Bow-Type Soft Projectile Launcher with Muzzle Brake Vents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projectile launchers pose a risk of injury due to the use of hard or improvised projectiles, which can cause harm in mock combat and other applications, necessitating a solution to limit the type of projectiles that can be fired.
Innovation Solution
A bow-type soft projectile launcher with a pump assembly featuring a cylinder and piston, vents for enhanced pressure pulse delivery, a removable magazine system, and a muzzle brake with brake vents to prevent inhalation of projectiles, ensuring only soft projectiles can be launched safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a projectile launcher is designed to fire hard or improvised projectiles for mock combat, then the launcher can achieve greater range and impact force, but the risk of injury to users and targets increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the projectile itself by designing a soft projectile with specific material properties (soft, deformable) rather than changing the launcher's force output. The soft projectile maintains sufficient deformability to prevent injury while still achieving the desired mock combat effect through controlled deformation upon impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The soft projectile is designed with inherent cushioning properties through its material composition and structural characteristics. The deformable nature of the soft projectile provides built-in energy absorption and impact mitigation before contact with the target, reducing injury risk while maintaining the launcher's effectiveness for mock combat.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the launcher allows free selection of projectiles by users, then the launcher is more versatile and adaptable to different uses, but users may attempt to use dangerous improvised projectiles that could cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a projectile receiving chamber with controlled access points. This intermediary structure mediates between the user's intent to launch various projectiles and the safety requirement, allowing only pre-approved soft projectiles to be properly positioned and launched while preventing dangerous improvised projectiles from being effectively fired.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the dangerous element (hard or improvised projectiles) from the system by designing a launcher configuration that physically accommodates and launches only soft projectiles. The magazine system and chamber design extract the versatility function while eliminating the harm by restricting projectile type through mechanical design rather than user discretion.
3Speed
If the pump assembly delivers a sudden pressure pulse to achieve greater projectile velocity, then the launcher performance is improved, but the risk of projectile inhalation through the muzzle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the muzzle opening into multiple smaller openings through the inclusion of a muzzle brake with multiple vents. This segmentation maintains the overall muzzle function for high-velocity projectile discharge while creating individual vent openings that are too small to be inhaling, thus eliminating the inhalation hazard associated with a single large muzzle opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different local qualities to different parts of the muzzle system. The main chamber maintains large volume for pressure buildup and high-velocity discharge, while the muzzle brake introduces localized small vent openings. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve high projectile velocity in the chamber while preventing inhalation at the muzzle exit points.
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 design effectively limits the launch of dangerous projectiles by generating a sudden pressure pulse for enhanced velocity and safety, preventing inhalation of projectiles through the muzzle brake vents, thereby reducing the risk of injury and ensuring only soft projectiles are launched.
Implementation Method 1
The piston is attached to a bow string so that a pressure charge is generated when the user draws and releases the bow string. The pressure charge is released into a chamber which contains a soft projectile.
Implementation Method 2
the pump cylinder has vents in the wall so that the pump assembly can deliver a more sudden pressure pulse to the soft projectile. The vents allow the piston to achieve greater velocity before compressing air into a pressure charge.
Implementation Method 3
The preferred embodiment further includes a muzzle projecting outwardly from the chamber and a muzzle brake with a plurality of brake vents. The brake vents prevent a user from inhaling a soft projectile through the muzzle of the projectile launcher.
Data Source
AI summary
A projectile launcher for launching soft projectiles. The projectile launcher features a pump assembly having a cylinder and piston. The piston includes a pump grip so that a pressure charge is generated when the user moves the piston. The pressure charge is released into a chamber which contains a soft projectile. The chamber includes a radius bend joining a projectile receiving orifice to a projectile discharging orifice. The pressure charge is introduced proximate the apex of the radius bend.