Testing Impact Delivering Device (e.g., A Hammer) Patents (Class 73/11.01)
  • Patent number: 11752812
    Abstract: A method for checking and/or monitoring the use of a tire (1) mounted on a vehicle (7), comprises the following steps: acquisition, by a microphone (10) arranged inside the tire, of an acoustic response of said tire (1) obtained under the effect of a pulsed mechanical stress thereon, and processing of said response in the frequency domain, characterized in that said processing identifies, in the response in the frequency domain, two spectrum spikes situated on either side of a reference frequency corresponding to the first cavity mode of the tire and, as a function of the frequency deviation between the two duly identified spikes, determines information relating to at least one parameter of use of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle
  • Patent number: 11745065
    Abstract: Iron-type golf club heads are disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. The iron-type golf club heads include a localized stiffened region that is located on the striking face of the club head such that the localized stiffened region alters the launch conditions of golf balls struck by the club head in a way that wholly or partially compensates for, overcomes, or prevents the occurrence of a rightward deviation. In particular, the localized stiffened region is located on the striking face such that a golf ball struck under typical conditions will not impart a right-tending sidespin to the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua J. Dipert, Scott Taylor, Yong Ling
  • Patent number: 11644306
    Abstract: A road surface state determination apparatus includes a plurality of tire-side devices each of which detects vibration applied to corresponding tire and produces road surface data indicative of a road surface state based on data of the vibration, and a vehicle-body-side system that determines the road surface state based on the road surface data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kanbayashi, Yoichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11618458
    Abstract: A method and a device for determining loads on vehicle's wheels, each with a tire, is disclosed. A deformation measured value and a pressure measured value for each tire, and at least one acceleration measured value for the vehicle are detected. For the respective wheels, dynamic wheel loads are calculated according to a first model and static wheel loads are calculated according to a second model. The second model comprises at least one model parameter calculated by statistical analysis of the calculated dynamic wheel loads, the calculated static wheel loads, and the detected at least one acceleration measured value. The at least one acceleration measured value is redetected and the dynamic wheel loads are recalculated from the previously calculated static wheel loads and the at least one detected acceleration measured value according to the second model using the previously calculated at least one model parameter of the second model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Parthiv Dharamshi
  • Patent number: 11423727
    Abstract: An apparatus and method facilitating a coin ping test that involves placing a coin in between two prongs that are covered with caps made of silicone, fabric, soft plastic, and/or other material or combination of materials that pinch and grip the coin tightly in place for a ping test. The elasticity of the caps also allows for the coin to be pressed down on one edge and then released, resulting in the coin snapping back down onto a hammer or surface causing the coin to ping on contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Farshod Kayyod
  • Patent number: 11369847
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods to manufacture golf club heads and golf clubs are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion made from a first material with a first density and having an interior cavity, a toe portion with a toe portion edge, a heel portion with a heel portion edge, a front portion, a back portion with a back wall portion including a back opening portion, a top portion with a top portion edge, and a sole portion with a sole portion edge. A back cover portion made from second material with a second density different from the first density is coupled to the body portion to close the back opening portion. The back cover portion includes a port extending through the back cover portion. A filler material is injected into the interior cavity from the port. A mass portion is inserted into the port to close the port. The mass portion made from a third material with a second density greater than the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PARSONS XTREME GOLF, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Parsons, Michael R. Nicolette, Bradley D. Schweigert, Caleb S. Kroloff, Daniel C. Kirtley, William N. Knopka
  • Patent number: 10928090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-component air-conditioning systems configuration, control and operation. The structure comprises an environmental sensor, a controlling chip, and a plurality of unique cooling components, wherein the cooling components are activated or inactivated according to a most efficient operating mode. Said most efficient operating mode is determined depends on the plurality of environmental parameters sensed by the environmental sensor in order to deliver an effective and efficient temperature reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES DYNAMICS PTE LTD, INNOSPARKS PTE LTD, MANDAI PARK DEVELOPMENT PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ee Ho Tang, Fuyun Li, Tze Wei Timothy Ang, Edward Elmore Howland
  • Patent number: 10912981
