JP2002253707A - Method for manufacturing golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a golf club head which improves workability in manufacturing the head by welding >=2 component members. SOLUTION: The method for manufacturing the golf club head relating to Claim 1 is the method for manufacturing the head by welding >=2 component members, which comprises integrally forming a plurality of supporting members at the joint part of the one component member and welding both component members while supporting the outer periphery of the other component member by the respective supporting members, and the method for manufacturing the golf club head relating to Claim 2, in the method for manufacturing the golf club head as described in Claim 1, comprises forming the plurality of supporting members to be disposed at the one component member in such a manner that the outer periphery of the other component member can be grasped and welding both component members while grasping the outer periphery of the other component members by the respective supporting members.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a golf club head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, golf clubs called wood have been replaced with natural materials such as persimmons and cherry trees, and metal materials such as titanium, titanium alloys and stainless steel, from the viewpoints of quality stability and ease of material supply. A golf club head (hereinafter, referred to as a "head") formed of a hollow outer shell by using the same is widely used.

[0003] As a method of manufacturing this type of metal head, a top member, a face member, a shaft fixing pipe (neck portion), a bottom member having a sole portion and a side portion integrated with each other are forged or pressed. And welding them, or molding the head body consisting of a hollow outer shell by casting, and welding the face plate or sole plate to the opening on the face side or the opening on the sole side. Are known.

[0004] Conventionally, in manufacturing a head using the above-described components, the joints of the components are welded to each other by abutting each other. However, the positioning of the joints is difficult, and the welding operation is difficult. It has been pointed out that it is necessary to hold the constituent members using a jig or the like so as not to displace the joint. Also, when the joints are brought into contact with each other, it is necessary to provide a gap between the components to be welded so that the welding material can enter.

[0005] Therefore, conventionally, prior to the main welding, for example, a gap is provided between the face plate and the head body to temporarily weld several joints, and then the gap is fully welded along the joint. Although various methods have been adopted, a gap has to be maintained between the joints in such a manner, which has made the welding operation more difficult. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-85
No. 369, a plurality of back-side ribs 7 and face-side ribs 9 projecting slightly upward from an opening edge 5 on the top side from a sole portion 3 on the inner surface of the head body 1 as shown in FIG. Each rib 7, which is formed and protrudes from the opening edge 5,
A head 19 is disclosed in which the mounting annular portion 17 of the crown plate 15 is placed on the support bases 11 and 13 of the reference numeral 9 and welded to the head main body 1.

[0006]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, the provision of the support bases 11 and 13 on the side of the head body 1 allows a welding material to be provided between the head body 1 and the crown plate 15. However, even in this conventional example, the positioning of the crown plate 15 is still difficult, and the crown plate 15 and the support base 11,
The crown plate 15 and the head main body 1 must be held using a jig or the like so that the joint portion with the head 13 does not shift.

[0007] The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a method of manufacturing a head in which two or more components are welded to manufacture a head and workability is improved. And

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head manufacturing method for manufacturing a head by welding two or more constituent members. A plurality of support members are integrally formed at a joint portion of the constituent members, and the two support members are welded while each support member supports the outer periphery of the other constituent member.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1.
In the head manufacturing method described above, the plurality of support members provided on one of the constituent members are formed so as to be able to sandwich the outer periphery of the other constituent member, and the respective support members sandwich the outer periphery of the other constituent member. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing a head according to the first or second aspect, the plurality of support members provided on one of the constituent members are used. After the outer periphery of the other component is supported, each support member is welded to the other component to temporarily fix the component.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method of manufacturing a head according to any one of the first to third aspects, the supporting member is formed separately from the constituent member. In welding the member to the other component, a supporting member is attached to the joint, and the invention according to claim 5 is a method for manufacturing a head according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Preferably, the supporting member is removed after the components are welded.

The invention according to claim 6 is based on claim 1.
6. The method for manufacturing a head according to claim 5, wherein a spacer that forms a gap is interposed between the two components when the outer periphery of the other component is supported by the support member. And

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in welding one component member to the other component member, each support member supports the outer periphery of the other component member. According to the manufacturing method of the second aspect, each supporting member sandwiches the outer periphery of the other component, and positions and holds the component at an appropriate position.

