Carbon Fiber Rifle Barrel Preload for Higher Rigidity and Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firearm barrels made of traditional metals and alloys are heavy, making them difficult to transport and limiting their lifespan and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A carbon fiber mix is applied around a barrel core to create a tension that increases rigidity, using a method that includes heating the core to extend its length, curing the carbon fiber mix, and allowing it to cool, thereby maintaining the extended length and creating a more accurate and lightweight barrel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional metal barrels are used to ensure strength and service life, then the barrel strength and durability are improved, but the barrel weight increases making it cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a steel barrel core with a carbon fiber reinforced polymer coating. The steel core provides the necessary strength and durability, while the carbon fiber coating provides additional strength with significantly less weight than traditional metal barrels. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by achieving high strength without the excessive weight of pure metal construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by transitioning from homogeneous metal construction to a composite structure with specific material properties. The steel core has high density and strength, while the carbon fiber coating has low density and high strength-to-weight ratio. By carefully selecting and combining materials with different parameters, the barrel achieves optimal strength-weight balance.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If increased amounts of steel are used to increase barrel life and strength, then the service life and strength are improved, but the barrel becomes heavier and more difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to extend service life without increasing weight. The steel core provides structural integrity and resistance to wear, while the carbon fiber reinforced polymer coating adds protective layers that resist corrosion and degradation. This composite approach achieves longer service life than traditional metal barrels while maintaining significantly reduced weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different material properties to different parts of the barrel structure. The steel core provides mechanical strength and structural support, while the carbon fiber coating provides corrosion resistance and wear protection. This localized material assignment optimizes service life without requiring excessive material usage that would increase weight.
3Manufacturing precision
If a carbon fiber mix is cured to create tension on the barrel core, then the rigidity and accuracy are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the carbon fiber reinforced polymer coating around the steel barrel core before final curing. The coating is applied in a controlled manner with fibers oriented to create tensile stress when cured, which then induces the desired rigidity and accuracy. This preliminary preparation simplifies the overall manufacturing process by breaking down the complex curing operation into manageable steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling the curing process to transform the carbon fiber reinforced polymer from a flexible state to a rigid cured state. By controlling temperature, pressure, and time parameters during curing, the material transitions to create the desired tensile stress and rigidity in the barrel core, achieving improved accuracy through controlled material transformation rather than complex mechanical processing.
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 method results in a rifle barrel with increased strength, accuracy, and reduced weight, minimizing flexing and vibration, leading to consistent bullet trajectories.
Implementation Method 1
heating the mold to grow a length of the barrel core
Implementation Method 2
cooling the barrel core, wherein the cured carbon fiber mix causes a tension on the barrel core when the length of the barrel core decreases due to cooling
Implementation Method 3
cooling the barrel core, wherein the cured carbon fiber mix causes a tension on the barrel core when the length of the barrel core decreases due to cooling, and wherein the tension increases a rigidity of the rifle barrel
Data Source
AI summary
A method of forming a carbon fiber rifle barrel may include the steps of heating a barrel core to increase the length of the barrel, placing the barrel core inside a mold and holding the lengthened barrel in place, adding a carbon fiber mix to the mold in which the carbon fiber mix includes a blend of resin and chopped carbon fibers, sealing the mold, curing the carbon fiber mix surrounding the lengthened barrel core in which the cured carbon fiber mix holds the length of the barrel core creating a tension on the cooled barrel core which increases a rigidity of the rifle barrel thereby increasing the accuracy of the rifle barrel, removing the rifle barrel from the mold, and finishing the rifle barrel via grinding to a desired finish.