    Abstract: Provided is a tennis playing robotic device including: a chassis; a set of wheels; one or more motors to drive the wheels; one or more processors; one or more sensors; one or more arms pivotally coupled to the chassis; and one or more tennis rackets, each of the one or more tennis rackets being coupled to a terminal end of a corresponding arm of the one or more arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventor: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi
  • Patent number: 10508908
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor device including a sensor configured to output a vibration datum by detecting a change in a state of a vibration in a first object when a second object touches the first object, a holding section configured to hold, at a portion of the first object which is different from a portion where the second object touches, the sensor in a state where the vibration in the first object is transmitted, and a communication section configured to transmit the single vibration datum detected by the sensor to an analyzing device which identifies a touch position where the second object touches the first object by analyzing the vibration datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kosei Yamashita, Hideyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10145746
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a diode array-based digitized miniature ultra-low-power-consumption impact monitoring system, which belongs to the technical field of aircraft structural health monitoring. The impact monitoring system consists of a miniature sensor array interface, a passive band-pass filter array, a diode array, a digital conversion and management module, an on-board bus communication module, a monitoring data storage module, a self-powering module, and a miniature communication and power supply interface. According to the impact monitoring system, the amplitudes of impact response signals are controlled within a clamp voltage range of diodes by using the diode array, thereby realizing the first-stage digitization; and the second-stage digitization of the impact response signals is realized by using the digital conversion and management module consisting of a miniature field programmable gate array of ultra-low-power-consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
    Inventors: Lei Qiu, Shenfang Yuan, Qianyun Zheng, Hanfei Mei, Yuanqiang Ren, Qiao Bao
  • Patent number: 9675857
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing a golf club. The apparatus holds a golf club, and moves that club through a downswing that extends from an initial position that is at the top of the downswing to at least an impact position in which the golf club head would impact a golf ball. The apparatus includes a support frame, motors, an elongate member, a gripping device for holding a golf club, and a controller. The elongate member has an inner section connected to an outer section by a swivel joint. The gripping device is connected to the outer section by a revolute joint. The controller generates motor drive signals to cause the motors to rotate to effect the downswing such that, during the downswing, the outer section rotates relative to the inner section and the golf club face is in an aligned position when the club head is at the impact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin Ryan
  • Patent number: 9463572
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for remote golf club swinging is provided. The method can include receiving in a robotic golf club swing fixture from a remote operator over a computer communications network a set of swing parameters defining different aspects of a golf club swing. The method also can include directing a plurality of robotic arms of the fixture to swing a coupled golf club according to the received swing parameters. The method yet further can include sensing a result of the swinging of the coupled golf club. Finally, the method can include transmitting data derived from the sensed result to the remote operator over the computer communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene R. Parente, Sean J. Dynes, Timothy W. Bratcher
  • Patent number: 8896457
    Abstract: A wireless device includes a sensor module that generates sensor data in response to an impact to the protective headgear. A device processing module generates event data in response to the sensor data, wherein the device processing module includes an event detection module that analyzes the sensor data and triggers the generating of the event data in response to detection of an event in the sensor data. A short-range wireless transmitter transmits a wireless signal that includes the event data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Howard, Richard Cutler
  • Publication number: 20140290332
    Abstract: Provided is a sensor device including a sensor configured to output a vibration datum by detecting a change in a state of a vibration in a first object when a second object touches the first object, a holding section configured to hold, at a portion of the first object which is different from a portion where the second object touches, the sensor in a state where the vibration in the first object is transmitted, and a communication section configured to transmit the single vibration datum detected by the sensor to an analyzing device which identifies a touch position where the second object touches the first object by analyzing the vibration datum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosei Yamashita, Hideyuki Matsunaga
  • Publication number: 20140069166
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for testing the performance of a tool for use in the humane slaughtering of animals wherein a bolt accommodated within and coaxially of a barrel of the tool is adapted to be driven lengthwise of the barrel by a force applied thereto. The method and apparatus includes mounting the tool on a test rig, firing the tool, detecting the time for the captive bolt to travel a pre-determined distance, applying a calibration factor to the detected time to compensate for time delays and determining the actual time to travel the pre-determined distance, and generating a signal representative of the condition of the device based on the actual time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Accels & Shelvoke Limited
