Device for launching a projectile or a launch object in general

Abstract

Device for launching a projectile or a launch object in general, comprising: a stock having a longitudinal development direction between a rear or proximal end and a front or distal end; at least two bending members associated to said stock on opposite sides of it and having a preferential development direction, said bending members being apt to be subjected to bending in order to accumulate and supply energy usable to launch said projectile, and released in a rest condition; tensioning means of said bending members; pushing means of said projectile apt to cooperate with said bending members. Said tensioning means comprise at least two cams arranged on opposite sides of the stock, each of which is pivoted at a respective first axis of rotation and is associated to at least one corresponding bending member, so that an angular displacement of said cam around said first axis of rotation determines a bending action on said at least one corresponding bending member. Said pushing means comprise at least two arms arranged on opposite sides of the stock and connected to each other through a flexible member, wherein each of said arms has a first end pivoted at a second axis of rotation and a second end apt to support a portion of said flexible member. Each of said arms is operatively connected to a respective cam, so that a rotation of each arm in a first rotation direction determines a bending of said bending members by means of the cam during a loading phase of the device and that, during a launch phase of said projectile, a return of the bending members towards said rest condition determines, by means of the cam, a rotation in the opposite direction of each arm.

1 . A device for launching a projectile or a launch object in general, comprising:
 a stock having a longitudinal development direction between a rear or proximal end and a front or distal end,   at least two bending members associated to said stock on opposite sides of said stock and having a preferential development direction, said bending members being adapted to be subjected to bending in order to accumulate and supply energy usable to launch said projectile, and being released in a rest condition,   tensioning means of said bending members,   pushing means of said projectile adapted to cooperate with said bending members,   wherein:   said tensioning means comprise at least two cams arranged on opposite sides of the stock, each of said cams being pivoted at a respective first axis of rotation and being associated to at least one corresponding bending member, so that an angular displacement of said each cam around said first axis of rotation determines a bending action on said at least one corresponding bending member, and   said pushing means comprise at least two arms arranged on opposite sides of the stock and connected to each other through a flexible member, wherein each of said arms has a first end pivoted at a second axis of rotation and a second end adapted to support a portion of said flexible member, each of said arms being operatively connected to a respective cam of said at least two cams,   so that i) a rotation of each arm in a first rotation direction determines a bending of said bending members through the cam during a loading phase of the device and ii) during a launch phase of said projectile, a return of the bending members towards said rest condition determines, through the cam, a rotation in the opposite direction of each arm.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said bending members are arranged so that said preferential development direction is substantially parallel to said longitudinal development direction of said stock. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said bending members are positioned substantially adjacent to said stock. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two bending members, said at least two cams and said at least two arms are arranged in a manner substantially symmetrical with respect to said stock. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising, on each side of said stock, at least two bending members opposite to each other with respect to a plane on which said cams lie, forming, overall, a group of at least four bending members symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal development direction of the stock. 
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of said bending members is associated idle to a portion of a respective cam, to allow said portion of bending member to make a translation movement together with said portion of cam, said translation movement taking place along a direction substantially orthogonal to said preferential development direction of said bending member. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said portion of a respective cam is a slot in said respective cam at the respective first axis of rotation. 
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 7 , comprising a connection element positioned idle in said slot, said connection element comprising a connection member adapted to move said portion of said at least one bending member. 
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said connection element comprises two of said connection members, positioned symmetrically and connected to each other by a collar which is engaged in said slot of a respective cam, each of said connection members being adapted to move said portion of a respective bending member. 
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein said connection member includes a housing substantially “U” or “C” shaped and adapted to house said portion of said bending member. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said cams have an edge equipped, at least partially, with a toothing. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a slide associated to the stock and positioned between the opposing cams, said slide being adapted to slide in said stock substantially parallel to said longitudinal development direction, said slide being engaged on opposite sides to said cams to coordinate an angular displacement thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said cams have an edge equipped, at least partially, with a toothing and said slide has toothed edges which cooperate with the respective toothings of said cams. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said slide is removable from said stock. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising a pivot body of determined axis and slidingly associated to said stock to run parallel to said longitudinal development direction, wherein a first of said cams and a second of said cams are hinged on said pivot body. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said arms forms a single part with a respective cam and said second axis of rotation of said arm is coincident with said first axis of rotation of said respective cam. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said arms is connected to a respective cam by at least one connection rod pivoted to said arm and to said cam. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said arms is operatively connected to a respective cam by means of a guide member integral to the arm and which engages slidingly a guide track provided in an appendix of said cam. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said second end of each of said arms supports a pulley rotatably associated to the respective arm, wherein said pulley is adapted to rotate around an axis of rotation, said pulley being further adapted to wind, at least partially on itself, said flexible member during a rotation movement around said axis of rotation. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein said pulley has an eccentric profile with respect to said axis of rotation. 
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the rotation of said pulley around said axis of rotation is coordinated with a respective cam for a synchronized rotation of said respective cam around the respective first axis of rotation. 
   
