Chemiluminescent Shotgun Tracer Insert with Deployable Drag Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chemiluminescent shotgun tracers are not bright enough for effective visibility at higher speeds due to shelf life constraints, and reducing propellant to slow them down compromises their effectiveness and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A chemiluminescent tracer insert with integrated thin-flaps that increase air drag forces to slow down the tracer during flight, making it more visible without affecting the shot's accuracy, using a translucent cylindrical container with reactants and a decelerator made from the same material as the container, which extends thin-flaps to increase drag and turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the tracer travels at high speed to maintain shot effectiveness, then the shot can break targets effectively, but the tracer becomes difficult to see and track
Solution Approach 1:
The tracer insert incorporates deployable flaps that change the drag profile dynamically during flight. The flaps remain retracted during the powered phase to maintain high speed, then deploy after muzzle exit to increase drag and slow the tracer, making it visible while preserving the initial high-speed performance for target engagement
2Speed
If propellant amount is reduced to slow down the tracer, then the tracer becomes more visible, but the shot speed and effectiveness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flight profile is segmented into two distinct phases: a powered acceleration phase where the tracer reaches high velocity for effective target engagement, and a coasting phase where deployable flaps increase drag to slow the tracer for visibility. This segmentation allows the shot to achieve both high initial speed and subsequent slowing without compromising either performance
3Illumination intensity
If the tracer is made brighter to improve visibility, then the tracer can be seen more easily, but the shelf life of the ammunition is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tracer's visibility is enhanced dynamically through the deployment of flaps that increase surface area and drag, rather than relying solely on increased brightness chemistry. This dynamic approach to visibility allows adequate observation time without requiring the tracer to be inherently brighter, thereby preserving shelf life
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 tracer insert provides a consistent reference for shooters to improve lead and shooting technique, enhancing accuracy and safety by slowing down the tracer to make it visible within the effective range without compromising the shot's trajectory.
Implementation Method 1
a chemiluminescent tracer insert holding chemiluminescent material which, when incorporated into a shotgun shell, can be used to provide a shooter with a consistent reference
Implementation Method 2
integrated thin-flaps that increase air drag forces to slow down the tracer during flight
Data Source
AI summary
A chemiluminescent tracer insert with decelerator for use with a shotgun shell to provide an aiming and training aid for shotgun shooting activities, including skeet, trap, sporting clays, hunting, law enforcement and military applications. The tracer insert can be used in shotgun shells of all gauges. The tracer insert comprises a translucent, resilient, elastic, cylindrical container in which the reactants, an oxalate and fluorescent-colored dye solution, and an activator encased in a glass vessel, are held. Ignition of the shell causes the glass vessel to break. The resulting chemiluminescent reaction causes emission of light visible to the shooter. Unattached ends of thin-flaps on the tracer insert extend outwardly when drag forces act upon them during flight, slowing the speed of the tracer insert, which makes it more visible to the shooter, thereby providing a consistent reference to enable a shooter to make corrections to his lead and/or shooting techniques.