Mar 3, 2026

US12566041 - Crossbow with pulleys that rotate around stationary axes

A crossbow including a frame with a riser and a center rail. First and second flexible limbs are attached to the riser. A draw string is received in string guide journals in first and second cams rotatably attached to the frame. The draw string unwinds from the string guide journals as it translates between a released configuration and a drawn configuration. The first and second cams include at least first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively. At least first and second power cables are attached to the first and second limbs and received in the first and second power cable take-up journals, respectively. As the crossbow is drawn from the released configuration to the drawn configuration the first and second power cables wrap onto the respective first and second power cable take-up journals.

Assignee: Ravin Crossbows, LLC
Inventors: Craig Yehle
Filing date: 2022-01-19

crossbowarcherymechanical

The patent describes a crossbow featuring a frame with a riser and flexible limbs, utilizing cams that rotate around stationary axes to manage the draw string and power cables. As the crossbow transitions between drawn and released configurations, the limbs interact with draw string journals and power cable journals to optimize performance.

Claim 1

1 . A crossbow, comprising: a frame extending along a horizontal projectile axis; a riser coupled to the frame; a first limb coupled to the riser on a first side of the frame; a second limb coupled to the riser on a second side of the frame that is opposite the first side of the frame; a first axle mount and a second axle mount coupled to the frame; a first cam rotationally coupled to the first axle mount on the first side of the frame, the first cam including: a first draw string journal; and a first power cable journal extending vertically from the first cam and offset from the first draw string journal; a second cam rotationally coupled to the second axle mount on the second side of the frame, the second cam including: a second draw string journal; and a second power cable journal extending vertically from the second cam and offset from the second draw string journal; a draw string received at least partially within the first draw string journal and at least partially within the second draw string journal, the draw string defining a drawn position and a released position of the crossbow; a first power cable including: a first end coupled to the first cam and being at least partially received within the first power cable journal; and a second end coupled to the first limb; and a second power cable including: a third end coupled to the second cam and being at least partially received within the second power cable journal; and a fourth end coupled to the second limb; wherein, in the drawn position, a first tip of the first limb is positioned above or below the first draw string journal and within a perimeter of the first draw string journal such that the first limb vertically overlaps the first draw string journal and a second tip of the second limb is positioned above or below the second draw string journal and within a perimeter of the second draw string journal such that the second limb vertically overlaps the second draw string journal, and wherein, in the released position, the first tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the first draw string journal and the second tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the second draw string journal. a frame extending along a horizontal projectile axis; a riser coupled to the frame; a first limb coupled to the riser on a first side of the frame; a second limb coupled to the riser on a second side of the frame that is opposite the first side of the frame; a first axle mount and a second axle mount coupled to the frame; a first cam rotationally coupled to the first axle mount on the first side of the frame, the first cam including: a first draw string journal; and a first power cable journal extending vertically from the first cam and offset from the first draw string journal; a first draw string journal; and a first power cable journal extending vertically from the first cam and offset from the first draw string journal; a second cam rotationally coupled to the second axle mount on the second side of the frame, the second cam including: a second draw string journal; and a second power cable journal extending vertically from the second cam and offset from the second draw string journal; a second draw string journal; and a second power cable journal extending vertically from the second cam and offset from the second draw string journal; a draw string received at least partially within the first draw string journal and at least partially within the second draw string journal, the draw string defining a drawn position and a released position of the crossbow; a first power cable including: a first end coupled to the first cam and being at least partially received within the first power cable journal; and a second end coupled to the first limb; and a first end coupled to the first cam and being at least partially received within the first power cable journal; and a second end coupled to the first limb; and a second power cable including: a third end coupled to the second cam and being at least partially received within the second power cable journal; and a fourth end coupled to the second limb; wherein, in the drawn position, a first tip of the first limb is positioned above or below the first draw string journal and within a perimeter of the first draw string journal such that the first limb vertically overlaps the first draw string journal and a second tip of the second limb is positioned above or below the second draw string journal and within a perimeter of the second draw string journal such that the second limb vertically overlaps the second draw string journal, and wherein, in the released position, the first tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the first draw string journal and the second tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the second draw string journal. a third end coupled to the second cam and being at least partially received within the second power cable journal; and a fourth end coupled to the second limb; wherein, in the drawn position, a first tip of the first limb is positioned above or below the first draw string journal and within a perimeter of the first draw string journal such that the first limb vertically overlaps the first draw string journal and a second tip of the second limb is positioned above or below the second draw string journal and within a perimeter of the second draw string journal such that the second limb vertically overlaps the second draw string journal, and wherein, in the released position, the first tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the first draw string journal and the second tip is positioned outside of the perimeter of and does not vertically overlap the second draw string journal.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12566041

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12566041