Golf Ball Dimple Profile with Conical Sidewall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf ball dimples lack control over edge angle independently from diameter and depth, limiting aerodynamic performance, and existing non-spherical dimple designs often result in sharp demarcation lines or cumbersome mathematical descriptions.
Innovation Solution
The golf ball dimple features a top conical sidewall and a bottom portion with a saucer ratio between 0.05 and 0.75, defined by polynomial, trigonometric, hyperbolic, or exponential functions, allowing for independent control of edge angle and chord depth, resulting in a smooth continuous profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spherical dimple profiles are used, then manufacturing is simple, but edge angle cannot be controlled independently from diameter and depth
Solution Approach 1:
The dimple profile is segmented into two distinct portions: a conical sidewall portion and a bottom portion. This segmentation allows independent control of the edge angle (determined by the conical sidewall) from the diameter and depth parameters, resolving the technical contradiction by enabling versatile edge angle control while maintaining a relatively simple composite geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single spherical curvature to a two-curve composite profile. By introducing the conical sidewall portion as an additional geometric element, the design gains an extra degree of freedom, allowing independent specification of edge angle separate from the bottom portion geometry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dual radius or catenary dimple profiles are used to control edge angle, then aerodynamic performance improves, but mathematical descriptions become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The composite profile consisting of a conical sidewall and a bottom portion provides simple mathematical descriptions for each segment. The conical portion is defined by linear equations, and the bottom portion can be defined by simple curves, avoiding the cumbersome mathematics of dual radius or catenary profiles while achieving the same edge angle control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dimple within a dimple or dual radius profiles are used, then aerodynamic performance is optimized, but the profile may result in sharp demarcation lines
Solution Approach 1:
The conical sidewall portion transitions smoothly into the bottom portion, ensuring local quality consistency at the junction. This smooth transition avoids sharp demarcation lines while maintaining the optimized edge angle for aerodynamic performance, resolving the contradiction between aerodynamic optimization and profile smoothness.
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
This design enhances aerodynamic performance by optimizing dimple shape, reducing drag, and improving lift, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility and avoiding sharp points that diminish aerodynamic qualities.
Implementation Method 1
The dimples on the ball create a turbulent boundary layer around the ball, i.e., the air in a thin layer adjacent to the ball flows in a turbulent manner
Implementation Method 2
The dimples on the ball create a turbulent boundary layer around the ball
Implementation Method 3
Lift is the upward force on the ball that is created from a difference in pressure on the top of the ball to the bottom of the ball. The difference in pressure is created by a warpage in the air flow resulting from the ball's back spin.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a golf ball having dimples with a cross-sectional profile comprising a conical top portion and a non-conical bottom portion. More particularly, the profiles of the present invention are defined by three independent parameters: dimple diameter (DD), edge angle (ΦEDGE), and saucer ratio (Sr). These parameters fully define the dimple shape and allow for greater flexibility in constructing a dimple profile versus conventional spherical dimples. Further, conical dimples provide a unique dimple cross-section which is visually distinct.