Disposable Compressed Air Toy Gun Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy guns capable of firing soft projectiles using compressed air face manufacturing complexity and reliability issues, particularly in rapid-firing mechanisms due to complexities in recharging compressed air stores.
Innovation Solution
A compressed air firing shell with a pressure chamber, release port, activation member, and piston that allows controlled release of compressed air to fire soft projectiles, along with a charging mechanism to efficiently recharge the shell, and protection means to prevent firing of incorrect projectiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex pump-action mechanisms are used to force air against projectiles, then firing function is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: pre-charged shells containing compressed air, a simple firing mechanism that only releases the stored energy, and a magazine system. This segmentation allows the complex compression function to be isolated to disposable shells while the reusable gun body remains simple and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed air charge is prepared in advance within sealed shells before insertion into the gun. This preliminary action transfers the complex compression task to the shell manufacturing process, allowing the gun itself to use only simple release mechanics during operation.
2Productivity
If compressed air stores are recharged for rapid-firing machine guns, then firing rate increases, but mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of recharging compressed air in the gun, the system discards spent shells and recovers only the reusable gun body and magazine. Each shell is a disposable unit containing pre-compressed air, eliminating the need for complex in-gun recharging mechanisms while maintaining rapid fire capability through quick shell exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed air shells are designed as inexpensive, disposable units that are replaced rather than recharged. This approach trades the cost of continuous shell replacement for the avoidance of complex recharging mechanisms, enabling rapid fire with simpler overall system design.
3Ease of manufacture
If release mechanisms are simplified, then manufacturing cost decreases, but control precision over air release may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The simple release mechanism relies on the high-pressure compressed air within the shell to automatically overcome the sealing force and drive the release process. The system uses the stored energy itself to ensure precise and complete air release without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed shells are pre-charged with compressed air at controlled pressures during manufacturing, creating a cushion of stored energy that ensures consistent and precise air release during firing. This beforehand preparation compensates for the simplicity of the release mechanism by providing built-in energy control.
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 enables efficient, reliable, and safe firing of soft projectiles by simplifying the compressed air storage and release mechanism, while preventing the firing of dangerous objects, thus addressing the complexity and reliability issues of existing toy guns.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure chamber adapted to store a high-pressure charge of air therein
Implementation Method 2
allowing the charge to pass from the pressure chamber to the firing chamber
Implementation Method 3
an inlet valve via which pressurised air can enter the pressure chamber to provide said charge of air
Implementation Method 4
the activation member comprises a pin biased by a spring into a sealed position, the pin adapted to move against the spring and away from the sealed position upon application of external air pressure thereto
Implementation Method 5
air exiting the bleeder opening enters the elongate cavity of the soft projectile causing it to be fired
Data Source
AI summary
A compressed air firing shell for a toy gun includes a firing chamber for receiving a soft projectile and a pressure chamber to store a high-pressure charge of air. A release port delimits the pressure chamber from the firing chamber. A piston within the pressure chamber seals the release port and unseals the release port upon triggered activation of the activation member to allow the charge to pass from the pressure chamber to the firing chamber to effect firing of the soft projectile.