Firearm Gas Piston Damping Assembly Cycle Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic weapons face reliability issues due to variations in combustion gas pressures from substandard ammunition and tight tolerances leading to jamming and increased wear, exacerbated by high cyclic rates which cause off-axis movement and debris accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A recoil damping assembly incorporating a gas piston and recoil spring to control the cycle rate by equalizing gas forces and slowing the firearm's action, improving bolt and recoil component alignment, and incorporating a travel stop damper to reduce wear and facilitate assembly/disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tight tolerances are used for moving parts, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to jamming and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of the recoil cycle by introducing a damping stage that slows down the action opening speed. This parameter change allows the use of tight tolerances for manufacturing precision while preventing the high-speed wear and jamming that would otherwise occur, thereby maintaining reliability
2Productivity
If high cyclic rate is maintained, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased wear and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a periodic damping action within the recoil cycle that slows down the action opening during the critical cycling phase. This periodic modification to the cycle rate reduces wear and debris generation during each firing sequence, thereby maintaining reliability even when operating at high cyclic rates for productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The damping stage acts as a cushioning mechanism that is built into the recoil system beforehand. This cushioning effect mitigates the harmful impacts and wear that would occur during high-speed cycling, allowing the weapon to maintain reliability while operating at high cyclic rates
3Reliability
If generous tolerances are used, then reliability is improved by preventing jamming, but manufacturing precision deteriorates with off-axis movement
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the speed parameter of the recoil action through the damping stage, the patent enables the use of tighter tolerances (improved manufacturing precision) while the slowed action opening prevents the off-axis movement and wear that would otherwise require generous tolerances for reliability
4Productivity
If high cyclic rate operation is used, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to off-axis movement and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic damping action slows down the action opening during each recoil cycle, reducing off-axis movement and wear. This allows high cyclic rates to be maintained for productivity while the component alignment and manufacturing precision are preserved due to the reduced stress and wear during each cycling event
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 enhances the reliability and longevity of firearms by maintaining closer on-axis movement of components, allowing tighter tolerances, reducing wear, and easing assembly/disassembly, while mitigating the effects of substandard ammunition and high cyclic rates.
Implementation Method 1
The damping stage equalizes the gas forces and slows the opening of the firearm's action
Implementation Method 2
The damping stage includes a gas piston in concert with a recoil spring
Implementation Method 3
The travel stop damper eases the impact of the recoil components, lessening wear due to impact
Data Source
AI summary
A damping assembly for a firearm is provided. The damping assembly includes at least a gas piston and a recoil spring, which may be arranged coaxially or in parallel. The gas piston is disposed within a gas tube which has access to the bore of the firearm through a gas inlet. Pressurized gas from the bore can enter the gas tube via the inlet and push against the gas piston, which can dampen the cycle rate of the firearm.