Electromechanical Sear with Dual Actuators for Safe Trigger Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sears in guns lack effective safety mechanisms, often compromising trigger feel for safety, and inhibition-based electromechanical systems drain power and can be easily defeated.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical sear mechanism using a pair of actuators, configured in a complementary fashion, to control the sear between a default and action position, activated by electrical pulses for enhanced safety, and optionally combined with mechanical safeties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mechanical safety mechanisms are added to guns, then gun safety is improved, but trigger feel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical safety mechanisms with an electromechanical system that uses electrical actuators (such as shape memory alloys or piezoelectric elements) to control the sear component. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical safety levers and switches that degraded trigger feel, while maintaining reliable safety control through electrical actuation that can be precisely controlled without adding mechanical interference to the trigger mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary electromechanical control system between the trigger and the firing mechanism. The sear component acts as an intermediary element that is controlled by electrical actuators rather than direct mechanical linkages. This intermediary system allows the trigger to maintain its natural mechanical feel while the electrical actuators provide precise control over when the sear releases to allow firing, thus decoupling the trigger feel from safety control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If inhibition-based electromechanical systems are used, then gun safety is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed actuation of the electrical actuators rather than continuous power application. The actuators (shape memory alloys or piezoelectric elements) are activated only when needed to maintain or change the state of the sear component, rather than requiring continuous power input. This periodic action significantly reduces average power consumption while maintaining the safety function, as the actuators consume power only during state transitions rather than continuously holding position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes materials such as shape memory alloys that can maintain their actuated state without continuous power input. Once the actuator is activated to change the sear position, the material's inherent properties (such as elastic recovery or phase transformation memory) allow it to maintain the safety state passively without requiring continuous electrical power, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining safety functionality.
3Reliability
If inhibition-based electromechanical systems are used, then gun safety is improved, but system vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the safety control function into multiple independent actuators (at least two separate actuators controlling different aspects of the sear component) rather than relying on a single inhibition mechanism. This segmentation means that a failure or defeat of one actuator does not necessarily compromise the entire safety system, as other actuators can maintain safety control. The sear component itself is segmented into multiple controlled elements that can be independently actuated, creating redundancy that reduces vulnerability.
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
Improves gun safety by reducing the likelihood of accidental discharges and power consumption, while maintaining a reliable trigger feel.
Implementation Method 1
An electromechanical sear mechanism using a pair of actuators, configured in a complementary fashion, to control the sear between a default and action position, activated by electrical pulses
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and techniques for an electromechanical sear that is implementable in a gun. The gun may include a fire control manager, and the fire control manager may identify a trigger break based on a trigger sensor, transmit, based on the trigger break, a first signal to a first actuator located in a displacement path of a sear, so as to cause the first actuator to be displaced in a first direction, and transmit, based on the trigger break, a second signal to a second actuator located in the displacement path of the sear, so as to cause the second actuator to be displaced in a second direction. The transmitting the first signal to the first actuator and the transmitting the second signal to the second actuator may cause displacement of the sear and firing of the gun.