JPH11290488A - Golf club head made of fiber-reinforced metal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide fiber-reinforced metal suitable to a face of a golf club head. SOLUTION: Metal base material 8 and long fibers 9 are laminated to form metal-based composite material to be used for a face 3 of a golf club head for achieving light weight and improving tensile strength, etc. Light weight of the golf club head can thus be achieved, tensile strength, etc., of it can be improved, and flying distance of a golf ball can be elongated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf club head made of a fiber-reinforced metal, and more particularly to a material applied to a face of a golf club head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various materials have been known for golf club heads, such as metal materials such as persimmon, stainless steel, aluminum and titanium, and carbon fiber reinforced resin composite materials.

[0003]

However, none of the above materials is sufficient to satisfy both the flight distance and the weight reduction of the golf ball. Therefore, the present invention provides a material for a golf club head that can further increase the strength and elastic modulus and reduce the weight.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a metal-based composite material formed by laminating a metal substrate and long fibers is used for the face surface of a golf club head, and the metal-based composite material is lightweight. In addition, the tensile strength and the like can be improved, and the flight distance of the golf ball can be extended.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described with reference to an overall view (FIG. 1) showing a golf club head (driver) and a conceptual diagram (FIG. 2) of a manufacturing process of a metal matrix composite material. The golf club head 1 has a hollow head body 2 and a face 3
The face surface 3 is made of a metal matrix composite material described later. The hollow head body 2 uses a well-known titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V).

Next, a method of manufacturing the metal-based composite material will be described. First, a metal base material having a size corresponding to the length of the face surface is placed on the die 5 of the face surface of the golf club head. 0.1mm thick titanium foil 8 (SP
-700: NKK Corporation's product name)
Long fiber 9 of carbon silicon (SiC) (0.14 m in diameter)
m) are arranged at intervals of 0.20 mm. Then, a titanium foil 8 is placed thereon, and long fibers 9 of carbon silicon (SiC) are arranged perpendicularly to the above direction to form a cross arrangement (FIGS. 2A and 2B).

[0007] As described above, the titanium foil 8 and the carbon silicon long fiber 9 are alternately replaced by HIP (hot iso) described later.
After the static pressing process, the faces 3 are laminated so that the thickness t of the face 3 becomes 2.6 mm.

[0008] The carbon silicon (SiC) long fiber is
Unlike the above-mentioned cross arrangement, it may be formed so as to be in a single horizontal or vertical direction with respect to the face surface.

Then, the metal-based composite material having the above-mentioned structure is put into a stainless steel capsule 4 having a thickness of 1 mm, and is evacuated to a vacuum state (FIG. 2C). Thereafter, the temperature is set to 775 ° C. via the heat source 10 and the pressure is set to 120
HIP processing is performed at 0 atm (FIG. 2D). And
When taken out, a metal-based composite material (base material on the face surface) 3 having a thickness t of 2.6 mm, which matches the mold 5 on the face surface, is obtained (FIG. 2E).

Next, after joining the metal-based composite material 3 to the head body 2 by welding, a finishing process is performed to complete the golf club head 1. FIG. 3 shows the characteristics of the metal-based composite material and other materials. As shown in FIG. 3, the metal-based composite material has superior tensile strength, Young's modulus, etc., as compared with pure titanium and titanium alloy. Since the specific gravity is small (fiber volume ratio Vf = 25%), the weight can be reduced, and an excellent golf head can be formed.

In the above, titanium foil (SP-700: trade name of NKK) was used as the metal substrate, but stainless steel foil, aluminum foil, etc. may be used, or carbon silicon (SiC) may be used. Carbon fibers may be used instead of the long fibers. The head body is made of a titanium alloy, but in consideration of the material of the metal base material, stainless steel,
It may be made of aluminum or the like.

Next, FIG. 4A shows an eye-in head 20.
2B is a cross-sectional view in which the metal matrix composite material manufactured by the process of FIG.
Since the impact force is weaker than that of the driver head, it is bonded to the main body 22 with an adhesive. The thickness t of the face surface 21
Is 4 mm, while the material of the main body 22 is made of stainless steel or titanium alloy, and the configuration of the metal-based composite material (face surface 21) is made of a metal base such as titanium, aluminum, stainless steel or the like and a carbon silicon (SiC). A combination of fibers is conceivable, and a combination of copper (metal base material) and carbon long fiber is conceivable as a configuration of the metal-based composite material (face surface 21) with respect to the material of the main body 22 for the beryllium copper alloy.

Next, FIG. 5A is an overall view of the putter 30,
(B) is a cross-sectional view of bonding the metal matrix composite material (thickness t: 3 mm) formed by the process of FIG. Since this putter has a low impact force, it can be used in a state where the metal matrix composite material is joined to the main body 31 with an adhesive. The material of the main body 31 is made of stainless steel, a titanium alloy, aluminum, or the like, and the configuration of the metal-based composite material (face surface 32) includes a metal base material of titanium and aluminum and a long fiber of carbon silicon (SiC), or A combination of carbon fibers is conceivable and the body 31
In contrast to the case where the material is copper alloy, a combination of copper (metal base material) and carbon long fiber can be considered as a configuration of the metal-based composite material (face surface 32).

As described above, various combinations of the material of the golf club head and the metal-based composite material are conceivable, and the metal-based composite material is welded or bonded with an adhesive in consideration of an impact force or the like. Whether to form the golf club head using the base composite material itself as a material may be appropriately selected. In any combination, the use of the metal base composite material can reduce the weight and increase the flight distance of the golf ball. Demonstrates excellent performance.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the use of a metal matrix composite material formed by laminating a metal substrate and long fibers on the face surface of a golf club head reduces the weight of the golf club head and improves the tensile strength and the like. And the flight distance of the golf ball can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a golf club head (driver).

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of a metal matrix composite material.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing characteristics of a metal matrix composite material and other materials.

4A is an overall view of an iron-in head, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view in which a metal-based composite material is applied to a face surface.

FIG. 5A is an overall view of a putter, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of bonding a metal matrix composite material to a face surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 golf club head (driver) 2 head body 3 face surface (metal-based composite material) 5 face surface type 8 metal base material (titanium foil) 9 long fiber (carbon silicon (SiC) long fiber)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A golf club head made of a fiber-reinforced metal, wherein a metal matrix composite material formed by laminating a metal base material and long fibers is used for the face surface of a golf club head.