Projectile launching device
View Patent ↗A projectile launcher includes an acceleration rail with an accelerator mounted on opposite sides of the rail. Each accelerator includes an elastomeric energy generator having an end that is held stationary, while another end is connected to a string. This string then passes over a series of pulleys and crosses over the rail into the other accelerator. Thus, both accelerators act on the same string. In operation, as the string is pulled back and engaged with the projectile on the acceleration rail, the elastomeric drives are stretched. Also, each series of pulleys effectively causes a velocity multiplication that enhances the momentum of the projectile when it is launched.
1. A projectile launcher, wherein the projectile has a head portion with a shaft extending from the head portion, the launcher comprising:
a base member having an elongated acceleration rail;
a sled mounted on the base member for reciprocal linear movement along the acceleration rail, wherein the sled is configured to receive the head portion of the projectile;
a first accelerator mounted on the base member;
a second accelerator mounted on the base member opposite the acceleration rail from the first accelerator;
a string having a first end and a second end, with the first end affixed to a stationary point on the first accelerator and with the second end affixed to a stationary point on the second accelerator, wherein the string crosses the acceleration rail between the first accelerator and the second accelerator for an engagement of the string with the sled;
a means for positioning the sled in an armed position on the acceleration rail to simultaneously activate both the first accelerator and the second accelerator;
a trigger means for releasing the sled from the armed position to pull on the head portion of the projectile for launching the projectile;
a first noise-suppression tube, wherein the first tube is hollow and has a base end and a deployment end, wherein the base end of the first tube is pivotally mounted on the base member, and further wherein the first accelerator is held inside the first noise-suppression tube; and
a second noise-suppression tube, wherein the second tube is hollow and has a base end and a deployment end, and wherein the base end of the second tube is pivotally mounted on the base member, and further wherein the second accelerator is held inside the second noise-suppression tube.
2. A launcher as recited in claim 1 wherein the first accelerator and the second accelerator each comprise:
a drive unit having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the drive unit affixed to the base end of the noise-suppression tube;
a base pulley fixedly attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube; and
a velocity multiplier pulley attached to the second end of the drive unit for movement therewith, wherein the string is affixed to the deployment end of the tube and extends therefrom for successive engagement with the velocity multiplier pulley, the base pulley, and the sled.
3. A launcher as recited in claim 2 wherein the drive unit is made of an elastomeric material.
4. A launcher as recited in claim 2 wherein each accelerator further comprises a rigid truss member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube, and the second end is engaged with the base member to slide thereon for movement of the second end to reconfigure the accelerator between an unloaded configuration wherein the noise-suppression tube is substantially parallel to the base member and a pre-load configuration wherein the noise-suppression tube is pivoted at the base end thereof to establish an angle φ between the tube and the base member.
5. A projectile launcher which comprises:
a base member having an elongated acceleration rail;
a sled mounted on the base member for reciprocal linear movement along the acceleration rail, wherein the sled is configured to receive the projectile;
a first noise-suppression tube mounted on the base member, wherein the first tube is hollow and has a base end and a deployment end, wherein the base end of the first tube is pivotally mounted on the base member;
a second noise-suppression tube, wherein the second tube is hollow and has a base end and a deployment end, and wherein the base end of the second tube is pivotally mounted on the base member opposite the acceleration rail from the first tube;
a first accelerator held inside the first noise-suppression tube;
a second accelerator held inside the second noise-suppression tube;
a string having a first end and a second end with the first end affixed between the first accelerator and the second accelerator, wherein the string crosses the acceleration rail between the first tube and the second tube for an engagement of the string with the sled;
a means for positioning the sled in an armed position on the acceleration rail to simultaneously activate both the first accelerator and the second accelerator; and
a trigger means for releasing the sled from the armed position to launch the projectile.
6. A launcher as recited in claim 5 wherein the projectile has a head portion with a shaft extending from the head portion, and wherein the sled is configured to receive the head portion of the projectile.
7. A launcher as recited in claim 5 wherein the first accelerator and the second accelerator each comprise:
a drive unit having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the drive unit affixed to the base end of the noise-suppression tube;
a base pulley fixedly attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube; and
a velocity multiplier pulley attached to the second end of the drive unit for movement therewith, wherein the string is affixed to the deployment end of the tube and extends therefrom for successive engagement with the velocity multiplier pulley, the base pulley, and the sled.
