GB2033558A

GB2033558A - Cleaning means

Info

Publication number: GB2033558A
Application number: GB7934215A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FIN FINISHING Oy
Current assignee: FIN FINISHING Oy
Priority date: 1978-10-03
Filing date: 1979-10-02
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: IT1123413B; JPS5551297A; BE879126A; FR2438248A1; FR2438248B1; DE2939061A1; FI783003A; GB2033558B; IT7922732V0; SE7908033L; CA1147106A; IT7926185A0; AU5141879A

Abstract

A cleaning means for treating the internal surface of the barrel of a firearm, in particular a chromium- plated barrel, comprises a cleaning unit having a multiplicity of flexible strips 2 of abrasive cloth or the like which are arranged in the form of a whisk. In use of the cleaning means, at least part of at least some of the strips 2 penetrate into the rifling grooves of the barrel. The cleaning unit may be mounted on a conventional barrel cleaning brush. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning means This invention relates to a cleaning means for treating the internal surface of the barrel of a firearm.

Conventional cleaning means for the internal surfaces of firearm barrels are intended for the cleaning of barrels which are not chromium-plated and which, being relatively soft, cannot withstand the action of a hard cleaning means. On the other hand, a chromium-plated firearm barrel can be cleaned with a considerably harder cleaning means, with the result that the cleaning will be more effective and can be carried out faster.

The present invention aims to provide an improved cleaning means for treating the internal surface of a firearm barrel, in particular a chromiumplated barrel, and which is particularly effective for cleaning the bottom of the rifling grooves of firearm barrels.

According to the invention a cleaning means for treating the internal surface of the barrel of a firearm comprises a cleaning unit having a multiplicity of flexible abrasive strips, which are arranged in the form of a whisk, whereby, in use of the cleaning means, at least a part of at least some of the abrasive strips penetrate into the rifling grooves of the barrel.

A cleaning means in accordance with the invention works effectively and does not harm the internal surface of a barrel which has been chromium-plated with the correct degree of hardness. It can also be used for cleaning non-chromium-plated barrels if the desired result cannot be obtained with conventional cleaning means, and for other treatments of such non-plated barrels, for example modification of its form or dimensions and improvement of its surface finish.

Either one or both ends of the abrasive strips of a cleaning means in accordance with the invention may be attached to a body portion of the cleaning unit. It is easier to produce cleaning units according to the first alternative, but on the other hand it is easierto form cleaning units according to the second alternative so that they fully correspond to the rifling profile of the barrel. Usually, the first-mentioned alternative is the more favourable, but for use with very small calibre barrels the cleaning unit of the second alternative may be more favourable.

The most effective cleaning is obtained if the width of the abrasive strips approximately corresponds to the width of the bottom of the rifling grooves of the barrel being cleaned. The best results are obtained if abrasive strips having a coarseness of from 200 to 400 mesh are used.

The cleaning unit is most easily produced from a band of abrasive cloth or the iike, which is cut crosswise, either from one side edge or in a central zone, to form said strips. The cut band is then wound into a roll to form the whisk-shaped cleaning unit.

The roll is preferably hollow and advantageously it comprises at least two full turns of the abrasive band. A cleaning unit of this construction fits well onto a conventional firearm cleaning or oiling brush.

The brush is flexible to such an extent that it fits inside the abrasive strip roll and the bristles of the brush spread the strip-formed portion of the roll and press the strips against the bottom of the rifling grooves. In this way a very effective cleaning means is obtained, and it has the advantage that it can be mounted on an already available barrel treatment brush with its normal shaft.

The cleaning unit should preferably be mounted to rotate freely on a shaft when used for barrel cleaning. If an ordinary barrel cleaning brush is used to hold the cleaning unit, the free rotation of the cleaning unit can easily be obtained by unscrewing the brush a few turns on the threads which connect it to its shaft and then allowing the cleaning unit to rotate on these threads.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are plans of blanks for making first and second embodiments of cleaning means in accordance with the invention, and Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of cleaning units made from the blanks of Figures 1 and 2, respectively.

In Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates a band of abrasive cloth or the like from which the cleaning unit of a cleaning means in accordance with the invention is made. The band is cut crosswise to provide a large number of parallel strips 2 which, in the blank of Figure 1, extend from one side edge of the band 1 and terminate short of the opposite side edge. In the blank of Figure 2, the strips 2 occupy a central region of the band 1, but terminate short of both side edges of the band.

The cut bands 1 of Figures 1 and 2 are wound into rolls to form the whisk-shaped cleaning units of Figures 3 and 4, respectively. The cleaning unit of Figure 4 is of double whisk shape, the two halves of which correspond to the cleaning unit of Figure 3.

The cleaning units of Figures 3 and 4 are made by winding the respective cut bands 1 approximately two complete turns or more, leaving an opening 3 through the middle so that the cleaning unit can fit on a conventional firearm barrel treatment brush.

The layers of the body portion 4 of the cleaning unit are secured together with glue or any other suitable adhesive material.

Preferably, the cleaning units of Figures 3 and 4 are rotatably mounted on a shaft (not shown) so that, in use, they automatically follow the rifling helix of the barrel. As previously mentioned, the shaft may be the shaft of a conventional barrel treatment brush having its brush secured to its shaft by a screw-threaded connection.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawing. For example, the cleaning unit may be a double-ended unit with its abrasive strips attached to a central body portion in order to form two whisk-shaped elements facing in opposite directions.

