KR20050103309A - Golf club head of ductile or gray iron - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf club head made of a ferrous metal and having a density in the range from about 5 to about 6.8 g/cm3 and from about 7.0 to about 7.4 g/cm3, and such heads made of a cast ferrous metal having a density in the range from about 5 to about 7. 4 g/cm3. The entire golf club head may be made of such ferrous metal. Or, the ferrous metal is preferably a ductile iron or gray iron. The ferrous metal may be present as an insert in the ball hitting face of the club head, and the body of the club head may be a material different from the ferrous material. Or, the body of the club head may be made of the ferrous metal and the ball hitting face of the club head may be a different material.

Description

GOLF CLUB HEAD OF DUCTILE OR GRAY IRON} of nodular cast iron or gray cast iron

Cross-Reference to the Related Application

This application claims the advantages of US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 449,832, filed Feb. 27, 2003, and US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 507,084, filed Oct. 1, 2003, both applications being fully-documented. Incorporated herein by reference.

Strike face inserts used in many conventional golf club heads and golf club heads consist of various materials such as steel, nonferrous metal alloys, titanium, aluminum, composites, plastics, rubber, and the like. A disadvantage often encountered with golf club heads and inserts made from materials conventionally used in the golf club manufacturing industry is the "rough" feeling that is transmitted to golfers during and immediately after the collision between the golf club head and the golf ball, Poor durability, poor workability, poor wear resistance, insufficient weight budgets associated with the use of high density materials to design clubs within certain weight constraints, significant dimensional differences between the master model and the net portion resulting from the casting process, and high manufacturing costs. Include.

Thus, while minimizing the disadvantages described above, improved material damping ability, castability, wear resistance, increased strength-to-weight ratio, reduced density compared to other ferrous materials, moderate elongation, surface treatment and water solubility of plating, wide range There is still a need for golf club materials and designs that provide advantageous properties, such as the mechanical properties of -manipulation capability, low material cost, reduced shrinkage and near-net shape casting.

The foregoing advantages and further features of the present invention will be further understood from the following drawings, including an illustration of a golf club head that may include a preferred embodiment of the beneficial system of the present invention.

1A is a front or striking side view of an exemplary iron-type golf club head that may embody the present invention;

1B is another frontal or striking side view of another exemplary iron-type golf club head that may embody the present invention, in which the striking surface includes an insert;

FIG. 2A is a frontal or striking side view of an exemplary wedge-type golf club head that may embody the present invention; FIG.

FIG. 2B is another frontal or striking side view of another exemplary wedge-type golf club head that may embody the present invention, wherein the striking surface includes an insert; FIG.

3A is a front or striking side view of an exemplary metal wood-type club head that may embody the present invention;

3B is another frontal or striking side view of another representative metal wood-type club head that may embody the present invention, wherein the striking face includes an insert;

4A is a frontal or striking side view of an exemplary putter golf club head that may embody the present invention;

4B is another frontal or striking front view of another exemplary putter golf club head that may embody the present invention, wherein the striking surface includes an insert.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to iron-type, wedge-type, metal wood-type or putter-type golf club heads, or inserts for such heads, comprising ferrous metals, more specifically nodular cast iron or gray cast iron. Such metals may include high-nickel nodular cast iron, high-silicon nodular cast iron, annealed nodular graphite cast iron, ostempering nodular cast iron, and gray cast iron.

Spheroidal graphite cast iron is treated to contain magnesium, cerium, or rare earth alloys (atomic number 57-71) during the casting process so that substantially all of its graphite carbon is predominantly in the as-cast state in the iron-silicon matrix. Cast iron processed to take the form of spheroids or nodules. In the as cast state, graphite nodules are suspended in the matrix of ferrite and pearlite, sometimes carbides are present. Using annealing processes commonly known to those skilled in the metallurgical art, pearlite and carbides are usually transformed into ferrite microstructures. The newly formed ferrite surrounds the graphite nodules formed during the casting process, yielding an alloy of moderate strength with high ductility, improved damping capacity, and approximately 10% lower density than conventional steel.

Austempering nodular cast iron is a ductile cast iron produced by a known controlled thermal process, which leads to a matrix microstructure comprising graphite nodules predominantly suspended in acicular ferrite and high-carbon austenite. This microstructure provides increased strength over as cast or annealed nodular cast iron while maintaining proper elongation.

Gray cast iron is cast iron that has not been treated with graphite-spheroidal inoculum, wherein substantially all of the graphite carbon form is formed as flakes in the iron-silicon matrix predominantly in the as cast state. This flake graphite structure in the iron matrix offers several advantageous properties of the material, including excellent damping, good wear resistance and processability, with reduced density compared to other iron materials. The damping capacity of gray cast iron is 125 times greater than that of ordinary steel.

