Pivot Assembly for Bullet Targets Using Slotted Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reactive metal targets made of hardened steel, such as AR500, face durability issues when drilled or cut, and welding or heating to bend them reduces hardness and durability, necessitating a method to assemble pivot assemblies without compromising the metal's integrity.
Innovation Solution
A pivot support assembly using a first and second plate with elongated slots and pivot support plates, secured by clamp means like threaded fasteners, allowing axial alignment and pivotal movement without welding or bending, supporting a bullet-resistant target plate for durable and cost-effective construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If welding or heating is used to assemble the pivot assembly, then the metal can be joined or bent, but the hardness of the hardened steel is reduced and durability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot assembly is divided into separate components (clamp plate, pivot plates, target plate) that are assembled through mechanical fastening rather than thermal processing. The clamp plate with slots and pivot plates with extensions create modular segments that can be assembled without affecting the base metal properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot plates serve as intermediary elements between the clamp plate and target plate, providing a mechanical connection through slots and extensions that eliminates the need for welding or heating. This intermediary mechanism transfers the joining function without thermal input.
2Ease of manufacture
If drilling or cutting is performed on hardened steel, then holes or shapes can be created, but the metal integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The slots are pre-formed in the clamp plate and the extension portions are pre-formed in the pivot plates during manufacturing. These preliminary actions allow the components to be assembled through simple insertion and clamping, avoiding field drilling or cutting that would compromise metal integrity.
3Ease of manufacture
If soft or ductile steel is used for the target plate, then it can be easily formed and assembled, but it is quickly perforated, dented, or distorted by rifle bullet impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The material hardness parameter is changed to hardened steel (AR500 or similar) for the target plate to resist bullet impacts. The pivot assembly design compensates for the reduced formability of hardened steel by using pre-formed slots and extensions that require no further shaping or bending after hardening.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a pivot support assembly for a bullet impact target. It includes a first plate and a second plate, the second plate having a pair of spaced-apart elongated slots formed therein. A pair of pivot support plates each have an extension portion sized to extend through one of the elongated slots and a base portion sized not to fit through the slot. Each of the extension portions including a pivot axis means. A clamp means secures the first and second plates together in a substantially parallel relationship. The extension portions of the pivot support plates are positioned through the slots such that the pivot axis means of each are substantially axially aligned with each other, the base portion is clamped between the first and second plates, and a bullet resistant target plate is supported for pivotal movement on the pivot axis means.