Abstract: A golf swing analyzer that can be attached to a golf club shaft. The analyzer includes a housing with an integral shaft mount. The housing contains an internal chamber in which an accelerometer, microprocessor and data storage are contained, and an output display screen mounted to the housing. The analyzer measures acceleration during a golfer's swing and calculates the frequency of a club that would be straight at ball impact.

Abstract: A stepped golf club shaft with cylindrical segments joined by conical bands. The shaft is a composite with longitudinal and helical reinforcing fibers. The majority of the longitudinal fibers are located within the inner half of the shaft sidewall thickness, and the helical fibers are located within the outer half. A cutting tool is inserted into the bore of the hollow shaft and severs some of the longitudinal fibers to reduce the shaft stiffness, and therefore the natural frequency of oscillation, of the shaft.

Abstract: A metal wood golf club head having a substantial portion of the mass of the club positioned near the front, striking face of the club head. A high density material, such as tungsten, is inlaid in the face section of the club head. The remaining, rear bulbous section is made of a lightweight, high strength material such as titanium.

Abstract: The club length and club frequency attributes of each of a plurality of golf clubs in inventory are obtained and the data are arranged in a two dimensional array. The golfer's swing frequency for a test club of a particular test club length is measured. An inventory club is selected, from the inventory array having substantially the same length as the test club and having the closest frequency to the golfer's swing frequency of any inventory club in that array of that length.This process can be employed for one or more clubs. Alternatively, only a few club lengths can be tested to obtain swing frequencies for those clubs. The swing frequencies of any intermediate, untested club lengths are interpolated by standard numerical analysis or obtained by plotting the data points and connecting them with a curve.

Abstract: A preform useful in forming fiber reinforced cementitious composites is disclosed. The preform consists of a free-standing network of metal fibers. In one embodiment, the preform has a shape which bounds a substantial non-interstitial volume devoid of fibers such as a ladle lip ring or an I-beam. The amount of fibers in the preform ranges from about 1 to 10 percent by volume.

Abstract: A method of custom trimming golf club shafts comprising (i) measuring the frequency of oscillation, f.sub.c, of a representative shaft at a plurality of different tipping amounts and effective shaft lengths, (ii) calculating the moment, m.sub.c, of the replica shaft for each effective shaft length, (iii) performing a linear regression on the measured frequencies to obtain the coefficients A and B in the formf.sub.c =A+C*tipping amount+B*m.sub.c,(iv) selecting an inventory shaft having a known natural frequency, f.sub.c, at a selected moment, m.sub.c, and (v) calculating the constant C=f.sub.c -B*m.sub.c. The tipping amount is calculated from the equationtipping amount=(f.sub.g -C-B*m.sub.g).div.Awhere m.sub.g is the desired moment and f.sub.g is the desired natural frequency of a golfer's finished golf club. A length of the narrow end of the inventory shaft equal to the tipping amount is removed and a length of the grip end of the inventory shaft may also be removed if necessary.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for reinforcing a cement block structure having a plurality of vertical cavities therein comprising:providing an access to at least one vertical cavity in the cement block structure large enough to insert a fiber reinforcing element;inserting a fiber reinforcing element through the access such that the element fills the cavity;introducing a slurry of cementitious material into the cavity through the access so that the slurry of cementitious material fills the cavity and infiltrates and encapsulates the fiber reinforcing element; andcuring the cementitious material.

Abstract: A method for measuring the swing time of a golfer's swing and selecting a golf club having k divided by four times the club's natural frequency (f.sub.n) approximately equal to the golfer's swing time. The golfer's swing time is defined as the time elapsed between maximum deflection of a club shaft during downswing until ball impact. The adjustment factor, k is in the equation since the motion of a golf swing is not periodic motion. The adjustment factor, k is determined by measuring the swing time of a representative golfer, finding the preferred f.sub.n for his swing and solving the above equation for k. In the preferred embodiment, an accelerometer is mounted within the club head and is connected to an electronic data processor. A graph of club head angular or radial acceleration versus time is plotted and the swing time is measured from the graph, between either peak angular acceleration or the latest point of maximum slope for radial acceleration and ball impact.

Abstract: A method for measuring the swing time of a golfer's swing and selecting a golf club having the inverse of four times its natural frequency which is approximately equal to the swing time. The golfer's swing time is defined as the time elapsed between maximum acceleration of a club head during downswing until ball impact. In the preferred embodiment, an accelerometer is mounted within the club head and is connected to an electronic data processor. A graph of club head acceleration versus time is plotted and the swing time is measured from the graph, between peak acceleration and ball impact.

