Adjustable Handgun Sight Rail with Parallel and Angular Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sighting devices for shotguns, particularly in American Trap disciplines, lack comprehensive adjustment options, limiting their ability to adapt to varying shooting conditions and allowing only one-sided adjustments, which restricts precision and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable sighting device with a pivotably mounted sight rail on a height-adjustable center piece, featuring adjusting bolts and nuts for parallel and angular adjustments, allowing for easy assembly and exchangeability, and accommodating barrel expansion due to temperature fluctuations without generating stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the sighting rail is made fixed and rigid, then manufacturing precision and stability are improved, but adaptability to different shooting conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesighting precisionVSAvoidadjustment options

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sighting rail is designed with adjustable elements that allow dynamic repositioning. Specifically, the sight rail can be adjusted in height and angle using adjusting elements with locking mechanisms, enabling the system to adapt to different shooting conditions while maintaining stability when locked in position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sighting device is divided into separate adjustable components including the sight rail, adjusting elements, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of different parameters (height, angle) without affecting the entire structure, providing versatile adaptation while maintaining manufacturing precision for each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sighting rail allows angular and parallel adjustments, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment optionsVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple adjustment functions (angular adjustment and parallel adjustment) are combined into a single integrated sighting rail structure with coordinated adjusting elements. The adjusting elements incorporate both height adjustment and angle adjustment capabilities within unified components, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the barrel is fully constrained to the rail body, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion freedom deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidthermal stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The barrel is extracted from full constraint and allowed selective movement. The rail body is guided in a displaceable manner on the barrel, permitting thermal expansion while maintaining structural stability through controlled guidance at one end that allows linear expansion without generating tension or deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If the sighting rail is made easily adjustable, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidsighting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The manual adjusting elements (screws, knobs, or levers) are designed to replace complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms. These simplified elements provide easy hand operation while incorporating precision-machined threads and locking features that ensure accurate positioning and repeatable precision when adjusted and locked.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise, two-way adjustments without bending stresses, ensuring the sight rail remains free of play and easy to adjust, while allowing the barrel to expand, enhancing shooting accuracy and adaptability across different conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Compression springs are expediently clamped between the rail body and the sight rail. This keeps the sight rail free of play.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the barrel is also largely exposed and can expand relative to the rail body as a result of temperature fluctuations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP1830154B1Adjustable sighting device for a handgun

Publication Date: 2009.04.15 SAT SWISS ARMS TECHNOLOGY AG

Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6

AI summary

The device has a rail body (3) that is fastenable on a barrel (1) of a handgun e.g. shotgun. A sighting rail (4) is arranged adjustably at the rail body. The sighting rail is adjustable continuously in height to both ends by positioning units opposite to the rail body. The positioning units are formed by correcting bolts and lock nuts (13) at the rail body, where the correcting bolts are arranged flexibly to the rail body. The lock nuts are arranged in integrated, lateral elongated holes (12) of the rail body.