U.S. patent application number 14/188754 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for alloy for golf club heads.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUSHENG PRECISION CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is FUSHENG PRECISION CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chan-Tung Chen, Wen-Ching Tsai.
Application Number | 20140241932 14/188754 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51388355 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140241932 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chan-Tung ; et
al. |
August 28, 2014 |
Alloy for Golf Club Heads
Abstract
An alloy for golf club heads includes 3.0-5.5 wt % of silicon,
8.0-10.5 wt % of manganese, 14.5-17.0 wt % of chromium, 3.5-6.0 wt
% of nickel, the rest being iron and inevitable impurities.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chan-Tung; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Tsai; Wen-Ching; (Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FUSHENG PRECISION CO., LTD. |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
FUSHENG PRECISION CO., LTD.
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
51388355 |
Appl. No.: |
14/188754 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
420/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/00 20130101;
C22C 38/34 20130101; A63B 53/047 20130101; C22C 38/001 20130101;
C22C 38/42 20130101; C22C 38/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
420/56 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04; C22C 38/00 20060101 C22C038/00; C22C 38/34 20060101
C22C038/34; C22C 38/58 20060101 C22C038/58; C22C 38/42 20060101
C22C038/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2013 |
JP |
2013-038082 |
Claims
1. An alloy for golf club heads comprising 3.0-5.5 wt % of silicon,
8.0-10.5 wt % of manganese, 14.5-17.0 wt % of chromium, 3.5-6.0 wt
% of nickel, the rest being iron and inevitable impurities.
2. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
alloy includes 3.8-4.8 wt % of silicon.
3. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
alloy includes 8.5-9.5 wt % of manganese.
4. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
alloy includes 15.0-16.0 wt % of chromium.
5. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
alloy includes 4.5-5.5 wt % of nickel.
6. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
ratio of silicon to manganese is 0.2-0.9.
7. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
ratio of nickel to chromium is 0.2-0.4.
8. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
alloy has a specific gravity of 7.4-7.6 g/cm.sup.3.
9. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
alloy has a tensile strength of 77.4-91.5 kgf/mm.sup.2.
10. The alloy for golf club heads as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the alloy has a tensile strength of 35.2-49.3 kgf/mm.sup.2.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an alloy and, more
particularly, to an alloy for application in golf club heads and
having a smaller specific gravity.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In golfing, golf club heads are provided with weight blocks
having different weights to lower the center of gravity of the golf
club heads for the purposes of providing better control on the
flight and landing point of the golf balls and enlarging the sweet
spot area on a surface of the golf club head. Thus, even if a
deviation of the hitting point on the golf ball occurs, the golf
ball would not greatly deviate from the predetermined course if the
hitting point falls in the sweet spot, and the landing point of the
golf ball would be in the predetermined range.
[0005] However, each golf club head has a limitation to its weight.
As an example, the upper limit of the weight of a No. 5 club head
is 254 g. The weight-adjusting tolerance of a golf club head could
be lost if the alloy for making the golf club head is heavier, not
allowing mounting of an additional weight block for changing the
center of gravity of the golf club head, leading to difficulties in
adjustment of the center of gravity of the golf club head according
to the user needs. Taiwan Patent Publication No. 438610 discloses
SUS 17-4PH stainless steel alloy having a specific gravity of 7.8
g/cm.sup.3. A golf club head made from the SUS17-4PH stainless
steel alloy is restricted by the specific gravity of the SUS17-4PH
stainless steel alloy and, thus, does not allow mounting of an
additional weight block in the golf club head for adjusting the
center of gravity of the golf club head.
[0006] Furthermore, the inclination angle (the angle between a
central axis of a shaft of the golf club head and the ground,
wherein a sole of the golf club head rests flat on the ground)
affects the hitting direction and hitting precision. A worker can
slightly adjust the inclination angle according to the figure,
gripping manner, habitual gesture, and swing speed of the golfer to
meet different needs of different users.
