Flying Disc Hub and Ring Mass Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerodynamically supported spinning discs, or flying discs, face challenges in achieving optimal flight performance, grip, and durability due to limitations in aerodynamic design and mass distribution, which affect their distance, accuracy, and longevity in flight.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a hub and ring structure made of polymeric materials with different specific gravities, where the ring has a higher specific gravity than the hub, and weighting products are embedded or added to enhance mass distribution, increasing rotational inertia and angular momentum, thereby improving flight characteristics and grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the disc uses uniform mass distribution, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flight accuracy and distance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform mass distribution in the disc structure. Specifically, the disc includes a hub with a first specific gravity and a rim with a second specific gravity, where the specific gravities differ to optimize flight characteristics. This localized variation in material density allows the disc to achieve better flight accuracy and distance while maintaining a relatively simple two-component structure that is still manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polymeric materials with different specific gravities in the hub and rim portions. The hub is made from a polymeric material with a first specific gravity, while the rim is made from a polymeric material with a second specific gravity. This composite approach enables tailored mass distribution to improve flight performance without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Weight of moving object
If the disc uses heavier materials to increase mass, then the angular momentum and flight distance improve, but the grip comfort and finger friendliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating heavier material in the hub portion while keeping the rim portion lighter. The hub, which contains the weighting product, provides the necessary mass for angular momentum, while the rim maintains a lighter construction that is more comfortable for finger grip. This localized mass concentration solves the contradiction between needing heavy material for flight performance and light material for grip comfort.
3Ease of manufacture
If the disc uses a single-piece construction, then the manufacturing is simpler and more economical, but the ability to optimize aerodynamic and mass distribution properties is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the disc into two main components: a hub and a rim. The hub includes a weighting product to adjust mass distribution, while the rim provides aerodynamic properties. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's properties while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for each part. The components are then assembled together to form the complete disc.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polymeric materials with different specific gravities in the hub and rim portions. The hub is made from a polymeric material with a first specific gravity, while the rim is made from a polymeric material with a second specific gravity. This composite approach enables tailored mass distribution to improve flight performance without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
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 enhanced mass distribution and grip lead to increased accuracy, distance, and consistency in flight, with the disc maintaining aerodynamic properties for a longer period, and the design is simple, economical, durable, and reliable with a long useful life.
Implementation Method 1
The hub and the ring have different specific gravities
Implementation Method 2
Angular momentum is determined by inertia, and by angular velocity
Implementation Method 3
a weighting product embedded in at least one of the hub or the ring
Implementation Method 4
Aerodynamics of a flying disc are influenced by the shape of the disc's profile, which changes how air flows around surfaces of the disc as it is in motion
Data Source
AI summary
A flying disc includes a hub composed of polymeric material, a ring composed of polymeric material and coupled to the hub. The hub and the ring may have different specific gravities by being composed of different materials or by having a weighting product embedded therein, or a weighting product may be carried between the hub and the ring.