Composite Air Gun Projectile Using Polymer Binder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lead projectiles used in compressed air shooting weapons pose environmental and health risks due to toxicity and non-biodegradability, and alternative materials fail to meet the desired physical characteristics and safety standards.
Innovation Solution
A projectile composed of a high-volume powder charge bound by a polymer binder, where the powder constitutes 82-99% of the material, with particles inscribed in spheres ≤7 microns, offering sufficient mass and precision for air guns, and optionally featuring standard calibers, specific shapes, and fillers like tungsten, zinc, or barium sulphate, with a biodegradable polymer binder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If lead is used to manufacture projectiles, then the projectile has suitable physical characteristics (high density, good hardness, good malleability), but it causes environmental pollution and health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining metal powder (82-99% of volume) with polymer binder to create projectiles that achieve the desired density and physical properties without using toxic lead. The composite structure allows optimization of both performance and environmental safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by using metal powders with specific particle size distributions (d90 ≤ 7 microns) and specific densities (tungsten 19.3 g/cm³, zinc 7.1 g/cm³, copper 8.9 g/cm³, barium sulphate 4.5 g/cm³) to achieve the required projectile mass and flight characteristics without lead.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If alternative materials like iron, steel, nickel, or bismuth are used to replace lead, then environmental and health risks are reduced, but the desired physical characteristics and safety standards are not fully met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials consisting of metal powder combined with polymer binder, achieving both environmental safety and the necessary physical characteristics for precision shooting applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes material parameters by selecting metal powders with specific particle size distributions (d90 ≤ 7 microns) and densities to achieve the required projectile mass and flight characteristics while maintaining environmental safety.
3Ease of manufacture
If larger powder particles are used in the projectile composition, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the projectile mass and precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise particle size parameters (d90 ≤ 7 microns) for the metal powder to ensure both adequate projectile mass for precision shooting and reasonable manufacturability through conventional injection molding processes.
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 provides a safe, environmentally friendly, and effective projectile for precision shooting, reducing cleaning and health risks while maintaining performance, suitable for use in pellet guns and ensuring safety for children.
Implementation Method 1
the particles of which are bound by a binder, the binder being made from at least one polymer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a projectile for a precision air gun, the projectile is formed of or comprises a composition which includes a charge in the form of powder whose particles are bound by a binder, the projectile being characterized in that the charge represents 82% to 99% of the volume of material used to manufacture the projectile.