Rail Attachment Mechanism for Weapon Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auxiliary devices for weapons, such as scopes and illuminators, often fail to maintain boresight due to varying tolerances in rail mounting systems, leading to improper fitting and alignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A rail attachment mechanism with an integral clamp member, adjustment cam, and lever arm system that securely engages the auxiliary device to a weapon's mounting rail, accommodating a range of tolerances and wear, ensuring consistent alignment and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If standard rail mounting systems with tolerances are used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to alignment issues and failure to maintain boresight
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism incorporates an adjustment cam that can be rotated to dynamically adjust the position of the auxiliary device along the rail. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to compensate for tolerance variations and maintain precise alignment without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the auxiliary device by rotating the adjustment cam, which moves the device forward or backward along the rail. This parameter change enables fine-tuning of the alignment to achieve and maintain boresight despite variations in rail tolerances or wear over time.
2Reliability
If adjustment mechanisms are added to accommodate tolerances, then reliability and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to additional adjustment steps
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting procedure requires the user to perform preliminary actions in a specific sequence: first secure the auxiliary device to the rail using the clamp member, then rotate the adjustment cam to the appropriate position. This preliminary structuring of operations ensures that the device is properly constrained before alignment adjustment, making the process more reliable even though it involves multiple steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex multi-axis adjustment mechanisms with a simpler rotational cam system that provides precise linear adjustment. Instead of using multiple screws or complex mechanical linkages to achieve alignment, a single rotational motion of the cam converts to linear movement of the auxiliary device, simplifying the operation while maintaining reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed mounting positions are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to accommodate wear and tolerance variations across different weapons
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism is designed to be universal, working with rails of varying tolerances and wear conditions across different weapon platforms. The combination of the clamp member for securing and the adjustment cam for positioning allows a single device to adapt to multiple rail conditions, achieving multi-functionality in terms of compatibility with different weapons and rail states.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment cam acts as an intermediary element between the auxiliary device and the rail. It mediates the connection by providing a controlled adjustment mechanism that can compensate for variations in the rail's condition. This intermediary component allows the system to adapt to different rail tolerances and wear patterns without requiring custom mounting solutions for each weapon.
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 effectively secures auxiliary devices to a wider range of weapons and mounting rails, maintaining boresight and accommodating production tolerances and wear, thereby ensuring accurate targeting and aiming.
Implementation Method 1
an adjustment cam having an adjustment cam axis of rotation aligned with the first axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A rail mounting mechanism for coupling an auxiliary device to a weapon has an adjuster and a lever that can be used to overcome tolerances in mounting rails to provide a consistent grasp of the rail.