Golf Ball Dimple Design for Turbulent Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls face a challenge in achieving optimal flight performance due to the trade-off between increasing the dimple occupation ratio and reducing dimple diameter variation, as well as the insufficient turbulization caused by dimple depth and shape variations.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a plurality of dimples with different diameters, where the standard deviation of curvature radii is less than 0.90 mm, and the average curvature radius is between 40% and 50% of the ball's diameter, resulting in enhanced turbulization and flight distance, particularly when hit with a driver at speeds between 40 m/s and 45 m/s.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the occupation ratio is increased by adding more dimples or larger dimples, then flight performance is improved, but the variation of dimple diameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different types of dimples with specific diameter ranges (first dimples: 3.8-4.2mm, second dimples: 2.8-3.2mm) and assigning them to different regions of the golf ball surface. This allows the occupation ratio to be increased while maintaining controlled diameter variation through localized dimple characteristics rather than uniform dimples across the entire surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of dimple diameter by introducing multiple dimple types with different diameter ranges. By setting specific diameter parameters for different dimple types and controlling their distribution, the occupation ratio is increased while the overall diameter variation remains managed through the defined parameter ranges for each dimple type.
2Reliability
If dimples are made deeper to increase occupation ratio, then flight performance is improved, but turbulization becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different types of dimples with specific diameter ranges (first dimples: 3.8-4.2mm, second dimples: 2.8-3.2mm) and assigning them to different regions of the golf ball surface. This allows the occupation ratio to be increased while maintaining controlled diameter variation through localized dimple characteristics rather than uniform dimples across the entire surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of dimple diameter by introducing multiple dimple types with different diameter ranges. By setting specific diameter parameters for different dimple types and controlling their distribution, the occupation ratio is increased while the overall diameter variation remains managed through the defined parameter ranges for each dimple type.
3Manufacturing precision
If dimples are made shallower to reduce diameter variation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but turbulization becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different types of dimples with specific diameter ranges (first dimples: 3.8-4.2mm, second dimples: 2.8-3.2mm) and assigning them to different regions of the golf ball surface. This allows the occupation ratio to be increased while maintaining controlled diameter variation through localized dimple characteristics rather than uniform dimples across the entire surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of dimple diameter by introducing multiple dimple types with different diameter ranges. By setting specific diameter parameters for different dimple types and controlling their distribution, the occupation ratio is increased while the overall diameter variation remains managed through the defined parameter ranges for each dimple type.
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 design achieves a great degree of turbulization, leading to a large flight distance and excellent flight performance, with specific parameters optimizing the dimple arrangement and curvature to balance occupation ratio and diameter variation.
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
AI summary
A golf ball 2 has, on a surface thereof, a plurality of types of dimples 8 having different diameters from each other. The standard deviation of the curvature radii of cross sections of all the dimples 8 is 0.90 mm or less. The average of the curvature radii of the cross sections of all the dimples 8 is greater than 40% but 50% or less of the diameter of the golf ball 2. The sum of the volumes of all the dimples 8 is 280 mm3 or greater but 350 mm3 or less. The average of the diameters of all the dimples 8 is 3.9 mm or greater but 4.5 mm or less. The ratio of the sum of the areas of all the dimples 8 to the surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball 2 is 75% or greater but 95% or less.