Double-Barrel Ball Bat Gap and Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing a durable and compliant ball bat that meets player preferences for high compliance and low stiffness while adhering to league or association rules such as BBCOR and BBS regulations is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A method for making a ball bat involves forming a bat frame with a handle and inner barrel structure, using spacer elements to maintain a gap between the barrel shell and the inner barrel structure, and constructing the barrel shell with composite laminate material to achieve mechanical locking and tailored compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the barrel shell is made with high compliance and low stiffness to meet player preferences, then the hitting feel and performance are improved, but the durability and ability to meet league rules (BBCOR, BBS) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrel is segmented into two distinct structures: a flexible barrel shell and a rigid inner barrel structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the shell provides compliance for hitting feel while the inner structure maintains stiffness for durability and rule compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner barrel structure is nested within the barrel shell, creating a concentric configuration. The gap between these nested structures is filled with compliant material that further enhances the compliance特性 while maintaining the structural integrity needed for durability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the barrel shell is mechanically locked to the bat frame, then the structural stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical locking features are pre-formed as integral parts of the barrel shell and bat frame during the manufacturing process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate locking components or complex assembly operations, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical locking features are merged with the barrel shell and bat frame structures themselves rather than being separate components. This integration simplifies the overall manufacturing process while ensuring stable connection between components.
3Ease of operation
If a gap is maintained between the barrel shell and inner barrel structure, then the compliance is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Compliant material is introduced as an intermediary substance filling the gap between the barrel shell and inner barrel structure. This intermediary material accommodates dimensional variations and maintains the desired gap for compliance while reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap dimension is optimized to provide the necessary compliance while remaining within manufacturable tolerances. The compliant material properties are adjusted to compensate for variations in gap size, allowing for practical manufacturing precision levels while maintaining performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a ball bat may include forming a bat frame with a handle and an inner barrel structure, providing spacer elements extending radially outwardly from the inner barrel structure, and forming a barrel shell having a main barrel and a tapered section. An inner diameter in the tapered section may be equal to an outer diameter of a first one of the spacer elements. The method may include mechanically locking the barrel shell to the bat frame by passing the handle through the barrel shell and moving the barrel shell toward the inner barrel structure until the barrel shell contacts the first one of the spacer elements. A gap is maintained between an outer diameter of the inner barrel structure and the barrel shell. The barrel shell may deflect during a hit to create a trampoline effect, while the inner barrel structure limits the deflection.