Abstract
A projectile launching device includes self-timing without cam lean. The projectile launching device preferably includes a rail, a riser, two energy storing components, (such as two limbs), two cams, a launch string, and at least two cables. The ends of the launch string are attached to the two cams. Opposing ends of first and second cables are coupled to the first and second cams. A mid-segment of the first and second cables are slidably engaged with the first and second cable pulleys, respectively. The two cams are preferably built as mirror images of each other at a centerline of the rail. The two cams include a launch string track, having identical, but mirrored, upper and lower cable tracks.
Claims
1. A reverse style crossbow, comprising: a first 3-track cam and a second 3-track cam, a launch string, a first cable coupled with said first 3-track cam and a second cable coupled with said second 3-track cam, each one of said first and second 3-track cams include a string track, a first cable track and a second cable track, said string track is located between said first and second cable tracks, wherein said launch string having a first segment retained in said string track of said first 3-track cam and a second segment retained said string track of said second 3-track cam, each of said first and second cables have a first end and a first end adjacent segment, a second end and a second end adjacent segment, and a mid-segment, said mid-segment of said first cable is retained by a first cable pulley, said mid-segment of said second cable is retained by a second cable pulley, said first and second cable pulleys cannot rotate, said first and second cable pulleys are not inset into a riser or rail of a crossbow, said first end adjacent segment of said first cable makes contact with only said first cable track on a first side of said first 3-track cam and said second end adjacent segment of said first cable makes contact with only said second cable track on a second side of said first 3-track cam, said first end adjacent segment of said second cable makes contact with only said first cable track on a first side of said second 3-track cam, and said second end adjacent segment of said second cable makes contact with only said second cable track on a second side of said second 3-track cam, said first and second ends of said first cable are anchored to said first 3-track cam, said first and second ends of said second cable are anchored to said second 3-track cam.
2. The reverse style crossbow of claim 1 wherein: a first end of the launch string is anchored to said first 3-track cam and a second end of the launch string is anchored to said second 3-track cam.
3. The reverse style crossbow of claim 1 wherein: said first cable is slidably engaged with said first cable pulley, said second cable is slidably engaged with said second cable pulley.
4. The reverse style crossbow of claim 1 wherein: a distance between a center line of said first cable track and said string track is equal to a distance between a center line of said second cable track and said string track.
5. The reverse style crossbow of claim 1 wherein: a first cable track module includes said first cable track, a second cable track module includes said second cable track.
6. A reverse style crossbow, comprising: a first 3-track cam and a second 3-track cam, a launch string, a first cable coupled with said first cam and a second cable coupled with said second cam, each one of said first and second 3-track cams include a string track, a first cable track and a second cable track, said string track is located between said first and second cable tracks, wherein said launch string having a first segment retained in said string track of said first 3-track cam and a second segment retained said string track of said second 3-track cam, each of said first and second cables have a first end and a first end adjacent segment, a second end and a second end adjacent segment, and a mid-segment, said mid-segment of said first cable is retained by a first cable pulley, a mid-segment of said second cable is retained by a second cable pulley, said first and second cable pulleys cannot rotate, said first and second cable pulleys are not inset into a riser or rail of a crossbow, said first 3-track cam and said second 3-track cam are identical to each other, said first end adjacent segment of said first cable makes contact with only said first cable track on a first side of said first 3-track cam and said second end adjacent segment of said first cable makes contact with only said second cable track on a second side of said first 3-track cam, said first end adjacent segment of said second cable makes contact with only said first cable track on a first side of said second 3-track cam and said second end adjacent segment of said second cable makes contact with only said second cable track on a second side of said second 3-track cam, said first and second ends of said first cable are anchored to said first 3-track cam, said first and second ends of said second cable are anchored to said second 3-track cam.
7. The reverse style crossbow of claim 6 wherein: a first end of the launch string is anchored to said first 3-track cam and a second end of the launch string is anchored to said second 3-track cam.
8. The reverse style crossbow of claim 6 wherein: said first cable is slidably engaged with said first cable pulley, said second cable is slidably engaged with said second cable pulley.
9. The reverse style crossbow of claim 6 wherein: a distance between a center line of said first cable track and said string track is equal to a distance between a center line of said second cable track and said string track.
