Crossbow with pulleys that rotate around stationary axes

A crossbow, comprising:

• a frame extending along a horizontal projectile axis;
• a riser coupled to the frame;
• a first upper limb and a first lower limb coupled to the riser on a first side of the frame, the first upper limb and the first lower limb spaced apart to define a first vertical space between the first upper limb and the first lower limb;
• a second upper limb and a second lower limb coupled to the riser on a second side of the frame that is opposite the first side of the frame, the second upper limb and the second lower limb spaced apart to define a second vertical space between the second upper limb and the second lower limb;
• a first axle mount and a second axle mount coupled to the frame;
• a first cam rotationally coupled to the first axle mount, the first cam including a first draw string journal and a first power cable journal, the 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, the second cam including a second draw string journal and a second power cable journal, the 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 at least one of the first upper limb or the first lower limb, the first power cable being received within the first power cable journal as the crossbow transitions from the released position to the drawn position;
• and
• a second power cable including a second end coupled to at least one of the second upper limb or the second lower limb, the second power cable being received within the second power cable journal as the crossbow transitions from the released position to the drawn position;
• wherein, in the drawn position:
• at least part of the first draw string journal is positioned in the first vertical space defined between the first upper limb and the first lower limb such that the first upper limb is vertically above the first draw string journal and the first lower limb is vertically below the first draw string journal;
• and
• at least part of the second draw string journal is positioned in the second vertical space defined between the second upper limb and the second lower limb such that the second upper limb is vertically above the second draw string journal and the second lower limb is vertically below the second draw string journal;
• and
• wherein, in the released position, the first draw string journal is positioned outside the first vertical space and the second draw string journal is positioned outside the second vertical space.

A crossbow, comprising:

• a frame extending along a horizontal projectile axis, the frame including a front end and a back end;
• a first axle mount and a second axle mount coupled to the frame;
• a first limb including:
• a first proximal tip, and
• a first distal end coupled to the frame;
• a second limb including:
• a second proximal tip, and
• a second distal end coupled to the frame;
• a first cam rotationally coupled to the first axle mount, the first cam including a first draw string journal and a first power cable journal, the 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, the second cam including a second draw string journal and a second power cable journal, the 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 received at least partially within the first power cable journal;
• a second power cable received at least partially within the second power cable journal;
• wherein, in both the drawn position and the released position:
• a first portion of the first cam is disposed more proximate to the front end of the frame than the first proximal tip of the first limb, and a second portion of the first cam is disposed more proximate to the back end of the frame than the first proximal tip of the first limb, and
• a first portion of the second cam is disposed more proximate to the front end of the frame than the second proximal tip of the second limb, and a second portion of the second cam is disposed more proximate to the back end of the frame than the second proximal tip of the second limb;
• wherein, in the drawn position:
• the first limb at least partially vertically overlaps with the first draw string journal such that the first limb is positioned vertically above or below the first draw string journal, and the second limb at least partially vertically overlaps with the second draw string journal such that the second limb is positioned vertically above or below the second draw string journal;
• and
• wherein, in the released position:
• the first limb does not vertically overlap with the first draw string journal and the second limb does not vertically overlap with the second draw string journal.