Hollow Hammer Downward Ejection Rifle Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Bullpup firearms face issues with ejection interference, short sight radius, and increased risk of injury due to complex ejection mechanisms, particularly in downward ejection configurations, which are not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A gas-operated rifle with a trigger and grip mounted forward of a magazine, featuring a hollow hammer mechanism and a downward ejection chamber, where the hollow hammer is pivotally attached to the trigger mechanism and includes a U-shaped design with elongated legs extending downward, allowing spent casings to be ejected safely and efficiently through a rectangular ejection chute located behind the magazine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a downward ejection mechanism is used in a bullpup firearm, then spent casings are ejected in a safe direction away from the user, but the ejection mechanism becomes more complex and difficult to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser injury from ejectionVSAvoidejection mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow hammer is designed to rotate behind the magazine, with the spent case being ejected through the hollow hammer itself into the downward ejection chamber. This nesting approach allows the ejection function to be integrated within existing components rather than requiring separate dedicated ejection mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving safe downward ejection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of ejecting casings upward or to the side as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the ejection direction to downward, away from the user's head and body. The hollow hammer rotates to direct casings into the downward ejection chamber, fundamentally changing the ejection trajectory to improve safety without requiring complex additional components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the hollow hammer rotates a distance behind the magazine, then spent cases can be ejected downward through the hollow hammer, but the mechanism requires more space and may interfere with other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafe ejection directionVSAvoidspace required for hammer rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow hammer rotates within the confined space behind the magazine, utilizing the existing volume of the bullpup configuration. The spent case is ejected through the hollow hammer into the downward ejection chamber, effectively nesting the ejection path within the existing structural envelope rather than requiring additional external space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow hammer is designed to rotate dynamically behind the magazine during the ejection cycle. This rotational movement allows the hammer to clear the spent case downward into the ejection chamber without requiring permanent clearance in all directions, optimizing space utilization while maintaining safe ejection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a rectangular ejection chute is used behind the magazine, then spent cartridges are ejected efficiently in a controlled direction, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection controlVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The downward ejection chamber is integrated with the existing magazine and receiver structure of the bullpup firearm. Rather than being a separate component, the ejection chute is merged into the overall design, allowing spent cartridges to be ejected efficiently through the controlled rectangular opening while minimizing additional manufacturing steps and complexity

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

The solution provides a safer, more versatile, and easier-to-manufacture downward ejection mechanism that allows for ejection of spent cartridges in a controlled direction, reducing user injury and improving usability in confined spaces, while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

hollow hammer mechanism and the magazine are located behind the trigger and spent cartridges are ejected downward

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9200857B1Hollow hammer with downward ejecting chamber for rifle

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 KELLGREN GEORGE

AI summary

Methods, devices, apparatus and systems for a downward ejecting rifle configured with a trigger and grip mounted forward of a magazine. The rifle includes a receiver with a bolt assembly slidably located therein, a rifle barrel connected with the receiver with a cartridge chamber, the barrel arranged to mate with a bolt mechanism located rearward of the trigger and grip, and a downward ejection port rearward of the magazine to allow a spent casing to eject downward from the rifle. The downward ejection port includes an oversized hollow hammer pivotally connected with a trigger assembly such that after firing the bolt mechanism travels rearward extracting the spent casing over and behind the magazine where it is ejected through the oversize hollow hammer. Downward ejection mechanisms can include a hollow ejection chute reward of the magazine below the hollow hammer with ejected casings passing downward through the ejection chute.