Golf Ball Dimple Pattern Balancing Density and Size Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball dimple patterns face a trade-off between increasing dimple density and reducing the standard deviation of dimple sizes, which are contradictory factors affecting flight performance.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a spherical core, mid-layer, and cover with a specific dimple pattern that optimizes the ratio of spherical surface areas and standard deviation of dimples, meeting mathematical formulas to enhance turbulization and flight performance, including a large number of dimples with circular contours and controlled dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If small dimples are arranged in narrow zones to increase dimple density, then dimple density is improved, but the standard deviation of dimple sizes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific dimple zones with different characteristics. Small dimples are strategically arranged in narrow zones surrounded by larger dimples, where they serve a specific local function rather than being uniformly distributed. This localized approach allows high density in specific areas while maintaining overall size consistency through the surrounding larger dimples, thus resolving the contradiction between increasing density and maintaining low standard deviation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dimple pattern is segmented into different zones: narrow zones containing small dimples and surrounding areas with larger dimples. This segmentation allows the small dimples to be concentrated in specific regions to increase overall density without requiring all dimples to be small, thereby maintaining lower standard deviation across the entire surface while achieving high local density where needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If the standard deviation of dimple sizes is reduced to improve flight performance, then flight performance is improved, but dimple density must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by adding a spatial dimension to the dimple design. Instead of uniformly reducing dimple size across the entire surface (which would reduce density), small dimples are placed in specific narrow zones while larger dimples occupy other areas. This dimensional arrangement in the spatial distribution allows the pattern to achieve both high overall density and low standard deviation by varying dimple sizes across different spatial regions rather than uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball surface are assigned different dimple qualities: narrow zones have small dimples for high density, while surrounding zones have larger dimples for size consistency. This local differentiation allows the overall pattern to achieve both high density and low standard deviation simultaneously, as each zone contributes differently to the overall statistics.
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 optimized dimple pattern achieves excellent flight performance by balancing dimple density and size variation, resulting in improved lift and distance, as demonstrated by flight distance tests.
Implementation Method 1
The dimples disturb the air flow around the golf ball during flight to cause turbulent flow separation. This phenomenon is referred to as 'turbulization'.
Implementation Method 2
Due to the turbulization, separation points of the air from the golf ball shift backwards leading to a reduction of drag.
Implementation Method 3
The turbulization promotes the displacement between the separation point on the upper side and the separation point on the lower side of the golf ball, which results from the backspin, thereby enhancing the lift force that acts upon the golf ball.
Data Source
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AI summary
A golf ball has a large number of dimples on a surface thereof. The golf ball meets the following mathematical formula (I) : Su≤9.0*So−6.04 Where: So represents a ratio of a sum of spherical surface areas of all the dimples to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball; and Su represents a standard deviation (mm2) of the spherical surface areas of all the dimples. Preferably, the ratio So is equal to or greater than 0.780. Preferably, the standard deviation Su is equal to or less than 2.150 mm2. Preferably, a number of the dimples is equal to or greater than 300 but equal to or less than 390. Preferably, an average Sa of the spherical surface areas s of all the dimples is equal to or greater than 14.00 mm2.