Modular Rifle Interchangeable Upper Receiver Caliber Swap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional firearms are limited to firing a single fixed type of round, requiring separate firearms for different calibers, which increases cost and maintenance, and lacks the flexibility to adapt to various mission requirements.
Innovation Solution
A modular automatic or semi-automatic rifle system with interchangeable upper receivers and a common lower receiver, allowing users to quickly switch between calibers such as 5.56mm and 7.62x51mm without re-zeroing optics, using a modular swap of the upper receiver group, and featuring a common buffer system for uninterrupted operability across multiple environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a firearm is designed to fire a single fixed type of round, then the structural design is simple and reliable, but the adaptability to different mission requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The firearm is divided into modular components: a permanent lower receiver and interchangeable upper receiver assemblies. Each upper receiver assembly contains caliber-specific components (barrel, bolt carrier group, chamber). This segmentation allows users to swap entire upper receiver groups to change calibers, providing adaptability without redesigning the entire firearm structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower receiver is designed as a universal base that can accommodate multiple types of upper receiver assemblies through a standardized mating interface. This universal lower receiver serves as a platform for different caliber configurations, allowing a single firearm platform to perform multiple caliber functions without requiring separate firearms for each caliber.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate firearms are used for different calibers, then each firearm can be optimized for its specific caliber, but the cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lower receiver serves as a universal platform that can be paired with different upper receiver assemblies for various calibers. This eliminates the need to manufacture entirely separate firearms for different calibers, reducing production costs and maintenance requirements while maintaining multi-caliber capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the common components (lower receiver, trigger group, magazine well) into a single permanent assembly that serves all caliber configurations. Only the caliber-specific upper receiver components need to be manufactured separately and then combined with the common lower receiver, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost compared to producing separate firearms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the upper receiver is swapped to change caliber, then the adaptability improves, but the time required for reconfiguration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper receiver assembly is segmented into a pre-assembled unit containing the barrel, bolt carrier group, and chamber components. This pre-segmented module can be quickly detached and replaced at the upper receiver level without requiring disassembly of individual internal components, significantly reducing reconfiguration time compared to swapping individual parts.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized mating interface acts as an intermediary between the lower receiver and upper receiver assemblies. This interface includes standardized latch mechanisms and alignment features that enable rapid attachment and detachment of upper receiver groups without requiring specialized tools or complex alignment procedures, minimizing reconfiguration time.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
A modular automatic or semiautomatic rifle. The rifle has a lower receiver assembly having a fire control assembly for firing the rifle. An upper receiver assembly is provided with a frame and a bolt carrier assembly configured for firing bullets of a predetermined caliber. The lower receiver has a mating interface configured for operably joining the lower receiver assembly to the upper receiver assembly, and for operably joining the lower receiver assembly to another upper receiver assembly different from the upper receiver assembly configured for firing bullets of the predetermined caliber. The other upper receiver assembly has a different frame and different bolt carrier assembly configured for firing bullets of a different predetermined caliber.