| Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms -> Monitor Keywords |
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Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearmsRelated Patent Categories: Ordnance, Firing Devices, ElectricSequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070137470, Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/920,807, filed Aug. 18, 2004; which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/547,450, filed Feb. 25, 2004, the entireties of which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to muzzleloading firearms, and more particularly to an electronic ignition system that generates an electric arc to ignite the powder charge propellant in a muzzleloading firearm and to a firearm incorporating such an ignition system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Hunting and shooting with muzzleloading firearms has gained a level of popularity as a sport. In typical embodiments, a muzzleloading firearm is a rifle, shotgun or pistol, based to some degree on primitive firearm designs used during the early days of America. Such firearms typically lack the effective range and speed of reloading enabled by modern center-fire cartridge firearms, adding to the challenge and enjoyment of the sport. Because of their popularity, many states have adopted special muzzleloader seasons for hunting with these weapons to allow sportsmen using them (who generally have to get much closer to their targets and be more sure of their aim than those using modern cartridge rifles) to be able to effectively hunt. And with the creation of these special seasons, more hunters are drawn to muzzleloaders. [0004] A muzzleloader is also sometimes referred to as a "black powder" firearm due to its use of a different chemical formulation of gunpowder, commonly called black powder (which does not specifically relate to the color). As opposed to a more modern firearm which is typically loaded with a cartridge at the breech, in a muzzleloader loose powder (or powder pellets) and the projectile are loaded into the barrel via the muzzle of the gun and tamped against the breechplug. The powder used is typically a black powder or more modern substitute for black powder such as, but not limited to, Pyrodex.TM. or Triple 7.TM. manufactured by the Hodgdon Powder Company. The modern smokeless powder used in cartridges and shotgun shells, however, cannot be safely used with most muzzleloaders. [0005] Current black powder firearms typically use one of two systems to ignite the powder charge that propels the projectile from the firearm. The more primitive type of muzzleloading firearm ignition system is the flintlock, which utilizes a flint striker that is thrown forward by a spring-driven hammer (which is generally mounted on the side of the firearm) into a piece of steel (the frizzen) to generate a spark. The spark ignites a priming pan of fine black powder. The burning priming powder sends a flash or spark through a touchhole, which is a small hole in the side of the firearm's barrel. The flash or spark then ignites the main powder charge in the barrel, which discharges the firearm to propel the bullet toward its target. [0006] A more modern variety of black powder firearm utilizes a caplock ignition system. The traditional caplock still has a spring-driven hammer on the side of the barrel, but the flint, steel and priming pan are eliminated. Instead the hammer is driven against a percussion cap or primer, which typically contains an explosive fulminate of mercury. The percussion cap is typically removably installed on a nipple on the barrel having an opening through which a spark generated by the cap travels to ignite the main propellant charge in the barrel. The in-line caplock is a more modern type of caplock muzzleloader developed to provide more effective discharge. The in-line caplock ignition system operates in much the same manner as a traditional caplock, but instead of having the hammer, nipple and cap on the side of the gun, they are placed in line with the barrel, for example with the priming cap installed in the barrel's breechplug. The in-line caplock is essentially a modernized muzzleloader that retains the firing and loading profile of a traditional muzzleloader, but with a more modern ignition system. [0007] By their very nature, most muzzleloaders are essentially primitive firearms, and for many hunters and shooters this primitive nature is part of their appeal. The weapon's decreased effective range requires the hunter to be a more effective stalker. Further, the time it takes to reload a muzzleloader generally means that the hunter gets only a single shot at a game target, requiring the hunter to be sure of their aim before firing. However, there is a degree of polarization among muzzleloading hunters. Some muzzleloading hunters wish to only utilize traditional firearms, and are very interested in the nostalgia. These hunters tend to use flintlocks and sidelocks to more accurately represent primitive hunting. Other muzzleloading hunters are continuously seeking to modernize the "primitive" muzzleloading firearm to provide for improved performance (e.g., better triggering, safety and accuracy), while still loading powder and shot down the muzzle so as to still qualify for the special muzzleloading hunting seasons. These hunters tend to use in-line caplocks that may resemble more modern firearm designs, and are always interested in improving on the design without altering the basic loading and shooting characteristics of the firearm. Many of these improvements relate to modernized projectiles that provide improved flight characteristics, modern propellants that provide improved propulsion and ignition, and the in-line caplock design, which provides for surer ignition. [0008] Because the powder, projectile and percussion cap are separately loaded for each shot and are not subject to mechanical assembly as in a cartridge rifle, muzzleloaders are particularly vulnerable to conditions known as "hangfire" or "misfire" where the gun does not discharge immediately upon the trigger being pulled. A misfire occurs when the gun does not fire at all. A hangfire occurs when the cap or flint successfully flames and sends sparks toward the main charge, but the main charge does not ignite for a few seconds after the trigger is pulled. A hangfire can be particularly problematic because the action of the hammer may startle the intended target, and the gun may discharge later without the intended target in the field of fire. Further, a hangfire may result in the user positioning the gun unsafely prior to its eventual discharging, thinking the gun has misfired, potentially leading to accidents. [0009] Most of these problems result from imperfect operation of the ignition system of the firearm. In a cartridge firearm, the ignition system and primary propellant are both encased in the cartridge, which allows them to be in direct contact when the gun is fired. Therefore, hangfires are unlikely. In a muzzleloading firearm, however, there is always some distance that the primer spark or flame needs to travel to get from the cap or priming pan to the primary propellant. The travel time of the spark can be undesirably increased if the conditions are wet or if there is powder in the nipple opening or touch hole that must burn, essentially like a fuse, for the spark to reach the primary propellant charge. [0010] Thus it can be seen that needs exist for improved ignition systems for muzzleloading firearms. It is to the provision of improved ignition systems meeting this and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] To improve upon such ignition systems that are known in the art, described herein are example embodiments of electronic ignition systems for use with personal black powder firearms such as muzzleloading rifles, shotguns and