Hardened Cam Race with Riveted Pins for Upper Receiver Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bolt action firearms experience premature wear and operational unreliability due to contaminants and improper maintenance, particularly affecting the cam pin's interaction with the interior surface of the upper receiver.
Innovation Solution
A hardened cam race made of a different material, such as steel or titanium, is secured to the upper receiver with integrally formed fastener pins to minimize wear and ensure a strong connection, reducing the risk of damage from contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hardened cam race made of different material (steel or titanium) is used, then wear resistance and durability are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and materials
Solution Approach 1:
The cam race is implemented as a separate, replaceable component rather than being integral to the upper receiver. This segmentation allows the hardened cam race to be independently manufactured and installed, protecting the softer aluminum receiver while enabling easy replacement when worn.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction by combining the aluminum upper receiver with a hardened steel or titanium cam race. This multi-material approach leverages the lightweight properties of aluminum for the receiver while using harder materials for the wear-prone cam race surface.
2Strength
If integrally formed fastener pins are used to secure the cam race, then connection strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener pins are integrally formed with the cam race as a single piece rather than being separate components. This merging of the cam race and fasteners simplifies assembly by eliminating the need for separate fastener installation steps while maintaining strong mechanical attachment through the integral design.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the cam race is made from a harder material composition, then durability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hardened material is applied only to the cam race where wear resistance is critical, rather than making the entire upper receiver from hard material. This localized application of hard material provides durability exactly where needed while keeping the rest of the receiver lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines lightweight aluminum for the upper receiver with small amounts of harder steel or titanium for the cam race. This composite approach provides the necessary durability in the wear zone while maintaining overall lightweight construction through the predominant use of aluminum.
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 hardened cam race minimizes wear and enhances durability of the firearm components, maintaining reliable operation even in dirty environments with minimal weight increase.
Implementation Method 1
The hardened cam race minimizes wear and enhances durability of the firearm components
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, the body and the plurality of fastener pins are nitride finished
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A cam race comprising a hardened material (harder than a material of an upper receiver) is provided to increase durability of a firearm. The cam race is fit within a groove within an interior sidewall of an upper receiver of the firearm. The cam race comprises a body that is fit within the groove, and a plurality of fastener pins extending away from a rear face of the body that fit within corresponding through-holes of the upper receiver. Distal ends of each of the fastener pins are deformed to form a riveted connection between the cam race and the upper receiver. The cam race defines a slide face along which a cam pin of the firearm slides during a firing process, thereby increasing the durability of the firearm against undesired formation of defects within the interior sidewall of the upper receiver.