10. The reverse style crossbow of claim 6 wherein: a first cable track module includes said first cable track, a second cable track module includes said second cable track.
11. A reverse style crossbow, comprising: a first 3-track cam and a second 3-track cam, a launch string, a first cable coupled with said first cam and a second cable coupled with said second cam, each one of said first and second 3-track cams include a string track, a first cable track and a second cable track, said string track is located between said first and second cable tracks, wherein said launch string having a first segment retained in said string track of said first 3-track cam and a second segment retained said string track of said second 3-track cam, each of said first and second cables have a first end and a first end adjacent segment, a second end and a second end adjacent segment, and a mid-segment, said mid-segment of said first cable is retained by a first cable pulley, a mid-segment of said second cable is retained by a second cable pulley, said first and second cable pulleys cannot rotate, said first and second cable pulleys are not inset into a riser or rail of a crossbow, a perimeter shape of said first cable track is the same as said second cable track, said first 3-track cam and said second 3-track cam are mirror images of each other, said first end adjacent segment of said first cable makes contact with only said first cable track on a first side of said first 3-track cam and said second end adjacent segment of said first cable makes contact with only said second cable track on a second side of said first 3-track cam, said first end adjacent segment of said second cable makes contact with only said first cable track on a first side of said second 3-track cam, and said second end adjacent segment of said second cable makes contact with only said second cable track on a second side of said second 3-track cam, said first and second ends of said first cable are anchored to said first 3-track cam, said first and second ends of said second cable are anchored to said second 3-track cam.
12. The reverse style crossbow of claim 11 wherein: a first end of the launch string is anchored to said first 3-track cam and a second end of the launch string is anchored to said second 3-track cam.
13. The reverse style crossbow of claim 11 wherein: said first cable is slidably engaged with said first cable pulley, said second cable is slidably engaged with said second cable pulley.
14. The reverse style crossbow of claim 11 wherein: a distance between a center line of said first cable track and said string track is equal to a distance between a center line of said second cable track and said string track.
15. The reverse style crossbow of claim 11 wherein: a first cable track module includes said first cable track, a second cable track module includes said second cable track.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1A is a partial rear view of a vertical bow of the present invention, having a first and second cam, a first and second cable, and a string, wherein opposing ends of the same cable are anchored to the same cam, and a mid-portion of the cables partially wrap a cable pulley of the present invention.
(2) FIG. 1B is a partial rear view of a vertical bow of the present invention, having a first and second cam, a cable, and a string, wherein opposing ends of the same cable are anchored to the same cam, and a mid-portion of the cables partially wrap a cable pulley of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 2A is a top view of a conventional limb crossbow with inverted cams of the present invention in an at-rest position, having first and second cams; first and second cables; and a string, wherein opposing ends of the same cable are anchored to the same cam, and a mid-portion of the cables partially wrap a cable pulley of the present invention.
(4) FIG. 2B is a top view of a reverse draw crossbow of the present invention in an at-rest position, having first and second cams; first and second cables; and a string, wherein opposing ends of the same cable are anchored to the same cam, and a mid-portion of the cables partially wrap a cable pulley—of the present invention.
(5) FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a crossbow with the string at rest where each end of a first cable is anchored to a first cam, each end of a second cable is anchored to a second cam, and first and second directional transition components are located between the cams and the cable pulley of the present invention.
(6) FIG. 2D is a first close up view of FIG. 2C of the present invention.
(7) FIG. 2E is a second close up view of FIG. 2C of the present invention.
(8) FIG. 3 is a top view of a conventional limb crossbow with inverted cams of the present invention in an at-rest position, having first and second cams; first and second cables; and a string, wherein opposing ends of the same cable are anchored to the same cam, and a mid-portion of the cables partially wrap a cable pulley of the present invention.
(9) FIG. 3A is a side cut-away view of a second multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower cable track that is at least twice as wide as the width of the cables; opposing ends of the second cable are anchored to the same post on the second cam, and a mid-portion of said second cable partially wraps a second cable pulley, a string and second cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(10) FIG. 4A is a top view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(11) FIG. 4B is a bottom view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(12) FIG. 4C is a side cut-away view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower cable track, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(13) FIG. 4D is an exploded side view of a first multi-piece piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention having an upper and lower cable track, and having first and second mirror image modules of the present invention.
