Weapon Barrel Bearing with Star-Shaped Guide Webs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weapon barrel mounting systems for medium-caliber weapons face challenges in maintaining high shooting accuracy due to barrel expansion-induced vibrations and manufacturing complexity, particularly with conventional sliding bush bearings and plain bearings that require significant play, leading to accuracy issues and increased manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A barrel mount system where the barrel guide housing, made of steel, is integrated directly into the weapon housing with star-shaped or ⊥-shaped guide webs that engage with the weapon housing grooves, absorbing recoil forces and thermal expansion without bending moments, and featuring a movable barrel guide bushing with U-shaped receptacles to maintain alignment and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sliding bush bearings are used to mount the weapon barrel, then the barrel can be supported, but the barrel expansion causes vibrations that reduce shooting accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is divided into two separate components: a fixed bearing portion integrated into the weapon housing and a movable bearing portion attached to the barrel guide housing. This segmentation allows the fixed portion to provide stable support while the movable portion accommodates thermal expansion, eliminating vibrations that would otherwise reduce shooting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing transitions from a static sliding bush design to a dynamic system where the movable bearing portion can shift position. The movable bearing portion is guided by guide rails and engages with a stop element, allowing controlled movement to absorb thermal expansion while maintaining operational stability for accurate shooting.
2Reliability
If guide rails and guide grooves extend over the entire length of the cradle tube to avoid vibrations, then shooting accuracy improves, but manufacturing complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The complex full-length guide rail system is replaced by extracting only the essential guiding function. Short guide rails are positioned only where needed near the bearing locations, and guide grooves are provided only in the weapon housing rather than along the entire cradle tube length. This maintains vibration-free operation while dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed bearing portion serves multiple functions: it provides radial support, guides the movable bearing portion, and integrates with the weapon housing structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate full-length guide elements, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining accuracy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If plain bearings are used with significant play to avoid jamming, then the barrel can move freely during thermal expansion, but hit accuracy deteriorates due to uncontrolled lateral movements
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing clearance parameter is optimized to a minimal value rather than significant play. The movable bearing portion fits tightly within the fixed bearing portion, allowing only the necessary minimal movement for thermal expansion. This parameter change eliminates uncontrolled lateral movements while maintaining freedom for required thermal expansion, preserving hit accuracy.
4Manufacturing precision
If roller bearings are used instead of plain bearings to eliminate play and wear, then guiding accuracy improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complex roller bearings with cages and rolling elements, the invention uses a simple movable bearing portion that can be easily replaced. This simplified bearing design achieves the necessary guiding accuracy through precise fit and guide rails without the mechanical complexity of roller bearings, maintaining ease of maintenance while improving 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
This solution ensures high shooting accuracy by eliminating barrel vibrations and directional errors while simplifying the structure and reducing manufacturing complexity, as the recoil forces are absorbed by the guide housing and damper system, allowing for precise thermal expansion management.
Implementation Method 1
the directions of the bearing force and the radial expansion of the tube respectively stand perpendicular to each other
Implementation Method 2
The movable bearing portion (13) is constructed in such a way that it can be displaced longitudinally relative to the fixed bearing portion (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a weapon barrel bearing (2) for a weapon barrel (10) of a weapon (1), especially of a medium calibre weapon, wherein a barrel guide housing (3) is integrated especially into the rear section of the weapon barrel (10) between the weapon barrel (10) and the weapon housing (4).