Barrel Mounting and Retention Mechanism for Firearms
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of barrel change-out in semi-automatic firearms is increased by the presence of hand guards and monolithic receiver assemblies, making it difficult to replace barrels for different calibers or lengths without removing existing components.
Innovation Solution
A barrel mounting and retention device featuring a barrel extension with an annular collar and a mounting plate, both with oblique clamp faces, which aligns and secures the barrel to the receiver using fasteners, allowing for easy attachment and removal without requiring additional tools or disassembly of hand guards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional barrel mounting methods are used with hand guards and monolithic receiver assemblies, then the barrel can be securely mounted, but the complexity of barrel change-out increases and more components must be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is divided into separate modular components: a barrel extension with clamp face, a mounting plate with clamp face, and fasteners. This segmentation allows the barrel to be mounted and removed independently from the hand guard and receiver assembly, enabling easy barrel changes without removing other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrel extension acts as an intermediary component between the barrel and the mounting plate. It includes a clamp face that engages with the mounting plate's clamp face, providing a simplified interface that eliminates the need to disassemble hand guards or monolithic receiver assemblies for barrel changes.
2Reliability
If the barrel is securely retained to the receiver, then proper alignment is maintained, but the time required for barrel replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel extension and mounting plate are pre-configured with complementary clamp faces during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the components are assembled, proper alignment is automatically achieved without requiring time-consuming alignment procedures during barrel replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp faces are designed to self-align during the mounting process. As the barrel extension and mounting plate are brought together, the complementary geometric features automatically guide proper alignment, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures or additional tools during barrel changes.
3Ease of manufacture
If hand guards and monolithic receiver assemblies are used, then the firearm structure is simplified, but the difficulty of barrel removal and replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel mounting system is segmented into independent components (barrel extension, mounting plate, fasteners) that can be assembled and disassembled separately from the hand guard and receiver. This maintains the simplified monolithic receiver structure while providing easy barrel change capability through the modular mounting system.
Data Source
AI summary
A barrel mounting and retention device for attaching a barrel to a receiver of a firearm. The barrel mounting and retention device can include a barrel extension disposed at a proximal end of the barrel, with an annular collar extending from the barrel extension and defining a first clamp face. A mounting plate having a second clamp face and defining a first axial bore fits over the barrel of the firearm with the barrel extending through the first axial bore. At least a portion of the second clamp face abuts a portion of the first clamp face as the mounting plate is secured to the barrel extension for mounting and retaining the barrel in communication with the receiver of the firearm.