Forward Charging System for Rifle Bolt Carrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of M-16 and Armalite style rifles must tilt the firearm away from the target to operate the charging handle, disrupting their aim when performing tasks like ejecting spent casings, loading, clearing jams, or releasing a locked bolt.

Innovation Solution

A forward charging system comprising a charging base, trolley, and rod, which allows the bolt carrier assembly to be moved from a locked to an unlocked position without requiring the firearm to be tilted, using a mechanism where the charging trolley slides along rails and engages the carrier key, enabling these tasks without altering the firearm's orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a top-mounted T-shaped charging handle is used, then the charging handle can be operated to eject spent casings, load rounds, clear jams, and release locked bolts, but the operator must tilt the firearm away from the target to operate the charging handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging handle operationVSAvoidfirearm orientation control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional top-mounted charging handle design by moving the charging mechanism to the front of the firearm. The charging handle extends forward from the barrel area, allowing the operator to pull it back toward the trigger guard to cycle the bolt. This inversion eliminates the need to tilt the firearm away from the target, as the charging handle can now be operated while the firearm remains pointed at the target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the spatial dimension of the charging handle operation by moving it from a top-mounted position (vertical orientation) to a front-mounted position (horizontal orientation). This dimensional change allows the charging handle to be operated in a different plane, enabling the operator to maintain the firearm in a horizontal aiming position while still being able to pull the charging handle back for bolt cycling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If the charging handle is positioned at the top, then leverage can be applied to cycle the bolt, but the operator loses aim when performing charging operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleverage for bolt cyclingVSAvoidfirearm aim maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the charging handle position from top-mounted to front-mounted, the patent allows the operator to apply leverage in a horizontal plane rather than vertically. The charging handle extends forward from the barrel, and when pulled back toward the trigger guard, it cycles the bolt while the operator can maintain the firearm in a horizontal aiming position, thus preserving aim during charging operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The front-mounted charging handle acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers the operator's hand force to the bolt carrier assembly through a different mechanical path. Instead of requiring the operator to tilt the entire firearm to apply leverage, the charging handle serves as a mediator that provides the necessary leverage in a horizontal plane, allowing the firearm to remain stabilized and aimed at the target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a conventional top-mounted charging system is used, then the design is simple and well-known, but the operator cannot perform tasks without moving the firearm away from the target

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging system designVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional top-mounted charging handle design to a front-mounted configuration. This redesign allows the operator to cycle the bolt by pulling the charging handle back toward the trigger guard while keeping the firearm pointed at the target. The operation remains mechanically simple, but the positional inversion enables the operator to maintain aim and improve operational efficiency by eliminating the need to move the firearm away from the target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic positioning capability by allowing the charging handle to be operated in a horizontal plane while the firearm remains stabilized in the aiming position. The charging handle can be pulled back and released without requiring the operator to change the overall orientation of the firearm, providing dynamic operational flexibility that improves productivity while maintaining aim.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10352635B2Firearm with forward charging system

Publication Date: 2019.07.16 F M PROD INC

AI summary

A forward charging system is disclosed. The forward charging system contains a charging trolley containing one or more channels configured to accommodate one or more rails associated with a hand guard, wherein the charging trolley is movable along the one or more rails between a rest position and a charging position, and a rod coupled to a rear portion of the charging trolley, the rod is configured to move a bolt carrier assembly away from a locked position when the charging trolley is moved away from the rest position.