[0013] In the manufacturing method according to the third aspect, the constituent members are temporarily fixed to each other via the supporting member. According to the manufacturing method according to the fourth aspect, each supporting member fixed to the constituent member. Will position and hold the components in appropriate positions. Further, in the manufacturing method according to claim 5,
After welding the constituent members, the support member is removed to manufacture the head, and further according to the manufacturing method according to claim 6,
A spacer interposed between the two components accurately forms a certain gap required for welding between the components.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a head according to claims 1 to 3, claim 5 and claim 6. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a face side opening 23. Except for the top part 25 and the side part 27,
The sole portion 29, the hosel portion 31 and the like are made of a titanium alloy (Ti-
6Al-4V). A head body composed of a hollow outer shell integrally cast with a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) is welded to the face side opening 23 to form a head 35. Are formed.

The head body 21 can be made of other titanium alloys or other metal materials such as titanium, stainless steel, maraging steel, etc. in place of the above-mentioned titanium alloy. The face plate 33 is also made of pure titanium or β-type titanium alloy. Other metal materials such as titanium alloys, stainless steel, maraging steel, etc. can be used. Further, the head body and the face plate may be formed by forging or pressing a plurality of constituent members,
Further, the head body may be obtained by welding them.

The head 35 is manufactured as follows by one embodiment of the manufacturing method according to the first to third, fifth, and sixth aspects. First, as shown in FIG. 2, at the time of casting the head body 21, a plurality of support members 37 projecting forward of the head body 21 are integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the face side opening 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 37 has an outer shape formed in an arc shape in the front-rear direction of the head main body 21, and the inner surface thereof has a flat surface flush with the outer peripheral edge of the face side opening 23. As shown in FIG. 3, each support member 37 sandwiches the outer periphery of the face plate 33 when the face plate 33 is attached to the face side opening 33, so that the head body 21 and the face plate 33 The face plate 33 is positioned and held with an appropriate gap (about 1 mm) necessary for welding therebetween.

The inner surface of the support member 37 is inclined so as to spread outward toward the front side of the head main body 21, and the face plate 33 is sandwiched between the face side opening 23 with an appropriate gap. You may comprise so that it may be. Thus, the head body 21 in which the support member 37 is integrally formed.
After the casting, the face plate 33 is pressed into the inside of each support member 37 along the inner surface side by a human hand or a machine as shown in FIG.

As described above, each support member 37 positions the face plate 33 with an appropriate gap required for welding between the head body 21 and the face plate 33.
When the face plate 33 is press-fitted, spacers 39 and 41 are interposed between the face plate 33 and the head main body 21 as shown in FIG. Pressing work can be performed smoothly and accurately.

Then, after the face plate 33 is positioned and held at the predetermined position by the support member 37 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the distal end side of each support member 37 is melted by a welding tool (nozzle) 43, and the face plate 33 is temporarily welded (temporarily fixed) to the head main body 21 using the molten metal. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the spacers 39 and 41 are removed, and while the welding material is melted along the gap between the head main body 21 and the face plate 33 using the welding tool 43 and the welding rod 45, the welding material is removed. Main welding is performed by infiltrating into the gap. At this time, the support member 37 may be melted again, or may be covered with the welding material and integrated with the welding material.

After the completion of the main welding, the support member 37 is polished along the periphery of the face plate 33 as shown in FIG.
The head 35 shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured by removing the unnecessary weld beads and forming the edge 47 of the peripheral edge of the face. As described above, in the method of manufacturing the head 35 according to the present embodiment, when the face plate 33 is welded to the face side opening 23 of the head main body 21, the head plate 21 is integrally molded with the outer peripheral edge of the face side opening 23. The face plate 33 is sandwiched by the plurality of support members 37,
At the time of press-fitting of the face plate 33, spacers 39 and 41, which are indications of the press-fitting position of the face plate 33, are interposed between the face plate 33 and the head main body 21, and have an appropriate degree necessary for welding to the head main body 21. Since the gap is opened and positioned and held, there is no need to use a jig to hold the face plate 33 and the head main body 21 using a jig in order to prevent the displacement of the joint as in the conventional example shown in FIG. In addition, the face plate 33 is positioned by the support member 37 with an appropriate gap required for welding between the support member 37 and the spacers 39 and 41, so that the head body 21 and the face plate 33 are connected to each other. A certain gap is accurately formed therebetween.

