U.S. patent application number 09/878631 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-12 for manufacturing method for a golf club head.
Invention is credited to Chang, Wen-Shyan.
Application Number | 20020187851 09/878631 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25372453 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020187851 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Wen-Shyan |
December 12, 2002 |
Manufacturing method for a golf club head
Abstract
A manufacturing method for a golf club head is disclosed. The
golf club head is composed of a body and a reinforced plate secured
to the body at a sweet spot of the golf club head. The reinforced
plate is embedded in the body by friction welding. Whereby, the
reinforced plate is securely integrated with the body and the head
has a long term of use life.
Inventors: |
Chang, Wen-Shyan; (Yunlin
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
STE 1750
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5948
US
|
Family ID: |
25372453 |
Appl. No.: |
09/878631 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/047 20130101;
A63B 53/0416 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/324 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A manufacturing method for a golf club head comprising steps:
making a body (20) and a reinforced plate (10) by casting or
forging, wherein a major component of the reinforced plate (10) is
the same metal as that of the body (20), but the reinforced plate
(10) is harder than the body (20); friction welding the reinforced
plate (10) on the body (20) at a sweet spot (21), wherein the body
is fixed steady and the reinforced plate (10) is turned with a high
rotation speed and has a vertical pressure (P) exerted thereon, and
when the reinforced plate (10) touches the body (20), friction
occurring from the rotation of the reinforced plate against the
fixed steady body and the vertical pressure (P) melts interface
areas of the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20), and the
reinforced plate (10) is securely embedded in the body (20) and has
burrs (200) formed therearound; and finishing the head by removing
the burrs (200) and the part of the reinforced plate (10) protruded
from the body (20).
2. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
rotational speed of the reinforced plate (10) is 3000 RPM to 20000
RPM.
3. A golf club head comprising: a body (20); and a reinforced plate
(10) integrated with the body (20) at a sweet spot (21) by means of
friction welding.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to a golf club head, and
more particularly to a manufacturing method for the golf club
head.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A golf club has a hard head to strike balls. Referring to
FIG. 6, a conventional golf club head is manufactured in two parts,
a body (30) and a strike panel (40) received in the body (30), in
order to maximize both efficiency in production cost and effective
impact against a golf ball. The body is manufactured by means of
casting or forging a low grade steel, and has a recess (31) defined
therein. The strike panel (40) is usually made from a harder and
thus more expensive metal than the head (30), and the strike panel
(40) is secured in the recess (31) by means of fusion processes
such as soldering, brazing, and welding. However, the panel (40)
often separates from the head (30) because the head (30), the panel
(40) and the solder for fusion process have difference coefficient
rates of expansion. For example, if a golfer enjoys playing in
chilly weather, the club head could be exposed to temperatures as
low as 5 degrees Celsius, but the same type club head could be used
in a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Moreover, in welding, it is
difficult to completely eliminate cracks, voids or gaps from
developing in welded points, so these shortcomings also can result
in the panel (40) separating from the head (30).
[0005] Therefore, the invention provides a golf club head
manufactured by means of friction welding to mitigate and/or
obviate the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The main objective of the invention is to provide a method
for manufacturing a golf club head of which a strike area is
securely formed thereon.
[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head in
accordance with the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of manufacturing the
golf club head;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a first step of welding a
reinforced plate on a body;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a second step of the
welding;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a third step of the
welding; and
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
golf club head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a golf club head in accordance with the
invention is composed of a body (20), and a reinforced plate (10)
integrated with the body (20) at a sweet spot (21) which is the
best point for a golf player to strike a ball. The reinforced plate
(10) is formed with the body (20) by friction welding.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the golf club head is made by the
following process:
[0016] a. Making the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20)
respectively
[0017] The reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) are made by
casting or forging, wherein the major component of the reinforced
plate (10) is the same metal as that of the body (20), but the
reinforced plate (10) is of an increased hardness in respect to the
body (20).
[0018] b. Friction welding
[0019] The reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) are respectively
secured by clamps, and the reinforced plate (10) is aligned with
the sweet spot (21) of the body (20). The reinforced plate (10) is
turned with a high rotate speed of 3000 RPM (Revolutions Per
Minute) to 20000 RPM and has a vertical pressure (P) exerted
thereon, as shown in FIG. 3. When the reinforced plate (10) touches
the body (20), there is high speed frication to melt the interface
areas between the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20). Under
the vertical pressure (P), the reinforced plate (10) is embedded in
the body (20) and integrated with the body (20). At the same time,
burrs (200) are formed around the reinforced plate (10) due to the
fit between the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20), as shown
in FIG. 4.
[0020] c. Finishing
[0021] The burrs (200) and the part of reinforced plate (10)
protruded from the body (20) are removed by cutting tools to form a
smooth surface on the head, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0022] From the above description, it is noted that the invention
has the following advantages:
[0023] 1. Because the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) have
the same major component of metal, they have substantial same
expansion or contraction when the air temperature varies, so the
reinforced plate (10) is does not separate from the body (20) in
temperature change.
[0024] 2. Because the reinforced plate (10) is embedded in the body
(20) by friction welding without solder, there are no cracks, voids
or gaps between the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20)
otherwise occurring from cooling of the solder etc.
[0025] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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