Snooker Pocket Rail Atmospheric Control for Kick Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Snooker balls experience unpredictable movement due to electrostatic discharge ('kick') caused by static electricity buildup on the balls, leading to inconsistent play, despite existing measures like temperature control and surface maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A snooker pocket rail system with an atmospheric control system that heats and maintains the environment around the balls using heated rails and a dehumidified air flow, ensuring consistent ball temperature and humidity through tubular rails and a cover to minimize contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If temperature control and surface maintenance measures are implemented, then ball temperature consistency is improved, but electrostatic discharge and kick effects are not fully eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled atmospheric environment within the pocket rail using desiccant materials that absorb moisture and maintain low humidity conditions. This inert-like atmosphere prevents static electricity buildup on the balls by controlling the electrical properties of the surrounding air, thereby eliminating kick effects while maintaining temperature consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs atmospheric control elements (desiccant materials, heating elements, air flow systems) as intermediaries between the balls and the external environment. These intermediaries actively manage the micro-environment around the balls, controlling humidity and temperature to prevent electrostatic discharge without directly contacting the balls, thus solving the reliability issue while preserving temperature consistency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If environmental control is applied only during active play, then energy consumption is reduced, but ball temperature and humidity consistency deteriorate during breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements atmospheric control measures during breaks and between frames, proactively maintaining optimal temperature and humidity conditions before balls are needed for the next frame. The heating elements and desiccant materials are activated during these idle periods to prevent temperature drops and humidity changes, ensuring balls are ready for consistent play without requiring continuous high-energy operation during active frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates in periodic cycles, activating atmospheric control elements during breaks between frames and reducing operation during active play. This periodic operation maintains ball consistency while managing energy consumption, as the control system only needs to counteract environmental changes during transition periods rather than continuously during the entire game.
3Ease of operation
If balls are stored in open pocket rails during play, then accessibility is improved, but contamination and temperature variation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cover or enclosure for the pocket rail that can be opened or closed as needed. This flexible barrier protects balls from contamination and temperature variations when closed, while allowing easy access when opened. The cover creates a controllable micro-environment that shields balls from harmful external factors without permanently restricting accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The atmospheric control system applies environmental management locally within the pocket rail enclosure rather than throughout the entire room. Heating elements and desiccant materials are positioned specifically within or near the rail to create a controlled micro-zone around the balls, providing protection from contamination and temperature variation only where needed while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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
Maintains ball temperature and humidity, reducing electrostatic discharge and enhancing play consistency by keeping balls in an environmentally controlled state during breaks, thereby improving game predictability.
Implementation Method 1
an atmospheric control system for heating the atmosphere in a region adjacent the rails where one or more balls are supported in use
Implementation Method 2
temperature-controlling the table surface by heating the slate layer underneath the fabric covering
Data Source
AI summary
A snooker pocket rail system (10) that provides an atmospheric control system (24) for heating the atmosphere in a region adjacent the rails (14) where one or more balls (18) are supported in use. This maintains the temperature of the balls (18) when not in play—so as to reduce adverse playing effects, such as “kick”, when the balls (18) are placed back onto the snooker table. The snooker pocket rail system (10) has a ball ring (12) from which the pocket rail (14) is suspended, in use, below a pocket by a net; an end stop (20); a plurality of rails (14) affixed at one end to the ball ring (12) and at their opposite ends to the end stop (20); and suspension means (26). The atmospheric control system (24) can be a heated air supply which directs (80, 84) heated air onto the balls (18) when suspended on the rails (14), or heated rails (14).