Rotating Buffer Apparatus for Shoulder-Fired Weapon Buttstock Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shoulder-fired weapons with high capacity magazines or short barrel rifles face difficulties in maintaining the vertical alignment of the butt stock with the shoulder when rotated 90°, making it hard to shoot from prone positions or in tight spaces due to the misalignment of the butt stock and the cup of the shoulder.
Innovation Solution
A rotating buffer apparatus that separates the buffer tube into a front and rear end, allowing the butt stock to rotate relative to the lower receiver and lock into place, using split sleeves and a detent pin mechanism to maintain concentricity and prevent over-rotation, enabling the rifle to be rotated while keeping the butt stock aligned with the shoulder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rifle is rotated 90° to fire from tight spaces or prone positions, then the magazine can be positioned horizontally, but the butt stock becomes misaligned with the shooter's shoulder
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tube assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a rotating mechanism that allows the rear buffer tube (attached to butt stock) to rotate relative to the front buffer tube (attached to lower receiver). This enables the rifle to transition between vertical and horizontal magazine positions while maintaining proper butt stock alignment with the shooter's shoulder through independent rotation of the rear buffer tube segment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the butt stock is fixed to the lower receiver, then the structure is simple and stable, but the rifle cannot be rotated while maintaining butt stock alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer tube is divided into two separate segments: a front buffer tube that attaches to the lower receiver and a rear buffer tube that attaches to the butt stock. These segmented sections are connected through a rotating mechanism with detent positioning, allowing the rear section to rotate independently relative to the front section. This segmentation enables rotational adaptability while maintaining structural stability through precise detent locking positions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rotating mechanism is added to allow butt stock rotation, then shooting position adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating mechanism incorporates a cam and follower system that provides controlled rotational movement between the front and rear buffer tubes. The cam profile guides the rotation while the follower maintains engagement, enabling smooth transition between positions. Detent mechanisms provide stable locking at specific angles (0°, 45°, 90°), reducing the need for complex continuous control systems and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A cam and follower mechanism serves as an intermediary between the front and rear buffer tubes, mediating the rotational movement. The cam converts rotational input into controlled angular displacement of the rear buffer tube, while the follower ensures proper engagement and positioning. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the direct connection complexity by providing a standardized interface for rotational adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoulder fired weapon comprising: a lower receiver, a magazine removably attachable to the lower receiver; a buffer tube attached to the lower receiver; a buttstock attached to the buffer tube, and where the buttstock can rotate with respect to the lower receiver and the buttstock can lock into place. A rotating buffer apparatus comprising: a front end buffer tube, the front end buffer configured to screw into a lower receiver of a shoulder fired weapon; a rear end buffer tube, aligned with and adjacent to the front end buffer tube; the rear end buffer tube configured to attach to a buttstock; and where when the rotating buffer apparatus is installed into the shoulder fired weapon, the buttstock can rotate with respect to the lower receiver and the buttstock can lock into place.