Throwing Toy With Flexible Tab Shaft For Energy Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hand-thrown projectiles with stabilizing tails do not utilize the tail for throwing, resulting in inefficient energy transfer and reduced distance and speed, as most of the energy is consumed by wobble and aerodynamic drag.
Innovation Solution
A hand-thrown projectile design featuring a flexible tab on the tail section that allows for grasping and throwing by the tab, storing spring energy as the shaft bends during acceleration, enhancing the launching velocity and distance of the projectile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the projectile is grasped directly by the head, then the throwing action is simple, but the launching velocity and distance are reduced due to energy loss from wobble and aerodynamic drag
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible shaft acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the projectile head. When the user throws by grasping the tail, the shaft transmits force while its flexibility minimizes energy loss from wobble and aerodynamic drag, thereby increasing launching velocity and distance
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft's flexible material properties allow it to deform during the throwing motion, changing its physical state from rigid to flexible. This parameter change enables the shaft to absorb and release energy efficiently, reducing energy loss and improving projectile performance
2Strength
If a rigid shaft is used, then the structural strength is high, but the flexibility needed for energy storage during throwing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is designed with intermediate flexibility - not completely rigid nor completely flexible. This parameter optimization allows the shaft to maintain sufficient structural strength while possessing enough flexibility to bend and store spring energy during the throwing motion
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft utilizes composite material construction combining rigid and flexible properties. This allows different sections of the shaft to have different stiffness characteristics, maintaining overall structural strength while enabling localized flexibility for energy storage
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 projectile achieves faster and farther flight by releasing stored energy upon tab release, surpassing traditional throwing methods where the projectile is grasped directly.
Implementation Method 1
As the projectile is thrown, inertia and the acceleration forces created by the throw cause the semi-flexible section of the shaft to bend. As the shaft bends, it stores spring energy.
Implementation Method 2
Upon release of the flexible tab, the energy stored in the bent shaft is released. This energy is transferred into the initial velocity of the projectile.
Implementation Method 3
a whipping effect is created as the enlarged head of the projectile travels faster and farther than the user's hand creating the toss
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-thrown projectile having an enlarged head made from a soft material. A shaft has a semi-flexible section and a flexible section. The flexible section is interposed between the semi-flexible section and its rear end. The flexible section is created by flattening the plastic of the shaft into a wide, easily grasped tab. A plurality of stabilization fins are provided that radially extend from the semi-flexible section of the shaft. To toss the projectile, a person grasps the flexible tab. As the projectile is thrown, inertia and the acceleration forces created by the throw cause the semi-flexible section of the shaft to bend and store spring energy. Upon release of the flexible tab, the energy stored in the bent shaft is released and is transferred into the initial velocity of the projectile.