Flexible Shaft Broadhead Arrow Point for Bone Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arrowheads face challenges in penetrating targets like bone and cartilage due to loss of kinetic energy and aerodynamic interference, with prior designs failing to effectively preserve energy and deploy blades through resistant materials.
Innovation Solution
A carbon fiber shaft with a deployable blade carrier that flexes around obstructions, allowing blades to redeploy and maintain cutting function, combined with a tri-bladed tip and ogive design for enhanced penetration and aerodynamic stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fixed blade broad head is used to deliver a wide cutting edge, then cutting efficiency is improved, but aerodynamic accuracy deteriorates due to cross winds
Solution Approach 1:
The blade carrier is designed to be movable relative to the shaft, allowing the blades to dynamically transition between folded (aerodynamic) and deployed (cutting) positions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the blade configuration to different flight phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The arrowhead is segmented into a shaft, a movable blade carrier, and deployable blades. This segmentation allows the cutting elements to be separated from the aerodynamic body during flight, improving accuracy while maintaining cutting capability when needed.
2Productivity
If blades are deployed to maximize cutting function, then damage capability is improved, but penetration through resistant target material deteriorates due to loss of kinetic energy
Solution Approach 1:
The blades automatically deploy when the blade carrier moves rearward upon encountering resistant target material, converting the energy loss from deformation into blade deployment. This dynamic response maximizes damage capability while minimizing unnecessary kinetic energy expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade carrier is positioned to ride over the target surface initially, allowing the arrow to penetrate resistant material with minimal resistance before the blades deploy to deliver maximum damage.
3Device complexity
If blades rest perpendicular on top of the shaft in folded position, then storage is simplified, but aerodynamic interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade carrier is designed to move rearward relative to the shaft during flight, automatically positioning the blades in a streamlined configuration that reduces aerodynamic interference while maintaining simple structural design.
4Ease of manufacture
If a standard point is used for initial penetration, then manufacturing is simplified, but penetration through bone and cartilage deteriorates due to inability to preserve kinetic energy
Solution Approach 1:
The blade carrier is designed to ride over the target surface and allow the arrow to penetrate resistant material before blade deployment, preserving kinetic energy during the critical penetration phase while maintaining a simple point structure.
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 design maximizes penetration and damage by preserving kinetic energy, allowing blades to deflect around dense structures and redeploy in soft tissues, resulting in increased lethality and aerodynamic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
When impacting a target such as an animal, the arrowhead will encounter solid structures such as bone and cartilage. These structures are the single most important factor in the loss of kinetic energy and thus a loss of penetration. A flexible shaft will deflect and flex around such structures yet due to its resiliency will return to its original linear shape.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrowhead exhibiting a flexible shaft allowing the arrowhead to deform around resistant target material, further allowing the blades to alternately deploy and fold based on the resistance of the target material.