Abstract: Molten metal dispensed upon the surface of an adjacent rotating drum produces a ribbon of solidified metal which separates from the drum while the drum is rotating. To prevent ripples from forming in the surface of the ribbon, a casting surface on the periphery of the rotating drum includes structure to minimize the ratio of transverse heat flow rate from the casting surface to radial heat flow rate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reinforced cementitious structural member having a predetermined shape and size includes providing a mold having a cavity which corresponds to the shape and size of the member, placing at last one permeable fibrous mat into the cavity, introducing a slurry of cementitious material into the cavity so that the slurry of cementitious material fills the cavity and infiltrates and encapsulates the fibrous mat, curing the reinforced cementitious material, and separating the cured reinforced cementitious structural member from the mold.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a reinforced cementitious columnar structure including: providing a mold having a cavity which corresponds to a shape and size of the columnar structure; placing at least one nonwoven metal fiber mat around the periphery of the cavity; filling the cavity with a slurry of cementitious material containing aggregate having a particle size greater than the size of the interstitial voids of the fiber mat; curing the slurry of cementitious material; and removing the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming round wire from non-round wire has: a heat extracting drum having a semi-circular channel formed in and entirely around its outer circumferential surface; a feed device for directing a precursor wire into the channel; and a heater for melting the precursor wire in the channel. The wire is typically flat and is stood up on edge, perpendicular to the surface of the drum, melted with the heater, solidified and removed. The surface tension and wetting characteristics of the liquid metal cause it to "bead up", forming a near round wire when solidified.

Abstract: A melt overflow apparatus for controlling various elements in response to incremental changes in parameters which affect the linear density of a continuous metal fiber mat or metal strip being produced is described. The net width of fibers being cast against a rotating, cylindrical casting wheel is measured by an infrared detector. A similar infrared detector is used to measure the net width of a metal strip being formed against a casting wheel. The weight of a portion of the strip or fiber mat is also measured. The weight and net width values are relayed to a control system which then controls various elements used in producing the metal product. These devices include electric motors driving both the casting wheel and a conveyer means for transporting the fiber mat or strip. A ceramic plunging body driven into a pool of molten metal to overflow onto the casting wheel can also be controlled.

Abstract: The flow control of molten alloy material in a tundish is improved by the design of a perpendicular turn in the path of flow of the molten alloy material as the flow leaves an intermediate section of the tundish or casting receptacle and overflows transversely an exit lip to thereby contact a heat-extracting substrate. The perpendicular turn in the flow achieves improved control of the molten alloy material's velocity profile, cooling rate, and depth and flow uniformity of the molten alloy material in the casting receptacle. The essentially perpendicular turn in the path of the molten alloy material from the intermediate section causes the molten alloy material to approach the exit lip in a transverse direction unlike conventional laminar or direct delivery molten flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the temperatures of a plurality of zones of a casting hearth or vessel. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the thickness of the solidified skull of castable material in the casting hearth or vessel. By the present invention, the efficiency of the skull casting process can be significantly improved by reducing the thickness of the skull and thereby increasing the amount of castable material which can remain molten and pourable.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus and method for controlling the overflow of molten material from a receptacle for the purpose of achieving more uniform casting of the molten material. The apparatus and method utilize a force detector able to detect the change in the buoyant force exerted on a submersible body lowered into a molten material. A differentiating means, a control means, and a drive means are responsive to the force detector, whereby a constant rate of change of buoyant force is translated into a uniform rate of overflow of molten material delivered to a heat extracting substrate for solidification.

Abstract: A heat extracting substrate is moved along a melt front formed at the edge of the surface of a molten material so that a layer of molten material is deposited on the substrate, cooled and removed from the substrate to form ribbon, filaments, fiber or film directly from the molten material. The edge may be formed by providing an upper edge upon a portion of the wall of a receptacle lower than the top of the receptacle. The molten material may be overflowed over this relatively horizontal edge and against the moving substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for the production of a unitary or laminated film or sheet of finely controlled thickness from a molten material utilizes spaced, first and second parallel rolls rotating in opposite directions to form a kissing zone between the rolls. The method moves the surface of a cooling rotating roll past a region of contact with a molten material to form a rapidly solidifying layer of material thereon, which then is passed into the kissing zone, wherein the solidified layer is either pressed to form a unitary film or is fused by contacting another solidified layer.

Abstract: A heat extracting substrate is moved along a melt front formed at the edge of the surface of a molten material so that a layer of molten material is deposited on the substrate, cooled and removed from the substrate to form ribbon, filaments, fiber of film directly from the molten material. The edge may be formed by providing an upper edge upon a portion of the wall of a receptacle lower than the top of the receptacle. The molten material may be overflowed over this relatively horizontal edge and against the moving substrate surface.