Archery Bow Limb Dampening via Cantilevered Elastomer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Archery bows experience significant vibrations due to their light and stiff design, leading to recoil, noise, accuracy issues, and wear and tear, which conventional dampening devices partially address but not effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vibration dampening assembly featuring a cantilever member and a dampening member made of elastomeric material, such as Santoprene, that is mounted to the riser and contacts the bow limb only upon release, absorbing vibrations and reducing shock forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bow is made light and stiff to make it easier to carry and shoot, then the ease of operation is improved, but the internal dampening capability deteriorates, resulting in excessive vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
A dampening member made of elastomeric material is introduced as an intermediary element between the bow limb and the bowstring. This mediator absorbs and dissipates vibration energy through its inherent damping properties, protecting the light and stiff bow structure from excessive vibrations without adding significant weight or compromising operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampening member is constructed from elastomeric material, which combines properties of elasticity and energy dissipation. This composite material approach allows the dampening component to effectively reduce vibrations while maintaining a lightweight design that does not significantly increase the overall bow weight.
2Reliability
If conventional dampening devices are added to reduce vibrations, then the vibration control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential dampening function from complex mechanical systems and implements it through a simple elastomeric member. By removing unnecessary mechanical components and relying on the inherent damping properties of the elastomeric material, the system achieves effective vibration control with minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampening member is designed as a simple, inexpensive elastomeric component that can be easily replaced. This approach prioritizes functional effectiveness and ease of maintenance over long-term durability, allowing archers to simply replace the dampening member when it becomes worn or less effective, rather than repairing complex mechanical systems.
3Reliability
If the dampening member is always in contact with the limb, then the vibration dampening is improved, but the energy transfer to the arrow deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dampening member's contact with the bow limb is made dynamic rather than static. During the drawing phase, the dampening member remains disengaged from the limb, allowing full energy transfer to the arrow. Upon release, when vibrations occur, the dampening member engages with the limb to provide damping. This dynamic engagement strategy ensures both effective vibration control and optimal energy transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampening member operates periodically, engaging with the bow limb only during specific phases of the shot cycle when vibrations are most problematic. By providing dampening action intermittently rather than continuously, the system maintains energy transfer efficiency during the critical drawing and release phases while still effectively controlling vibrations during the release and follow-through phases.
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 solution effectively reduces vibrations and recoil, enhancing the archer's comfort and accuracy by dissipating energy and minimizing wear on the bow and string, while maintaining the bow's performance during drawing.
Implementation Method 1
The dampening member is suspended by the cantilever member out of contact with the first limb when the archery bow is drawn and contacts the first limb to dampen vibrations when the archery bow is released
Implementation Method 2
a dampening member made of elastomeric material, such as Santoprene
Data Source
AI summary
An archery bow includes a riser, first and second limbs, a bowstring, and a vibration dampening assembly. The riser includes opposing ends and the first and second limbs extend from the opposing ends of the riser. The bowstring extends between the first and second limbs. The vibration dampening assembly includes a dampening member and a cantilever member having a first end mounted to the riser and a second end supporting the dampening member. The dampening member is suspended by the cantilever member out of contact with the first limb when the archery bow is drawn and contacts the first limb to dampen vibrations when the archery bow is released.