Break-Open Shotgun Autococking/Decocking for Accidental Discharge Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing break-open shotguns face hazards from accidental firing due to the hammer being maintained in a cocked position despite the safety lever being engaged, particularly in hammerless designs where the firing mechanism is concealed, leading to potential unintentional discharge.
Innovation Solution
A break-open shotgun with integrated autococking and decocking mechanisms, featuring a safety mechanism that allows the hammer to be selectively placed in a decocked position, preventing unintended firing even when the shotgun is dropped or impacted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the safety lever is engaged to prevent unwanted firing, then the trigger cannot be squeezed, but the hammer remains in a cocked position which may cause accidental firing if the shotgun is dropped or impacted
Solution Approach 1:
A decocking lever is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the safety lever and the hammer. When the safety lever is engaged, the decocking lever automatically moves to the decocked position, which physically disconnects the hammer from the firing mechanism. This intermediary component ensures that even if the shotgun is dropped or impacted, the hammer cannot strike the striking pin because it is already disengaged by the decocking lever's position.
2Speed
If the hammer is maintained in a cocked position for rapid firing, then the shotgun can be fired quickly, but the risk of accidental discharge increases when the safety lever fails or disengages
Solution Approach 1:
The decocking lever is pre-positioned to automatically disengage the hammer when the safety lever is engaged or when the shotgun is dropped. This preliminary action of decocking the hammer before potential accidental discharge prevents the harmful effect. The system performs the safety check and hammer disengagement in advance, ensuring that even if the safety lever fails, the hammer cannot cause accidental firing.
3Volume of moving object
If the firing mechanism is housed within the body of the firearm for compactness, then the shotgun has a smaller profile, but the user cannot visually see whether the hammers are cocked or if there are live shells
Solution Approach 1:
The decocking lever is designed with visual indicators that change its appearance based on its position. When the decocking lever is in the decocked position, it provides a visible indication (such as a different color, shape, or position marker) that allows the user to see that the hammer is disengaged. This visual feedback mechanism solves the problem of detecting hammer position in hammerless shotguns with concealed firing mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A combination of autococking and decocking mechanisms for a single barrel break-open shotgun including a body, a barrel, a trigger and a hammer is provided. The autococking and decocking mechanisms include the autococking mechanism having an autococking lever to place the hammer in a firing position when the barrel is broken open from the body and the decocking mechanism having a decocking lever to selectively place the hammer in the firing position or a decocked position.