Bowling Ball Enclosure with Perforated Air Circulating Ring Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bowling balls experience cracking due to temperature fluctuations and differentials, which cause thermal expansion and contraction of their layers, leading to material tension and degradation of the coverstock, resulting in reduced performance and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A bowling ball enclosure made of polymer materials with an inner and outer layer, including an insulation layer and reinforced top portion, designed to encase the ball and reduce temperature fluctuations by folding over to minimize empty space and using hook-and-loop fasteners for secure closure, along with a bottom perforated air circulating ring support to manage temperature differentials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bowling ball is left unprotected in ambient conditions, then it is easily accessible and can be used immediately, but temperature fluctuations cause thermal expansion and contraction leading to cracking and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure acts as an intermediary barrier between the bowling ball and the ambient environment. It includes an insulation layer to reduce thermal transfer, a vapor barrier layer to prevent resin evaporation, and a support ring to maintain structural integrity. This intermediary structure protects the ball from temperature fluctuations and harmful environmental factors while allowing controlled access when needed.
2Reliability
If the enclosure is designed with insulation and vapor barrier layers, then temperature differentials and resin evaporation are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into distinct functional layers: an outer protective layer, an insulation layer to reduce thermal transfer, a vapor barrier layer to prevent resin evaporation, and an inner layer. Each layer performs a specific function, and the segmentation allows for optimized material selection and manufacturing while maintaining overall structural integrity and protectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure utilizes composite material construction combining different materials with complementary properties. The insulation layer uses materials with low thermal conductivity, the vapor barrier layer uses materials with low permeability to resin vapors, and the support ring uses rigid materials to maintain shape. This composite approach achieves multiple protective functions simultaneously.
3Volume of moving object
If the top portion is folded towards the bottom to minimize empty space, then the enclosure becomes more compact and efficient, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The top portion of the enclosure is designed to be foldable rather than rigidly fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the enclosure volume. The folding mechanism enables the top portion to be positioned in a closed state to minimize empty space around the bowling ball, or opened for access and ventilation. This dynamic design provides versatility without requiring complex mechanical components.
4Strength
If the support ring is made rigid to maintain structure, then the enclosure maintains its shape, but temperature differentials between poles increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring incorporates porous or perforated elements that allow air circulation through its structure. This porosity enables heat transfer through the ring, equalizing temperature differentials between the top and bottom poles of the enclosure while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity to preserve the enclosure shape. The porous design acts as a thermal conduit without compromising mechanical strength.
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 enclosure effectively reduces temperature differentials between the ball's polar regions, minimizes resin evaporation, and extends the bowling ball's lifespan by maintaining consistent temperatures and preventing cracking, while being easy to use and transport.
Implementation Method 1
an insulation layer intermediate the inner layer and the outer layer
Implementation Method 2
The bowling ball enclosure may include an inner layer and an outer layer that are made of a polymer material
Implementation Method 3
a bottom perforated air circulating ring support to manage temperature differentials
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a bowling ball enclosure are provided for encasing and reducing temperature fluctuations of and within a bowling ball. The bowling ball enclosure includes an inner layer and an outer layer that are made of a polymer material, the inner layer forming an interior region that receives the bowling ball, at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer being monolithic. The bowling ball enclosure also includes a bottom portion and a top portion, the top portion being reinforced with a stiffener to support the top portion, the stiffener being connected to at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer, the top portion being positionable from a first position to a second position to encapsulate the bowling ball. In the first position, the top portion being in an open position to receive the bowling ball into the interior region. In the second position, the top portion being in a closed position to encapsulate the bowling bowl, the top portion being folded towards the bottom portion to decrease the amount of empty space in the interior region. A bottom perforated circulating ring support is located between the bowling ball enclosure and a support surface, wherein the bottom perforated circulating ring support provides for a circulation of air between the support surface and the bottom of the bowling ball enclosure.