Free-floating barrel mounting system balancing moment forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current barrel mounting systems for firearms do not effectively balance moment forces, leading to potential thermal distortion and reduced shooting accuracy in long guns like rifles and carbines, especially in competition shooting where a free-floating barrel is desired to avoid physical coupling with the stock or handguard.
Innovation Solution
A free-floating barrel mounting system that includes upper and lower mounting features above and below the barrel bore centerline, using a clamping block and securement fasteners to compress the barrel against the receiver, forming a triangular bolting pattern that balances moment forces and maintains the barrel's freedom from thermal distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the barrel is physically coupled to the stock or handguard, then the barrel is restrained and supported, but thermal distortion occurs reducing shooting accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel mounting system is segmented into multiple independent mounting features (first mounting feature, second mounting feature, third mounting feature) distributed at different locations. This segmentation allows the barrel to be supported at discrete points rather than continuously coupled, enabling thermal expansion at unsupported sections while maintaining positional stability through the distributed mounting points.
Solution Approach 2:
Different mounting features are positioned at specific locations (first at rear, second at front, third at side) to provide localized support where needed. This local quality approach ensures the barrel is supported at critical points to maintain alignment while allowing free thermal expansion in other areas, resolving the contradiction between support and thermal distortion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the barrel is completely free-floating with no physical coupling, then thermal distortion is avoided, but barrel stability and alignment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting features are strategically positioned at specific locations along the barrel (rear, front, and side) to provide localized support only where needed for stability and alignment. This selective local support maintains barrel alignment while leaving other portions free to expand thermally, resolving the contradiction between complete freedom and necessary stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed mounting features act as counterbalancing support points that compensate for each other. The first mounting feature at the rear, second at the front, and third at the side create a balanced support system that counteracts gravitational and operational forces, maintaining barrel alignment without requiring continuous support that would cause thermal distortion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mounting features are added to support the barrel, then barrel stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into three separate, simple mounting features rather than one complex mounting system. Each mounting feature is independently simple in design but collectively they provide the necessary stability. This segmentation reduces the complexity of individual components while achieving the overall stability goal.
Solution Approach 2:
Each mounting feature serves multiple functions: providing mechanical support, maintaining alignment, and allowing for thermal expansion. The distributed mounting features collectively perform the work of what would otherwise require a single complex mounting system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining stability.
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
The system enhances shooting accuracy by ensuring the barrel is not biased and remains free from thermal distortion, maintaining optimal alignment and performance without supportive contact from the stock, thus improving the firearm's precision.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting features are configured and operable to compress a flat rear face of the barrel against a mating flat front face of the receiver for retaining the barrel
Data Source
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AI summary
A barrel mounting system for a firearm includes a longitudinal axis, a receiver, and a barrel detachably coupled to the receiver by upper and lower barrel mounting features above and below the barrel bore centerline. The lower mounting feature may comprise a clamping block compressing a lower breech end portion of the barrel against the receiver. In one embodiment, a pair of lower securement fasteners extend through the clamping block and threadably engage the receiver to draw the block into engagement with the receiver. The upper mounting feature may comprise a securement fastener compressing an upper breech end portion of the barrel against the receiver. The upper and lower mounting features form a triangular bolting pattern and balance moment forces created by the compressive forces of coupling the barrel to receiver with the fasteners.