1. A cleaning means for treating the internal

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cleaning means This invention relates to a cleaning means for treating the internal surface of the barrel of a firearm. Conventional cleaning means for the internal surfaces of firearm barrels are intended for the cleaning of barrels which are not chromium-plated and which, being relatively soft, cannot withstand the action of a hard cleaning means. On the other hand, a chromium-plated firearm barrel can be cleaned with a considerably harder cleaning means, with the result that the cleaning will be more effective and can be carried out faster. The present invention aims to provide an improved cleaning means for treating the internal surface of a firearm barrel, in particular a chromiumplated barrel, and which is particularly effective for cleaning the bottom of the rifling grooves of firearm barrels. According to the invention a cleaning means for treating the internal surface of the barrel of a firearm comprises a cleaning unit having a multiplicity of flexible abrasive strips, which are arranged in the form of a whisk, whereby, in use of the cleaning means, at least a part of at least some of the abrasive strips penetrate into the rifling grooves of the barrel. A cleaning means in accordance with the invention works effectively and does not harm the internal surface of a barrel which has been chromium-plated with the correct degree of hardness. It can also be used for cleaning non-chromium-plated barrels if the desired result cannot be obtained with conventional cleaning means, and for other treatments of such non-plated barrels, for example modification of its form or dimensions and improvement of its surface finish. Either one or both ends of the abrasive strips of a cleaning means in accordance with the invention may be attached to a body portion of the cleaning unit. It is easier to produce cleaning units according to the first alternative, but on the other hand it is easierto form cleaning units according to the second alternative so that they fully correspond to the rifling profile of the barrel. Usually, the first-mentioned alternative is the more favourable, but for use with very small calibre barrels the cleaning unit of the second alternative may be more favourable. The most effective cleaning is obtained if the width of the abrasive strips approximately corresponds to the width of the bottom of the rifling grooves of the barrel being cleaned. The best results are obtained if abrasive strips having a coarseness of from 200 to 400 mesh are used. The cleaning unit is most easily produced from a band of abrasive cloth or the iike, which is cut crosswise, either from one side edge or in a central zone, to form said strips. The cut band is then wound into a roll to form the whisk-shaped cleaning unit. The roll is preferably hollow and advantageously it comprises at least two full turns of the abrasive band. A cleaning unit of this construction fits well onto a conventional firearm cleaning or oiling brush. The brush is flexible to such an extent that it fits inside the abrasive strip roll and the bristles of the brush spread the strip-formed portion of the roll and press the strips against the bottom of the rifling grooves. In this way a very effective cleaning means is obtained, and it has the advantage that it can be mounted on an already available barrel treatment brush with its normal shaft. The cleaning unit should preferably be mounted to rotate freely on a shaft when used for barrel cleaning. If an ordinary barrel cleaning brush is used to hold the cleaning unit, the free rotation of the cleaning unit can easily be obtained by unscrewing the brush a few turns on the threads which connect it to its shaft and then allowing the cleaning unit to rotate on these threads. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are plans of blanks for making first and second embodiments of cleaning means in accordance with the invention, and Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of cleaning units made from the blanks of Figures 1 and 2, respectively. In Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates a band of abrasive cloth or the like from which the cleaning unit of a cleaning means in accordance with the invention is made. The band is cut crosswise to provide a large number of parallel strips 2 which, in the blank of Figure 1, extend from one side edge of the band 1 and terminate short of the opposite side edge. In the blank of Figure 2, the strips 2 occupy a central region of the band 1, but terminate short of both side edges of the band. The cut bands 1 of Figures 1 and 2 are wound into rolls to form the whisk-shaped cleaning units of Figures 3 and 4, respectively. The cleaning unit of Figure 4 is of double whisk shape, the two halves of which correspond to the cleaning unit of Figure 3. The cleaning units of Figures 3 and 4 are made by winding the respective cut bands 1 approximately two complete turns or more, leaving an opening 3 through the middle so that the cleaning unit can fit on a conventional firearm barrel treatment brush. The layers of the body portion 4 of the cleaning unit are secured together with glue or any other suitable adhesive material. Preferably, the cleaning units of Figures 3 and 4 are rotatably mounted on a shaft (not shown) so that, in use, they automatically follow the rifling helix of the barrel. As previously mentioned, the shaft may be the shaft of a conventional barrel treatment brush having its brush secured to its shaft by a screw-threaded connection. The invention is not, of course, limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawing. For example, the cleaning unit may be a double-ended unit with its abrasive strips attached to a central body portion in order to form two whisk-shaped elements facing in opposite directions. CLAIMS

1. A cleaning means for treating the internal surface of the barrel of a firearm, comprising a cleaning unit having a muitiplicity of flexible abrasive strips, which are arranged in the form of a whisk, whereby, in use of the cleaning means, at least part of at least some of the abrasive strips penetrate into the rifling grooves of the barrel.

2. A cleaning means according to claim 1, in which one end of the abrasive strips are attached to a body portion of the cleaning unit.

3. A cleaning means according to claim 1, in which both ends of the abrasive strips are attached to a body portion of the cleaning unit.

4. A cleaning means according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cleaning unit is made from fro an abrasive band which has been cut cross- wise, either from one side edge or in a central region, to form said strips, and which thereafter has been wound into a roll.

5. A cleaning means according to claim 4, in which the roll is formed by two or more complete turns of the band.

6. A cleaning means according to any of the preceding claims, in which the width of the abrasive strips approximately corresponds to the width of the bottom of the rifling grooves of a firearm barrel.

7. Acleaning means according to anyofthe preceding claims, in which the coarseness of the abrasive strips is from 200 to 400 mesh.

8. A cleaning means according to any of the preceding claims, in which said cleaning unit has an opening therethrough enabling mounting of the unit on a firearm barrel treatment brush.

9. A cleaning means according to claim 8, comprising a firearm barrel treatment brush on which said cleaning unit is mounted.

10. A cleaning means according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising a shaft on which the cleaning unit is rotatably mounted.

11. A cleaning means according to claim 1, comprising a cleaning unit constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.