Golf Club Shaft Layer Thickness Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club shafts lack a design that balances strength and weight, particularly in achieving a lightweight yet strong structure through the optimal arrangement of hoop, bias, and straight layers.
Innovation Solution
A golf club shaft design featuring at least two hoop layers, one bias layer, and one straight layer, with interposition layers between opposing hoop layers, where the average thickness ratio of interposition to hoop layers is greater than 1.9, and the number of plies in interposition layers is greater than 30, to enhance strength and weight distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple hoop layers are used to increase strength, then the shaft becomes heavier, but the goal is to maintain lightweight design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the thickness and material composition of different layers within the shaft. Specifically, the hoop layers have different thicknesses (first hoop layer: 0.03-0.08mm, second hoop layer: 0.05-0.10mm) and are positioned at different radial locations, allowing strength to be optimized locally without uniformly increasing the entire shaft's weight. The interposition layer between hoop layers provides localized structural support while maintaining overall lightweight design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) with different fiber orientations and material compositions in multiple layers. The shaft consists of hoop layers, bias layers, and interposition layers, each with specific material properties. This composite structure allows the shaft to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio by optimizing the contribution of each material layer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hoop layers are placed closer together to improve structural integrity, then manufacturing becomes simpler, but the interposition layer thickness ratio must be maintained at T/t≥1.9
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the thickness ratio parameter T/t≥1.9, where T is the total thickness of the interposition layer and t is the average thickness of opposing hoop layers. This parameter optimization ensures that the interposition layer provides sufficient structural support and spacing between hoop layers, maintaining structural integrity while allowing for controlled layer arrangement. The specific thickness ranges for different layers are also optimized parameters that balance structural requirements with manufacturing feasibility.
3Weight of moving object
If the outermost hoop layer is made thinner to reduce weight, then the shaft becomes lighter, but strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the outermost hoop layer thinner (0.050-0.090mm) compared to what would be required if a single uniform layer were used. This localized thinning is compensated by the presence of the interposition layer with total thickness T satisfying T/t≥1.9, which provides additional structural support. The bias layers and interposition layers work together to maintain overall shaft strength while allowing the outermost hoop layer to be optimized for weight reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
A shaft 6 includes at least two hoop layers s3 and s8, at least one bias layer, and at least one straight layer. An interposition layer other than the hoop layer is present between every opposing hoop layers. An average thickness of the opposing hoop layers is defined as t, and a total thickness of the interposition layer is defined as T. The shaft 6 satisfies the following formula (1):T/t≧1.9 (1).