for a rifle barrel, and other devices employing a cantilever portion from which a projectile is launched or fired, developed through a harmonic optimization technology achieves improved bullet accuracy by significantly reducing the magnitude of the barrel muzzle angular dispersion caused by vibrations. Thus, the specific sight-in for different loads will be more predictable, i.e., from exterior ballistics. Deviation of the point of impact from the ideal predictions of exterior ballistics will be minimized. Bullet accuracy will be less sensitive to variations in ammunition loads.
The vibrations affecting bullet accuracy are a superposition of many transverse vibrational modes that are initiated at a continuum of points along the barrel. The short-term vibrational response will include a particular solution

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