Flexible Cable Guard for Compound Archery Bow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable guards for compound archery bows introduce lateral force components on pulley members and bow limbs due to the lateral displacement of additional cables, leading to wear, fatigue, and reduced accuracy and velocity of the bow.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, elastically deformable cable guard with journaled wheels or a cable block is used to laterally displace additional cables, reducing lateral force components by varying displacement distances D1 and D2 based on the bow's configuration and arrow dimensions, allowing the cables to clear the arrow without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional cables are laterally displaced to clear the arrow, then the arrow passes without interference, but lateral force components increase causing wear and fatigue on pulley members and bow limbs
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guard is designed as a flexible, elastically deformable member that dynamically adjusts its configuration between brace and drawn states. At brace, it provides maximum lateral displacement (D1) to clear fletching; at drawn, it reduces lateral displacement (D2) to minimize lateral forces on cables and pulleys, thus resolving the contradiction between arrow clearance and component durability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the lateral displacement parameter of the cable guard based on the bow's state. The lateral displacement distance varies from D1 at brace to D2 at drawn, where D1 > D2. This parameter change allows sufficient arrow clearance when needed while minimizing harmful lateral forces during the drawing and shooting phases
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lateral displacement distance is increased to ensure arrow clearance, then interference is avoided, but lateral force components on pulley members and bow limbs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guard transitions from a static to a dynamic structure that automatically adjusts lateral displacement based on bow configuration. The flexible member bends toward the shooting plane as the bow is drawn, reducing lateral cable displacement from D1 to D2, thereby minimizing lateral forces while maintaining arrow clearance when necessary
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid cable guard is used to maintain fixed lateral displacement, then cable position is stable, but wear and fatigue on bow components increase due to constant lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces a rigid cable guard with a flexible, elastically deformable member. This flexible member maintains cable position stability through elastic restoring forces while adapting its lateral displacement to minimize harmful lateral loads on pulley members and bow limbs, thereby improving component durability without sacrificing positional stability
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 reduces undesirable wear and improves the accuracy and velocity of the bow by minimizing lateral force components on the pulley members and bow limbs while ensuring the arrow passes without interference.
Implementation Method 1
The cable guard comprises (1) an elongated, elastically deformable, non-articulated member attached to and extending backward from the riser
Data Source
AI summary
A compound archery bow comprises a riser, limbs attached to the riser, pulley members mounted on the limbs, a draw cable, one or more additional cables, and a cable guard. The limbs, draw cable, and additional cables are arranged so that drawing the bow rotates the pulley members to let out the draw cable, takes up or lets out each additional cable with the pulley members, and bends the bow limbs toward one another. The cable guard comprises an elongated, resilient, non-articulated member attached to and extending backward from the riser, and a cable retainer. The cable guard displaces each additional cable laterally from a shooting plane of the bow sufficiently at brace to avoid fletching of an arrow, and bends inwardly when the bow is drawn but still displaces each additional cable laterally sufficiently to avoid the shaft of the arrow.