(14) FIG. 4E is a side cut-away view of a second multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower cable track, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(15) FIG. 4F is an exploded side view of a second multi-piece piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention having an upper and lower cable track, and having first and second mirror image modules of the present invention.
(16) FIG. 4G is a side cut-away view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower helical cable track, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(17) FIG. 4H is an exploded side view of a first multi-piece piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention having an upper and lower helical cable track, and having first and second mirror image modules of the present invention.
(18) FIG. 4I is a side cut-away view of a second multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower helical cable track, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(19) FIG. 4J is an exploded side view of a second multi-piece piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention having an upper and lower helical cable track, and having first and second mirror image modules of the present invention.
(20) FIG. 5A is a top view of a second multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(21) FIG. 5B is a bottom view of a second multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(22) FIG. 5C is an exploded side view of a second multi-piece piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention having an upper and lower cable track that, and having a first and second mirror image modules of the present invention.
(23) FIG. 5D is a side cut-away view of a second multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower cable track; opposing ends of the second cable are anchored to the second cam, and a mid-segment of said second cable partially wraps a second cable pulley, a string and second cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(24) FIG. 5E is a top view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(25) FIG. 5F is a bottom view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, a string and cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(26) FIG. 5G is an exploded side view of a first multi-piece piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention having an upper and lower cable track, and having a first and second mirror image modules of the present invention.
(27) FIG. 5H is a side cut-away view of a first multi-piece cam with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower cable track; opposing ends of the first cable are anchored to the first cam, and a mid-segment of said first cable partially wraps a first cable pulley, a string and first cable are illustrated with the cam of the present invention.
(28) FIG. 6A is a top view of first and second multi-piece cams with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention; having an upper and lower cable track, modules have been removed for illustrative purposes; a string and cable are illustrated with the cam in a drawn position of the present invention.
(29) FIG. 6B is a bottom view of first and second multi-piece cams with non-circular cable tracks of the present invention, having an upper and lower cable, modules have been removed for illustrative purposes; a string and cable are illustrated with the cam in a drawn position of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(30) With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B show views of a vertical bow-type projectile launching device 2. The projectile launching device 2 preferably includes a bow riser 10, a first limb 14, a second limb 16, a first cam 18, a second cam 20 and a launch string 22. One end of the first limb 14 is attached to a first end of the bow riser 10 and one end of the second limb 16 is attached to a second end of the bow riser 10. The first cam 18 is pivotally retained on an opposing end of the first limb 14 with a first axle 31 and the second cam 20 is pivotally retained on an opposing end of the second limb 16 with a second axle 32.
(31) With more specific reference to FIG. 1A, the disclosed embodiment illustrates a vertical bow 2 having a first cable 44 and a second cable 46, wherein a first end of the first cable 44 is anchored to a first cable first post 210, and a second end of the first cable 44 is anchored to a first cable second cable post 212. A first end of the second cable 46 is anchored to a second cable first cable post 211 and a second end of the second cable 46 is anchored to a second cable second post 213. A first cable spanner bar 82 is coupled to the riser 10 on a first side of the launch string 22, and a second cable spanner bar 83 is coupled to the riser 10 on a second side of the launch string 22. The cable spanner bars 82 and 83 displace the first and second pulley mounting cables 45 and 47 a distance away from the launch string 22 to allow clearance for an arrow 33.
(32) More specifically referring to FIG. 1B, the disclosed embodiment illustrates a vertical bow 2. The first spanner bar 82 is coupled to the riser 10 on the first side of the launch string 22, and the second spanner bar 83 is coupled to the riser 10 on the second side of the launch string 22. A first end of a first cable 44 is coupled to a first cam 18 first cable anchor 210, a mid-segment of said first cable partially wraps a first cable pulley 215, and a second end of said first cable anchors to a first cam 18 second cable post 212. A first end of a second cable 46 is coupled to a second cam 20 first cable anchor 211, a mid-segment of said second cable 46 partially wraps a second cable pulley 216, and a second end of said second cable 46 anchors to a second cam 18 second cable post 213. The first cable pulley 215 is coupled to a first pulley mounting cable 45 and first and second first pulley mounting cable post 24 and 26. The second cable pulley 216 is coupled to a second pulley or transition mounting cable 47 and first and second second-pulley mounting cable post 25 and 27.