The golf club head of the present invention preferably comprises spherical graphite cast iron having a composition within the weight percent of the following ranges:

2.8 to 4.3 wt% carbon,

1.5 to 5.5 wt% silicon,

0-1 wt% copper,

Less than 0.1 wt% magnesium,

Less than 0.15 wt%

Most of the remainder is iron.

The golf club head of the present invention may also comprise gray cast iron, which preferably has a composition within the weight percent of the following ranges:

2.8 to 4.3 wt% carbon,

1.5 to 3.5 wt% silicon,

Less than 1 wt% copper,

Less than 2 wt% manganese,

Less than 2.5 wt% nickel,

Most of the remainder is iron.

The golf club head of the present invention may have any of the representative forms shown schematically in FIGS. 1A-4B. 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A schematically illustrate substantially the entire club head of iron-type 10, wedge-type 20, metal wood-type 30, and putter-type 40, respectively. Illustrated. 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B, respectively, include iron-type 12, wedge-type 22, metal wood-type (including ball striking surface inserts 14, 24, 34, 44), respectively. 32, and a putter-type 42 club head is schematically shown.

When the club head body 12, 22, 32, 42 comprises nodular cast iron, the face inserts 14, 24, 34, or 44 are non-ferrous metal alloys such as aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, and the like. , Other materials such as ceramic materials, stainless steel, special steel, and the like. Depending on the material composition of the insert, the insert can be pressed and welded to fit into the club head body and can be glued or otherwise bonded thereto.

In a further embodiment, the entire club head body 10, 20, 30 or 40 may comprise nodular cast iron or gray cast iron and may comprise a hosel 16, 26, 36 or 46 and / or a hosel-club head body joint. Except for areas 17, 27, 37 or 47, it may include bendable, high-strength stainless steel or low density stainless steel or carbon steel to facilitate bending of the hosel to provide clubs for specific players.

In the case where the striking insert 14, 24, 34 or 44 comprises nodular cast iron or gray cast iron, the club head body 12, 22, 32 or 42 may be formed of a stainless steel, carbon steel, carbon fiber reinforced composite material. Other materials such as non-ferrous metal alloys such as composite materials, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, manganese alloys, and the like.

In the case where the golf club head comprises nodular cast iron, the cast or heat treated nodular cast iron is rated 125/80/10; 150/100/07; 175/125/04; 200/155/01; And ASTM 897 grades selected from the group comprising 230/185/00. Similarly, nodular cast iron is grade 60-40-18; 65-45-12; 80-55-06; 100-70-03; And an ASTM A536 grade selected from the group comprising 120-90-02.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises gray cast iron, the gray cast iron may have an ASTM tension grade selected from the group comprising grades 20,30,40,50 and 60.

The golf club head of the present invention may comprise ferrous metal having a density in the range of about 5 to about 6.8 g / cm ³ and about 7.0 to about 7.4 g / cm ³ . Such golf club head will have a density in the range greater than the range of about 7.0 to about 7.4g / cm ³ greater than the range, more preferably about 7.0 to about 7.2g / cm ^3. Still it will have a more preferably, a density in the range of such a golf club head is about 7.0 to a density in the range of about 7.2g / cm ^3, most preferably from about 7.06 to about 7.1g / cm ^3.

When the golf club head of the present invention comprises cast iron metal, it will have a density in the range of about 5 to about 7.4 g / cm ³ . More preferably, the density will be in the range of about 6.5 to about 7.4 g / cm ³ , more preferably in the range of about 6.8 to about 7.2 g / cm ³ . Still more preferably, such golf club heads of the present invention will have a density in the range of 7.0 to about 7.2 g / cm, most preferably in the range of about 7.06 to about 7.1 g / cm ³ .

When the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron will have a tensile strength in the range of about 240 ksi or less.

Preferably, the tensile strength is in the range of about 30 to 240 ksi and more preferably in the range of about 30 to about 140 ksi, still more preferably in the range of about 30 to 100 ksi and more preferably in the range of about 50 to about 85 ksi. Will be in range. The tensile strength of the nodular cast iron may also be in the preferred range of about 100 to about 165 ksi.

Furthermore, when the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron will preferably have a 0.2% offset yield strength in the range of about 30 to about 210 ksi. More preferably, the 0.2% offset yield strength will be in the range of about 30 to 70 ksi. The 0.2% yield strength may still be more preferably in the range of about 40 to about 130 ksi, even more preferably about 40 to about 65 ksi. Another preferred 0.2% offset yield strength range is in the range of about 80 to about 185 ksi.

