- This question is specifically about stationary or vehicle mounted crossbows, not man-portable ones
- The projectile size would measure about 1.8 - 2 meters in length, so the crossbow would have corresponding proportions
- The materials would be wood and metal/metal compounds, no plastics
- The goal is to have a siege engine capable of cocking itslef, like a recoil operated firearm would
The easiest concept I have in my head for this would be as follows:
- There's a carriage riding on two rails that carries the projectile
- The carriage has two holes on the sides
- A wire is threaded through these holes
- At the front of the crossbow two springs are placed around the wire
- When the carriage gets released and propells the projectile it hits the springs and gets pushed back into it's resting position
- Could the cocking springs provide enough energy to push against the limbs and get the carriage back into it's resting position?
- Are there any pitfalls with a system like this?
- Is there a more efficient way to build a recoil operated crossbow?