Shooting Target Tapered Guide Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current shooting targets with rotating members are prone to becoming stuck between set positions, obstructing the shooter's view and requiring time-consuming resets, and their mechanisms are difficult to replace when worn out, disrupting continuous shooting and increasing maintenance time.
Innovation Solution
A shooting target assembly with tapered members that prevent partial rotation and ensure full movement between set positions, combined with a user-friendly replacement mechanism for the pivoting assemblies, allowing continuous and uninterrupted target shooting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pivoting target member is used in a dueling-tree style target, then continuous shooting is enabled without manual resetting, but the target member becomes stuck between positions and obscures from the shooter's view
Solution Approach 1:
A curved guide surface is introduced as an intermediary element between the target member and the support structure. This guide surface actively mediates the rotation process by physically guiding the target member through the intermediate position and preventing it from becoming stuck, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous movement capability and positioning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The physical geometry of the support structure is changed by adding a curved guide surface with specific curvature radius. This parameter change transforms the rotation path from a potentially stuck-prone straight pivot to a smoothly guided curved path, ensuring reliable positioning while maintaining continuous shooting capability
2Productivity
If a pivoting mechanism is used to enable target rotation, then uninterrupted shooting is achieved, but the mechanism becomes difficult to replace when worn out
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism is segmented into modular components: the support member with integrated curved guide surface, the target member with pivot hole, and the retaining structure. This segmentation allows the curved guide surface to be replaced independently or as part of the support member, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining the uninterrupted shooting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide surface is extracted as a distinct functional element from the overall target structure. It can be taken out and replaced separately when worn, without requiring replacement of the entire pivoting mechanism or target member, thus improving maintenance ease while preserving continuous operation capability
3Ease of operation
If the target member rotates to an intermediate position, then partial movement occurs, but the target becomes obscured and requires time-consuming reset
Solution Approach 1:
The curved guide surface acts as an intermediary that actively manages the target member's passage through the intermediate position. Instead of allowing the target to get stuck requiring manual reset, the guide surface physically propels it through to the opposite set position, eliminating reset time while maintaining smooth operation
Solution Approach 2:
The curved guide surface is pre-configured with its specific curvature radius to anticipate and prevent the sticking problem before it occurs. The geometry is designed in advance to guide the target member smoothly through the intermediate position, preventing the need for any corrective reset action
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 ensures reliable, uninterrupted target rotation and easy replacement of worn parts, enhancing shooter experience by maintaining continuous shooting without interruptions and reducing maintenance time.
Implementation Method 1
an edge of the target member slides over the first and second tapered members when the target rotates between a first position and a second position
Data Source
AI summary
A shooting target includes an upright member to which a plurality of pivoting target members are attached. When struck by a projectile from a firearm, one of the target members rotates from a first set position, where the target member protrudes from one side of the upright member, to a second set position, where the target member protrudes from another side of the upright member, and vice versa. During this rotation of the target member, its lower edge slides upon a tapered edge provided by a plurality of tapered members. The tapered members serve to bias the target member to one of the two set positions to ensure the target member is only rotated when a direct strike is received from the projectile, and to ensure that the target member consistently rotates fully around to the other side of the upright member.