8. A launcher as recited in claim 7 wherein the drive unit is made of an elastomeric material.
9. A launcher as recited in claim 7 wherein each accelerator further comprises a rigid truss member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube, and the second end is engaged with the base member to slide thereon for movement of the second end to reconfigure the accelerator between an unloaded configuration wherein the noise-suppression tube is substantially parallel to the base member and a pre-load configuration wherein the noise-suppression tube is pivoted at the base end thereof to establish an angle φ between the tube and the base member.
10. A projectile launcher, wherein the projectile has a head portion with a shaft extending from the head portion, the launcher comprising:
a base member having an elongated acceleration rail;
a sled mounted on the base member for reciprocal linear movement along the acceleration rail, wherein the sled is configured to receive the head portion of the projectile;
an accelerator mounted on the base member;
a string having a first end and a second end, with the first end affixed to a stationary point on the accelerator and with the second end engaged with the sled;
a means for positioning the sled in an armed position on the acceleration rail to activate the accelerator;
a trigger means for releasing the sled from the armed position to pull on the head portion of the projectile for launching the projectile; and
a means for braking the sled after launch.
11. A launcher as recited in claim 10 wherein the accelerator is a first accelerator and the launcher further comprises a second accelerator mounted on the base member opposite the acceleration rail from the first accelerator, wherein the string has a first end and a second end, with the first end affixed to a stationary point on the first accelerator and with the second end affixed to a stationary point on the second accelerator, wherein the string crosses the acceleration rail between the first accelerator and the second accelerator for an engagement of the string with the sled, and further wherein the means for positioning the sled in the armed position on the acceleration rail simultaneously activates both the first accelerator and the second accelerator.
12. A launcher as recited in claim 11 wherein the first accelerator and the second accelerator each comprise:
a drive unit having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the drive unit affixed to the base end of a noise-suppression tube;
a base pulley fixedly attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube; and
a velocity multiplier pulley attached to the second end of the drive unit for movement therewith, wherein the string is affixed to the deployment end of the tube and extends therefrom for successive engagement with the velocity multiplier pulley, the base pulley, and the sled.
13. A launcher as recited in claim 12 wherein the drive unit is made of an elastomeric material.
14. A launcher as recited in claim 12 wherein each accelerator further comprises a rigid truss member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube, and the second end is engaged with the base member to slide thereon for movement of the second end to reconfigure the accelerator between an unloaded configuration wherein the noise-suppression tube is substantially parallel to the base member and a pre-load configuration wherein the noise-suppression tube is pivoted at the base end thereof to establish an angle φ between the tube and the base member.
15. A projectile launcher, wherein the projectile has a head portion with a shaft extending from the head portion, the launcher comprising:
a base member having an elongated acceleration rail;
a first accelerator mounted on the base member;
a second accelerator mounted on the base member opposite the acceleration rail from the first accelerator;
a string having a first end and a second end, with the first end affixed to a stationary point on the first accelerator and with the second end affixed to a stationary point on the second accelerator, wherein the string crosses the acceleration rail between the first accelerator and the second accelerator for an engagement with the string;
a means for positioning the string in an armed position on the acceleration rail to simultaneously activate both the first accelerator and the second accelerator;
a trigger means for releasing the string from the armed position to accelerate the projectile for launching the projectile;
a first noise-suppression tube, wherein the first tube is hollow and has a base end and a deployment end, wherein the base end of the first tube is pivotally mounted on the base member, and further wherein the first accelerator is held inside the first noise-suppression tube; and
a second noise-suppression tube, wherein the second tube is hollow and has a base end and a deployment end, and wherein the base end of the second tube is pivotally mounted on the base member, and further wherein the second accelerator is held inside the second noise-suppression tube.
16. A launcher as recited in claim 15 wherein the first accelerator and the second accelerator each comprise:
a drive unit having a first end and a second end, with the first end of the drive unit affixed to the base end of the noise-suppression tube;
a base pulley fixedly attached to the deployment end of the noise-suppression tube; and
a velocity multiplier pulley attached to the second end of the drive unit for movement therewith, wherein the string is affixed to the deployment end of the tube and extends therefrom for successive engagement with the velocity multiplier pulley and the base pulley.
17. A launcher as recited in claim 15 wherein the string pushes on the projectile to launch the projectile.