Bottom-Chamber Revolver Layout to Reduce Barrel Rise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Revolvers experience significant barrel rise during firing, especially with larger caliber ammunition, necessitating re-acquisition of the target for follow-up shots, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A revolver design that fires projectiles from the six o'clock position of the cylinder rotation, utilizing an extractor rod assembly and indexing detents to center the chamber, reducing barrel jump and enhancing target acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the revolver fires from the traditional twelve o'clock position, then the design is simple and conventional, but the barrel rise is significant causing slower target re-acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional firing position from twelve o'clock (top) to six o'clock (bottom). By rotating the cylinder 180 degrees so that the chamber aligns with the barrel at the six o'clock position instead of twelve o'clock, the recoil force acts more favorably to reduce barrel rise. This inversion of the firing position directly addresses the time loss problem while maintaining the basic revolver mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric indexing detents positioned at specific locations on the cylinder perimeter to enable selective positioning of chambers at the six o'clock firing position. The detents are strategically placed to allow the cylinder to rotate and lock at the inverted position while preventing rotation to other positions during normal operation. This asymmetric arrangement enables the beneficial six o'clock firing while maintaining controlled cylinder rotation.
2Force
If larger caliber ammunition is used, then the stopping power and effectiveness increases, but the barrel rise and recoil increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the firing position to six o'clock, the patent changes the geometry of recoil force application. The downward and backward recoil vector from bottom-chamber firing creates a more favorable moment arm that reduces the rotational torque causing barrel rise. This allows larger caliber rounds to be fired with significantly reduced barrel jump, maintaining stopping power while improving follow-up shot speed.
3Ease of operation
If the cylinder is rotated to center the chamber at six o'clock position, then barrel jump is reduced, but the indexing mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indexing detents are positioned asymmetrically around the cylinder perimeter at specific angular intervals. This asymmetric placement allows the cylinder to be rotated precisely to the six o'clock position while preventing unintended rotation to other positions. The detents engage with corresponding slots or notches on the cylinder, providing positive indexing that ensures accurate chamber alignment without requiring complex control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A revolver having a frame, a cylinder, a trigger assembly, and a barrel. The cylinder is rotatable on its axis and is indexed to position a chamber at the six o'clock position. The barrel is in line with the chamber at the six o'clock position, allowing the revolver to fire a projectile from the six o'clock position, thus causing less barrel rise.