    Inventors: Reeve John William Newton, Matthew Harry Ross
  • Publication number: 20130305806
    Abstract: The system (1) for measuring a golf swing according to the present invention is provided with at least two image pickup apparatuses that each capture an image of a golf club (5) that includes at least one head identifier attached to the head and with a measurement apparatus that measures the force acting on the head of the golf club (5) based on position information of the at least one head identifier, the position information being acquired from the images of the golf club (5) captured during a swing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Takashi SAITO, Koji TAKAO, Hideo MATSUNAGA, Hirotada IWADE
  • Patent number: 8479568
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring variations in the flatness of an Almen strip holding surface includes a gaging block having opposing parallel surfaces defining an aperture extending between said parallel surfaces and substantially conforming to the size of the holding surface. A plunger is mounted in a cross member which extends across the aperture and is moved along opposite sides thereof. A dial indicator responds to displacement of the aperture to permit detection of any variation in flatness as the plunger is moved over the holding surface and along and between the side and end edges thereof. Placement of the Almen strip holding screws is verified to be in tolerance by the gaging block in that the gaging block cannot be mounted on the holding surface if the distance between the openings is out of tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Electronics, Inc., Metal Improvement Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Champaigne, David Francis
  • Patent number: 8191421
    Abstract: Methods and devices for a miniature, ultra-low power impact recorder for detecting, quantifying and recording the energy of an explosive blast or ballistic projectile impact. In one embodiment, the impact recorder can included a sensor comprised of an array of electromechanical resonators that is sensitive to the vibrations produced in selected, discrete frequency ranges that approximate the spectral signature characteristics of the shockwave resulting from the ballistic impact event, even after traveling through impacted material or body tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Tomasz J. Petelenz, Stephen C. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 8117893
    Abstract: A test bench for testing a hammer and hammer tool comprising: a bench frame; a load cell assembly mounted on the bench frame for absorbing the impact delivered by the hammer; and a movable mounting deck for securing the hammer to the bench frame and for moving the hammer with the hammer tool into a test firing position against the load cell assembly and delivering an impact force against the load cell assembly. The load cell assembly comprises a pneumatic air bag assembly constructed to dissipate the impact force of the hammer. Other aspects include a load cell assembly for testing a hammer and hammer tool and a method for test firing a hammer tool. Hydraulic hammers generating forces between 200 ft-lb and 12,000 ft-lb can be adequately test fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John Tinker, Steven Wright
  • Patent number: 8056391
    Abstract: Methods and devices for a miniature, ultra-low power impact recorder for detecting, quantifying and recording the energy of an explosive blast or ballistic projectile impact. In one embodiment, the impact recorder can included a sensor comprised of an array of electromechanical resonators that is sensitive to the vibrations produced in selected, discrete frequency ranges that approximate the spectral signature characteristics of the shockwave resulting from the ballistic impact event, even after traveling through impacted material or body tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Tomasz J. Petelenz, Stephen C. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 8033156
    Abstract: An impact test system for collecting hail storm data comprises a vehicle, a video recorder, a container, a plurality of dynamic force sensors, an atmospheric instrument system, a mounting fixture, and a data processing system. The plurality of dynamic force sensors is capable of detecting force generated by an impact of an object. The plurality of markers is capable of being used to determine an orientation of an incoming object. The mounting fixture is capable of holding a test specimen. The data processing system is capable of collecting data from the plurality of dynamic force sensors, the atmospheric instrument system, and the video recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kevin R. Housen
  • Patent number: 7908925
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is provided for holding an inner race of a bearing stationary with respect to rotational movement while leaving a hub that is fixed in rotation with an outer race of the bearing unencumbered. The hub is excited by contactingly engaging it with a predetermined mechanical force. The resonance response of the hub to the excitation is determined and used to characterize the bearing qualitatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Robert Winter, Eddy Larson, Shawn Salisbury
  • Patent number: 7886572
