Internal Bow Projectile Launcher with Vertical Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional crossbows pose safety concerns due to their exposed mechanism and high energy components, require significant force for cocking, and have imbalanced weight distribution, leading to accuracy issues and noise during operation, making them cumbersome and less stealthy for hunting applications.
Innovation Solution
A projectile launcher with a compact, enclosed design featuring a riser base, elongate barrel assembly, crank mechanism, and internal bow assembly with vertically spaced resilient bow arms and pulleys, providing balanced handling, reduced cocking effort, and quiet operation by dissipating energy through a massed stirrup carriage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional crossbow design with exposed mechanism is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but safety concerns increase due to high energy components and lack of protection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the bow assembly, string, and cocking mechanism inside a protective housing structure. The bow limbs are enclosed within the stock, and the cocking mechanism is integrated into the housing, creating a nested arrangement that protects high-energy components while maintaining structural functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a protective housing structure that acts as a shell enclosing the bow assembly and cocking mechanism. This housing provides physical protection against the high-energy components, reducing safety concerns while allowing the internal mechanisms to operate freely.
2Ease of operation
If traditional crossbow with external cocking mechanism is used, then ease of cocking is maintained through manual operation, but operational effort increases due to significant force requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spring mechanism as an intermediary between the user and the bow assembly. The spring loads the bow during cocking, reducing the manual force required by the user. The cocking mechanism interacts with the spring, which then stores energy and releases it during firing, mediating the force requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a spring mechanism that counteracts the weight and resistance of the bow assembly during cocking. The spring provides an opposing force that reduces the net force the user must apply, making the cocking operation more manageable while still achieving the necessary bow tension.
3Productivity
If traditional crossbow with cross-mounted bow is used, then shooting capability is maintained, but accuracy decreases due to imbalanced weight distribution and side forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the bow assembly from a traditional horizontal cross-mount to a vertical orientation within the stock. This asymmetric repositioning changes the weight distribution and force application, allowing the bow to fire more accurately by reducing side forces that would otherwise affect the projectile's trajectory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional crossbow configuration by mounting the bow vertically instead of horizontally. This inversion fundamentally changes how the bow stores and releases energy, eliminating the side forces that cause inaccuracy in traditional designs while maintaining the shooting capability through the vertical arc of the bow's flex and release.
4Device complexity
If traditional crossbow with exposed bow limbs is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but noise increases during operation due to vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the bow assembly within the protective housing structure, enclosing the vibrating components during firing. This nested arrangement dampens vibrations and reduces noise propagation, while the internal structure maintains the necessary simplicity of the bow mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure acts as a sound-dampening shell that encloses the bow assembly. This protective enclosure reduces the transmission of vibrations and noise generated during firing, creating a quieter operation while maintaining the structural integrity and simplicity of the bow system.
5Ease of manufacture
If traditional crossbow design is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained through simple construction, but handling difficulty increases due to imbalanced weight distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions components asymmetrically within the stock, placing the bow assembly vertically and adjusting the distribution of mechanical elements. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the center of gravity and weight distribution, making the crossbow easier to handle and aim while maintaining relatively simple construction methods.
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 launcher offers enhanced safety, balance, and reduced noise, allowing for easier handling and improved accuracy while minimizing vibration and energy dissipation, making it more suitable for hunting and reducing operational stress on the user.
Implementation Method 1
vertically spaced upper and lower resilient bow arms
Implementation Method 2
respective pulleys and cables interconnecting the bow arms and the stirrup carriage
Data Source
AI summary
The projectile launcher with internal bow includes a riser base, an elongate barrel assembly attached to the riser base, a crank mechanism attached to the back of the barrel assembly, a trigger assembly, and an internal bow assembly mounted to the riser base. The crank assembly includes a rotatable crank for selective reciprocation of a cocking pawl carriage riding inside a rail system in the barrel assembly. A biased cocking pawl in the pawl carriage selectively engages a projectile stirrup carriage riding on top of the rail system to push the stirrup carriage into a cocked position. The internal bow assembly includes reversed and vertically spaced, upper and lower resilient bow arms and respective pulleys and cables interconnecting the bow arms and the stirrup carriage. Cocking of the stirrup carriage flexes the bow arms in preparation for placement and firing of a projectile.