Firing Pin Lock Leaf Spring Bolt Carrier Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firearms often experience inadvertent or accidental discharges due to the firing pin striking the primer without intentional trigger pull, leading to safety concerns such as slamfire during chambering.
Innovation Solution
A bolt-carrier group with a firing pin lock comprising a flexible leaf spring that is angled and mounted on the side of the bolt carrier, applying a controlled lateral force to prevent forward movement of the firing pin until intentionally struck by the hammer, thereby preventing accidental discharges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a firing pin lock is added to prevent accidental discharge, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible leaf spring as the firing pin lock mechanism. This thin, flexible component engages with the firing pin to prevent accidental discharge while maintaining simplicity. The leaf spring's flexibility allows it to deform under hammer strike force, automatically disengaging the firing pin when needed, thus improving safety without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the leaf spring is made flexible to allow hammer strike disengagement, then ease of operation is improved, but strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the leaf spring's physical parameters including its length, width, thickness, and material properties to achieve the desired balance between flexibility and strength. By carefully controlling these parameters, the leaf spring becomes flexible enough to deform under hammer strike (improving ease of operation) while maintaining sufficient strength to reliably prevent accidental discharge during normal operation.
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 firing pin lock effectively prevents slamfire by securely engaging the firing pin and disengaging only during the firing sequence, ensuring safe operation and withstanding a high number of rounds without failure.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible leaf spring that is angled and mounted on the side of the bolt carrier, applying a controlled lateral force to prevent forward movement of the firing pin
Implementation Method 2
The firing pin lock can apply a spring force of greater than 0.2 lb and less than 2.0 lb laterally against the firing pin
Data Source
AI summary
A firing pin lock for firearms is provided. The firing pin lock is a single piece of resilient metal that includes a pocket for receiving the head of the firing pin to prevent inadvertent discharge of the firearm. The firing pin lock can be mounted laterally in the bolt carrier group and is deflected outwardly by the action of the hammer.