Bowstring Sound Dampener with Movable Piston Grippers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bowstring sound dampeners often fail to effectively trap the bowstring after release, leading to continued oscillation and noise, as they typically involve the bowstring impacting a relatively immobile surface, which can create additional noise and reduce effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A bowstring sound dampener comprising a sleeve and a piston, where the sleeve has a frustoconical end for mounting and V-shaped grooves to receive the piston, which has grippers that flare outwardly to trap the bowstring, with the grippers being flexibly mounted to move inwardly and outwardly to retain the string, thereby preventing oscillation and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a relatively immobile surface is used to stop the bowstring, then the bowstring can be stopped, but additional noise is created upon impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise upon impactVSAvoideffectiveness of dampening

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs a movable piston that travels along the bowstring and an expandable gripper mechanism that dynamically adjusts to capture the bowstring. This dynamic approach replaces the static immobile surface with a moving system that reduces impact noise while maintaining effective dampening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The piston and gripper mechanism are positioned to intercept the bowstring before it can impact any hard surface. The gradual engagement of the gripper fingers provides a cushioning effect that prevents the harsh impact noise associated with traditional dampeners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the bowstring is allowed to impact the device multiple times, then the device can be simple in design, but the effectiveness of the dampening is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of dampeningVSAvoidcomplexity of trapping mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is pre-positioned to travel along the bowstring's path, and the gripper fingers are pre-configured to expand and capture the string on first contact. This preliminary positioning ensures that the bowstring is trapped on the first impact, preventing multiple rebounds and eliminating the need for complex multi-stage mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gripper fingers change their physical state from a relaxed configuration to an expanded trapping configuration upon contact with the bowstring. This parameter change allows the device to effectively capture the string with a simple mechanical action rather than requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a cushion member is used to absorb energy, then the sound can be dampened, but the device cannot effectively trap the bowstring to prevent oscillation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound dampeningVSAvoidbowstring oscillation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The device merges the energy absorption function of the cushion member with the mechanical trapping function of the piston and gripper fingers. This combination allows the system to both dampen sound through energy absorption and prevent oscillation through physical trapping, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 silences the bowstring sound by trapping it after release, reducing noise and vibration, and providing improved dampening by preventing multiple impacts, thus enhancing the accuracy of archery shots.

Implementation Method 1

The cushion member is formed of a resilient material which absorbs the energy of movement of the bowstring upon release of the bowstring after launching an arrow, thereby dampening the sound emitted by the string.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The cushion member is formed of a resilient material which absorbs the energy of movement of the bowstring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8567381B2Bowstring sound dampener

Publication Date: 2013.10.29 SAUNDERS ARCHERY CO

AI summary

A bowstring sound dampener is disclosed. The dampener comprises a sleeve and a piston. The sleeve is generally cylindrical with a frustoconical first end adapted to threadedly receive a mounting rod for connecting the dampener to a bow. The sleeve comprises a second end which is flared outwardly with a pair of generally V-shaped grooves formed diametrically therein creating a pair of diametrically opposed arms. The sleeve is configured to matingly receive the piston therein. The piston is formed as a generally cylindrical member having a pair of grippers extending therefrom on one end with a groove formed therebetween. The grippers flare outwardly from the piston in a diametrically opposed configuration and are mounted to the piston such that the grippers move inwardly when the piston enters the sleeve, thereby grasping the bowstring, and outwardly when the piston exits the sleeve, thereby releasing the bowstring.