Bat Damping Section Hardness and Vibration Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional baseball and softball bats with damping sections provide a feel that is too soft, leading to numbness and pain in the hands when striking a ball, and there is a need for a bat that offers a harder feel while minimizing these discomforts.
Innovation Solution
A bat design featuring a first damping section with a material having a D hardness of 60 or more, a loss coefficient tan δ of 0.11 or more at 150 Hz, and 0.09 or more at 500 Hz, which is sandwiched between the handle and barrel, providing a harder feel while reducing hand discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping section is made of elastic material with Shore A hardness of 100 or less, then numbness and pain in hands are reduced, but the striking feel becomes too soft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the hardness parameter from Shore A scale to Shore D scale, using material with Shore A hardness of 20-40 (which corresponds to Shore D hardness of 60-80). This parameter transformation allows the damping section to provide sufficient hardness for striking feel while maintaining elasticity for vibration damping, resolving the contradiction between softness and hardness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structure with multiple damping sections having different hardness characteristics. The first damping section (Shore A 20-40) provides hardness for striking feel, while the second damping section (Shore A 70-100) provides vibration damping. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of hard striking feel and effective vibration absorption
2Loss of energy
If conventional damping sections are used, then vibration damping is achieved, but the striking feel is too soft compared to desired performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the damping function into two separate sections: a first damping section with Shore A hardness of 20-40 for providing hard striking feel, and a second damping section with Shore A hardness of 70-100 for providing vibration damping. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between damping performance and striking feel hardness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties to different locations within the damping section. The first damping section uses softer material (Shore A 20-40) for impact absorption and hard feel, while the second damping section uses harder material (Shore A 70-100) for vibration damping. This local differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous optimization of both striking feel and vibration damping
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bat achieves a harder striking feel compared to conventional models while significantly reducing numbness and pain in the hands, as demonstrated by the use of specific materials and configurations that enhance damping properties.
Implementation Method 1
the material of the first damping section has a loss coefficient tan δ of 0.11 or more as measured with the amount of strain 3000 μST, a temperature of 20° C. and a frequency of 150 Hz, and a loss coefficient tan δ of 0.09 or more as measured with the amount of strain 3000 μST, a temperature of 20° C. and a frequency of 500 Hz
Data Source
AI summary
A bat includes a handle having a proximate end and a distal end, a barrel having a hollow portion that accommodates the distal end, and a first damping section at least partially sandwiched between the handle and the barrel in the interior of the hollow portion. The material of the first damping section has a D hardness of 60 or more, a loss coefficient tan δ of 0.11 or more as determined under conditions of a temperature of 20° C., a frequency of 150 Hz, and the amount of strain 3000 μST, and a loss coefficient tan δ of 0.09 or more as determined under conditions of a temperature of 20° C., a frequency of 500 Hz, and the amount of strain 3000 μST.