Kinematic Rail Mount Cam Mechanism for Deterministic Aim
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm rail mounts face challenges such as shifting point of aim during repeated mounting and unmounting, lack of clamping force adjustment, and inconvenience due to tool requirements for field adjustments, leading to suboptimal performance and usability.
Innovation Solution
A kinematic rail mount with a cam-in-a-cam mechanism that allows fine-tuning of clamping force without tools and minimizes contact points to ensure a deterministic resting position, utilizing a frame with raised pads and hook-shaped members for stable and adjustable mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mounts use over constrained clamping mechanism, then the device can be securely mounted on the rail, but the point of aim shifts between repetitions of un-mounting and re-mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is divided into separate clamping elements that can independently contact the rail at discrete locations. This segmentation allows the mount to accommodate rail geometry variations without over-constraint, preventing point of aim shifts during repeated mounting while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount uses discrete contact points with specific local geometries (such as curved surfaces or pads) that are optimized for contacting the rail at particular locations. This local quality optimization ensures stable positioning without the need for over-constraining the entire mounting structure.
2Device complexity
If a mount does not offer clamping force adjustment, then the structure can be simpler, but the mount may be mounted too tightly or too loosely due to manufacturing variations in rail geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The mount incorporates an adjustable clamping mechanism that allows the clamping force to be dynamically modified by the user. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the mount to adapt to different rail geometries and manufacturing variations, ensuring reliable attachment without requiring excessive structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a mount uses a spring to compensate for variations in rail geometry, then the mount can adapt to different rails, but the clamping force becomes soft and may not be ideal for heavy payloads
Solution Approach 1:
The mount uses an adjustable mechanism that allows the clamping force parameter to be changed by the user based on the specific application requirements. This enables the system to maintain adaptability to rail geometry variations while providing sufficient clamping force for heavy payloads when needed, avoiding the limitations of fixed spring-based compensation.
4Measurement precision
If a mount requires a tool for tuning its clamping force, then the clamping force can be precisely adjusted, but the shooter is forced to carry the correct tool for making field adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The mount incorporates a self-service adjustment mechanism that allows the user to tune the clamping force directly without requiring external tools. The adjustment interface is designed to be operable by hand or with simple user input, enabling precise clamping force tuning in the field while eliminating the need to carry specialized adjustment tools.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a rail mount (100) for mounting a device on a rail (300). According to an embodiment, the mount comprises a frame (101) having a length along a first direction (y), a width along a second direction (x), and a height along a third direction (z); a clamp (102) operatively connected to the frame to be slidable along the second direction; an adjustment cam (104) operatively connected to the frame to be rotatable around a first axis extending along the third direction; and a lever cam (103) operatively connected to the adjustment cam to be rotatable around a second axis extending along the third direction. The lever cam is configured to translate a rotary force applied thereto into a linear force applied to the clamp along the second direction. The adjustment cam is configured to shift the second axis closer to or further from the frame along the second direction when the adjustment cam is rotated.