Adjustable Clay Target Launcher with Tilt and Rotation Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clay target launching devices are cumbersome and difficult to move due to their weight and size, making it time-consuming to modify the trajectory of launched targets, and lack portability and infinite adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A portable and infinitely adjustable clay target launching apparatus featuring a framework with a tilt adjustment assembly, rotational adjustment assembly, and a base member that secures the launching device, allowing for vertical, lateral, and rotational adjustments, and can be easily positioned on or off a vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional clay target launcher is mounted on a fixed structure or mobile device, then the launcher can be positioned to alter the flight path of targets, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to move due to weight and size
Solution Approach 1:
The launching apparatus is divided into separate functional modules: a portable base member with adjustment mechanisms, a separate launching device, and a vehicle mounting system. This segmentation allows the base to be easily moved while the launching device remains attached, solving the contradiction between portability and trajectory adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base member incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including a tilt adjustment assembly with a shaft and input member that allow the base to be tilted at various angles. This dynamic capability enables trajectory alteration without requiring movement of the entire heavy launching apparatus, resolving the contradiction between ease of movement and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the position of the launcher is modified to vary the flight path of targets, then trajectory adjustability is improved, but the process becomes cumbersome and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt adjustment assembly allows the base member to be quickly tilted to different angles using a shaft and input member mechanism. This dynamic adjustment can be made rapidly without moving the entire launcher, significantly reducing the time required to modify trajectories compared to repositioning the whole device.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables continuous parameter changes in trajectory through the tilt adjustment mechanism that can be rotated to various angles. This allows infinite adjustability of the launching trajectory without discrete repositioning steps, making the adjustment process both rapid and versatile.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional target launcher is moved to a desired location, then positioning flexibility is improved, but the difficulty increases due to weight and size
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the heavy launching device from the portable base member. The base member, which is lighter and easier to move, can be quickly positioned at desired locations using the vehicle mounting system or free-standing configuration. The launching device remains attached to the adjusted base, eliminating the need to move the entire heavy assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The base member acts as an intermediary between the vehicle/ground and the launching device. It provides a portable, easily positionable platform that can be quickly attached to or detached from the launching device, allowing positioning flexibility without moving the heavy launcher itself.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the base member is made rotatable for trajectory adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but the complexity of the adjustment mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational adjustment is achieved through a simple dynamic mechanism where the base member can be rotated about a sprocket when the rotational adjustment assembly is in the released configuration. This simple rotational degree of freedom provides adaptability without requiring complex mechanical systems, as the base member itself performs the rotation rather than requiring additional actuators.
Data Source
AI summary
A portable and adjustable clay target launching apparatus for use with a clay pigeon launcher includes a framework. A tilt adjustment assembly is coupled to the framework, and includes a shaft and a tilt assembly input member operatively coupled to the shaft such that the shaft is rotated by operation of the tilt assembly input member. A base member is configured to secure the clay pigeon launching device, the base member being operatively coupled to the shaft and configured to tilt side to side when the shaft is rotated by operation of the tilt assembly input member. A rotational adjustment assembly operatively couples the base member to the tilt adjustment assembly, the rotational adjustment assembly being movable between a released configuration at which the base member is selectively rotatable about a sprocket and a locked configuration at which the base member is not rotatable.