Breech Plug Flange Sealing for Muzzle-Loading Rifle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Muzzle-loading rifles face difficulties in detaching the breech plug from the barrel due to gunpowder residue accumulation, especially with high-pressure black gunpowder, leading to sticking issues and potential damage when using traditional tools or elastic seals fail to prevent gunpowder passage.
Innovation Solution
A breech plug with a continuous flange that expands against the barrel's seating surface during gunpowder explosion, creating a 360° seal to prevent gunpowder from reaching the connection area, allowing manual detachment without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic mechanized rings are used as seals between the breech plug and barrel, then sealing is improved, but gunpowder particles still collect in the connection area causing sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the elastic ring and relocates it to the flange structure. The flange's broad surface area creates a seal that prevents gunpowder particles from reaching the connection area, while the threaded connection remains accessible for easy detachment. This separates the sealing function from the connection function, solving the sticking problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional ring seal to a two-dimensional flange surface seal. The flange's large surface area in contact with the barrel creates a more effective barrier against gunpowder particles, preventing them from accumulating in the connection area while maintaining ease of detachment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional elastic seals are used, then some sealing is achieved, but gunpowder passes through and accumulates in the connection area
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a dedicated sealing zone at the flange interface between the breech plug and barrel. This localized seal with broad surface area specifically prevents gunpowder particles from reaching the connection area, while the threaded connection area remains accessible for detachment operations.
3Reliability
If the breech plug is tightly secured to the barrel, then sealing is improved, but detachment becomes difficult or impossible without damaging tools
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the breech plug structure into distinct functional zones: the flange provides sealing, the threaded section provides secure connection, and the main body contains the ignition system. This segmentation allows the plug to be tightly secured during operation while remaining easily detachable for cleaning by unscrewing the threaded section.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange structure serves multiple functions: it provides a seal to prevent gunpowder passage, maintains connection stability during firing, and enables easy detachment for cleaning. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between secure connection and ease of maintenance.
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 solution provides a reliable, adaptive sealing effect that prevents gunpowder from passing through, enabling easy and tool-free manual detachment of the breech plug after multiple shots, ensuring effective cleaning and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
Said pressure increases when the gunpowder located near the second end of the breech plug explodes
Implementation Method 2
The flange expands against the seating surface when the gunpowder explodes, increasing the pressure it exerts on the seating surface and therefore improving the sealing effect
Data Source
AI summary
Muzzle-loading rifle, which comprises a breech plug (1) and a barrel (2), both fixed in a connection area (3), characterized in that the breech plug (1) is provided with a continuous flange (11) that presses from inside against a seating surface (12) of the barrel (2) when the breech plug (1) is fitted in the interior of the barrel (2), so that said pressure increases when the powder (7) explodes on the second end (5) of the breech plug (1). As a result, the seal between the breech plug (1) and the barrel (2) is strengthened and the gunpowder is prevented from reaching the connection area (3), thereby making it easier to detach the breech plug (1).