Projectile Trap Airflow Design for Lead Contamination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing projectile traps with negative air pressure systems can inadvertently pull lead fragments back into the trap, increasing contamination and are energy-inefficient due to high air flow requirements.

Innovation Solution

A projectile trap design featuring an air injection system positioned upstream of the trap chamber and an air collection system downstream, with the collection system's CFM equal to or greater than the injection system, to manage airflow and prevent lead contamination, including a trap guide with opposed ramps and air inlets/outlets oriented towards the chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a negative air pressure system is used in the projectile trap, then lead fragments are contained within the trap, but the system pulls lead back into the trap increasing contamination and consumes excessive energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelead contaminationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional negative pressure approach by using a positive pressure air injection system. Air is injected upstream of the trap chamber to create a positive pressure environment that pushes lead fragments toward the collection system rather than pulling them back into the trap, thereby reducing contamination while maintaining energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the harmful negative pressure effect from the system and replaces it with a positive pressure air injection mechanism. The air injection system is positioned to deliver air upstream of the trap chamber, creating a controlled flow that extracts lead fragments from the trap environment without creating the harmful suction effect of negative pressure systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If high volume air flow is used to maintain negative air pressure, then lead fragments are contained, but energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelead fragment containmentVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs pneumatic principles by using an air injection system that introduces pressurized air upstream of the trap chamber. This pneumatic approach creates a positive pressure environment that directs air flow and trapped lead fragments toward the collection system, achieving effective containment without the excessive energy consumption associated with high-volume negative pressure systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

This design effectively reduces lead contamination and improves energy efficiency by controlling airflow, ensuring safer and more environmentally friendly operation of shooting ranges.

Implementation Method 1

an air injection system positioned upstream of the trap chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir injection:

Implementation Method 2

an air collection system positioned downstream of the air injection system for receiving at least a portion of the air from the air injection system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir collection:

Data Source

PatentUS7434811B1Projectile trap and shooting range

Publication Date: 2008.10.14 WACHOVIA BANK N A ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

AI summary

A shooting range that may include one or more of a shooting station, a projectile trap and or at least one range auxiliary. In one embodiment of the inventions, the projectile trap includes a trap chamber, an air injection system and an air collection system.