Spring-Assisted Guide for Rifle Backplate Detent Spring Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current receiver end plates for rifles, such as the AR-15, fail to assist in retaining the takedown detent spring during assembly, leading to frustration and potential loss of the spring due to misalignment and ejection during the tightening process.
Innovation Solution
A spring-assisted guide is integrated into the backplate, featuring a cylindrically shaped cavity to securely hold the distal end of the detent spring, aligning it with the detent spring channel and preventing misalignment or ejection during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the buffer tube is threaded into the receiver with the receiver end plate already provided on the buffer tube, then the assembly process can proceed, but the detent spring becomes difficult to retain and may be ejected during tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is pre-formed in the receiver end plate at the correct position and orientation before assembly. This preliminary preparation allows the detent spring to be easily inserted and retained at the correct location before tightening, eliminating the difficulty of spring retention during the assembly process.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of the detent spring with the channel is attempted during tightening, then alignment may be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and frustrating
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity acts as an intermediary structure that automatically guides and positions the detent spring into proper alignment with the channel. Instead of requiring manual alignment, the spring simply needs to be inserted into the cavity, which then maintains its aligned position during tightening, dramatically reducing assembly time and complexity.
3Strength
If the detent spring is compressed during tightening without proper retention, then the buffer tube can be secured, but the spring may wiggle out of alignment and be pinched or ejected
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity provides preliminary retention of the detent spring before compression occurs during tightening. By having the spring pre-positioned and secured in the cavity, the harmful effect of spring ejection or pinching is prevented before it can occur, allowing safe compression and secure attachment of the buffer tube.
Data Source
AI summary
A backplate for a rifle may include a buffer tube engagement ring and an engagement tab operably coupled to the buffer tube engagement ring. The engagement tab may include a receiver engagement face and an exposed face that is opposite the receiver engagement face. The receiver engagement face may include a backplate protrusion extending away from a surface of the receiver engagement face, and a spring assisted guide spaced apart from the backplate protrusion. The spring assisted guide may include a cylindrically shaped cavity configured to receive and retain a distal end of a detent spring of the rifle.