MANUFACTURING METHOD OF A TOP CROWN OF A GOLF CLUB HEAD

A manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head has steps of: providing a titanium alloy panel, providing a forging mold, and mounting the forging mold in a forging processing machine, heating the titanium alloy panel, driving the forging mold by the forging processing machine to hot forge the heated titanium alloy panel to form the top crown, and forming multiple reinforcing ribs on at least one of a bottom surface and a top surface of a crown body of the top crown. Thus, the top crown with different thickness due to concave and convex surfaces thereon can be formed directly. Shapes and sizes of the top crowns can be determined precisely, such that qualities of the top crown are stable. The method for manufacturing the top crown is pollution-free, can be operated easily, is environment friendly, and has high production efficiency.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a golf club head, especially to a manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head.

2. Description of the Prior Art(s)

Since golf wood club heads have very specific shapes, the golf wood club heads are difficult to be formed as one piece. Therefore, the conventional golf wood club head is usually manufactured by attaching four pieces, i.e. a top crown, a base, a strike face, and a hosel. For the top crown made of titanium alloy, multiple cavities are formed on an inner surface of the top crown by acidic etching to reduce weight and enhance elasticity of the conventional golf club head. Thus, the top crown of the conventional golf club head, which has an average thickness of 1 millimeter (mm), has some portions with thickness of 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm.

When the cavities on the titanium alloy top crown are formed by acidic etching, tapes should be manually adhered on the surface of the titanium alloy top crown to cover portions that do not need acidic etching. Then, hydrofluoric acid is applied to other portions of the titanium alloy top crown that are not covered by the tapes to form the cavities. Afterwards, the top crown of the conventional golf club head is cleaned and is formed into a predetermined shape.

However, during the acidic etching process to reduce the weight of the titanium alloy top crown of the conventional golf club head, it takes time and efforts to adhere the tapes on the portions of the top crown that do not need acidic etching. Moreover, the shape of the titanium alloy top crown of the conventional golf club head is limited and can only be molded with slight changes. The shape of the top crown cannot be molded according to a required striking performance. Furthermore, the hydrofluoric acid used during the acidic etching is toxic and pollutes the environment. Hydrogen ion in the hydrofluoric acid infiltrates into the titanium alloy easily to embrittle the top crown. Thus, strength of the top crown is weakened and the top crown breaks easily. On the other hand, during the acidic etching process to reduce the weight of the titanium alloy top crown of the conventional golf club head, time for acidic etching and concentration of the hydrofluoric acid influence the thickness of the top crown such that the thickness of the top crown is hard to be kept under control as desired.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head. The manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head has steps of:

providing a titanium alloy panel;

providing a forging mold and mounting the forging mold in a forging processing machine, wherein the forging mold has a mold cavity for forming the top crown of the golf club head; and

heating the titanium alloy panel;

driving the forging mold by the forging processing machine to hot forge the heated titanium alloy panel to form the top crown; and

forming multiple reinforcing ribs on at least one of a bottom surface and a top surface of a crown body of the top crown.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 millimeter (mm) to 2.0 mm. The reinforcing ribs of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown of the golf club head are formed on the bottom surface of the crown body. A thickness of the crown body is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. A thickness of each of the reinforcing ribs is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm. The reinforcing ribs of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown of the golf club head are formed on the top surface of the crown body. A thickness of the crown body is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. A thickness of each of the reinforcing ribs is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm. The reinforcing ribs of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown of the golf club head are formed on the bottom surface and the top surface of the crown body. A thickness of the crown body is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. A thickness of each of the reinforcing ribs is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, the reinforcing ribs formed on the crown body of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown are arranged as a mesh.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing method, in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C. The forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element. Before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

The manufacturing method of the top crown of the golf club head has the following advantages.

1. With the hot forging process and the precise forging mold, the top crown with different thicknesses due to concave and convex surfaces thereon can be formed directly, and shapes and sizes of the top crowns can be determined precisely, such that qualities of the top crown of the golf club head are stable.

2. Forming the reinforcing ribs on the top crown of the golf club head with the hot forging process and the precise forging mold can be operated easily, and has high production efficiency and low manufacturing cost.

3. When forming the top crown of the golf club head with the hot forging process, toxic hydrofluoric acid is not needed. Consequently, apparatus for treating waste hydrofluoric acid is not needed, and no waste hydrofluoric acid would pollute the environment.

Other objectives, 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

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a top crown manufactured by the method in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the top crown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of another top crown manufactured by the method in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the top crown in FIG. 2, including a base, a strike face, and a hosel; and

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional side view of a golf club head formed by attaching the top crown, the base, the strike face, and the hosel shown in FIG. 5.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention comprises the following steps.

A titanium alloy panel is provided. Preferably, a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 millimeter (mm) to 2.0 mm.