Each support member 37 for positioning and holding the face plate 33 on the head main body 21 is connected to the welding tool 4.
By melting at step 3, the face plate 33 can be easily temporarily welded to the head main body 21 without using a welding material for temporary fixing separately. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the face plate 33 is
When welding to the face side opening 23, the positioning of the face plate 33 is easier than before, and the gap required for welding is easily and accurately secured between the head body 21 and the face plate 33. However, since welding can be performed while maintaining this gap without using a jig or the like, welding can be performed more easily and accurately than in the past.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the face plate 33 can be temporarily fixed to the head main body 21 by melting the respective support members 37. Therefore, it is necessary to separately use a welding material for temporary fixing. There are no advantages. In the above embodiment, the support member 37 is formed so that the outer periphery of the face plate 33 can be sandwiched. However, the face plate can be accommodated inside the support member so that the face plate can be positioned and held by the support member. For example, there may be some allowance between the support member and the face plate, or the support member may be pressed and deformed from the outside to pinch the face plate.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show a method of manufacturing a head according to one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given and their description is omitted. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 49 denotes a support member fixed to the peripheral portion of the face plate 33. The support member 49 is made of the same material as the face plate 33 and has two engagement pieces 51,
53 and a projecting piece 55 projecting in one direction are formed in a substantially F-shaped cross section. The peripheral edge of the face plate 33 is engaged with an engaging groove 57 formed between the engaging pieces 51 and 53. hand,
Two support members 49 are fixedly attached to the top side and the periphery of the sole side of the face plate 33, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inner surface side of the projecting piece 55 is shaped along the outer peripheral edge of the face side opening 23. The number and positions of the fixing members 49 can be changed as appropriate. On the other hand, in the figure, reference numeral 21-1 denotes a hollow head main body in which the top portion 25, the side portion 27, the sole portion 29, the hosel portion 31, and the like are integrally cast except for the face side opening portion 23. Also titanium alloy (T
i-6Al-4V).

Each support member 49 fixed to the face plate 33 as shown in FIG.
-1 is held between the top and sole sides of the outer peripheral edge of the face side opening 23 by the protruding piece 55, so that an appropriate gap 59 necessary for welding is opened between the head body 21-1 and the face plate 33. Is positioned and held. Thus, the head 35-1 according to the present embodiment is manufactured using the support member 49 as follows.

First, the head body 21-1, the face plate 33, and the support member 49 are manufactured, and as shown in FIG.
The peripheral edge of the face plate 33 is engaged with and bonded to the engagement groove 57 of No. 9, and two support members 49 are attached to the peripheral edge of the top side and the sole side of the face plate 33. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer peripheral edge of the face side opening 23 of the head main body 21-1 is moved from the top and the sole side to the support
9, the face plate 33 is positioned and held with a suitable gap 59 between the face plate 33 and the head main body 21-1 via the support member 49.

Then, after positioning and holding the face plate 33 at a predetermined position in this way, as shown in FIG. 9, each support member 49 is melted with a welding tool 43, and the face plate 33 is formed using the molten metal. Temporarily welded to the head body 21-1.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 10, the welding material is melted along the gap between the head main body 21-1 and the face plate 33 using the welding tool 43 and the welding rod 45, and the welding material is removed from the gap 59. And perform main welding. At this time, even in this embodiment, the support member 49 may be melted again and may be covered with the welding material and integrated with the welding material. After completion of the main welding, the head 35-1 is manufactured by polishing along the periphery of the face plate 33 to remove the support member 49 and unnecessary welding beads, and forming an edge on the periphery of the face, similarly to the above embodiment. Will be done.

As described above, the head 35-1 according to the present embodiment is used.
The method of manufacturing the head body 21-1 includes the face side opening 2
When the face plate 33 is welded to the support plate 3, two support members 49 are fixedly attached to the top edge and the sole edge of the face plate 33. Since the face plate 33 is sandwiched from the top and sole sides to position and hold the face plate 33 with an appropriate gap 59 between it and the head body 21-1, displacement of the joint portion is prevented as in the conventional example shown in FIG. The face plate 33 and the head body 21 are
-1 is not required, and the face plate 33 is positioned with a suitable gap 59 required for welding between the face plate 33 and the head body 21-1 via the support member 49.
A fixed gap 59 is accurately formed between the head main body 21-1 and the face plate 33.