    Abstract: The calibration of a backlash impulse device in a sport implement (20) is effected by firstly measuring the natural frequency of the striking surface (26) of the implement; determining from the measured natural frequency, a time of occurrence *T* and a duration of a period of elastic recovery *R? of the striking surface (26) in a first vibration cycle *P* following an impact on the striking surface (26). The method also comprises the step of adjusting a distance of travel ‘D’ of the movable mass (32) inside the backlash impulse device during a strike of a ball with the sport implement (20), such that an impulse (62) is generated on the striking surface (26) by this movable mass (32) during the strike, at the same time as the occurrence of the period of elastic recovery ‘R’ of the striking surface, in the first vibration cycle ‘P’ following the strike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Neil A. Harpham
  • Publication number: 20100257917
    Abstract: A test bench for testing a hammer and hammer tool comprising: a bench frame; a load cell assembly mounted on the bench frame for absorbing the impact delivered by the hammer; and a movable mounting deck for securing the hammer to the bench frame and for moving the hammer with the hammer tool into a test firing position against the load cell assembly and delivering an impact force against the load cell assembly. The load cell assembly comprises a pneumatic air bag assembly constructed to dissipate the impact force of the hammer. Other aspects include a load cell assembly for testing a hammer and hammer tool and a method for test firing a hammer tool. Hydraulic hammers generating forces between 200 ft-lb and 12,000 ft-lb can be adequately test fired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John Tinker, Steven Wright
  • Patent number: 7690258
    Abstract: An impact elastic wave test is conducted to measure propagating waves in a pipe to be examined, a frequency spectrum of the propagating waves is analyzed, and at least a spectral area value in a first frequency region and a spectral area value in a second frequency region of the frequency spectrum are evaluated, thereby determining a type of a deteriorated state of the buried pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., Gifu University
    Inventors: Takushi Minagi, Hiroshi Iida, Masanori Asano, Toshiro Kamada
  • Patent number: 7647808
    Abstract: An apparatus for calibration of a fluid-operated power torque tool having a housing and a drive has a non-turnable torque measuring unit for measuring a torque generated by the tool, a non-turnable abutment unit, a first connecting element configured for connecting the drive of the tool with the torque measuring unit, for measuring a torque generated by the tool when a fluid pressure is applied to the tool, an adjustable braking unit configured for providing an adjustable braking force, a second connecting element configured for connecting the housing of the tool with the adjustable braking unit to apply the adjustable braking force to the housing so as to increase a turning resistance to turning of the housing of the tool, so that when the tool is operated the housing of the tool starts turning at a force determined by the braking unit while the drive of the tool apply an opposite and equal force to the measuring unit, so that when the braking force is increased a fluid pressure required for the tool increas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: John K. Junkers
  • Patent number: 7607337
    Abstract: That uses the weight of an electric car (1) that runs along a lopsided lever (2), that is, a lever that is larger one side than on the other, with a chain (3) fastened to the smaller side, to transfer the force generated by the weight of the car (1) when it is at the end of the larger side of the lever (2) to a main shaft (5) that moves clockwise and, in turn, moves a return counterweight (8) linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Serafim Félix Da Silva
  • Patent number: 7596985
    Abstract: An impact test apparatus allows a retaining member to retain a test object. The retaining member is attached to an elastic member. When a weight is made to collide against the test object, impact is applied to the test object. The test object is subjected to free oscillation in response to the impact. The elasticity of the elastic member accepts the movement of the retaining member. Damping of the free oscillation of the test object is minimized. The impact test sufficiently reflects the influence of the free oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Ido
  • Patent number: 7549315
    Abstract: A protocol for characterizing a rock is provided. The protocol includes a crushing operation, wherein a test column of the rock in granular form is subjected to a compressive force orientated parallel to the axis of the column. The protocol further includes a measurement operation, wherein the amount by which the axial length of the test column is reduced through the application of the force is measured. The protocol yet further includes a calculation operation, wherein a characteristic of the rock is calculated using the product of the force applied and the amount by which the length of the test column is reduced through the application of the force. A method for characterizing the hardness of a subject rock is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: SGS Lakefield Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: David Bulled, Khiratt Husain
  • Patent number: 7543474
    Abstract: An impact sensor system with at least one foil-type switching element having a plurality of active areas including at least a first a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance by at least one first spacer.The spacer has a plurality of recesses defining at least a first part of the active areas. In each active area, at least two electrode structures are arranged between the first and second carrier foils in such way that in response to a force acting on the active area, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the carrier foils and that, above a predetermined activation threshold force, an electrical contact is established between the electrode structures. The foil-type switching element is configured such that the activation threshold forces of a first group of said the active areas and a second group of active areas is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: IKE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Werner Bieck, Christian Bour, Andreas Petereit, Markus Schreiner