pistols. The terms black powder firearm and muzzleloader are used interchangeably in this disclosure to refer to firearms of the same general type--in particular, to firearms wherein the propellant charge is not encased in a cartridge with the projectile and ignition material, but wherein the principal propellant is in contact with the barrel of the firearm. [0012] The electronic ignition systems discussed herein generally provide for a more predictable and reliable ignition of the primary propellant charge in the firearm when the firearm is triggered, which helps to improve safety and reliability of the firearm relative to a similar firearm utilizing a propellant cap. At the same time, the electronic ignition systems described herein do not alter the ballistics of the projectile or dramatically accelerate the reloading time of the firearm. In this way, a black powder hunter can be more certain that his firearm will both discharge safely and discharge when triggered, even in inclement weather, without having to give up the characteristics of a black powder firearm that many hunters particularly seek out. [0013] In an embodiment of the invention described herein, an electronic ignition system for a firearm comprises: an electrode, the electrode being capable of producing an electric arc; a battery electrically connected to said electrode for providing electricity to said electrode; and a firing switch electrically connected between said battery and said electrode such that when said firing switch is closed said electricity from said battery produces an electric arc from said electrode; wherein said electrode is sized and shaped so that said electric arc contacts a propellant charge in said firearm igniting said propellant charge. In example embodiments, the electric arc is generated between a first electrode and a second electrode. In alternate embodiments, the electric arc is generated between a single electrode and a breach plug, barrel portion, or other conductive surface or component supporting or adjacent to the electrode; or between the electrode and an adjacent propellant charge or other material. [0014] In another aspect, the electronic ignition system comprises a capacitor, said capacitor placed between said battery and said firing switch such that said capacitor is charged by said battery and discharges when said firing switch is closed; an arming switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said battery wherein said capacitor cannot charge when said arming switch is open, a safety switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said firing switch wherein said electric arc cannot be generated unless both said firing switch and said safety switch are closed. [0015] In another aspect, the electronic ignition system of the present invention comprises two capacitors, said capacitors placed between said battery and said firing switch such that said capacitors are charged by said battery and discharge when said firing switch is closed; an arming switch electrically connected between said capacitors and said battery, wherein said capacitors cannot charge when said arming switch is open; and a safety switch electrically connected between said capacitors and said firing switch, wherein said electric arc cannot be generated unless both said firing switch and said safety switch are closed. When the two switches are closed a sequential discharge of the two capacitors takes place. The first capacitor, which is a lower capacitance capacitor, discharges on the primary winding of a high voltage transformer causing, with the high voltage generated on the secondary winding, an electrical arc that provokes the discharge of the second capacitor, which is a higher capacitance capacitor. The second capacitor is preferably connected to the electrode where the arc is produced and once the discharge of the first capacitor has been initiated, the resistance between terminals of the capacitor is drastically reduced thus discharging the energy stored in the capacitor through the spark, producing a more powerful electrical arc than the initial one, lasting while the second capacitor discharges and having enough current remaining to maintain the ionization in the air gap between the electrode and the ground. Also preferably included in the embodiment is an indicator, electrically connected to the second capacitor, and serving to indicate when the second capacitor is charged. [0016] The ignition system of the present invention can be retrofitted into an existing firearm or originally manufactured as part of a new firearm. For example, in various embodiments, the invention includes the electronic ignition system described herein in combination with a firearm such as a muzzleloading rifle, shotgun or pistol. In alternate embodiments, the invention comprises a retrofit component for a muzzleloading firearm, wherein the retrofit component has a shell or housing with an outer configuration substantially identical to that of an existing component, such as a breechplug, bolt, or other firearm component, and having an ignition system as described herein or portion(s) thereof mounted into and/or onto the shell or housing, for retrofit onto an existing firearm. [0017] In another aspect, the invention is a firearm comprising: a barrel; a breech plug; one or more (preferably at least two) electrode(s) in or on said breech plug; a source of electricity electrically connected to said electrode(s); and a firing switch electrically connected between said electrode(s) and said source of electricity, such that when said firing switch is closed, an electric arc is created between the electrodes or between at least one electrode and an adjacent portion of the breechplug or other component of the firearm, said electric arc being inside said barrel. [0018] In an example embodiment of the firearm, the firearm further comprises: a capacitor, said capacitor electrically connected between said source of electricity and said firing switch such that said capacitor is charged by said source of electricity and discharges when said firing switch is closed; an arming switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said source of electricity, wherein said capacitor cannot charge when said arming switch is open; a safety switch electrically connected between said capacitor and said firing switch, wherein said electric arc cannot be generated unless both said firing switch and said safety switch are closed; and an indicator electrically connected to the capacitor, said indicator indicating when said capacitor is charged. [0019] In another embodiment, the firearm further comprises: a pair of capacitors, said capacitors electrically connected between said source of electricity and said firing switch such that said capacitors are charged by said source of electricity, and they discharge when said firing switch is closed; an arming switch electrically connected between said capacitors and said source of electricity, wherein said capacitors cannot charge when said arming switch is open; a safety switch electrically connected between said capacitors and said firing switch, wherein said electric arc cannot be generated unless both said firing switch and said safety switch are closed; and an indicator electrically connected to the larger of the two capacitors, said indicator indicating when said larger capacitor is charged. [0020] In another aspect of the invention, the firearm further comprises a propellant charge and at least one projectile within said barrel, wherein said electric arc ignites said propellant charge and the explosion of said propellant charge expels said projectile from said barrel. Continue reading about Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms... Full patent description for Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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