Ammunition Magazine Base Locking via Spring Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ammunition magazine designs with spring-operated followers face challenges in minimizing the volume occupied by the locking mechanism, which limits the magazine's capacity and reliability of the locking mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A magazine base locking system where a spirally embodied spring with a catch mechanism minimizes the volume taken up by the locking mechanism, allowing additional space for ammunition and enhancing locking reliability by using a catch on the magazine base to secure a part of the spring, ensuring a firmer and more secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional spring locking mechanism is used to secure the magazine base to the magazine body, then the locking reliability is improved, but the volume occupied by the locking mechanism increases, reducing the magazine capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is positioned such that when compressed, it nests within the follower assembly, while the first turn of the spring remains outside to engage with the catch on the magazine base. This nested arrangement minimizes the volume occupied by the locking mechanism while maintaining its reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is configured with its first turn extending radially outward from the compressed spring body, creating a three-dimensional engagement structure. The catch on the magazine base engages with this first turn in a different spatial dimension, allowing secure locking with minimal volume occupation.
2Volume of stationary object
If the magazine base locking mechanism is simplified to reduce volume, then the magazine capacity is increased, but the locking reliability and security are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: the compressed spring body providing elastic force, the first turn of the spring providing engagement surface, and the catch on the magazine base providing secure attachment. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring's own structure provides the locking mechanism - the first turn of the spring serves as the engagement element that catches on the magazine base. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate complex locking components, maintaining reliability while minimizing volume.
3Device complexity
If the spring is positioned to engage directly with the magazine base without a catch mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the locking security and firmness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The first turn of the spring serves multiple functions: it maintains the compressed state of the spring, provides the engagement surface for the catch, and transmits the locking force. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining locking security through the specially constructed catch engagement.
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 increases the magazine's capacity by optimizing the use of space and improves the reliability of the locking mechanism, ensuring secure attachment and easy disassembly while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (3) and a follower (2)... the follower is pressed by the spring
Data Source
AI summary
An ammunition magazine with an improved base locking, including: a hollow magazine body, a follower, a spring and a magazine base. The magazine body is equipped with track guides that correspond to grooves embodied on the magazine base, that the magazine base is guided onto. The spring is spirally embodied such that the first turn fully encompasses the surface of the magazine base and in the compressed state the rest of the spring, without the first turn, can fully fit into the follower pressed by the spring. The magazine base has a catch on one side and a hole positioned next to the catch. The magazine body has a slit allowing the catch to pass unobstructed into the magazine body and catch the detent spot on the spring positioned inside the magazine body. An advantage is improved safety of magazine base locking to the magazine body and simpler construction.