Silent Cocking System for a Crossbow

A cocking system for a crossbow that has at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a draw string that translates along the center rail between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, the cocking system comprising:

• a string carrier comprising a catch moveable between a closed position that engages the draw string and an open position that releases the draw string, the string carrier slides along the center rail between engagement with the draw string in the released configuration to a retracted position that locates the draw string in the drawn configuration, wherein a trigger is positioned to move the catch from the closed position and the open position to fire the crossbow when the string carrier is in the retracted position;
• a rotating member mounted to the center rail and coupled to a flexible tension member attached to the string carrier, the rotating member having a center opening with an inside surface and a first diameter;
• a support shaft extending through the center opening of the rotating member and attached to the center rail in a non-rotating configuration, the support shaft having an outer surface with a plurality of recesses and a second diameter less than the first diameter of the center opening so as to create a gap between the center opening and the support shaft;
• and
• interference members positioned in the recesses and can shift between a first location compressively engaged with the inside surface of the center opening to inhibit rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft, and a second location sufficiently disengaged from the inside surface of the center opening to permit free rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft.

A method of cocking a crossbow that has at least first and second flexible limbs attached to a center rail and a string carrier that translates along the center rail to move a draw string between a released configuration and a drawn configuration, and method comprising:

• mounting a rotating member to the center rail with a flexible tension member attached to the rotating member and the string carrier, the rotating member having a center opening with an inside surface and a first diameter;
• positioning a support shaft through the center opening of the rotating member and attaching the support shaft to the center rail in a non-rotating configuration, the support shaft having an outer surface with a plurality of recesses and a second diameter less than the first diameter of the center opening so as to create a gap between the center opening and the support shaft;
• and
• positioning interference members in the recesses and shifting the interference members within the recesses between a first location compressively engaged with the inside surface of the center opening to inhibit rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft, and a second location sufficiently disengaged from the inside surface of the center opening to permit free rotation of the rotating member relative to the support shaft.