Pivotable Arrowhead Assembly Spring Adapter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bowfishing arrowheads with barbs often tear and destroy fish flesh as the fish tries to escape, leading to loss and reduced meat quality.
Innovation Solution
An arrow assembly with a modular adapter system comprising a tube and insert that transitions between rigid and pivotable modes, ensuring the arrowhead remains aligned during flight and impact, but pivots to reduce flesh damage when the fish tries to flee, utilizing a spring mechanism for secure attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the arrowhead is rigidly connected to the shaft, then flight accuracy and impact precision are improved, but flesh damage increases when the target tries to escape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the connection between the arrowhead and shaft changeable rather than fixed. The adapter assembly allows the arrowhead to be rigidly connected during flight for accuracy, then becomes pivotable upon impact when the target moves, reducing flesh damage. This dynamic transition from rigid to flexible connection resolves the contradiction between flight precision and harm reduction.
2Measurement precision
If the arrowhead is rigidly connected to the shaft, then impact precision is improved, but the target can be released more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter assembly dynamically adjusts the connection rigidity based on operational phase. During flight, the spring maintains rigid connection for precision. Upon impact and target movement, the connection becomes pivotable, increasing retention reliability by preventing release while reducing tissue damage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a spring mechanism is added to enable pivotable movement, then flesh damage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the arrow assembly into distinct functional components: the shaft, adapter assembly (with tube and insert), spring, and arrowhead. This segmentation allows the complex pivotable mechanism to be isolated to only the necessary adapter portion, minimizing overall complexity while enabling the beneficial pivotable function for reducing flesh damage.
4Ease of operation
If the insert is made substantially rigid, then movement from second to first position becomes easier, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is made substantially rigid in the local region where movement occurs, facilitating easy transition between positions. However, the grooves and protuberances are precisely engineered with specific tolerances to ensure accurate positioning when engaged. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of movement and positioning precision.
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 adapter system maintains arrowhead alignment for accurate flight and impact, while allowing pivotal movement to minimize flesh damage and prevent fish loss, enhancing the retrieval process.
Implementation Method 1
the spring contacts the insert such that the spring resists movement of the insert relative to the tube in a second axial direction
Implementation Method 2
the second segment abuts the end of the tube such that axial movement of the insert in a first axial relative to the insert is prevented by physical part interference between the second segment and the end of the tube
Implementation Method 3
the third segment is within the bore such that radial movement of the insert relative to the tube is prevented or limited by physical part interference between the inner surface of the tube and the third segment of the insert
Implementation Method 4
the first protuberance is within the first groove and the second protuberance is within the second groove such that rotation of the insert relative to the tube is prevented or restricted by physical part interference between the insert and the protuberances
Data Source
AI summary
An arrow includes an arrowhead and a shaft. An assembly interconnects the shaft and the arrowhead such that, in one position, the assembly substantially rigidly interconnects the arrowhead and the shaft to prevent or restrict angular or radial movement of the arrowhead relative to the shaft, and to prevent axial movement of the arrowhead relative to the shaft in one axial direction. A spring resists movement of the arrowhead relative to the shaft in the other axial direction. When the spring force is overcome, the assembly permits the arrowhead to pivot relative to the shaft while maintaining the connection between the arrowhead and the shaft.