[0007] Table 1 shows heat treatment values of SUS17-4PH stainless
steel alloy, wherein group A was treated with solution heat
treatment and rapid cooling at 1020-1060.degree. C., group B was
treated with air cooling at 470-490.degree. C. after the same
treatment as group A, group C was treated with air cooling at
540-560.degree. C. after the same treatment as group A, group D was
treated with air cooling at 570-590.degree. C. after the same
treatment as group A, and group E was treated with air cooling at
610-630.degree. C. after the same treatment as group A.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Heat Treatment Values of SUS17-4PH Stainless
Steel Alloy Tensile Yield Heat strength strength treatment
kgf/mm.sup.2 kgf/mm.sup.2 Elongation Hardness method (ksi) (ksi)
(%) (HRC) A -- -- -- 38 B 134 120 10 40 (190.4) (170.5) C 109 120
12 35 (154.9) (170.5) D 102 80 13 31 (144.9) (113.7) E 95 74 16 28
(135.0) (105.2)
[0008] As can be seen from Table 1, SUS17-4PH stainless steel alloy
has a higher yield strength such that a golf club head made of
SUS17-4PH stainless steel alloy is difficult to proceed with the
inclination angle adjustment. Thus, if an error occurs in the
inclination angle in a customized process, it is impossible to
proceed with slight adjustment to make the golf club head meet the
specifications, resulting in a poor yield.
[0009] Thus, a need exists for improvement to the above alloy for
golf club heads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an alloy for golf club heads. The alloy has a smaller specific
gravity such that a golf club head made of the alloy has a larger
tolerance in adjustment of the center of gravity of the golf club
head, allowing adjustment of the center of gravity in customization
according to the user needs.
[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
alloy for golf club heads. The alloy has a lower yield strength
such that the angle adjustability of a golf club head made of the
alloy can be increased. Thus, the inclination angle error in a
customized process can be corrected by slight adjustment to
increase the yield.
[0012] The present invention fulfills the above objectives by
providing an alloy for golf club heads including 3.0-5.5 wt % of
silicon, 8.0-10.5 wt % of manganese, 14.5-17.0 wt % of chromium,
3.5-6.0 wt % of nickel, the rest being iron and inevitable
impurities.
[0013] Preferably, the alloy includes 3.8-4.8 wt % of silicon.
[0014] Preferably, the alloy includes 8.5-9.5 wt % of
manganese.
[0015] Preferably, the alloy includes 15.0-16.0 wt % of
chromium.
[0016] Preferably, the alloy includes 4.5-5.5 wt % of nickel.
[0017] Preferably, the ratio of silicon to manganese is
0.2-0.9.
[0018] Preferably, the ratio of nickel to chromium is 0.2-0.4.
[0019] Preferably, the alloy has a specific gravity of 7.4-7.6
g/cm.sup.3.
[0020] Preferably, he alloy has a tensile strength of 77.4-91.5
kgf/mm.sup.2.
[0021] Preferably, the alloy has a tensile strength of 35.2-49.3
kgf/mm.sup.2.
[0022] The specific gravity of the alloy for golf club heads
according to the present invention is reduced by adjusting the
ingredients. A golf club head made of the alloy for golf club heads
has a larger tolerance in adjustment of the center of gravity,
allowing customized adjustment of the center of gravity according
to user needs.
[0023] The present invention will become clearer in light of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this
invention described in connection with the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The figure shows a schematic view of a golf club head
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, a golf club head of this
embodiment includes a club head body 11, a neck 12, and a striking
plate 13. The neck 12 is provided on a side of the club head body
11 for coupling with a shaft (not shown). The club head body 11 and
the neck 12 can be integrally formed. The striking plate 13 is
provided on a face of the club head body 11 for hitting a ball.
[0026] An alloy for golf club heads according to the present
invention can be used to make the club head body 11 and the neck
12. The alloy for golf club heads according to the present
invention can be produced by the following steps.
[0027] Firstly, ingredients including a master alloy, silicon iron,
manganese iron, chromium iron, and nickel are added in sequence
into a high temperature furnace to melt and mix the ingredients.