   
       22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein said pulley includes a pivot rotating jointly with the pulley and having a longitudinal axis coincident with said axis of rotation of the pulley, said pivot further comprising at least one toothed portion, and wherein said respective cam is integral to an appendix equipped with a guide track, said guide track comprising an edge equipped with a toothing adapted to be engaged by said at least one toothed portion of said pivot. 
   
   
       23 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said arms are rotatable between a first maximum loading position, corresponding to a maximum bending of the bending members, and a second maximum discharge position, between said first maximum loading position and said second maximum discharge position there being a neutral position at which said bending members are in said rest condition not presenting accumulated elastic energy. 
   
   
       24 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein in said first maximum loading position the arms are rotated towards said rear or proximal end of the stock, and in said second maximum discharge position the arms are rotated in the direction of said front end of the stock. 
   
   
       25 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising contrast means associated to said stock, and operatively connected to said cams. 
   
   
       26 . The device according to  claim 23 , further comprising contrast means associated to said stock, and operatively connected to said cams, wherein said contrast means are loaded so as to exert a force on said cams only when said arms are beyond said neutral position towards said second maximum discharge position. 
   
   
       27 . The device according to  claim 23 , further comprising elastic means adapted to bring back said arms towards said neutral position. 
   
   
       28 . The device according to  claim 27 , further comprising
 a slide associated to the stock and positioned between the opposing cams, said slide being adapted to slide in said stock substantially parallel to said longitudinal development direction, said slide being engaged on opposite sides to said cams to coordinate an angular displacement thereof, and   contrast means associated to said stock, and operatively connected to said cams,   wherein said contrast means and/or said elastic means are connected to said slide.   
   
   
       29 . The device according to  claim 27 , further comprising contrast means associated to said stock, and operatively connected to said cams, wherein said contrast means and/or said elastic means are connected to said pivot body. 
   
   
       30 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising auxiliary pushing means including at least one elastic member adapted to accumulate energy during said loading phase of the device and adapted to supply said energy to said pushing means during said launch phase of said projectile. 
   
   
       31 . The device according to  claim 25 , further comprising auxiliary pushing means including at least one elastic member adapted to accumulate energy during said loading phase of the device and adapted to supply said energy to said pushing means during said launch phase of said projectile, wherein said auxiliary pushing means are side by side to said contrast means. 
   
   
       32 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein, in said neutral position, said flexible member substantially intercepts said second axes of rotation of said arms. 
   
   
       33 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising associating means of at least one of said bending members to said stock, wherein said associating means are adapted to prevent a translation of a first tract of said at least one bending member in a direction orthogonal to said stock, and to allow said first tract a bending movement, and/or an angular displacement with respect to said stock, and/or a translation in said preferential development direction of said at least one bending member. 
   
   
       34 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein said associating means are adapted to prevent said translation in said orthogonal direction to a first tract and to a second tract of said at least one bending member. 
   
   
       35 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein said associating means comprise a wire or other flexible retaining member. 
   
   
       36 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising a fixed support adapted to prevent a translation of a first tract of at least one of said bending members in a direction orthogonal to said stock, wherein said fixed support also prevents an angular displacement of said first tract with respect to said stock. 
   
   
       37 . The device according to  claim 36 , wherein a second tract of said at least one bending member is associated idle to one of said cams. 
   
   
       38 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising associating means of at least one of said bending members to said stock, wherein said associating means are adapted to join a tract of said at least one bending member to the stock in such a way as to prevent said tract both a translation with respect to the stock in said preferential development direction and in a direction orthogonal to said preferential development direction, and an angular displacement with respect to the stock. 
   
   
       39 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is a crossbow.