  • Patent number: 7530270
    Abstract: Deterioration of reinforced concrete pipes is checked and the deterioration progress level is classified. Based on the inspection result, a portion to be inspected in detail in an inspection area is selected. With respect to the selected portion to be inspected in detail, the pipe thickness and the diameter of reinforcing bars are measured and the location of reinforcing bars in the portion to be inspected in detail are checked. Using the data of the thickness of a pipe, the diameter of the reinforcing bar and disposition of the reinforcing bars, structural analysis is carried out and the strength of the reinforced concrete pipe is calculated. The calculation result is used as information for evaluating the deterioration state of the reinforced concrete pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Nozaki, Takushi Minagi
  • Publication number: 20080295572
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an automated system for performing repeated testing using an impactor which comprises a cup manifold defining multiple impaction cups, an impactor head defining transfer passages, and a nozzle manifold which defines multiple nozzles and is disposable between the cup manifold and the impactor head, so that in the assembled impactor a route is defined for through-flow via the impaction cups, the nozzles and the transfer passages. The system comprises an impaction station for performing impaction testing using the assembled impactor; a cup manifold recovery station for recovering sample material from the impactor cups in a solvent; an impactor head cleaning station; and at least one handling system for assembling the impactor for impaction, and for subsequently disassembling the impactor and delivering the cup manifold and the impactor head to their respective stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher Ian Hansford, Dominic Ewan Harvey, Willi Juergen Kumb, Anthony Michael Moran, William Leroy Roberts
  • Patent number: 7454948
    Abstract: By bringing a golf ball into collision with a collisional plate and measuring a coefficient of dynamic friction at this collision, contact force at the time of collision between an actual golf club and the golf ball is analyzed and spin rate of the golf ball is estimated. This invention provides a method for measuring a coefficient of dynamic friction between a golf ball and a collisional plate when the golf ball collides with the collisional plate disposed aslant at a predetermined angle with respect to a flying direction of the golf ball. The method includes concurrently obtaining a time function Fn(t) of contact force in the direction perpendicular to the collisional plate, and a time function Ft(t) of contact force in the direction parallel with the collisional plate; and determining as a coefficient of dynamic friction, a maximum value of a time function M(t) of ratio between Fn(t) and Ft(t) represented by M(t)=Ft(t)/Fn(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: SRI Sports Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaya Tsunoda
  • Publication number: 20080282767
    Abstract: An impact test apparatus allows a retaining member to retain a test object. The retaining member is attached to an elastic member. When a weight is made to collide against the test object, impact is applied to the test object. The test object is subjected to free oscillation in response to the impact. The elasticity of the elastic member accepts the movement of the retaining member. Damping of the free oscillation of the test object is minimized. The impact test sufficiently reflects the influence of the free oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Osamu IDO
  • Publication number: 20080282768
    Abstract: The calibration of a backlash impulse device in a sport implement (20) is effected by firstly measuring the natural frequency of the striking surface (26) of the implement; determining from the measured natural frequency, a time of occurrence *T* and a duration of a period of elastic recovery *R’ of the striking surface (26) in a first vibration cycle *P* following an impact on the striking surface (26). The method also comprises the step of adjusting a distance of travel ‘D’ of the movable mass (32) inside the backlash impulse device during a strike of a ball with the sport implement (20), such that an impulse (62) is generated on the striking surface (26) by this movable mass (32) during the strike, at the same time as the occurrence of the period of elastic recovery ‘R’ of the striking surface, in the first vibration cycle ‘P’ following the strike.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Neil A. Harpham
  • Publication number: 20080264145
    Abstract: That uses the weight of an electric car (1) that runs along a lopsided lever (2), that is, a lever that is larger one side than on the other, with a chain (3) fastened to the smaller side, to transfer the force generated by the weight of the car (1) when it is at the end of the larger side of the lever (2) to a main shaft (5) that moves clockwise and, in turn, moves a return counterweight (8) linearly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Serafim Felix Da Silva
  • Patent number: 7162913