Specifically, the ingredients based on silicon, manganese,
chromium, and nickel melt in the high temperature furnace (such as
a high frequency furnace) and forms an alloy including a
composition of carbon, silicon, manganese, chromium, and nickel
having a certain percentage ratio among these elements. The alloy
can be used as a matrix for the neck 12 and the club head body 11.
In this embodiment, in addition to iron, the master alloy includes
3.0-5.5 wt % of silicon, 8.0-10.5 wt % of manganese, 14.5-17.0 wt %
of chromium, and 3.5-6.0 wt % of nickel, and preferably includes
3.8-4.8 wt % of silicon, 8.5-9.5 wt % of manganese, 15.0-16.0 wt %
of chromium, and 4.5-5.5 wt % of nickel. Of course, the material
sources can be changed according to needs and can melt to form an
iron alloy having the same composition.
[0028] Furthermore, the ingredients, i.e., the master alloy,
silicon iron, manganese iron, chromium iron, and nickel, are
preferably added into the high temperature furnace according to a
specific melting sequence such that the molten alloy includes
silicon, manganese and other components, providing the resultant
alloy with appropriate characteristics. Furthermore, by adding the
ingredients according to the specific melting sequence,
precipitation during melting of the ingredients is avoided,
avoiding low yield rate of the products of the club head body 11
and the neck 12 made subsequently. Furthermore, in this embodiment,
fine grains of the ingredients are preferably used and are slowly
added in a small amount many times as possible to avoid incomplete
melting of ingredients due to addition of a large quantity of
ingredients. Incomplete melting causes the ingredients to bond into
lumps, resulting in formation of voids or bubbles in the high
temperature furnace that cause potential danger.
[0029] Preferably, after the ingredients are added in sequence into
the high temperature furnace and form the molten alloy, the weight
ratio of the molten alloy can be measured by sampling to assure
that the composition of the ingredients is maintained as follows:
3.0-5.5 wt % of silicon, 8.0-10.5 wt % of manganese, 14.5-17.0 wt %
of chromium, 3.5-6.0 wt % of nickel, 1, and preferably includes
3.8-4.8 wt % of silicon, 8.5-9.5 wt % of manganese, 15.0-16.0 wt %
of chromium, and 4.5-5.5 wt % of nickel, the rest being iron and
inevitable impurities. By maintaining the special composition ratio
of the molten alloy, an alloy with a low specific gravity and a low
yield strength can be obtained after the molten alloy is cooled and
solidifies.
[0030] Next, the above alloy can undergo precision casting to
produce the club head body 11 and the neck 12 having specific
shapes. Specifically, after the composition ratio of the molten
alloy is confirmed, degassing and deslagging can be conducted
before the molten alloy is discharged out of the furnace. Thus, the
alloy can directly be poured into a mold for precision casting of
the club head body 11 and the neck 12 (and/or the striking plate
13). A golf club head casted in this way can undergo shell
vibration, degating, trimming, grinding, and polishing to form of a
wedge of an iron golf club or a wood golf club without heat
treatment. The resultant wedge possesses characteristics including
a low specific gravity and a low yield strength.
[0031] In view of the foregoing, by the above procedures, an alloy
for golf club heads according to the present invention includes
3.0-5.5 wt % of silicon, 8.0-10.5 wt % of manganese, 14.5-17.0 wt %
of chromium, 3.5-6.0 wt % of nickel, the rest being iron and
inevitable impurities. Preferably, the alloy includes 3.8-4.8 wt %
of silicon, 8.5-9.5 wt % of manganese, 15.0-16.0 wt % of chromium,
4.5-5.5 wt % of nickel, the rest being iron and inevitable
impurities. The specific gravity of the alloy is 7.4-7.6
g/cm.sup.3. Furthermore, the alloy for golf club heads has a low
yield strength which is advantageous in angle adjustment of golf
club heads.
[0032] Furthermore, the alloy for golf club heads according to the
present invention can be used to produce bars for forging, which,
in turn, can undergo several forging and pressing procedures in a
predetermined number of forging molds according to the product or
procedure needs, such that the outline of the bars for forging can
gradually form a blank having a predetermined shape. The golf club
head 1 can be obtained after several surface processing
procedures.
