Firearm Hammer With Movable Locking Lug For Impact Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Self-loading semi-automatic or fully automatic handguns face challenges in securing the weapon when the hammer is relaxed, as the hammer blocks the trigger's movement path, leading to potential unintended firing during impact loads due to compromised spring force over time.

Innovation Solution

The hammer head and detent are designed to move relative to each other, allowing the pawl to adjust the locking lug's position, enabling secure weapon operation by pivoting the trigger into its initial position and preventing the detent from jamming, with a spring-loaded damping element ensuring reliable and vibration-free operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pawl is mounted pivotably on the trigger element with compressed springs pressurizing the pawl, then the hammer can be held securely in its cocked position, but the springs lose their clamping force over time and may fail to prevent unintended firing during impact loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of hammer in cocked positionVSAvoidduration of spring force
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking lug is designed to be movable relative to the hammer head, allowing it to shift position dynamically. During normal operation, the locking lug engages with the pawl to hold the hammer cocked. During impact loads, the locking lug can move relative to the hammer head to prevent unintended firing, eliminating the need for continuously compressed springs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The continuously compressed spring mechanism is replaced by a spring-loaded damping element that only activates when needed. The damping element is compressed only during impact events to absorb shock, rather than maintaining constant compression to hold the hammer cocked, thereby eliminating the force degradation problem over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the hammer blocks the path of movement of the trigger when pivoted back into its starting position, then the hammer head and locking lug can be rigidly coupled, but the weapon cannot be secured when the hammer is relaxed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverigid coupling of hammer head and locking lugVSAvoidability to secure weapon
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hammer is divided into two separate components: the hammer head and the locking lug assembly. The locking lug is mounted on a locking piece that can move independently relative to the hammer head. This segmentation allows the locking lug to be adjusted by the pawl into positions that clear the trigger path, enabling the weapon to be secured while maintaining a simple rigid coupling for the hammer head itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking lug is designed with mobility relative to the hammer head through the locking piece mechanism. This dynamic capability allows the locking lug to shift position to clear the trigger path when the weapon needs to be secured, while still providing rigid coupling for firing function when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the detent is formed by a spring-loaded part pivotably mounted on the hammer, then the hammer can be cocked and new cartridges loaded, but a separate axis for pivoting the detent is required, increasing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverate of firingVSAvoidnumber of pivot axes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking piece combines multiple functions into a single component: it houses the locking lug, provides the pivot axis for the locking piece itself, and enables the locking lug to move relative to the hammer head. This merging eliminates the need for a separate pivot axis for the detent, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the ability to cock the hammer and load cartridges at high speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design enhances safety by preventing unintended firing during impact loads and maintaining operational readiness by ensuring the hammer can be securely decocked and cocked without compromising spring force, thus increasing the reliability and durability of the handgun.

Implementation Method 1

a spring-loaded damping element ensuring reliable and vibration-free operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The locking piece 9 is spring-loaded by means of a spring 11 in the direction away from the hammer head 8a

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2652428B9Hammer for a portable firearm
Publication Date: 2015.11.18 SCHMEISSER GMBH
  • EP2652428B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2652428B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2652428B9 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a hammer (5) for a semiautomatic portable firearm (2), wherein the hammer (5) has an axis of rotation (7), a hammer head (8a) and a detent (6), wherein the detent (6) cooperates with a catch (15) of a trigger (14) of the portable firearm (2) and on uncocking of the portable firearm (2), the hammer head (8a) acts directly or indirectly against the firing pin of the portable firearm (2) and causes the round to be released, characterised in that the hammer head (8a) and the detent (6) can be moved relative, in particular linearly, with respect to each other or in that the detent (6) is elastic.