Frangible Projectile Composite for Magnetic Air Guns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current projectiles, such as BBs, made of steel or lead, often ricochet when striking hard surfaces, posing safety risks and environmental hazards, and lead projectiles cannot be retained by magnetic air guns, necessitating a low ricochet, non-toxic, magnetically attractive, and frangible projectile that breaks apart upon impact.
Innovation Solution
A frangible projectile composed of magnetically attracted particles mixed with non-magnetic metal particles and an elastomer, such as silicone, which can also include polymers, organic, and inorganic materials, allowing for magnetic attraction and safe disintegration upon impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel or iron projectiles are used, then the projectile has sufficient structural integrity, but it ricochets when striking hard surfaces causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material composition consisting of iron particles (30-70% by weight), silicone particles (10-40% by weight), and zinc stearate (1-10% by weight). This composite structure allows the projectile to maintain sufficient structural integrity for magazine feeding while reducing ricochet upon impact with hard surfaces, as the silicone and zinc stearate components modify the impact characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the projectile by controlling particle size distribution (iron particles: 40-150 microns, silicone particles: 20-200 microns) and compositional ratios. These parameter changes enable the projectile to transition from a rigid steel structure to a composite formulation that balances structural integrity with reduced ricochet potential.
2Ease of manufacture
If lead projectiles are used, then the projectile is non-toxic and inexpensive, but it cannot be retained by magnetic air guns and poses lead poisoning risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the toxic lead component from the projectile composition entirely, replacing it with a combination of iron particles (which provide magnetic retention), silicone particles (which reduce ricochet), and zinc stearate (which aids manufacturing). This extraction eliminates lead poisoning risks while maintaining compatibility with magnetic air guns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a disposable frangible projectile that is inexpensive to manufacture using common materials like iron, silicone, and zinc stearate. The projectile is designed to break apart after use, and its low cost allows for replacement rather than reuse, eliminating the need for expensive lead-free alternatives that maintain magnetic properties.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the projectile is made frangible to break apart on impact, then ricochet and toxicity are reduced, but the projectile may deteriorate while passing through the barrel or magazine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a composite material where different components serve different functions: iron particles provide magnetic retention and structural framework, silicone particles provide frangibility and ricochet reduction at the impact surface, and zinc stearate provides lubrication and structural stability during transport. This localized functional distribution allows the projectile to remain stable in the magazine while breaking apart on impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies that the particles (iron, silicone, and zinc stearate) should have substantially spherical shapes. This spheroidality promotes uniform distribution within the projectile, consistent flow characteristics through the magazine, and predictable breakage patterns upon impact, preventing premature deterioration while maintaining frangibility.
4Reliability
If magnetic particles are used for air gun retention, then the projectile can be held by the magnet, but the projectile may ricochet when striking hard surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system where iron particles (30-70% by weight) provide the necessary magnetic properties for air gun retention, while silicone particles (10-40% by weight) and zinc stearate (1-10% by weight) are incorporated to reduce ricochet. The composite structure allows both magnetic retention and reduced ricochet to coexist by distributing different functional properties throughout the material.
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 projectile effectively reduces ricochet and toxicity, ensuring safety by breaking into small pieces upon impact and being compatible with magnetic air guns, while being lead-free and cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
a frangible projectile that is capable of being attracted and retained by a magnet
Implementation Method 2
breaks apart into small pieces when striking a hard surface, such as a rock, a steel plate or a concrete wall upon impact
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A projectile, such as a low ricochet, non-toxic, air gun BB, pellet or slingshot projectile, that breaks apart into small pieces or fragments when striking a hard surface, and that is lead free. A method of manufacturing the projectile of the present invention is also disclosed.