Deformable Magazine Sidewall for Multi-Caliber Firearm Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firearm magazines with straight-bent-straight designs face challenges in accommodating ammunition cartridges of different calibers due to varying rim diameters, leading to unstable stacking and potential jamming issues, especially when smaller rim diameter cartridges are used in magazines designed for larger diameters.
Innovation Solution
A universal magazine with a deformable magazine sidewall spring and reinforcement grooves that adjust to accommodate cartridges of various calibers, providing side support and ensuring stable stacking by deforming to exert a force perpendicular to the magazine walls, thus maintaining reliable feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a magazine is designed with a straight-bent-straight design for straight magazine wall, then the magazine can be dropped by its own weight and inserted quickly, but it cannot accommodate ammunition cartridges of different calibers with varying rim diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine shell incorporates a deformable sidewall spring that can dynamically adjust its shape and internal dimensions. This dynamic structure allows the magazine to adapt to different cartridge rim diameters while maintaining the straight-bent-straight configuration for quick insertion and removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable sidewall spring changes its physical parameters (shape, internal diameter) based on the inserted cartridge's rim diameter. This parameter adjustment enables the same magazine design to accommodate multiple calibers without compromising the straight magazine wall structure needed for rapid operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If a magazine uses a fixed straight-bent-straight design, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it causes unstable stacking and potential jamming when smaller rim diameter cartridges are used
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sidewall spring provides a dynamic adaptation mechanism that maintains reliable feeding for different cartridge sizes. The spring deforms to match the cartridge rim diameter, ensuring stable stacking and consistent feeding reliability without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine shell incorporates a flexible deformable sidewall spring that can bend and adapt to different cartridge dimensions. This flexible element maintains structural integrity and feeding reliability across multiple calibers while keeping the overall design relatively simple for manufacturing.
3Strength
If the magazine sidewall is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the magazine can provide stable support, but it cannot adjust to accommodate cartridges with different rim diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable sidewall spring transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible element that can adjust its shape. This dynamic characteristic allows the sidewall to maintain structural strength while adapting to different cartridge rim diameters, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine shell uses a flexible deformable sidewall spring instead of a completely rigid structure. This flexible component maintains sufficient structural strength to support cartridges while being able to deform and accommodate various rim diameters, enabling multi-caliber compatibility.
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 universal magazine ensures reliable feeding of ammunition cartridges of different calibers by providing adjustable side support, reducing jamming and improving the magazine's ability to handle cartridges with both larger and smaller rim diameters, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable magazine sidewall spring... providing side support to one or more ammunition cartridges when the one or more ammunition cartridges are held in the magazine shell and in contact with the deformable magazine sidewall spring by deforming and exerting a third force
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a magazine for a firearm are described. In one aspect, a magazine for a firearm may include a magazine shell having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of sidewalls between the first end and the second end. The first end may have an opening and may be configured to attach to the firearm. The second end may include a bottom plate. At least a first primary sidewall of the sidewalls may include a deformable concave area that caves inward with respect to the magazine shell such that the concave area bulges outward with respect to the magazine shell to accommodate one or more ammunition cartridges with of a first caliber and that the concave area does not bulge outward to accommodate one or more ammunition cartridges of a second caliber smaller than the first caliber.