Underwater Firearm Slip Mount for Recoil-Stable UUV Aiming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing a firearm for unmanned underwater vehicles poses challenges due to the need for recoil management and hydraulic shock mitigation, which traditional firearms exacerbate, especially with heavy projectiles and increased propellant charges.
Innovation Solution
A recoilless underwater firearm design featuring a capsule with a reactive material ignited by an electrical ignitor to propel the firing pin, a slip mechanism for secure aiming and recoil reduction, and a floatation cover for buoyancy, mounted via a removable slip mechanism to minimize recoil forces on the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a heavy projectile is used with increased propellant charge, then the firing power and penetration capability are improved, but the recoil force and hydraulic shock increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful hydraulic shock and recoil forces into beneficial effects by directing the propellant gas exhaust through a water jet propulsion system. The exhaust gases that would normally create harmful shock waves are instead used to generate thrust for the unmanned underwater vehicle, transforming the harmful recoil into useful propulsion force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium between the propellant gas exhaust and the vehicle body. The water jet propulsion system acts as an intermediary that absorbs and redirects the exhaust gases, preventing direct impact on the vehicle while utilizing the gas momentum for propulsion.
2Power
If a heavy projectile is used with increased propellant charge, then the firing power and penetration capability are improved, but the barrel length and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the propellant gas exhaust by directing it through a water jet propulsion system. This parameter change allows the exhaust gases to be utilized for propulsion rather than creating harmful shock waves, enabling the use of heavier projectiles without increasing barrel length.
3Power
If a traditional firearm is mounted on an unmanned underwater vehicle, then the firing capability is achieved, but the vehicle stability is compromised due to recoil forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful recoil forces into beneficial propulsion force for the unmanned underwater vehicle. By directing the propellant gas exhaust through a water jet propulsion system, the recoil that would normally destabilize the vehicle is instead used to propel the vehicle forward, maintaining stability during firing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the water jet propulsion system as a counterbalancing mechanism that offsets the recoil forces. The propulsion force generated by the exhaust gases counteracts the stabilizing effect of the heavy projectile and propellant charge, maintaining vehicle stability during the firing sequence.
4Ease of operation
If a removable mounting mechanism is used, then the ease of installation and removal is improved, but the aiming accuracy and recoil management are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic mounting mechanism that can transition between a removable mounted state for ease of installation and a secured state for accurate aiming. The mechanism allows the firearm to be easily installed and removed when not in use, then securely fixed during operation to ensure both ease of operation and aiming accuracy.
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
Enables accurate aiming and firing underwater without destabilizing the unmanned vehicle, maintaining stability and reducing recoil impact, thus ensuring operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The reactive material can be ignited by an electrical ignitor in order to propel the firing pin to strike the ammunition
Implementation Method 2
capsule having a firing pin and contains a reactive material
Implementation Method 3
the propellant gas exhausting from the barrel into the opposite side of the shot can create a hydraulic shock
Implementation Method 4
the propellant gas exhausting from the barrel into the opposite side of the shot can create a hydraulic shock, the impact of which on the gun carriage and on the firearm carrier is much greater than the recoil from a shot of a traditional firearm
Implementation Method 5
The slip mechanism includes a pillow block secured to the unmanned underwater vehicle, a shear ring situated within a barrel groove of the barrel, a collet wrapped around the shear ring, and a capture nut, along with the collet, for confining the shear ring within the barrel groove in order to secure the barrel in order to enable accurate aiming before firing
Implementation Method 6
a floatation cover for buoyancy
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater firearm is disclosed. The underwater firearm includes a barrel for receiving an ammunition. A slip mechanism is utilized to removably secure the underwater firearm to an unmanned underwater vehicle. The slip mechanism includes a pillow block secured to the unmanned underwater vehicle, a shear ring situated within a barrel groove of the barrel, a collet wrapped around the shear ring, and a capture nut, along with the collet, for confining the shear ring within the barrel groove in order to secure the barrel in order to enable accurate aiming before firing.