Composite Bat Transparent Region Delamination Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite ball bats are designed to limit performance to avoid exceeding regulatory limits, but players use methods like accelerated break-in (ABI) to increase performance by causing delamination, which is not detectable and can lead to reduced mechanical toughness and compliance issues, prompting stricter regulations.
Innovation Solution
A ball bat with exposed regions of transparent or translucent composite material at the sweet spot to visually indicate delamination, allowing for detection of performance-enhancing delamination and preventing unauthorized manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If composite ball bats are designed to perform below regulatory limits to account for micro-crack accumulation, then performance consistency is maintained, but initial bat performance and player satisfaction are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-designing the bat to perform slightly below regulatory limits to account for expected micro-crack accumulation during use. This ensures that even after break-in, the bat remains within legal performance parameters, maintaining reliability and consistency throughout its service life.
2Productivity
If players use accelerated break-in methods to increase performance, then ball exit velocity increases, but interlaminar shear strength is compromised leading to delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of delamination into a beneficial detection mechanism. By making the bat barrel transparent or translucent, the patent allows visual detection of delamination that occurs during accelerated break-in, transforming an invisible structural failure into a detectable condition that can be monitored and regulated.
3Reliability
If governing bodies enact stricter compliance limits to account for delamination, then performance cheating is prevented, but initial bat performance and player satisfaction are further reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by enabling visual inspection of the bat barrel to detect delamination. This feedback mechanism allows governing bodies to verify compliance without requiring overly conservative performance limits, as players and officials can directly observe whether the bat structure has been compromised by delamination or accelerated break-in methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite ball bat includes an exposed region of transparent or translucent material, which provides a visual indication of whether delamination has occurred in the ball bat. As a result, an observer can determine, via visual inspection, whether delamination has occurred, and, if it has, can remove the bat from regulated play.