The supporting members 49 for positioning and holding the face plate 33 on the head main body 21-1 are melted by the welding tool 43, so that the face plate 33 can be fixed to the head main body without using a welding material for temporary fixing. 21-1 can be easily temporarily welded. Therefore, even when the face plate 33 is welded to the face-side opening 23 of the head main body 21-1 by the manufacturing method according to the present embodiment,
The positioning of the face plate 33 is easier than in the past,
Also, since the gap 59 required for welding can be easily secured between the head main body 21-1 and the face plate 33, the welding can be performed while maintaining the gap 59 without using a jig or the like. As a result, welding can be performed easily and accurately.

As described above, also in the present embodiment, the face plate 33 can be temporarily fixed to the head main body 21-1 by melting the respective support members 49, so that the welding material for temporary fixing is separately provided. It has the advantage of not having to be used. Also,
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a new casting mold for manufacturing the head main body 21 in which the support member 37 is integrally formed is required, but according to the present embodiment, in manufacturing the head main body 21-1. The existing mold for manufacturing the head body can be used as it is.

FIGS. 11 to 14 show claims 1 to 3.
A method of manufacturing a head according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. And a description of those structures will be omitted. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 21-2 denotes a hollow in which the top portion 25, the side portion 27, the face portion 63, the hosel portion 31 and the like are integrally formed of a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) except for the sole side opening portion 61. The head 35-2 is formed by welding a sole plate 65, which is also made of a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V), to the sole-side opening 61 by welding.

In the present embodiment, the head body 21
-2 can be replaced by the above-mentioned titanium alloy, other titanium alloys or other metal materials such as titanium, stainless steel, maraging steel, etc., and the sole plate 65 is made of pure titanium,
Other titanium alloys such as β-type titanium alloys and metal materials such as stainless steel and maraging steel can be used, but welding is easy if the sole plate is made of the same kind of metal as the head body.

The head body may be formed by welding a plurality of constituent members by forging or pressing and welding these members.
Thus, the head 35-2 is manufactured as follows by one embodiment of the manufacturing method according to claims 1 to 3 and claim 5. First, as shown in FIG. 11, at the time of casting the head main body 21-2, at the outer peripheral edge of the sole-side opening 61,
A plurality of support members 37 protruding downward from the head main body 21-2.
Is integrally molded.

As shown in FIG. 11, the support member 37 is
The outer shape is formed in an arc shape in the vertical direction of the head main body 21-2, and the inner surface side is formed as a flat surface flush with the outer peripheral edge of the sole-side opening 61.
When the sole plate 65 is attached to the sole-side opening 31, the outer periphery of the sole plate 65 is sandwiched, and an appropriate gap 67 necessary for welding is opened between the head body 21-2 and the sole plate 65. The sole plate 65 is positioned and held.

After the head body 21-2 in which the support member 37 is integrally formed is cast, the sole plate 65 is moved along the inner surface of each support member 37 by hand or machine as shown in FIG. And press it inside. And
In this way, the sole plate 65
After the positioning and holding in step 7, the distal end side of each support member 37 is melted by a welding tool 43 as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13, the welding material is melted along the gap 67 between the head main body 21-2 and the sole plate 65 using the welding tool 43 and the welding rod 45, and the welding material is removed. The main welding is performed by infiltrating into the 67. At this time, also in this embodiment, the support member 37 may be melted again and may be covered with the welding material and integrated with the welding material. Then, after the end of the main welding, as shown in FIG.
The head 35-2 is manufactured by polishing along the peripheral edge of the sole and removing the support member 37 and unnecessary weld beads to form the peripheral edge 69 of the sole.

