Self-locking firearm barrel safety device and process for securing a firearm barrel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking element to be inserted into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of a firearm, said locking element comprising: a sleeve with an actuator, an operating element and a wedge element provided therein, wherein the operating element is at least partially provided movably within the wedge element. The actuator can insert the operating element into the wedge element which causes the wedge element to expand and be pressed against the wall of the barrel thus blocking the barrel. The actuator can also move the operating element out of the wedge element so that the wedge element can move back into a position in which the locking element can be removed from the barrel wherein the actuator is operated via an electronic device located in the locking device or a separate operating unit.

1 . Locking element to be at least partially inserted into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of a firearm, said locking element comprising: 
 a sleeve with an actuator, an operating element and a wedge element provided therein,    wherein the operating element is provided movably within the wedge element, and wherein    the operating element is formed and provided such that when the locking element is inserted into the barrel, the operating element can be inserted into the wedge element which causes the wedge element to expand and be pressed against the wall of the barrel thus blocking the barrel, wherein the wedge element is pressed further against the wall of the barrel if external pressure is applied to the locking element and wherein    the actuator can move the operating element out of the wedge element so that the wedge element can move back into a position in which the locking element can be removed from the barrel wherein the actuator is operated via an electronic device.    
   
   
       2 . Locking element to be at least partially inserted into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of a firearm, said locking element comprising: 
 a sleeve with an actuator, an operating element and a wedge element provided therein,    wherein the operating element is provided movably within the wedge element, and wherein    the actuator can insert the operating element into the wedge element which causes the wedge element to expand and be pressed against the wall of the barrel thus blocking the barrel, wherein the wedge element is pressed further against the wall of the barrel if external pressure is applied to the locking element and wherein    the actuator can move the operating element out of the wedge element so that the wedge element can move back into a position in which the locking element can be removed from the barrel wherein the actuator is operated via an electronic device.    
   
   
       3 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , wherein the wedge element can be pressed against a portion of a junction of the barrel and the cartridge chamber to form a form-fitting and frictional connection with the junction.  
   
   
       4 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the wedge element can be pressed against the wall of the barrel, wherein the barrel has a continuous diameter and the wedge element forms a frictional connection with the wall of the barrel.  
   
   
       5 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the wedge element comprises at least one wedge plate and preferably of two or three wedge plates wherein the wedge plate(s) is/are expanded upon insertion of the operating element.  
   
   
       6 . Locking element according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the respective wedge plate comprises a projection provided such that it can form a form-fitting connection with a portion of the junction.  
   
   
       7 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the wedge plate comprises a conical portion and a cylindrical portion.  
   
   
       8 . Locking element according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the wedge plates comprise at least one additional spring element causing the wedge plates to be moved together more easily when the operating element is moved out of the wedge plates and/or wherein the wedge plates comprise another additional spring element provided such that it presses the wedge plates towards the operating element when the wedge plates are in a position in which the locking element can be removed from the barrel.  
   
   
       9 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating element comprises a conical portion and a cylindrical portion.  
   
   
       10 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking element comprises a first pressure rod formed integral or coupled with the operating element, wherein the pressure rod is preferably coupled to the operating element via a spring element such that the operating element prestresses against the wedge element.  
   
   
       11 . Locking element according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the operating element preferably comprises a portion provided within the pressure rod wherein said portion comprises a transverse bore which accommodates a pin portion of the pressure rod so as to allow relative movement between the operating element and the pressure rod.  
   
   
       12 . Locking element according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the first pressure rod is provided movably in a cage wherein the cage preferably comprises a rolling element guide with at least one ball element and forms a ball-check arrest so that the first pressure rod cannot be removed from the sleeve of the locking elements.  
   
   
       13 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the actuator comprises at least one first wire element and/or an electric motor and/or a magnet array wherein the magnet array preferably comprises at least one coil.  
   
   
       14 . Locking element according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the locking element comprises a counter-stop provided movably in the sleeve and/or a second pressure rod, wherein the first wire element is connected to the cage of the ball-check arrest and the pressure rod and where a first spring element is provided between the cage and the counter-stop or the second pressure rod, and wherein a second wire element is preferably connected to the counter-stop and the first pressure rod, and a second spring element his provided between the counter-stop and the pressure rode.  
   
   
       15 . Locking element according to  claim 14 , characterized in that both wire elements preferably comprise a shape memory alloy, for example a nickel-titanium alloy, wherein upon heating, for example by means of resistance heating, the wire elements in the locking element shrink in length, with the resistance heating being activated via the electronic device.  
   