    Abstract: A method of evaluating restitution characteristics of a golf club head, a system for evaluating the restitution characteristics and a golf club, are provided in which a coefficient of restitution of a golf club head is inferred and obtained without disassembling the golf club by removing the golf club head away from a shaft and the coefficient of restitution may extremely easily be obtained for a short period of time. At first, an external force to a striking face of the golf club head is imparted to perform impact vibration. A response signal of the striking face under the impact vibration is acquired to obtain a resonant frequency of the striking face. A coefficient of restitution is calculated from the resonant frequency when the golf ball is struck by the striking face, whereby restitution characteristics of the golf club head are inferred and evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Saegusa, Kazunori Ono
  • Patent number: 6997035
    Abstract: A method for evaluating restitution characteristics of a golf club head with ease and high accuracy compared to conventional methods and devices. The method first acquires a resonance frequency of the impact surface in a mass added state, which is obtained by affixing a mass regulating member having a known mass to the impact surface, and then acquiring a resonance frequency of the impact surface in a non-mass added state, in which the mass regulating member is not affixed to the impact surface, by using a response signal of the impact surface due to the impact vibration; and next computing, by using the resonance frequencies acquired in the mass added state and the non-mass added state, a coefficient of restitution for the impact surface when the impact surface impacts a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Saegusa, Kazunori Ono
  • Patent number: 6945088
    Abstract: A multiple fragment impact test specimen, and a method for using it in multiple fragment impact tests against a target, is disclosed. The test specimen comprises two or more fragments fixed to one or more connecting members so that the fragments are held at a fixed distance apart during their flight to a target. The orientation and speed of the fragments at the moment of impacting the target are measured and the measurements are used to calculate the exact spacing and time delay between the individual fragment impacts. An experimenter can control the range of fragment spacings and time delays for a series of tests by choosing the lengths of the connecting members and thereby fixing the relative distances between the fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Daniel J. Vavrick
  • Patent number: 6935157
    Abstract: A control system is operable to selectably activate shock damping devices associated with a bicycle so as to eliminate bobbing encountered under extreme pedaling conditions. The system includes a crank axle torque detector which operates to detect a level of torque applied to a crank axle and provide a control signal corresponding to the level of torque. A shock damping device is coupled to the frame of the cycle, and functions to absorb and dampen mechanical shocks communicated to the frame. The shock damping device includes an activator for controlling its damping function. The activator is operable to receive the control signal from the crank axle torque detector and control the shock damping device in response thereto. The control signal may be an electrical or a mechanical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Larry D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20040200263
    Abstract: This invention is provided to evaluate restitution characteristics of a golf club head with ease and high accuracy compared to conventional methods and devices. The method of this invention is at first acquiring a resonance frequency of the impact surface in a mass added state, which is obtained by affixing a mass regulating member having a known mass to the impact surface, and acquiring a resonance frequency of the impact surface in a non-mass added state, in which the mass regulating member is not affixed to the impact surface, by using a response signal of the impact surface due to the impact vibration; and next computing, by using the resonance frequencies acquired in the mass added state and the non-mass added state, a coefficient of restitution for the impact surface when the impact surface impacts a golf ball.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: THE YOKOHAMA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Saegusa, Kazunori Ono
  • Patent number: 6796163
    Abstract: A method is for the leak-tightness and operational testing of a stop valve of a pneumatic suspension of a motor vehicle with gas springs, with at least in each case one active volume capable of being connected via the stop valve, the vehicle including at least one connectable pressure source, at least one connectable pressure sink and, for each axle, at least one measuring device determining the distance to the vehicle body, and also damping elements limiting the stroke of the respective gas spring. For this purpose, in a first step, with the stop valve open, a stroke, during which at least one damping element is compressed, is set on the individual gas spring. In a second step, after the closing of the stop valve, the individual gas spring is set to a part-stroke of its total stroke between the damping elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Kutscher, Udo Walter
  • Patent number: 6755072
    Abstract: A testing equipment including a first joint extending upright from a base (11), a final joint on which a holder (24) for holding a grip of a ball-hitting tool is installed, and an intermediate joint disposed between the first and final joints. The first, intermediate, and final joints are successively connected to each other and rotated by individual driving devices in such a way that the ball-hitting tool held by the holder installed on the final joint is swung in X, Y-, and Z-directions or/and rotated around a longitudinal axis of the ball-hitting tool held by the holder to adjust/increase or decrease a distance, between a ball-hitting plane and the base, corresponding to a motion of a person swinging his/her arm up and down, with the person gripping the ball-hitting tool, adjust/change an angle of the ball-hitting plane corresponding to an inward rotation of the arm or an outward rotation thereof, and/or adjust/change an angle between a longitudinal axis of the ball-hitting tool and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumi Kanemitsu, Jun Nishibayashi