(33) FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a crossbow 1 of the current invention. The bow riser 10 may be joined with the rail 12 in any method known to join two pieces, as well as the rail 12 and the riser 10 being formed together as a single unit. The projectile launching device 1 preferably includes the riser 10, the rail 12, a first limb 14, a second limb 16, a first cam 18, a second cam 20 and a launch string 22.
(34) A first end of the first limb 14 is coupled to a first end of the bow riser 10 and a first end of the second limb 16 is coupled to a second end of the bow riser 10. The first cam 18 is pivotally retained on an opposing end of the first limb 14 and the second cam 20 is pivotally retained on an opposing end of the second limb 16. The crossbow 1 includes a first cable 44 and a second cable 46. With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first end of the first cable 44 is anchored to the first cable first post 210, and the second end of the first cable 44 is anchored to the first cam second cable post 212. The first end of the second cable 46 is anchored to the second cable first cable post 211, and the second end of the second cable 46 is anchored to the second cable second post 213.
(35) The first end of the first pulley mounting cable 45 is coupled to a first cable pulley or the first cable retention transition 215 and a first pulley mounting cable first and second post 24 and 26 (26 not shown). The first end of the second pulley mounting cable 47 is coupled to a second cable pulley or the second cable retention transition 216 and a second pulley mounting cable first and second post 25 and 27 (27 not shown).
(36) FIGS. 2C-2E, disclose a first and a second cable 44 and 46, each cable having a first end and a second end; and a first and a second cam 18 and 20. The first end of the first cable 44 is anchored to the first cam 18 and engages a first cable track of the first cam 18; the first cable 44 then spans to a first directional transition 408, (A component that alters the direction of the span. The directional transition may be of any smooth-surface that retains the cable.) The first cable 44 then spans to and is retained by a first cable pulley 215, the first cable 44 then spans to a second directional transition (not shown), then spans to engage a second cable track of the first cam 44, and the second end of the first cable 44 is anchored to the first cam 18. The first end of the second cable 46 is anchored to the second cam 20 and engages a first cable track of the second cam 20; the second cable 46 then spans to a third directional transition 402, then spans to and is retained by a second cable pulley 216, the second cable 46 then spans to a fourth directional transition 400, then spans to engage a second cable track of the second cam 20, and the second end of the second cable 46 is anchored to the second cam 20. The first and second directional transitions are a mirror of the third and fourth directional transitions 400, 402. The use of directional transitions allows for flexibility in design, and management of structural forces that would be impossible without them.
(37) With reference to FIG. 3, a similar crossbow is shown as relates to FIG. 2, however the first and second ends of the first cable 44 are anchored to a first cam single cable post 217 on a first cam 18, and the first and second ends of the second cable 46 are anchored to a second cam single cable post 218 on the second cam 20. FIG. 3A shows a partial cross section view of the crossbow of FIG. 3, wherein the first and second ends of cable 46 are anchored to a first cam 18 first cam single cable post 217.
(38) Referring to FIGS. 4A-4J, the first cam 18 includes a first launch string track 19, a first cam upper cable track 40, a first cam launch string post 61, and a first cam lower cable track 41. A first end of the launch string 22 is retained by the first cam launch string post 61; a portion of the span of the launch string 22 at least partially wraps around the first cam 18 in the first cam launch string track 19; a portion of the span of the launch string 22 at least partially wraps the second cam 20 in the second cam launch string track 21, and a second end of the bowstring 22 is retained by the second cam launch string post 63.
(39) The first end of the first cable 44 is coupled to the first cam first cable post 210; a segment of the first cable 44 partially engages the first cam upper cable track 40; the middle of the first cable 44 is retained by the first cable pulley 215 (not shown); a segment of the first cable 44 partially engages the first cam lower cable track 41; and the second end of the first cable 44 is coupled to the first cam second cable post 212. The first end of the second cable 46 is coupled to the second cam first cable post 211; a segment of the first cable 46 partially engages the second cam upper cable track 40; the middle of the first cable 46 is retained by the 216 (not shown); a segment of the second cable 46 partially engages the second cam lower cable track 41; and the second end of the second cable 46 is coupled to the second cam second cable post 213.
