Submachine Gun Hammer Mechanism for Recoil Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing submachine guns face issues with ergonomics, recoil management, weight, bulkiness, safety, and precision due to limitations in barrel bounce containment and recoil perception, leading to inconvenient and imprecise operation.

Innovation Solution

An automatic submachine gun design featuring a hammer with a rotation pin above the barrel axis, a trigger assembly with opposing levers for preventing premature discharge, and a selector for single shot or burst fire modes, along with ergonomic features like an asymmetrical magazine and a curved butt guide, which amplifies the hammer's movement to enhance recoil management and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hammer mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but premature discharge occurs and safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hammer mechanism is divided into two opposing levers: a first lever associated with single-shot firing mode and a second lever associated with burst firing mode. This segmentation allows independent control and prevention of premature discharge while maintaining structural organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cam means acts as an intermediary element that selectively blocks or disengages the opposing levers based on the selected firing mode. The cam means mediates between the selector and the hammer levers, enabling safe mode transitions without direct complex linkages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If traditional recoil management systems are used, then the design is conventional, but barrel bounce and perceived recoil are excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveergonomicsVSAvoidbarrel bounce
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hammer's center of mass is positioned below its rotation pin, creating a counterbalancing effect during recoil. This counterweight arrangement helps contain barrel bounce and reduces perceived recoil, improving ergonomics without requiring additional recoil mitigation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The hammer's rotation pin is positioned above the axis of the barrel, and the center of mass is positioned below the point of impact with the bolt. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions amplifies the hammer's movement and creates a stabilizing moment that counteracts barrel bounce.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If standard trigger assemblies are used, then the design is conventional, but precision and control are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprecisionVSAvoidtrigger assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger assembly controls two separate opposing levers independently through a sear lever mechanism. This segmentation allows precise control over single-shot and burst-fire modes, preventing premature discharge while maintaining operational precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sear lever rotates dynamically during the firing cycle, engaging and disengaging from the opposing levers based on trigger pull and bolt position. This dynamic mechanism provides precise control timing without requiring complex electronic or mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Force

If the hammer center of mass is positioned conventionally, then the structure is balanced, but the movement is not amplified enough for effective recoil management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecoil managementVSAvoidhammer configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hammer's center of mass is deliberately positioned below the rotation pin and below the point of impact with the bolt, creating a counterbalancing weight distribution. This arrangement amplifies the hammer's rotational movement during recoil, enhancing force generation for bolt operation and recoil management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The hammer's center of mass is positioned in a vertical dimension below the rotation pin, while the rotation pin itself is positioned above the barrel axis. This multi-dimensional spatial arrangement creates a longer moment arm, amplifying the hammer's movement and the resulting forces without adding mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design results in an ergonomic, safe, and precise automatic submachine gun that can be used as both a pistol and a carbine, offering improved recoil containment and operational convenience with ambidextrous controls and adjustable burst fire rates.

Implementation Method 1

the length of the movement of the centre of mass of the hammer is amplified compared to the length of the movement of the bolt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 2

the trigger assembly for the hammer comprises an opposing lever of the hammer for preventing a premature discharge actuatable by the bolt on attaining its locked position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Locking: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the cam means blocks at least one of the opposing levers of the hammer for single shot fire and for burst fire, a second angular position in which the cam means does not interfere with the opposing levers of the hammer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam Mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 4

a hammer 22 swinging in opposition and through the action of a spring actuator element 23 between a cocked position and an uncocked position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring Force: Spring

Implementation Method 5

a friction element 430 configured and disposed to interact with the hammer 22 and dissipate a kinetic energy of the hammer 22

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 6

an inertia element 420 configured and disposed to increase an inertial mass of the hammer 22

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3254048B1Automatic submachine gun for exploiting recoil comprising two opposing levers for the hammer, one associated with single-shot firing mode and the other with burst firing mode
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 FAR LEAGUE SRL
  • EP3254048B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3254048B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3254048B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automatic submachine gun for exploiting recoil, comprises: a stock (2); a fixed barrel (4); a grip (3) provided with an extractable butt (20); a bolt (6) sliding in direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel (4) inside the stock (2) for locking the breech of the barrel (4); a device for recovering the recoil kinetic energy of the bolt (6); a hammer (22) swinging in opposition and through the action of a spring actuator element (23) between a cocked position and an uncocked position; a trigger assembly for the hammer (22) comprising in turn a swinging trigger (21) pivoted on the stock (2) and operatively connected to a sear lever (26), an opposing lever (28) of the hammer (22) for single shot fire actuatable by the sear lever (26), and an opposing lever (29) of the hammer (22) for continuous burst fire actuatable by the sear lever (26); a manual fire mode selector (34) connected to a rotating shaft (35) having a cam means (36) interacting with said opposing lever of the hammer for single shot fire (28) and with said opposing lever of the hammer for burst fire (29); an extractable magazine (8) for loading cartridge ammunition in a cartridge chamber of the barrel (4); a firing pin (37) for the ammunition actuatable by the hammer (22) and sliding in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel (4) in a seat provided in the bolt (6); the hammer (22) being configured and disposed so as to interact with the bolt in such a way as to absorb a significant fraction of the recoil kinetic energy of the bolt (6) for the attainment of the cocked position.