Compound Bow Cam Assemblies Eliminate Cable Guards
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable guards for compound archery bows introduce lateral torque, reducing arrow accuracy and shortening the useful life of bow components by displacing power cables, and can cause cables to become dislodged from cams and wheels.
Innovation Solution
A compound bow design featuring a wide body cam assembly with a main sheave and collector sheave spaced apart to avoid interference with the bowstring, and a dual wheel assembly with a feed out sheave and take in sheave separated by a distance that allows arrows to be fired without a cable guard, minimizing lateral torque and ensuring proper cable alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cable guards are used to displace power cables laterally, then arrow interference is prevented, but lateral torque increases reducing accuracy and component lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cable guard component entirely and instead integrates cable displacement functionality into the cam and wheel assembly geometry. The power cables are routed through grooves in the cams and wheels that naturally position them laterally without requiring separate cable guard structures, thereby eliminating the source of lateral torque while still preventing arrow interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces grooves in the cam and wheel assemblies as intermediary structures that mediate between the power cables and the bow limbs. These grooves guide and constrain the cables in specific paths that achieve lateral displacement without creating the harmful lateral forces associated with traditional cable guards.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cable guards displace power cables laterally, then arrow flight is protected, but power cables become dislodged from cams and wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the power cable routing within the cam and wheel assembly structures themselves. The cables are embedded in grooves that are integral to the cam and wheel bodies, creating a nested configuration where the cables are securely held within the structural geometry of the moving parts, preventing dislodgement while maintaining proper alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from lateral cable displacement (single dimension) to three-dimensional cable routing through grooves (multiple dimensions). The grooves provide vertical and radial constraints in addition to lateral positioning, creating a multi-dimensional constraint system that secures cables against dislodgement while allowing smooth movement during operation.
3Ease of operation
If conventional cable guards are used, then power cables are displaced, but lateral torque decreases accuracy and shortens component life
Solution Approach 1:
The cam and wheel assemblies perform dual functions: they provide the mechanical advantage for bow operation and simultaneously serve as cable routing structures. The grooves in these components automatically position and guide the power cables without requiring separate cable guard mechanisms, allowing the system to serve itself and eliminate the harmful effects of additional displacement structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cable routing function with the cam and wheel assembly structures. Instead of having separate components for cable displacement and mechanical operation, the design combines these functions into unified structures where the grooves in the cams and wheels simultaneously achieve cable positioning and maintain structural integrity, reducing the number of parts and potential failure points.
Data Source
AI summary
A compound bow comprising a handle portion having a first limb and a second limb extending outwardly therefrom, a wide body cam assembly pivotally coupled to the first limb near an outer end thereof, and a dual wheel assembly pivotally coupled to the second limb near an outer end thereof. The wide body cam assembly comprises a main sheave and a collector sheave located on opposite sides of a cable sheave. The main sheave is spaced apart from the cable sheave by a first distance sufficient to permit arrows to be fired from the bow free from interference by a cable without the use of a cable guard. The dual wheel assembly comprises a feed out sheave and a take in sheave separated by a second distance which is larger than the first distance. The feed out sheave is positioned substantially within a plane defined by the main sheave.