When the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron may have elongation in the range of about 28% or less. Preferably, the elongation is in the range of about 4 to 25%, more preferably in the range of about 7 to about 25%, even more preferably in the range of about 12 to about 25%, most preferably about 15 to about It will be in the range of 25%.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the density of the nodular cast iron will preferably be in the range of about 7.0 to about 7.2 g / cm ³ , most preferably about 7.06 to about 7.1 g / It will be in the range of cm ³ .

When the golf club head of the present invention is formed by casting a nodular cast iron material, the nodular cast iron should have a casting shrinkage in the range of about 0.5% to about 1%, and the casting shrinkage is preferably about 0.7%.

When the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron should have an elastic modulus in the range of about 20 to about 25 msi. The modulus of elasticity is preferably in the range of about 22 to about 23.5 msi.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron should have a Poisson ratio in the range of about 0.23 to about 0.27.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron should have a Brinell Hardness Number in the range of about 120 to about 810. The number will more preferably be in the range of about 300 to about 460. Another preferred range is about 120 to about 300.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises nodular cast iron, the nodular cast iron material should have a vibration collapse time of 90% or less of the time for typical stainless steel.

When the golf club head of the present invention comprising a gray cast iron, gray cast iron is preferable, and it is in the range of about 7.0 to about 7.3g / cm ³ to have a density in the range of about 7.1 to about 7.2g / cm ^3.

When the golf club head of the present invention comprises gray cast iron, the tensile strength of gray cast iron is in the range of 80 ksi or less, preferably in the range of about 15 to about 60 ksi, even more preferably in the range of about 20 to about 40 ksi. Should be

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises gray cast iron, the gray cast iron should have an elastic modulus in the range of about 10 to about 25 msi.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises gray cast iron, the gray cast iron should have a Brinnell hardness value in the range of about 100 to 350, preferably in the range of about 100 to about 250.

If the golf club head of the present invention comprises gray cast iron, the gray cast iron should have a vibration damping capacity of 2 to 125 times that of ordinary stainless steel.

Advantageous materials of the present invention have an increased strength-to-weight ratio, relatively low density, suitable elongation properties and relatively low cost compared to other club head materials. When used in the desired club head manufacturing technique, these materials exhibit good castability with minimal shrinkage and thus exhibit a minimum net dimension difference between the net head and the club head master model resulting from the casting process. They also exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties operability through good processability, composition variation and heat treatment techniques to promote final forming and finishing. And these manufacturing advantages are achievable at lower manufacturing costs.

Thus, the club head of the present invention made from nodular cast iron or gray cast iron materials has the advantages of excellent durability and wear resistance exhibited by such materials. Moreover, golf clubs according to the present invention have improved wear resistance properties associated with significantly greater hardness values of annealed nodular cast iron, austempering nodular cast iron, and gray cast iron, the measured hardness of which is inferior to that of typical carbon or stainless steels. Similar and in many cases larger than that.

Ultimately, the superior damping ability and other properties of these materials resulted in the club head of the invention made from it, while the club head of such invention had a strong "feel" to the golfer using such a club during and immediately after. Provide the ability to represent. The current understanding and expectations in the golf club-manufacturing field relate to the measured hardness of the club-head material as perceived when it collides with the ball-the greater the material hardness, the "rougher" the feeling is, The opposite is also true.

However, despite the significantly-large hardness values, the enhanced material damping capacity and reduced density of the nodular cast iron or gray cast iron (which allows for the concentration of advantageous masses) is expected in the sense of passing to the golfer upon ball impact. Provide significant improvements. This improvement in feeling goes beyond the typical correlation to the measured hardness expected by those skilled in the golf club-manufacturing industry.

Those skilled in the golf club manufacturing art will appreciate that minor changes in details of the invention may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Brief overview of the invention

The present invention is a golf club head made of a material designed to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages and deficiencies in prior art golf club materials and designs. Advantageous golf club heads of the present invention are typically made of ferrous or cast iron metal with a particular desired density. More specifically, the ferrous metal may be nodular cast iron or gray cast iron. The beneficial iron material may be present throughout the club head or in a portion of the club head, such as an insert at the ball striking face of the club head, where the remainder of the club head may be a similar or different material.

