Reduced Diameter Broadhead Ferrule Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadhead ferrules either match or exceed the diameter of the arrow or crossbow bolt shaft, limiting penetration effectiveness due to consistent or larger diameters, which does not allow for optimal surface area transition and blade deployment.
Innovation Solution
A ferrule with a distal section having a smaller outside diameter than the shaft, featuring a collar with spaced-apart tabs and inwardly sloping walls to retain blades in a retracted configuration during flight, allowing for deployment upon impact, and a smooth transition between the ferrule and shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the ferrule diameter is made smaller than the shaft diameter, then penetration effectiveness is improved, but the transition from ferrule to shaft becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrule is divided into multiple sections with different diameters: a proximal section with a first diameter matching the shaft, and a distal section with a second diameter smaller than the shaft. This segmentation allows the ferrule to provide both structural support at the shaft interface and reduced diameter for improved penetration, resolving the contradiction between penetration effectiveness and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the ferrule are assigned different diameters to fulfill different functions: the proximal section maintains a larger diameter for structural integrity and shaft alignment, while the distal section uses a smaller diameter to reduce resistance during penetration. This local differentiation of geometric properties allows the ferrule to simultaneously achieve both structural support and penetration optimization.
2Strength
If the ferrule diameter matches the shaft diameter, then structural integrity is maintained, but penetration effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ferrule is segmented into a proximal section with diameter matching the shaft for structural integrity, and a distal section with reduced diameter for penetration effectiveness. This segmentation allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously in different spatial zones of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-diameter design to a multi-diameter design along the longitudinal dimension of the ferrule. By varying the diameter along the length of the ferrule rather than maintaining a uniform diameter, the design achieves both structural integrity at the shaft interface and reduced penetration resistance at the tip.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to broadheads wherein the diameter of the ferrule is relatively smaller than the diameter of the shaft of the arrow or crossbow bolt to which the broadhead is attached. A collar is provided for a smooth transition between the ferrule and the shaft.