Crossbow cocking crank
In some embodiments, a crossbow crank comprises a housing and a shaft rotatable with respect to the housing. A one-way mechanism is arranged to prevent rotation of the shaft in a first rotational direction, but allow rotation in a second direction. A release mechanism is arranged to disengage the one-way mechanism from the shaft. The release mechanism has a first position and a second position, wherein the release mechanism moves along a length of the shaft between the first position and the second position.
1. A crossbow crank comprising:
a housing;
a shaft rotatable with respect to said housing;
a roller clutch mechanism arranged to allow rotation of said shaft in one rotational direction; and
a release mechanism arranged to disengage said roller clutch from said shaft, the release mechanism comprising a sleeve surrounding the shaft, the roller clutch surrounding the sleeve.
2. The crossbow crank of claim 1 , wherein the crossbow crank does not include a pawl.
3. The crossbow crank of claim 1 , wherein the roller clutch surrounds the shaft and the housing surrounds the roller clutch.
4. A crossbow crank comprising:
a housing;
a shaft rotatable with respect to said housing;
a one-way mechanism arranged to prevent rotation of said shaft in a first rotational direction, the one-way mechanism surrounding the shaft, the one-way mechanism engaged with the housing; and
a release mechanism arranged to disengage the one-way mechanism from the shaft, the release mechanism comprising a sleeve surrounding the shaft, the one-way mechanism surrounding the sleeve.
5. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , wherein the crossbow crank does not include a pawl.
6. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , wherein the one-way mechanism comprises a roller clutch.
7. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , comprising a crank arm engaged to the shaft.
8. The crossbow crank of claim 7 , comprising a moveable pin arranged to release said crank arm from said shaft.
9. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , wherein the release mechanism pivots with respect to said housing.
10. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , comprising a biasing member arranged to bias said release mechanism to an engaged position.
11. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , wherein said shaft comprises a first spool and a second spool oriented on opposite sides of the shaft.
12. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , said release mechanism comprising a sleeve that surrounds said shaft.
13. The crossbow crank of claim 12 , wherein said sleeve comprises a non-circular inner surface.
14. The crossbow crank of claim 4 , the sleeve arranged to move along a length of the shaft.
15. A crossbow crank comprising:
a housing;
a shaft rotatable with respect to said housing;
a one-way mechanism arranged to prevent rotation of said shaft in a first rotational direction, the one-way mechanism surrounding the shaft, the one-way mechanism engaged with the housing;
a release mechanism arranged to disengage the one-way mechanism from the shaft; and
a retraction spring arranged to bias said shaft in a second rotational direction, the retraction spring comprising a strip of material wrapped around the shaft.