Paintball Swab Pivotable Disk Barrel Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paintball marker cleaning tools are ineffective in removing all excess paint and debris, leading to accuracy issues and potential marker failure due to residual paint from broken paintballs.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning element with a pivotable disk and rod design, featuring a wiping material and friction fins, that allows for thorough removal of paint and debris by pivoting between oblique and perpendicular orientations within the paintball marker barrel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional swab or squeegee is used to clean the barrel, then some paint can be removed, but excess paint remains behind causing accuracy issues
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning element incorporates a disk that can pivot between a first position (oblique to the longitudinal axis) and a second position (substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis). This dynamic positioning allows the disk to effectively scrape paint from the barrel walls during insertion and maintain optimal cleaning orientation during withdrawal, solving the problem of residual paint that static swabs leave behind.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the orientation parameter of the cleaning surface relative to the barrel axis. By transitioning from a fixed oblique angle to a variable angle (including perpendicular positioning), the cleaning element optimizes its contact with the barrel walls at different stages of insertion and withdrawal, ensuring complete paint removal and improving marker accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If friction between the disk and equipment is used to move the disk, then the disk can pivot to effective positions, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The disk positioning mechanism utilizes friction between the disk and the paintball equipment barrel itself to automatically pivot the disk into the correct orientation. The friction force generated during insertion and withdrawal naturally moves the disk between its first and second positions without requiring additional motors, springs, or complex actuation mechanisms, thereby maintaining structural simplicity while achieving effective positioning.
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 effectively removes excess paint and debris from paintball markers, enhancing accuracy and preventing marker failure by ensuring complete cleaning of the barrel.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the lateral edge is raised and is formed from a wiping material (e.g. rubber or rubber-like material) that can be used to remove liquid from paintball equipment. In particular embodiments, friction between the disk and the equipment moves the disk between the first and second positions.
Data Source
AI summary
There are disclosed embodiments for a paintball swab. For example, a disk is pivotably and slidably attached to the distal end of a rod so there is a proximal and distal limit along the rod. When the disk is at the distal limit, it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod. When the disk is at the proximal limit, it is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod.