Airgun Shuttle Breech Bushing Alignment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional break barrel airguns require manual loading of pellets, which is challenging and extends the time between shots, necessitating an automatic loading mechanism during cocking.

Innovation Solution

The airgun incorporates a shuttle system with a breech bushing and a loading mechanism that aligns and positions a projectile automatically as the barrel is cocked, using a breech bushing with a shaped surface to maintain alignment and a resilient member to bias the shuttle for precise positioning, allowing for automatic pellet loading during the cocking action.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual loading of pellets is used in conventional break barrel airguns, then the structure remains simple, but the time between shots is extended significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshots per unit timeVSAvoidloading mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cocking action itself performs the loading function. When the user cocks the barrel, the shuttle is automatically driven forward by the shuttle drive system, which moves the projectile from the loading system into the breech bushing channel. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate manual loading operations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The loading function is merged with the cocking function. The same user action (cocking the barrel) that prepares the spring for energy storage also drives the shuttle to position and load the projectile. This combining of functions increases productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If a shuttle system with breech bushing is used for automatic loading, then loading speed improves, but misalignment between breech bushing channel and barrel opening may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic loading speedVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The breech bushing acts as an intermediary component between the shuttle passageway and the barrel opening. It provides a transition zone that guides the projectile and compensates for potential misalignments. The shaped surface of the breech bushing interacts with the barrel guide surface to maintain proper alignment during the cocking motion, ensuring the projectile is correctly positioned despite movement dynamics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The breech bushing is designed to move within the shuttle passageway during the cocking action. This dynamic adjustment allows the breech bushing channel to self-align with the barrel opening as the system transitions from cocked to firing position, compensating for misalignment that would occur in a static configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Weight of moving object

If lightweight materials are used for the shuttle system, then device weight is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshuttle system weightVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The shuttle system employs composite construction, combining lightweight materials for the shuttle body with stronger materials for critical load-bearing components like the breech bushing and shuttle drive interfaces. This allows the overall system weight to be reduced while maintaining sufficient structural strength for the high-pressure gas containment and projectile acceleration functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

This solution reduces misalignment issues, minimizes energy loss, and simplifies the design by allowing the use of lightweight materials, enhancing the airgun's efficiency and usability while maintaining accuracy and reducing the need for precise adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient member to bias the shuttle for precise positioning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a port from which a compressed gas can flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11002508B2Multi-shot airgun

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 CROSMAN CORP

AI summary

Airguns are provided. In one aspect, a shuttle having a breech bushing therein is moved between a cocking position where a projectile is loaded into a breach bushing channel and a firing position where the breech bushing channel is located between a port from which compressed air flows firing and a barrel opening into which the compressed air advances the projectile. The barrel has a barrel guide surface at the back barrel face, wherein the breech bushing has a shaped surface facing the barrel and wherein the breech bushing shaped surface and the barrel guide surface are configured to interact as the barrel is moved from the cocked position to the firing position to urge the breach insert to move within the shuttle passageway in a manner that reduces the extent of any misalignment between the breech bushing channel and the opening.