Losok valkyr rifle   

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The US Rifle M1 or M1 Garand Rifle was the main battle rifle of the US from 1936 to 1957. The rifle while advanced for the time was lacking in some areas that are now addressed by the invention in this application. The gas operating system employed on the M1 utilized an operating rod nearly as long as the barrel and gas cylinder that mounted very close to the barrel, for the rifle to work, the rod had to be bent in a manner to clear the stock. The bends in the rod and its length made it a fragile system not able to withstand pressures used in more modern ammunition or higher pressure calibers. The gas system also could not be adjusted to facilitate use of other ammunition, or to adjust to varying climates of use or to tune the rifle for better accuracy or reliability. The M1 rifle also fed from 8 round en bloc clips fed from the top of the rifle, requiring optics to be mounted on the side, and limiting magazine capacity to 8 rounds. The rifle also used an indirect bolt stop mechanism that acted on the operation rod, not the bolt itself. The design of the stock on the M1 rifle used two hand guards to cover the barrel and operating rod nearly to the muzzle, limiting barrel diameter, and preventing a free floating barrel/gas system. Rifles of similar design have usually suffered from similar limitations or multi moving part gas systems. Others have also been limited to short action rifle rounds of limited power and versatility. What is needed is a rifle comparable in simplicity to the M1 rifle with all its good qualities and rugged reliability when used as designed, but able to handle higher pressure loads, long action calibers, modern optics, and free float barrel groups for enhanced accuracy, while having available multiple barrel lengths and configurations.

SUMMARY

The current invention while similar to the M1 rifle differs enough to require a new patent application. The new invention utilizes a short, straight operating rod with piston attached directly to the rod, this type of system has fewer moving parts than other short stroke systems, and uses a gas cylinder with adjustable gas plug that is mounted and located on the bottom of the barrel by a simple pin and shoulder arrangement rather than a complicated spline cut set up. The gas feeds from the barrel to the cylinder via port drilled in the bottom of the barrel. The simple arrangement allows barrels and op-rods to be made to custom lengths and configurations as needed for various calibers and specialty users. The M1 rifle used an open top receiver design that loaded from the top, the new rifle is a closed top design that mounts optics on the integral rails at 12 and 9 clock positions (when viewed from the rear), and with detachable box magazine feeding from the bottom of the rifle. The receiver also mounts the bolt stop which is activated by the magazine follower upon firing the last round and released by a button on the exterior of the receiver, as opposed to the M1 rifle where it acted on the operating rod. The stock group of the current invention combined with the trigger group and receiver with integral magazine well serve to provide a free floating barrel and gas system for improved accuracy and reliability and forward optics mounting by the height adjustable hand guard with optics rail. The operation of the action of the current invention is also enhanced by the closely fitted operating rod guide and spring of a new design as compared to the M1 rifle which coupled with the straight operating rod provides smoother more accurate operation in all climates.

FIG. 1. Receiver Left side View

FIG. 2. Receiver Right Side View

FIG. 3. Receiver top View

FIG. 4. Receiver bottom view

FIG. 5. Bolt Group Top View

FIG. 5A Bolt Group Side View

FIG. 6. Barrel Group/Gas System Assembled on Test mounting receiver

FIG. 6A Gas Cylinder

FIG. 6B Operating Rod

FIG. 6C Operating Rod Spring Guide

FIG. 7. Stock Group/Hand guard

FIG. 8. Trigger Housing Group Side View

FIG. 8A Trigger Housing Group Bottom view

FIG. 9. Magazine group

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is an improved Semi-Automatic Rifle with consisting of a Receiver group, Barrel Group, Bolt Group, Stock Group, Trigger Group, and Magazine Group. The Invention is designed to eliminate many of the issues that have been found in rifles like the US M1 Rifle, U.S. Pat. No. 1,892,141 and similar rifles such as weak gas systems, limitations pressure and caliber, limitations on barrel diameter and length, poor feeding designs, no adjustable gas system, poor optics mounting systems, week stock mounting points with lack of return to zero upon re-installation in the stock. The current invention addresses these through multiple simple changes and additions to the basic art of the semi-automatic rifle in a unique combination of parts in one rifle.

The part depicted in FIG. 1-4 is the receiver in the stripped configuration with no parts such as the bolt stop in place so to show the full extent of its design from four angles. The part is to be made of steel or other suitable material, by casting, forging, other methods. Proper heat treatment and surface preparation will be needed to ensure proper operation and enhance the toughness of the part.

The part in FIGS. 5 and 5A is the bolt group, this one of standard US M1 rifle size and origin while other sizes and configuration are to be available this is to be the most common size and configuration. The part to be made of steel or other material, and produced by casting forging, or the method with properties required to be similar to 8620 steel hardened to 55-59HRC to insure toughness and long wear.

The parts in FIGS. 6 through 6C. Comprise the barrel group and gas system. It is shown in only one configuration of the many that are possible. Illustrated is the short operating rod, and the gas cylinder, and in line nature of the system. Also pictured is the new operating rod guide. The parts are preferably made of ordnance grade steel but other materials can be used if treated properly and of suitable strength and wear characteristics. The parts to be made by any normal method such as milling, casting, forging or the like.

FIG. 7 Shows the stock group of the rifle in a standard rifle configuration with traditional stock, as well as the new hand guard and a short optics rail at 12 clock position. This part is made of any suitable material by an appropriate method for a gun stock. The hand guard is to be made of aluminum, properly treated or other suitable material for holding the threads required for its designed attachment to the stock.

FIG. 8 is the trigger group shown in standard configuration. The part to be made from steel or other suitable material. The part houses the internals of a standard M1 rifle trigger housing, plus a magazine release system, and guide arms to ease entry of the magazine to the well. The guide arms also serve to help lock the rifle into the stock, and locate the receiver by aligning with the magazine well of the receiver. The trigger guard is used to lock the trigger group to the receiver at the magazine well, and there by lock the rifle into the stock. The part to be milled, cast, forged or by other accepted methods. The heat treat of the material will key to extending its life and giving suitable performance.

FIG. 9 is the Magazine group, shown made from steel with internal parts also of steel, this part could also be made of aluminum, composites, or the other metals. The part to be stamped and welded or formed by other methods depending on material used. The part to be available in variations for various calibers and capacities.

The end user of the invention will see enhanced reliability, accuracy, versatility and longer life of this invention compared with current semi-automatic rifles available. While the listed configurations of the invention are the preferred embodiment at this time, those skilled in the art will see that minor changes to the methods, materials, or design will not depart from the invention, and therefore it is aimed to cover all such changes which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.