Portable Gun Rest with Adjustable Drag and Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable gun rests often cause optical distortion in rifle scopes due to vibrations, especially when tracking or discharging a firearm, leading to frequent loss of target acquisition, and existing solutions are either too heavy or not rapidly deployable.
Innovation Solution
A portable gun rest with a tripod stand, rotator housing assembly for azimuth control, and platen elevation mechanism for elevation control, featuring polymeric bushings and brakes to dampen vibrations and maintain target acquisition, allowing adjustable drag for smooth movement and quick lockup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a 3/8 inch diameter threaded bolt is used to secure the gun mount head to the stand, then the device is lightweight and rapidly deployable, but vibrations cause significant optical distortion and target acquisition is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable drag control mechanisms that allow the user to dynamically modify the friction between the gun mount head and stand. The drag control assembly includes an adjustable drag collar and spring mechanism that can be tuned to provide optimal resistance during tracking versus rapid deployment, resolving the contradiction between speed and stability by making the system adaptable to different operational phases
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the friction parameter through adjustable drag collars and spring tension mechanisms. By modifying the normal force and friction coefficient between contact surfaces, the system can transition between low-friction rapid deployment mode and high-friction stable aiming mode, directly addressing the contradiction between deployment speed and target acquisition stability
2Reliability
If heavier gun rests are used to restrict movement and maintain target acquisition, then stability is improved, but the device becomes heavy and not rapidly deployable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on static weight for stability, the patent employs dynamic drag control mechanisms that adjust friction forces based on operational needs. The adjustable drag collar and spring system allow the lightweight structure to achieve heavy-gun-rest stability when needed while maintaining rapid deployability when the drag is reduced
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical stability approach (using weight and rigid structures) with an active friction control system. The drag control assembly uses adjustable friction mechanisms to provide stability, substituting the need for heavy construction with a lighter, actively controlled system
3Ease of operation
If the firearm is securely mounted to track a target, then target acquisition is maintained during movement, but vibrations from discharge cause optical distortion and require critical time for dampening
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable drag control allows the user to optimize friction levels for tracking during target acquisition, then increase drag after discharge to rapidly dampen vibrations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to excel at tracking while minimizing the time loss between shots through post-discharge vibration control
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 provides stable target acquisition during tracking and firing, reducing optical distortion and enabling rapid deployment and redeployment, while maintaining control and reducing harmonic vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
A bushing formed of polymeric material is press fit onto the rotator and pivotally secured within the stator
Implementation Method 2
Adjustment of the rotator brake and the elevation brake provide adjustable drag over respective surface areas
Implementation Method 3
A rotator brake is operated to selectively restrict movement between the rotator and the stator
Implementation Method 4
An elevation brake is selectively adjustable to pull the two platens together with different amounts of force providing selectable torque required to move one platen relative to another
Implementation Method 5
The platens have a spine and rib structure with recesses located between the spine and the ribs to promote attenuation of vibration of the gun rest
Data Source
AI summary
A portable gun rest has a gun mount head which includes a rotator housing assembly for azimuth directional control and a platen elevation mechanism for elevation control. The rotator housing assembly has a stator and a rotator. A rotator brake is operated to selectively restrict movement between the rotator and the rotary housing. The platen elevation mechanism has two or more platens which are secured together with a flat bearing located there-between. An elevation brake is selectively adjustable to push the two platens together with different amounts of force providing selectable torque required to move one platen relative to another. The platens have a lattice-like structure for attenuating vibratory motion.