  • Patent number: 6742381
    Abstract: A damping performance evaluation apparatus for damping devices including: a support member detachably supporting a damping device in a state enabling the device to exhibit a damping effect thereof; a hammer member for applying oscillation force to the device caused by gravitational descent to strike the device; a double-strike preventing member for preventing the hammer member from dropping a second time due to rebound after initially striking the device, to prevent double-strike of the device by the hammer member; a vibration sensor installed at a vibration zone caused to vibrate through oscillation force applied by said hammer member, for outputting an electrical signal in response to vibration at the vibration zone; and a sensing member for sensing a vibration mode in the vibration zone on the basis of an output of said vibration sensor. A damping performance evaluation method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Maeno
  • Patent number: 6698272
    Abstract: An impact sensor for indicating exposure of an electronic equipment to a predetermined impact force is described. The impact sensor has a hollow case, a mass within the case, and a number of wire filaments supporting the mass within the case. Exposure of the sensor to the predetermined impact force results in a force acting on the mass sufficient to cause at least one of the filaments to break. The breaking of at least one of the filaments indicates to a repairer that the electronic equipment has been exposed to the predetermined impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Y Almirante
  • Publication number: 20030213283
    Abstract: A multiple fragment impact test specimen, and a method for using it in multiple fragment impact tests against a target, is disclosed. The test specimen comprises two or more fragments fixed to one or more connecting members so that the fragments are held at a fixed distance apart during their flight to a target. The orientation and speed of the fragments at the moment of impacting the target are measured and the measurements are used to calculate the exact spacing and time delay between the individual fragment impacts. An experimenter can control the range of fragment spacings and time delays for a series of tests by choosing the lengths of the connecting members and thereby fixing the relative distances between the fragments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel J. Vavrick
  • Publication number: 20030074949
    Abstract: A collision test apparatus (20) comprises input (22) and output members (23) formed from incompressible liquids and between which is positioned a sample (24) whose impact characteristics are to be measured. A compression wave is input to the input member (22) and propagated through the sample (24) and into the output member (23). Suitable detectors (33, 34) detect the input compression wave, output compression wave and any part of the input compression wave reflected off the sample (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Carlo Albertini, kamel Labibes, George Solomos
  • Patent number: 6502449
    Abstract: A holder for mounting a test strip for measuring the intensity of shot peening in internal cavities includes a receptacle receiving any of multiple inserts configured to form a segment of an internal cavity of a component to be peened. The test strip defines the remainder of the cavity. The shot stream to be measured is introduce into the cavity, after which the test strip is removed and measured in the conventional manner. Accordingly, the intensity of peening in internal cavities may be measured with relative accuracy. By providing multiple inserts, intensity of peening in cavities of varying sizes may be measured by simply changing the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Baiker AG
    Inventor: Erwin Baiker
  • Publication number: 20020152796
    Abstract: A method for selecting a golf ball suitable for a golfer, comprising the steps of (i) obtaining head speed and backspin when a golfer hits a golf ball with a golf club; (ii) obtaining from the golfer ball-type selection data for determining which among a plurality of ball types is suitable for the golfer; and (iii) selecting a golf ball of a type (e.g., a distance-type ball or a control-type ball) suitable for the golfer on the basis of the head speed and backspin obtained in step (i) and the ball-type selection data obtained in step (ii), in such a manner that the selected golf ball produces backspin close to optimal backspin corresponding to the above-described head speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shu Katayama
  • Patent number: 6466840
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring the operation of a press machine over a series of press running cycles. A plurality of press operating events associated with the operation of the press machine are defined. Each press operating event has a modifiable control function associated therewith. An arrangement of accelerometers measures the press machine vibrational activity associated with each press operating event that occurs during the series of press running cycles. A processor processes the vibration measurements associated with the press operating events to identify the presence of a vibration trend therein meeting a defined trending criteria. A controller is responsive to trend identification signals generated by the processor for modifying the respective control function of each press operating event which is associated with identification of the vibration trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: The Minster Machine Company
    Inventor: Daniel A. Schoch