(40) With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the launch string 22 is drawn from a rest position to a ready to fire position, the first cam 18 rotates in a first direction, and the second cam 20 rotates in a second direction. As the cams 18 and 20 rotate, the launch string 22 is unwound from the first and second launch string tracks 19 and 21. Simultaneously, the cables 44 and 46 wind into the first and second upper cable tracks 40 and 42 and the first and second lower cable tracks 41 and 43 of the first 18 and second 20 cams. When the launch string 22 has been drawn to the ready-to-fire position, it may be held in this the position by an operably releasable catch located in a housing 56. The first cable 44 is slidable relative to the first cable pulley 215 and the second cable 46 is slidable relative to the second cable pulley 216. The upper cable track 40, the lower cable track 41, the upper cable track 42 and the lower cable track 43 may be generally circular, or non-circular.
(41) FIGS. 4A-4D and 5A-5D illustrate an embodiment of the first cam 18 of the current invention with string and cable(s), wherein the first cam 18 is constructed of a modular type construction. In this type of construction, the first and second side of the first cam 18 and the second cam 20 are mirror images of each other, and the first cam 18 is identical and interchangeable with the second cam 20. The first cam 18 includes a first module 70 and a second module 75. The first and second modules 70, 75 are mirror images of each other. The first and second modules 70, 75 are identical and are interchangeable with a first module 72 and a second module 77 of the second cam 20. Specifically, FIG. 4A is a top view of the first cam 18, FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the first cam 18, FIG. 4C is a cut-away view of the first cam 18 with the string 22 and the cable 44. The first module 70 and the second module 75 may be generally non-circular, or circular.
(42) FIGS. 4G-4J illustrate an alternate embodiment of the first cam 18 of the current invention with string and cable(s), wherein the first cam 18 is constructed of a modular type construction. In this type of construction, the first and second side of the first cam 18 and the second cam 20 are mirror images of each other, and the first cam 18 is identical and interchangeable with the second cam 20. The first cam 18 includes a first helical module 70 and a second helical module 75. The first and second helical modules 70, 75 are mirror images of each other. The first and second helical modules 70, 75 are identical and are interchangeable with a first module 72 and a second module 77 of the second cam 20.
(43) FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate an embodiment of the second cam 20 of the current invention, with string and cable(s), wherein the second cam 20 is constructed of a modular type construction. In this type of construction, the first and second side of the second cam 20 and the first cam 18 are mirror images of each other, and the first cam 18 is identical and interchangeable with the second cam 20. The first module 72 and the second module 77 are mirror images of each other, and the first and second modules 70 and 75 are identical and interchangeable with the first and second modules 72 and 77. Specifically, FIG. 5A is a top view of the second cam 20, FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the second cam 20, FIG. 5C is a cut-away view of a second cam with the string 22 and the cable 46. The first module 72 and the second cable module 77 may be generally non-circular, or circular. FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of the first cam 18 and the second cam 20, in the drawn position. FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view of the first cam 18 and the second cam 20, in the drawn position. FIGS. 6A and 6B are identical to each other and not just mirror images, as described previously in FIGS. 5A-5D. This feature allows for an easier method of manufacture and assembly.
(44) A first end of the launch string 22 is anchored to the first cam string post 61; a segment of the launch string 22 partially wraps cam 18 in the string track 19; the string crosses the center of the riser 10; and partially wraps the second cam 20 in the string track 21; and the second end of the launch string 22 is anchored to the second cam string post 63.
(45) With reference to FIGS. 4A-4D and 5A—5D, the mid-segment of the first and second cables 44, 46 “slidably” engage the first and second cable pulleys 215 and 216, which allows the first and second cables 44, 46 to self-center themselves relative to a first side and a second side of the first and second cams 18 and 20. The self-centering feature of the cables 44, 46 provides for automatic cable timing, which eliminates cam lean, and timing issues. As the launch string 22 is drawn, the launch string unwraps, or “pays out” from the first and second cams 18, 20. Simultaneously, the first and second cables 44, 46 wrap the respective first cable tracks 70, 75 and the second cable tracks 72, 77.
(46) It is preferable that the second ends of the first and second cables 44 and 46 not be anchored to the same post. However the first and second cables 44, 46 will still function satisfactorily if anchored to the same post.
(47) While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