As described above, the head 35-2 according to this embodiment is
The manufacturing method of the head body 21-2 is as follows.
When the sole plate 65 is welded to the support member 37, the plurality of support members 37 integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the sole-side opening 61.
And a gap 67 necessary for welding between the head body 21-2 and the head body 21-2.
The sole plate 65 is opened and the sole plate 65 is positioned and held, so that a jig is used to prevent the displacement of the joint portion as in the conventional example shown in FIG.
1-2 need not be held, and the sole plate 65 is positioned by the support member 37 with a gap 67 required for welding between the head body 21-2 and the head body 21-2. A constant gap 67 is accurately formed between -2 and the sole plate 65.

Each support member 37 for positioning and holding the sole plate 65 on the head main body 21-2 is connected to the welding tool 4.
By melting at 3, the sole plate 65 can be easily temporarily fixed to the head main body 21-2 without using a welding material for temporary fixing separately. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when welding the sole plate 65 to the sole-side opening 61 of the head main body 21-2, the positioning of the sole plate 65 is easier than in the past, and the head main body 21- Since the gap 67 required for welding can be easily secured between the base plate 2 and the sole plate 65, the welding can be performed while maintaining the gap 67 without using a jig or the like. It can be done accurately.

As described above, even in the present embodiment, since each support member 37 can be melted and the sole plate 65 can be temporarily fixed to the head main body 21-2, welding for temporary fixing is performed. There is no need to use additional materials.

[0042]

As described above, according to the method of manufacturing a head according to the first aspect, when one component is welded to the other component, the positioning of the component is facilitated by the support member. According to the manufacturing method of the second aspect,
Since the constituent members are positioned and held at appropriate positions by the support members, welding can be easily and accurately performed without using a jig or the like.

According to the manufacturing method of the third aspect, since the support member is temporarily fixed by welding to the other constituent member, it is not necessary to use a welding material for temporary fixing separately.
According to the manufacturing method of the fourth aspect, since the support member is formed separately from the constituent member, the constituent member can be manufactured using an existing mold or the like as it is. Furthermore, claim 6
According to the present invention, by using the spacer, an appropriate gap required for welding can be easily and accurately provided between the constituent members, and the welding operation can be further easily and accurately performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a head manufactured by an embodiment of the head manufacturing method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a head body and a face plate showing one step of a manufacturing method according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the face plate showing a step of press-fitting the face plate into the support member.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the face plate showing a process of temporarily welding the face plate to the head body.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the face plate showing a main welding step of the face plate to the head body.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the head shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a head body and a face plate showing one process of a method of manufacturing a head according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the face plate showing a process of attaching the face plate to the head body.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the head main body and the face plate showing a process of temporarily welding the face plate to the head main body.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the face plate showing a main welding step of the face plate to the head body.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the sole plate showing a step of press-fitting the sole plate into the support member in the head manufacturing method according to the first to third and fifth embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the sole plate showing a step of temporarily welding the sole plate to the head body.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the head body and the sole plate showing a main welding step of the sole plate to the head body.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a head manufactured according to the first to third and fifth embodiments.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional head.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21, 21-1, 21-2 Head body 23 Face side opening 33 Face plate 35, 35-1, 35-2 Head 37, 49 Support member 39, 41 Spacer 43 Welding tool 45 Welding rod 57 Engagement groove 59, 67 Gap 61 Sole side opening 65 Sole plate

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A golf club head manufacturing method for manufacturing a golf club head by welding two or more constituent members, wherein a plurality of support members are integrally formed at a joint portion of one of the constituent members. A method of manufacturing a golf club head, comprising welding both components while supporting the outer periphery of the other component with each support member. 2. A plurality of support members provided on one of the constituent members are formed so as to be able to sandwich the outer periphery of the other constituent member, and each of the support members sandwiches the outer periphery of the other constituent member. 2. The method for manufacturing a golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the welding is performed. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of support members provided on one of the constituent members support an outer periphery of the other constituent member, and then each of the support members is temporarily fixed to the other constituent member by welding. The method of manufacturing a golf club head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The supporting member according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member is formed separately from the constituent member, and the supporting member is attached to the joint when the constituent member is welded to the other constituent member. A method for manufacturing the golf club head according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The method of manufacturing a golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member is removed after welding the constituent members. 6. The supporting member according to claim 1, wherein a spacer forming a gap is interposed between the two components when the outer periphery of the other component is supported by the supporting member. A manufacturing method of the golf club head according to the above.