Stacked Archery Bow Limbs for Strength-Weight Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Archery bow limbs face a challenge in balancing strength and lightness while needing improvements in efficiency and longevity, as they are highly stressed and require novel configurations to enhance performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a limb assembly with a limb cup supporting first and second limb members, where the second limb member applies a supporting force to the first, and a rotatable member is supported by a hanger bracket, allowing for efficient energy storage and distribution, potentially using composite materials and damping elements for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If limb members are made stronger and more robust to withstand high stress, then strength and reliability improve, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bow is divided into multiple limb members (first limb member and second limb member) that work together in a stacked configuration. Each limb member can be optimized independently for strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the overall structure to achieve required strength without each component needing to be overly heavy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials in the limb members to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio. By using composite construction, the limbs gain the necessary robustness to withstand high stress while maintaining reduced weight, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
2Weight of moving object
If limb members are made lighter to improve speed and maneuverability, then weight decreases, but strength and durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the limb into multiple members in a stacked arrangement, each lighter component contributes to overall strength through their combined structural configuration. The segmentation allows lighter individual pieces to achieve collective strength that would be impossible in a single monolithic light component.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lighter limb members are merged into a stacked configuration where they work together to provide the necessary strength. The combination of several light components creates a structure that is both lightweight and strong, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.
3Loss of energy
If traditional single-limb configuration is used, then device complexity is low, but energy storage efficiency and longevity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage function is segmented across multiple limb members in the stacked configuration. Each limb member contributes to energy storage, allowing the system to store and release energy more efficiently than a single limb while distributing the mechanical stress across multiple components, thereby improving longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked limb configuration resembles a nested structure where multiple limb members are arranged in layers. This nesting allows efficient space utilization and energy distribution within the bow structure, improving energy storage efficiency without proportionally increasing external dimensions or complexity.
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 configuration enhances the efficiency and longevity of archery bow limbs by optimizing energy storage and distribution, leading to improved performance and durability, while maintaining strength and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
The second limb member applies a supporting force to the first limb member
Implementation Method 2
As the bow is drawn, the limbs will flex and store additional energy
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a limb assembly comprises a limb cup, a first limb member, a second limb member and a damping material. The first limb member supports a rotatable member. The first limb member is supported by the limb cup at a first location and supports a rotatable member at a second location. The damping material extends from the first location to the second location.