Mechanical Broadhead with Frangible Cover for Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical broadhead devices cause aerodynamic drag and erratic flight trajectories due to protruding elements, and pose safety risks with exposed cutting edges before impact.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical broadhead design with pivotable blades housed within a conical or frangible polymeric cover that deploys upon impact, minimizing pre-impact drag and preventing accidental cuts, using materials like polybutadiene elastomer or acrylic resin for the cover to ensure safe handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If mechanical broadhead devices have pivotable blades that extend outwardly from the arrow shaft, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases and flight trajectory becomes erratic
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable blades are nested within a conical or frangible polymeric cover that encloses them during flight. The cover acts as a streamlined housing that contains the blades in a compact configuration, allowing the broadhead to maintain low aerodynamic drag while still providing effective cutting when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The blades are designed to be pivotable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position. During flight, the blades remain retracted within the cover to minimize drag, and upon impact, they pivot outward to provide cutting effectiveness
2Strength
If pivotable blades extend outwardly from the arrow shaft, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but safety risks increase due to exposed cutting edges
Solution Approach 1:
The blades are nested within the polymeric cover during handling and transport, keeping the cutting edges enclosed and inaccessible. This prevents accidental cuts while maintaining the ability to deploy the blades for cutting when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed to break away or open upon impact with the target, automatically deploying the blades at the appropriate moment. This preliminary design ensures blades remain concealed during safe handling but are ready for immediate deployment when needed
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a polymeric cover is added to enclose the blades, then safety and aerodynamics are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is made from a thin, frangible polymeric material that is simple in form but effective in function. The material choice allows the cover to be lightweight and easy to manufacture while providing the necessary protection and aerodynamic benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric cover is designed as a single-use component that breaks away after serving its protective and aerodynamic function during flight. This disposable approach simplifies the overall device design by eliminating the need for complex deployment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical broadhead device which includes a plurality of blades pivotably attached to a shaft, where the plurality of blades and the shaft are disposed within a tapered cover, and an arrow comprising the mechanical broadhead device attached to an arrow shaft has an aerodynamic profile in flight that mimics an aerodynamic profile of an arrow comprising a target or field point.