Golf Ball Dimples with Linear Edges for Trajectory Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls with polygonal dimples do not adequately extend the flight distance for relatively weak golf players due to increased launch angle and spin rate, leading to excessive height and reduced distance.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a large number of dimples with linear edges, arranged on virtual flat surfaces forming triangular or triangular frustum shapes, optimized to reduce lift and drag, and uniformly distributed on a geodesic polyhedron surface, enhancing aerodynamics and trajectory control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dimples with curved polygonal edges are used to increase occupation ratio and reduce air resistance, then flight distance is improved, but lift force is not sufficiently reduced for weak golf players
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the opposite principle by using linear straight edges instead of curved edges for the dimples. This linear edge design reduces the occupation ratio of dimples compared to curved designs, but effectively reduces lift force and drag for weak golf players with low head speed, preventing excessive trajectory height while maintaining flight distance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dimples are arranged to maximize surface coverage, then air resistance is reduced, but trajectory control for weak players is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different dimple configurations in different regions. The dimples have linear edges with specific geometric characteristics (occupancy ratio 15-30%) that are optimized for trajectory control of weak golf players, while maintaining adequate surface coverage to reduce air resistance
3Productivity
If launch angle is increased to extend flight distance, then distance is improved, but trajectory becomes excessively high for weak players
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the dimple geometric parameters (linear edges, occupancy ratio 15-30%, depth 0.2-0.8mm) to optimize the aerodynamic characteristics. These parameter changes reduce lift force and drag, enabling weak golf players to achieve optimal trajectory and flight distance without excessive height
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 extends the flight distance for weak golf players by optimizing trajectory and reducing excessive rising or dropping during flight, while maintaining a spherical shape for easier rolling and increased stopping distance.
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 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 according to an aspect of the present invention is a golf ball having a large number of dimples, a surface of the golf ball is covered with a plurality of virtual flat surfaces each having a triangular shape, one or more dimples are arranged so as to correspond to each of the virtual flat surfaces, and an edge of each dimple is formed in a linear shape. Each dimple may have a triangular pyramid shape or a triangular frustum shape.