Golf Ball Dimple Patterns Using Irregular Polyhedral Domains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf ball dimple patterns struggle to achieve optimal aerodynamic efficiency and symmetry, often resulting in suboptimal surface coverage and performance due to limitations in geometric shapes and arrangements, which affect the ball's flight characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating irregular domains based on polyhedrons, specifically using the midpoint to midpoint method to create unique dimple patterns on the golf ball surface, allowing for a uniform and symmetrical arrangement of dimples that cover the ball's surface without great circles, thereby enhancing aerodynamic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional geometric shapes (circles, hexagons, triangles) or Platonic/Archimedian solids are used for dimple patterns, then aerodynamic symmetry is achieved, but surface coverage is suboptimal and aerodynamic efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball surface is divided into multiple irregular domains, each containing a specific number and arrangement of dimples. This segmentation allows for optimized surface coverage while maintaining overall symmetry through the repetition of these domains across the ball surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional symmetric geometric shapes are replaced with asymmetric irregular domains. Each domain has an optimized, non-uniform shape that maximizes surface coverage and aerodynamic efficiency, while the repetition of these asymmetric domains creates the required overall symmetry of the golf ball.
2Reliability
If the number of dimples and their arrangement are manipulated to improve aerodynamic properties, then aerodynamic efficiency is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single irregular domain design serves as a universal template that can be repeated multiple times to cover the entire golf ball surface. This universal domain incorporates the optimized dimple arrangement for aerodynamic efficiency, and its repetition simplifies the manufacturing process compared to creating unique patterns for different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific parameters of the irregular domain (number of dimples, their positions, domain shape) to achieve superior aerodynamic properties. By carefully selecting and optimizing these parameters, the patent achieves enhanced aerodynamic performance while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing approach through domain repetition.
3Area of stationary object
If dimples are arranged to maximize surface coverage, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but aerodynamic symmetry may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the requirements for maximum surface coverage and aerodynamic symmetry by designing irregular domains that are optimized for coverage and then repeating these domains in a systematic pattern across the golf ball. This merging of objectives achieves both high surface coverage and maintained symmetry through the consistent repetition of the same domain configuration.
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 approach results in improved aerodynamic efficiency and symmetry, leading to more stable and consistent ball flight, while also providing flexibility in dimple arrangement and minimizing the appearance of parting lines from the molding process.
Implementation Method 1
Lift force is perpendicular to the direction of flight and is a result of air velocity differences above and below the rotating ball. This phenomenon is attributed to Magnus, who described it in 1853 after studying the aerodynamic forces on spinning spheres and cylinders
Implementation Method 2
Drag is opposite in sense to the direction of flight and orthogonal to lift. The drag force on a ball is attributed to parasitic drag forces, which consist of pressure drag and viscous or skin friction drag
Implementation Method 3
dimples provide a means to energize the flow field and delay the separation of flow, or reduce the wake region behind the ball
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.