Helical Target Crack Nucleation for Clean Witness Cap Separation

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing helice targets in clay target shooting fail to ensure complete separation of the witness cap from the helical body upon impact, leading to unpredictable and uncontrolled movement of target fragments, which complicates scoring and increases risk in competitions.

Innovation Solution

A target design featuring a helical body with crack nucleation elements, such as grooves and notches, that facilitate brittle fracture upon projectile impact, allowing the witness cap to detach cleanly from the helical body and follow a predictable trajectory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the helical body is made of rigid plastic with strong coupling to the witness cap, then the target structure is stable during flight, but the witness cap fails to separate completely upon impact leading to uncontrolled fragment movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget structure stabilityVSAvoidseparation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring crack nucleation elements (grooves and notches) in the helical body before the target is launched. These elements are strategically positioned to initiate controlled fracture at specific locations when the target is struck, ensuring reliable separation of the witness cap from the helical body while maintaining structural integrity during flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the helical body into distinct regions with different structural properties. The crack nucleation elements create predetermined fracture planes that segment the helical body in a controlled manner upon impact, allowing the witness cap to separate cleanly while preventing uncontrolled fragmentation that would compromise scoring accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If the witness cap is made of flexible material, then it elastically absorbs projectile energy, but this flexibility prevents complete separation from the helical body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy absorption capacityVSAvoidseparation completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring crack nucleation elements (grooves and notches) in the helical body before the target is launched. These elements are strategically positioned to initiate controlled fracture at specific locations when the target is struck, ensuring reliable separation of the witness cap from the helical body while maintaining structural integrity during flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating zones of controlled weakness (crack nucleation elements) at specific locations in the helical body where separation is desired, while maintaining the overall flexibility and energy absorption capacity of the witness cap material in other regions. This localized structural modification enables selective fracture without compromising the general flexible properties of the target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If the helical body fragments remain connected to the witness cap after impact, then the target absorbs more energy, but the witness cap trajectory becomes uncontrolled and scoring is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy absorptionVSAvoidtrajectory control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring crack nucleation elements (grooves and notches) in the helical body before the target is launched. These elements are strategically positioned to initiate controlled fracture at specific locations when the target is struck, ensuring reliable separation of the witness cap from the helical body while maintaining structural integrity during flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of uncontrolled fragmentation into a beneficial controlled separation mechanism. The crack nucleation elements, which could be seen as structural weaknesses, are actually designed to ensure clean separation of the witness cap from the helical body upon impact, transforming what would be unpredictable fragment motion into a reliable scoring mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Ensures reliable separation of the witness cap from the helical body, enhancing scoring accuracy and reducing the risk of uncontrolled movement, thus improving shooter performance by adhering to competition rules.

Implementation Method 1

A target design featuring a helical body with crack nucleation elements, such as grooves and notches, that facilitate brittle fracture upon projectile impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBrittle fracture: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentUS9851185B2Target

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 COMINEL

AI summary

Target for helice target shooting comprising a helical body and a center piece that are snap-coupled together; the helical body comprising a cylindrical annular portion that extends according to a central axis (A) and is provided, peripherally, of at least one pair of mushroom-shaped projections so configured as to couple with the center piece in correspondence of respective peripheral seats; the annular portion having crack nucleation means suitable to facilitate the fracture, in use, by at least one shot.