[0033] Table 2 shows a comparison of the composition between the
alloy for golf club heads according to the present invention and
SUS17-4PH stainless steel alloy. By adjustment of ingredients shown
in Table 2, the specific gravity of the alloy for golf club heads
according to the present invention is 7.4-7.6 g/cm.sup.3, which is
smaller than the specific gravity (7.715 g/cm.sup.3) of SUS17-4PH
stainless steel alloy. Thus, a golf club head made from the alloy
for golf club heads has a larger tolerance in adjustment of the
center of gravity, allowing customized adjustment of the center of
gravity according to user needs.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparison of Composition between the Alloy
of the Invention and a Conventional Alloy Fe C Si Mn Cu Ni Cr N (wt
material (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) (wt %) %)
SUS17-4PH 0.07.dwnarw. 1.0.dwnarw. 1.0.dwnarw. 3.0-5.0 3.0-5.0
15.5-17.5 -- Bal. The 0.1.dwnarw. 3.0-5.5 8.0-10.5 0.5.dwnarw.
4.5-5.5 14.5-17.0 0.1-0.25 Bal. invention
[0034] Table 3 shows a comparison of heat treatment values between
the alloy for golf club heads according to the present invention
and SUS17-4PH stainless steel alloy. The heat treatment was 1.5
hour of solution heat treatment and rapid cooling at 1050.degree.
C. The result showed that the alloy for golf club heads has a lower
yield strength (the critical point between the elastic deformation
and permanent deformation) by ingredient adjustment. Thus,
permanent deformation of the golf club head made of the alloy for
golf club heads is easier such that a lesser external force is
required during angle adjustment, possessing better angle
adjustability.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Comparison of Heat Treatment Values between
Alloy of the Invention and a Conventional Alloy Tensile Yield
strength strength kgf/mm.sup.2 kgf/mm.sup.2 Elongation Hardness
material (ksi) (ksi) (%) (HRC) SUS17-4PH 98.5 84.4 12 28-35 (140)
(120) The invention 80.9-88.0 38.7-45.8 30-50 10-20 (115-125)
(55-65)
[0035] To prove that the golf club heads made of the alloy for golf
club heads according to the present invention possess better angle
adjustability, the inclination angle 0 (the angle between the
central axis of the neck 12 and the ground G when the club head
body 1 rests flat on the ground G, see the figure) of the golf club
head was adjusted by +3.degree., -3.degree., and +3.degree. in
sequence. The angle adjusting torque was measured by a torque
meter, and the outer surfaces of the golf club heads were observed
to check whether creases were formed.
[0036] Table 4 shows a comparison between the alloy for golf club
heads according to the present invention and SUS17-4PH stainless
steel alloy in the angle adjustability. The result showed that the
alloy for golf club heads according to the present invention has a
lower angle adjustment torque (namely, better angle adjustability).
No creases were formed on the outer surfaces of the golf club heads
when observed with the naked eye.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Comparison between Alloy of the Invention
and Conventional Alloy in Angle Adjustability Angle adjustment
torque (kgfm) (flat, -3.degree. rear material up +3.degree.) crease
SUS17-4PH 37.5 no 31.1 The invention 14.9 no 14.4
[0037] Accordingly, the alloy for golf club heads according to the
present invention indeed possesses better angle adjustability by
ingredient adjustment.
[0038] In view of the foregoing, the specific gravity of the alloy
for golf club heads according to the present invention is reduced
by adjusting the ingredients. A golf club head made of the alloy
for golf club heads has a larger tolerance in adjustment of the
center of gravity, allowing customized adjustment of the center of
gravity according to user needs.
[0039] Furthermore, the alloy for golf club heads according to the
present invention has a lower yield strength such that the angle
adjustability is increased due to easy deformation of the golf club
head. Thus, the inclination angle error in a customized process can
be corrected by slight adjustment to increase the yield.
[0040] Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general
characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated,
the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all
respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the
invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by
the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be
embraced therein.
* * * * *