Adjustable Firearm Bolt for Multi-Caliber Cartridge Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firearms are limited to firing cartridges of a single specific size, which restricts versatility and operational flexibility, especially for military and law enforcement applications where different power levels are required, and existing firearms that can fire different sizes often cannot accommodate cartridges with shoulders.
Innovation Solution
A firearm design featuring a receiver portion with interlocking retention features that accommodate cartridges of varying lengths, including those with shoulders, allowing for the physical engagement and firing of bullets from different-sized cartridges through a bolt portion with complementary alignment features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a firearm is designed to fire cartridges of a single specific size, then the firearm structure is simple and reliable, but the versatility and operational flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The firearm employs a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the bolt portion can be repositioned along the receiver portion to different locking positions. Each position corresponds to a specific cartridge length, allowing the firearm to adapt its internal geometry dynamically rather than being fixed for a single cartridge size. This resolves the contradiction by enabling multi-cartridge compatibility through movable components rather than multiple fixed firearm designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The firearm is divided into separable components: a receiver portion with retention features and a bolt portion with complementary retention features. These segments can interact at multiple discrete positions, allowing the bolt to lock at different locations along the receiver depending on cartridge length. This segmentation enables versatility while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a firearm is designed to accommodate cartridges of different lengths, then versatility is improved, but headspace adjustment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention features on the bolt and receiver portions automatically engage at the appropriate position based on the inserted cartridge length. The system self-adjusts the headspace configuration without requiring manual intervention or complex adjustment mechanisms. The operator simply inserts the cartridge, and the retention features naturally align to provide the correct headspace for that specific cartridge type, eliminating the need for manual headspace adjustment complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple firearms with different cartridge calibers are used, then operational flexibility for different power levels is achieved, but device complexity and weight burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single firearm design serves multiple functions by accommodating different cartridge lengths and power levels through the adjustable bolt mechanism. Instead of requiring separate firearms for different power levels (each with its own weight), one universal firearm can be configured for various cartridge types, reducing the total weight burden while maintaining operational flexibility across different power requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to firearms that can receive and fire bullets from ammunition with different cartridge case sizes. For example, the receiver may fire a bullet from either a short cartridge, a medium cartridge, or long cartridge after the short, medium, or long cartridge is received by a receiver of the firearm. This firearm may include a receiver portion and a bolt portion that lock together at different relative locations when cartridges of different lengths are received by the receiver portion. The receiver portion may include a first type of alignment retention features (e.g. protrusions) and the bolt portion may include a second type of alignment retention features (e.g. recessions). Once a firearm cartridge is located inside of the firearm, it may be fired based on the receiver and the bolt portions being locked together via physical engagement of the different types of alignment retention features.