Articulating Broadhead Blades for Bone Penetration and Wound Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Broadhead arrows often fail to penetrate effectively through bone structures due to their design, leading to inefficiency in causing a quick and humane kill in hunting, as the blades may not extend sufficiently to create a large enough wound.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates articulating blades that pivotally mount on a ferrule with a tapered steel tip and a resilient device, such as a helical spring or torsion spring, to maintain an extended position during flight and fold backwardly upon encountering hard tissue, allowing for deeper penetration and wider wound creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broadhead arrows use large, angularly spaced blades to create large wounds, then lethality is improved, but penetration through bone structures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs articulating blades that can dynamically change their configuration between extended and retracted positions. The blades are hinged to allow them to articulate forward during penetration to reduce resistance through bone, then extend backward to create large wounds. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by having the blade length vary according to the operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of blade extension dynamically. During penetration, the blades are in a retracted state with smaller effective length to facilitate bone penetration. After penetration, the blades articulate to an extended state with larger effective length to create the required wound size. This parameter change allows the system to optimize for both penetration and lethality at different stages.
2Reliability
If broadhead arrows have fixed large blades to ensure sufficient wound size, then lethality is improved, but the ability to penetrate hard tissue deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating blades provide dynamic adaptability, transitioning from a retracted configuration during penetration to an extended configuration during wound creation. This dynamic behavior allows the arrow to easily penetrate hard tissue while still achieving sufficient wound size for lethality, resolving the contradiction between penetration ease and lethal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The broadhead is segmented into multiple articulating blades that can independently articulate forward during penetration. This segmentation allows each blade to navigate hard tissue separately, reducing overall resistance. After penetration, the segmented blades extend to collectively create a large wound, thus resolving the contradiction between penetration ease and lethality.
3Reliability
If broadhead arrows use articulating blades that extend during flight, then wound size is improved, but penetration through bone deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating blades dynamically adjust their length based on flight phase. During unimpeded flight, the blades extend outward to maximize wound potential. Upon encountering bone or hard tissue, the blades articulate forward into a retracted position, effectively reducing their length to facilitate penetration. This dynamic length adjustment resolves the contradiction between wound size and penetration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective blade length parameter changes state based on operational conditions. In flight, the parameter is set to maximum extension for wound optimization. During bone penetration, the parameter transitions to a retracted state for improved penetration. This parameter switching resolves the contradiction by having the blade length adapt to the specific operational requirement.
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 articulating blades effectively penetrate hard tissue by folding back to facilitate passage through bone and then extend again to increase cutting power, ensuring a rapid and humane kill by creating a larger wound.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient device for keeping the plurality of articulating blades in the extended position during unimpeded flight and for allowing the articulating blades to fold backwardly while encountering hard tissue in a target
Implementation Method 2
a resilient device, such as a helical spring or torsion spring, to maintain an extended position during flight and fold backwardly upon encountering hard tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Archery apparatus for broadhead arrows includes a tip with a plurality of edges adapted to penetrate hard tissue. The tip is located on the forward end of a body. The body can be mounted on an arrow shaft. A plurality of articulating blades are pivotally mounted on the body to swing between an extended position and a backwardly folded position. One or more fixed blades are mounted on the body behind the articulating blades. A resilient device can keep the articulating blades in the extended position during unimpeded flight, but will allow the articulating blades to fold backwardly while encountering hard tissue in a target. The articulating blades extend outwardly after passing by the hard tissue.