Pneumatic Ball Balancing Device for Golf

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manufactured golf balls are not perfectly balanced, leading to a heavy side that affects accuracy in play. Existing methods for identifying and marking the balance point are inefficient, incomplete, and unsuitable for manufacturing or require special chemicals.

Innovation Solution

A ball spinning device that uses a contactless cushion of air to suspend and spin the ball, allowing for accurate marking of the balance point. The device includes a concave cup portion with an air discharge aperture and a pressurized air source to induce rotational displacement until balance is achieved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a ball is suspended on a cushion of air and spun to identify the heavy spot, then the ball can be accurately marked without contact, but the device complexity increases compared to simple plate-based methods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball balance point identification accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a cushion of air (pneumatic system) to suspend the ball without contact, eliminating the need for mechanical contact points while enabling accurate rotation and identification of the heavy spot. This resolves the contradiction by using fluid-based support instead of complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based balancing methods with a pneumatic suspension system. The air cushion substitutes for physical contact points, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining or improving measurement precision through contactless operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional plate-spinning methods are used to identify the heavy spot, then the device structure is simple, but the ball surface may be marred by contact with the plate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball surface damageVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a pneumatic cushion to completely eliminate mechanical contact between the ball and the device. The air bearing supports the ball without touch, preventing any surface damage while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of pressurized air instead of complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The cushion of air acts as an intermediary between the ball and the device structure. This intermediate medium transfers the support function without direct contact, protecting the ball surface from damage while allowing the device to remain relatively simple in design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If static methods are used to identify the heavy spot, then no special chemicals are required, but the methods are incomplete and cannot identify the balance point in all cases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebalance point identification completenessVSAvoiddevice operation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static balancing methods to a dynamic approach where the ball is spun on an air cushion. This dynamic method allows the ball to rotate freely and reveals the heavy spot through its natural rotation behavior, providing complete identification of the balance point without requiring special chemicals or complex procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 device enables quick and accurate marking of the balanced equator line on golf balls, improving play performance by ensuring the heavy side is aligned correctly during use.

Implementation Method 1

uses a contactless cushion of air to suspend the ball

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir cushion: Air Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

discharge a stream of pressurized air at an outer surface of the ball

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurized air: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

induce a rotational displacement of the ball within the concave cup portion until a balanced state of the ball is achieved

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational displacement: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS12303746B1Ball spinning device for dynamically balancing a ball

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 HART JAMES WILLIAM

AI summary

A ball spinning device for dynamically balancing a ball includes a device body, the device body including a concave cup portion for receiving a portion of a ball that is to be dynamically balanced, the concave cup portion having an air discharge aperture configured to discharge a stream of pressurized air at an outer surface of the ball; and a pressurized air source fluidly coupled to the air discharge aperture of the concave cup portion, the pressurized air source configured to deliver the pressurized air to the air discharge aperture so as to induce a rotational displacement of the ball within the concave cup portion until a balanced state of the ball is achieved.