   
       16 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic device is provided in the locking element and is operated via the separate operating unit, or is provided in the operating unit and can operate the actuator of the locking element if the operating unit is coupled to the locking element.  
   
   
       17 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that data and/or energy can be transferred between the operating unit and the locking element, wherein the data exchange can be both via wire and wireless.  
   
   
       18 . Locking element according to  claim 17 , characterized in that a wireless coupling between the locking element and the operating unit can be effected via radio, in particular via inductive coupling, in the very low frequency, low frequency, medium frequency and/or high frequency band, for example in a range of 3 kHz to 30 Mhz.  
   
   
       19 . Locking element according to  claim 17 , characterized in that a wireless coupling between the locking element and the operating unit can be effected via an optical coupling and/or an electromagnetic coupling, wherein the electromagnetic coupling is preferably effected in the microwave and UHF frequency range for example from 400 MHz to 5 GHz.  
   
   
       20 . Locking element according of  claim 1 , characterized in that data and/or energy can be transferred between the locking element and the operating unit.  
   
   
       21 . Locking element according to  claim 20 , characterized in that the electronic device is self-sufficient, i.e. it comprises for example at least one battery, and/or is not self-sufficient or partially self-sufficient, wherein energy is provided via the operating unit for example via a wire or a cable or inductively.  
   
   
       22 . Locking element according of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device, which is preferably a subminiature electronic device, carries out an authorization examination and/or unlocks the actuator and wherein the authorization examination is for example effected via a PIN code or biometric data.  
   
   
       23 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the operating unit via a coupling unit.  
   
   
       24 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the operating unit comprises a separate data bus, for example a 1-wire data bus, which is connected to the electronic device of the locking element when the operating unit and the locking element are coupled.  
   
   
       25 . Locking element according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the second and/or the first pressure rod comprise(s) a hard metal insert and/or a ceramic reinforcement.  
   
   
       26 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the locking element comprises a wedge protection and/or a severance protection.  
   
   
       27 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a counter-stop is provided as shape memory expansion safety in the sleeve to secure the actuator.  
   
   
       28 . Locking element according to  claim 27 , characterized in that a safety actuator is provided between the counter-stop and a fixed point with a low temperature transition.  
   
   
       29 . Locking element according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating element is provided movably within the wedge element via a rolling element guide.  
   
   
       30 . Locking element according to  claim 29 , wherein the rolling element guide comprises at least one ball element or a rolling element and a spring element.  
   
   
       31 . Operating unit for the use in a locking element according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating element comprises a coupling unit for coupling with the locking element.  
   
   
       32 . Operating unit according to  claim 31 , wherein the operating unit is formed such that it can preferably be coupled with the locking element via a data bus from the outside and/or in a wireless manner and that it can transmit and/or receive data, wherein a wireless coupling between the operating unit and the locking element can be effected via radio in the very low frequency, low frequency, medium frequency and/or high frequency band, for example in a range of 3 kHz to 30 Mhz, and/or an inductive coupling, and/or an optical coupling and/or an electromagnetic coupling, wherein the electromagnetic coupling is preferably effected in the microwave and UHF frequency range for example from 400 MHz to 5 GHz.  
   
   
       33 . Operating unit according to  claim 31 , characterized in that the operating unit can transfer data and/or energy to the locking element.  
   
   
       34 . Operating unit ( 4 ) according to  claim 31 , wherein the operating unit is secured by an authentication process which is preferably effected via a PIN code and/or a radio transponder and/or biometric data which are collected by corresponding sensors.  
   
   
       35 . Process for locking a locking element in the barrel of a firearm, in particular according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps: 
 at least partially inserting the locking element into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of the firearm,    wherein the operating element is formed and provided such that it is automatically inserted into the wedge element when the locking element is inserted into the barrel of the firearm which causes the wedge element to expand and be pressed against the wall of the barrel thus blocking the barrel, and wherein the wedge element is pressed further against the wall of the barrel if external pressure is applied to the locking element and wherein for removing the locking element the electronic device causes the actuator to move the operating element out of the wedge element so that the wedge element can move back into a position in which the locking element can be removed.    
   
   
       36 . Process for locking a locking element in the barrel of a firearm, in particular according  claim 2 , comprising the following steps: 
 at least partially inserting the locking element into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of the firearm, 
 wherein the electronic device operates the actuator so that the actuator inserts the operating element into the wedge element which causes the wedge element to expand and be pressed against the wall of the barrel thus blocking the barrel, and wherein the wedge element is pressed further against the wall of the barrel if external pressure is applied to the locking element and wherein for removing the locking element the electronic device causes the actuator to move the operating element out of the wedge element so that the wedge element can move back into a position in which the locking element can be removed.