A forging mold is provided and is mounted in a forging processing machine. The forging mold has a mold cavity for forming the top crown of the golf club head. Preferably, the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element, such that the forging mold can resist high temperature and impact, and has good ductility. Preferably, the forging mold is preheated before hot forging. The forging mold is preheated to a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 980° C. Within the temperature range, the ductility of the forging mold made of an iron based alloy containing Co element is increased. Accordingly, the forging mold is not broken easily during the hot forging process.

The titanium alloy panel is heated. Specifically, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C. to allow the titanium alloy panel to have an appropriate plasticity. A temperature to which the titanium alloy panel is heated is decided according to type of the titanium alloy panel.

The heated titanium alloy panel is forged to forma top crown with multiple reinforcing ribs in the hot forging process. Specifically, the heated titanium alloy panel is mounted into the forging processing machine. The forging processing machine drives the forging mold to hot forge the heated titanium alloy panel. Thus, the titanium alloy panel is hot forged to form the top crown corresponding in shape to the mold cavity of the forging mold. Then the top crown is removed from the mold cavity of the forging mold. With further reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the hot forged top crown 1 of the golf club head has a crown body 10 and multiple reinforcing ribs 11, 12. The crown body 10 has a bottom surface and a top surface. The reinforcing ribs 11, 12 are formed on at least one of the bottom and top surfaces of the crown body 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing ribs 11 formed on at least one of the bottom and top surfaces of the crown body 10 of the top crown 1 are arranged as a mesh that allows the top crown 1 to have a required striking performance when the golf club head strikes golf balls. In the preferred embodiment, the mesh formed by the reinforcing ribs 11 may include multiple grids. Each of the grids may be polygonal such as triangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, or hexagonal. Alternatively, each of the grids may be in another geometric shape such as circular or elliptical.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the preferred embodiment of the hot forged top crown 1 of the golf club head, the reinforcing ribs 11 may be formed on the bottom surface of the crown body 10 or the top surface of the crown body 10. As shown in FIG. 4, in another preferred embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 11, 12 are formed on the bottom surface and the top surface of the crown body 10. Preferably, a thickness d1 of the crown body 10 is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm. A thickness d2 of the reinforcing rib 11 that is formed on and protrudes from the bottom surface of the crown body 10 is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm. A thickness d3 of the reinforcing rib 12 that is formed on and protrudes from the top surface of the crown body 10 is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the top crown 1 manufactured by the above-mentioned manufacturing method is welded with a base 2, a strike face 3, and a hosel 4 to form the golf club head. Then the golf club head is surface treated and the hosel 4 is attached securely to a shaft to accomplish the golf club. The thickness of the crown body 10 of the top crown 1 is appropriately reduced, and a strength of the crown body 10 is enhanced by the reinforcing ribs 11, 12. Accordingly, elasticity of the top crown 1 of the golf club head is increased. Therefore, when the golf club head as described strikes the golf ball, the top crown 1 with high strength and high elasticity increases the striking distance. Consequently, the striking stability of the golf club head can be utilized thoroughly.

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 features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, 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.

Claims

1. A manufacturing method of a top crown of a golf club head comprising steps of:

providing a titanium alloy panel;
providing a forging mold and mounting the forging mold in a forging processing machine, wherein the forging mold has a mold cavity for forming the top crown of the golf club head; and
heating the titanium alloy panel;
driving the forging mold by the forging processing machine to hot forge the heated titanium alloy panel to form the top crown; and
forming multiple reinforcing ribs on at least one of a bottom surface and a top surface of a crown body of the top crown.

2. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 millimeter (mm) to 2.0 mm; and
the reinforcing ribs of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown of the golf club head are formed on the bottom surface of the crown body, a thickness of the crown body is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, and a thickness of each of the reinforcing ribs is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

3. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm; and
the reinforcing ribs of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown of the golf club head are formed on the top surface of the crown body, a thickness of the crown body is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, and a thickness of each of the reinforcing ribs is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

4. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a thickness of the titanium alloy panel is 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm; and
the reinforcing ribs of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown of the golf club head are formed on the bottom surface and the top surface of the crown body, and a thickness of the crown body is 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, a thickness of each of the reinforcing ribs is 0.1 mm to 1.8 mm.

5. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing ribs formed on the crown body of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown are arranged as a mesh.

6. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reinforcing ribs formed on the crown body of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown are arranged as a mesh.

7. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reinforcing ribs formed on the crown body of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown are arranged as a mesh.

8. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reinforcing ribs formed on the crown body of the hot forged titanium alloy top crown are arranged as a mesh.

9. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

10. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

11. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

12. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

13. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 5, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

14. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 6, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

15. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 7, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.

16. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 8, wherein

in the step of heating the titanium alloy panel, the titanium alloy panel is heated to 650° C. to 980° C.;
the forging mold is made of an iron based alloy containing cobalt (Co) element; and
before hot forging, the forging mold is preheated to 500° C. to 980° C.
Patent History
Publication number: 20150298196
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 22, 2015
Inventor: Chi-Hung Su (Tainan)
Application Number: 14/255,023
Classifications
International Classification: B21J 1/06 (20060101); B21K 17/00 (20060101); B21J 5/02 (20060101);