Conical Bolt Head Deflects Ballistic Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal targets and hanging systems for shooting ranges face issues with durability, safety concerns due to ricochets, and frequent damage from high-impact bullet strikes, leading to high replacement costs and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A target hanging assembly featuring a steel bolt with a conical head design that absorbs and redirects high-energy projectiles, reducing damage and ricochets by using a tapered surface to manage impact forces, and incorporating a threaded section and washer for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fasteners and bolts are used to hang metal targets, then the target can be mounted securely, but the fasteners become damaged and ruined when impacted with bullets, requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the target mounting function from the impact absorption function. The target is mounted using conventional fasteners through holes in the target body, while a separate sacrificial deflection element absorbs bullet impacts. This segmentation allows the mounting hardware to remain simple and reusable while the deflection element takes the damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection element is designed as a sacrificial, disposable component that absorbs bullet impacts and can be replaced when damaged. This inexpensive element protects the more valuable and reusable target and mounting hardware from damage, eliminating the need to replace expensive bolts and fasteners frequently.
2Strength
If conventional bolts are used to mount metal targets, then the target can be hung securely, but bullet impacts cause damage and ruin the bolts for reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection element serves as an intermediary between the bullet and the target mounting system. It intercepts and absorbs bullet impacts, preventing direct contact between bullets and the mounting bolts. This mediator protects the mounting hardware from harmful impact forces while allowing secure target attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection element is designed to exploit the kinetic energy of incoming bullets by deflecting them at angles that redirect energy away from the target and mounting hardware. The harmful bullet impact energy is converted into beneficial deflection patterns that protect the system while still providing target engagement.
3Reliability
If metal targets are used for shooting practice, then instant acoustic feedback and visual confirmation are provided, but undesirable ricochets are produced that create safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection element features a curved, dome-shaped surface that causes incoming bullets to deflect at various angles rather than rebounding in straight-line ricochets. This curvature transforms dangerous linear ricochets into controlled deflections that redirect energy away from the shooting area and protect surrounding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection element redirects bullet energy from the horizontal plane (where ricochets threaten shooters and structures) into vertical or angled dimensions. By changing the dimensionality of energy redirection, the system eliminates hazardous horizontal ricochets while maintaining target functionality.
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 assembly provides enhanced safety and durability by minimizing ricochets and extending the lifespan of hanging components, reducing replacement costs and ensuring safer operation at shooting ranges.
Implementation Method 1
When a hard object, such as a steel plate (i.e., a metal target) and a conventional bolt used to hang a target, is impacted by a high-speed projectile, damage occurs to the steel plate and conventional bolt. In contrast, the design features of the present target hanging assembly will allow for the resulting high-speed fragmentation and surface detonation of the projectile and resulting shrapnel or spalling to be controlled and redirected by a tapered front cone shape of the mounting bolt or its head.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly useful for hanging metal shooting targets from a hanging strap for home practice use or in a target or practice range. The assembly includes a metal target with a body having a hole extending through it from a front planar surface to a rear planar surface. The assembly includes mounting bolt including a head with a body extending from a front surface to a rear surface. The bolt includes a shank extending from the rear surface to a threaded section. The front surface of the body of the bolt head is tapered from a sidewall of the body of the bolt head to a central point to have a conical shape. Particularly, the front surface of the body of the bolt head can be tapered at a taper angle in the range of 40 to 80 degrees such as with the taper angle being about 60 degrees.