Short-Projectile Launcher With Spring-Loaded Piston Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toy projectile launchers, particularly those with metal barrels, struggle to achieve high launching force and accuracy while maintaining a large capacity for foam darts, as they are limited by the size and design of the storage drum and launch barrel interface.
Innovation Solution
A toy launcher with an air piston assembly that forms an airtight seal between the air piston nozzle and the launch barrel, allowing for high-performance launching of foam darts by incorporating a resilient mechanism that enables the air piston nozzle to reach through a storage drum and form a sealed connection with the launch barrel, thus accommodating a higher capacity without increasing the drum's diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the storage drum diameter is increased to accommodate more foam darts, then the storage capacity is improved, but the launcher becomes larger and less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The air piston nozzle is nested within the storage drum structure, allowing it to reach through the drum to form a sealed connection with the launch barrel. This nesting arrangement enables the storage drum to maintain its compact diameter while still accommodating the necessary air delivery mechanism for high-capacity dart storage and launch.
2Force
If the air piston nozzle diameter is increased to improve sealing and launch force, then the airtight seal and launching force are improved, but the nozzle cannot reach through the storage drum
Solution Approach 1:
The air piston nozzle is positioned within the storage drum structure, nested among the stored foam darts, and extends through the drum to reach the launch barrel. This nested configuration allows the nozzle to achieve sufficient length for sealing and force generation without increasing the overall drum diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The air piston nozzle is oriented radially through the storage drum rather than axially, changing the dimensional approach to reach the launch barrel. This radial arrangement allows the nozzle to penetrate through the drum wall and form a sealed connection with the launch barrel while maintaining a compact drum structure.
3Measurement precision
If the clearance between the launch barrel and foam dart is reduced to improve accuracy and speed, then the launching accuracy and speed are improved, but the launch force is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air piston assembly delivers compressed air through the air piston nozzle to the foam dart with precise pressure control. This pneumatic delivery system generates high launch force through pressure buildup while maintaining accurate projectile propulsion, resolving the trade-off between force and precision in the launch mechanism.
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 provides high velocity and accurate projectile launching with a larger storage capacity, allowing for a more compact and efficient toy launcher design that maintains airtight seals and improved launching force.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring; where the air piston assembly pushes forward on the foam dart to be launched, compressing the compression spring
Implementation Method 2
an air piston assembly that forms an airtight seal between the air piston nozzle and the launch barrel
Data Source
AI summary
A toy projectile launcher having a projectile container, a cocking slide, and a housing is disclosed. The projectile container contains projectile holders that are adapted to hold a projectile, such as a foam dart. The cocking slide can be moved forward and backward. The housing houses a launch barrel and an air piston assembly. When the cocking slide is moved backward the air piston barrel moves backward, and a projectile holder is moved into a firing position. The foam dart is held in place by a resilient stopper. When the cocking slide is moved forward an air nozzle engages a surface of the resilient stopper and advances through the projectile holder, pushing the foam dart into the launch barrel. An airtight seal is formed between the launch barrel and air piston assembly.