Gas Piston Mounting on Weapon Barrel for Spring Load Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

The limited space in the weapon housing restricts the maximum length of closing springs, preventing them from adequately absorbing increased load changes, which can lead to inefficiencies in the weapon's operation.

Innovation Solution

The gas piston is removed from the weapon housing and mounted on or in the gun barrel, allowing for the integration of longer recoil springs and recoil spring sleeves, with the gas piston connected to the weapon barrel via a gas channel, enabling direct action on the recoil spring device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the gas piston is mounted in the common housing with the closing springs, then the structure is compact and integrated, but the maximum length of the closing springs is restricted and they cannot adequately absorb increased load changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrationVSAvoidload absorption capacity of closing springs
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the weapon system into separate functional modules: the gas piston system is mounted on the gun barrel while the closing spring device is integrated into the weapon housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the gas piston for compact integration and the closing springs for maximum length and load absorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gas piston is relocated from the internal housing space to the external gun barrel surface, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This dimensional change frees up the entire housing volume for the closing spring device, enabling longer springs that can adequately absorb increased load changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If longer recoil springs are used to absorb increased load changes, then the load absorption capacity increases, but the available space in the weapon housing is insufficient to accommodate them

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload absorption capacity of closing springsVSAvoidavailable space in weapon housing
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gas piston is extracted from the weapon housing and mounted on the gun barrel instead. This extraction creates sufficient space within the housing to accommodate longer recoil springs and recoil spring sleeves that can properly absorb increased load changes during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of stationary object

If the gas piston is removed from the weapon housing, then longer recoil springs can be integrated into the housing, but the gas piston requires a separate mounting location on the gun barrel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailable space in weapon housingVSAvoidmounting configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas piston is merged with the gun barrel structure by mounting it directly on the barrel surface. This combination eliminates the need for separate internal housing space for the gas piston while maintaining its functional integration with the weapon system, allowing the housing to be fully utilized for the closing spring device.

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 configuration enables the absorption of increased load changes by utilizing longer and stronger recoil springs, enhancing the weapon's operational efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

In the case of self-propelled weapon systems, such as a gas pressure loader, the reloading and movement of a breech is carried out by the pressure of the powder gases.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The gas piston is connected to the weapon barrel via this gas channel(s).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow through channel: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2972050B1Mounting of a gas piston in a weapon system
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH
  • EP2972050B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A weapon system (10) is proposed, comprising a weapon barrel (2) and a breech mechanism (7), which is guided in a weapon housing (3) and is moved by way of at least one gas piston (4) and a return spring device (13), which structurally adjoins and interacts with the gas piston (4). In this system there are gas channels (14) between the weapon barrel (2) and the gas piston (4). To achieve the effect that a load change can be absorbed better by the return springs (5), it is provided that the gas piston (4) is now mounted on or in the weapon barrel (2) and only the return spring device (13) is integrated in the weapon housing (1).