Field adjustable gas bleed assemblies for use with firearms

Abstract

Field adjustable gas bleed assemblies for use with firearms are described. An example field adjustable gas bleed assembly for use with a firearm having a barrel includes a gas cylinder that defines a pressure chamber to be fluidly coupled to a bore of a barrel, wherein the gas cylinder is substantially fixed relative to the barrel. Additionally, the example field adjustable gas bleed assembly includes a fluid control apparatus to control a flow rate of fluid between the pressure chamber and the barrel. The fluid control apparatus is adjustable between a first operation mode and a second operation mode that is different from the first operation mode. The fluid control apparatus includes a first borehole having a first cross-sectional area. The first borehole is associated with the first operation mode. Additionally, the fluid control apparatus includes a second borehole having a second cross-sectional area different from the first cross-sectional area. The second borehole is associated with a second operation mode.

1 . A field adjustable gas bleed assembly for use with a firearm having a barrel, comprising:
 a gas cylinder that defines a pressure chamber to be fluidly coupled to a bore of a barrel, wherein the gas cylinder is substantially fixed relative to the barrel; and   a fluid control apparatus to control a flow rate of fluid between the pressure chamber and the barrel, wherein the fluid control apparatus is adjustable between a first operation mode and a second operation mode that is different from the first operation mode, wherein the fluid control apparatus comprises:
 a first borehole having a first cross-sectional area, wherein the first borehole is associated with the first operation mode; and 
 a second borehole having a second cross-sectional area different from the first cross-sectional area, wherein the second borehole is associated with a second operation mode. 
   
   
   
       2 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first operation mode is associated with firing the firearm with a flash suppressor, which causes a first gas pressure in the bore of the barrel and wherein the second operation mode is associated with firing the firearm with a silencer, which causes a second gas pressure in the bore of the barrel. 
   
   
       3 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first operation mode is associated with firing the firearm with a first type of ammunition and the second operation mode is associated with firing the firearm with a second type of ammunition. 
   
   
       4 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the gas bleed assembly defines an aperture in which the fluid control apparatus is to be inserted. 
   
   
       5 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the fluid control apparatus is rotatable within the aperture between the first operation mode and the second operation mode. 
   
   
       6 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein when the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the first operation mode, the first borehole fluidly couples the pressure chamber and the bore of the barrel and second openings of the second borehole sealingly engage a surface of the aperture and wherein when the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the second operation mode, the second borehole fluidly couples the pressure chamber and the bore of the barrel and first openings of the first borehole sealingly engage the surface of the aperture. 
   
   
       7 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the fluid control apparatus is lockable in either the first operation mode or the second operation mode. 
   
   
       8 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the fluid control apparatus includes an elongated member that defines a groove to receive a biased locking member, wherein the groove includes a plurality of lateral walls to retain the locking member within the groove. 
   
   
       9 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the groove further includes a first surface and a second surface that are separated by an edge and wherein an end of the locking member is to follow at least the first surface or the second surface as the fluid control apparatus is rotated between the first operation mode and the second operation mode. 
   
   
       10 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of lateral walls comprise a plurality of side walls and a plurality of connecting walls that connect the plurality of side walls. 
   
   
       11 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 10 , wherein when an end of the locking member engages one of the connecting walls the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the first operation mode and wherein when the end of the locking member engages another one of the connecting walls the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the second operation mode. 
   
   
       12 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid control apparatus includes an indicator to indicate whether the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the first operation mode or the second operation mode. 
   
   
       13 . The gas bleed assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid control apparatus includes a head that defines an opening to receive a tool to move the fluid control apparatus between the first operation mode and the second operation mode. 
   
   
       14 . A fluid control apparatus to be inserted in an aperture of a gas bleed assembly of a firearm to control a flow rate of fluid between a pressure chamber and a bore of a barrel, comprising:
 an elongated member, wherein the elongated member defines:
 a first borehole having a first cross-sectional area, wherein the first borehole is associated with a first operation mode; and 
 a second borehole having a second cross-sectional area different from the first cross-sectional area, wherein the second borehole is associated with a second operation mode; 
   wherein when the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the first operation mode, the first borehole fluidly couples the pressure chamber and the bore of the barrel and second openings of the second borehole sealingly engage a surface of the aperture and wherein when the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the second operation mode, the second borehole fluidly couples the pressure chamber and the bore of the barrel and first openings of the first borehole sealingly engage the surface of the aperture.   
   
   
       15 . The fluid control apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fluid control apparatus is rotatable within the aperture between the first operation mode and the second operation mode. 
   
   
       16 . The fluid control apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the elongated member defines a groove to receive a biased locking member of the gas bleed assembly, wherein the groove includes a plurality of lateral walls to retain the locking member within the groove. 
   
   
       17 . The fluid control apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the groove further includes a first surface and a second surface that are separated by an edge and wherein an end of the locking member is to follow at least the first surface or the second surface as the fluid control apparatus is rotated between the first operation mode and the second operation mode. 
   
   
       18 . The fluid control apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of lateral walls comprise a plurality of side walls and a plurality of connecting walls that connect the plurality of side walls. 
   
   
       19 . The fluid control apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein when an end of the locking member engages one of the connecting walls the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the first operation mode and wherein when the end of the locking member engages another one of the connecting walls the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the second operation mode. 
   
   
       20 . The fluid control apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the fluid control apparatus includes an indicator to indicate whether the fluid control apparatus is positioned in the first operation mode or the second operation mode.