Claims (62)

A golf club head made of cast iron metal having a density ranging from about 5 to about 7.4 g / cm ³ . A golf club head consisting of ferrous metal and having a density ranging from about 5 to about 6.8 g / cm ³ and from about 7.0 to about 7.4 g / cm ³ . 3. A golf club head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ferrous metal is present in the form of an insert in the ball striking surface of the club head. The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body of the club head is made of a material different from ferrous metal. The golf club head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body of the club head is made of ferrous metal, and the ball striking surface of the club head is made of another material. 6. The material of claim 5, wherein the ball striking surface is a material selected from the group consisting of nonferrous metal alloys, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, copper alloys, manganese alloys, ceramic materials, stainless steels, carbon steels, special steels, nonmetallic composites, and carbon fiber reinforcement materials. Golf club head comprising an insertion portion made of. 6. The ball striking surface of claim 5, wherein the ball striking surface comprises an insert made of a different material, wherein at least one of the hosel portion of the clubhead and the clubhead body / hozel junction is made of a more flexible material than the rest of the clubhead body. Golf club head. ^3. A golf club head according to claim 2, having a density in the range of at least 7.0 and 7.4 g / cm ³ . The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a density in the range of about 7.0 to about 7.2 g / cm ³ . A golf club head according to claim 1 or 2, having a density in the range of about 7.06 to about 7.1 g / cm ³ . Golf club head made of nodular cast iron. 12. A golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the nodular cast iron is selected from the group consisting of high-nickel nodular cast iron, high-silicon nodular cast iron, annealing nodular cast iron, and austempering nodular cast iron. 13. A golf club head according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular cast iron is present in the form of an insert in the ball striking surface of the club head. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the body of the club head is made of a material different from that of nodular cast iron. The golf club head according to any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein the body of the club head is made of spherical graphite cast iron, and the ball striking surface of the club head is made of another material. 13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the nodular cast iron has a tensile strength in the range of about 240 ksi or less. 17. A golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the tensile strength is in the range of about 30 to about 240 ksi. 18. A golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the tensile strength is in the range of about 30 to about 140 ksi. 18. A golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the tensile strength is in the range of about 30 to about 100 ksi. 18. A golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the tensile strength is in the range of about 50 to about 85 ksi. 18. A golf club head according to claim 17, wherein the tensile strength is in the range of about 100 to about 165 ksi. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the nodular cast iron has a 0.2% offset yield strength in the range of about 30 to about 210 ksi. 23. A golf club head according to claim 22, wherein the 0.2% offset yield strength is in the range of about 30 to about 70 ksi. 23. A golf club head according to claim 22, wherein the 0.2% offset yield strength is in the range of about 40 to about 65 ksi. 23. A golf club head according to claim 22, wherein the 0.2% offset yield strength is in the range of about 40 to about 130 ksi. 23. A golf club head according to claim 22, wherein the 0.2% offset yield strength is in the range of about 80 to about 185 ksi. 13. A golf club head according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular cast iron has an elongation in the range of 28% or less. 28. A golf club head according to claim 27, wherein the height is in the range of about 4 to about 28%. 29. A golf club head according to claim 28, wherein the height is in the range of about 7 to about 25%. 28. A golf club head according to claim 27, wherein the height is in the range of about 12 to about 25%. 29. A golf club head according to claim 28, wherein the height is in the range of about 15 to about 25%. 13. The method of any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular graphite iron is 125/80/10; 150 / 100/07; 175/125/04; 200/155/01; And an ASTM 897 grade selected from the group consisting of 230/185/00. 13. The method of any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular graphite iron is 60-40-18; 65-45-12; 80-55-06; 100-70-03; And an ASTM A536 grade selected from the group consisting of 120-90-02. 13. A golf club head according to any of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular cast iron has a density in the range of about 7.0 to about 7.2 g / cm ³ . 35. A golf club head according to claim 34, wherein the density is in the range of about 7.06 to about 7.1 g / cm ³ . The golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the nodular cast iron has a vibration collapse time of 90% or less of stainless steel. 13. A golf club head according to any of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular cast iron has a casting shrinkage of about 0.5% to about 1%. 38. A golf club head according to claim 37, wherein the casting shrinkage is about 0.7%. 13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the nodular cast iron has an elastic modulus in the range of about 20 to about 28 msi. 40. A golf club head according to claim 39, wherein the modulus of elasticity is in the range of about 22 to about 26 msi. 13. A golf club head according to any of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular cast iron has a Poisson's ratio in the range of about 0.23 to about 0.27. 13. A golf club head according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the nodular cast iron has a Brinnell hardness value in the range of about 120 to about 810. 43. A golf club head according to claim 42, wherein the Brinnell hardness value is in the range of about 300 to about 460. 43. A golf club head according to claim 42, wherein the Brinnell hardness value is in the range of about 120 to about 300. The golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the nodular cast iron has a chemical composition within the following weight range: 2.8 to 4.3 wt% carbon, 1.5 to 5.5 wt% silicon, 0-1 wt% copper, Less than 0.1 wt% magnesium, Less than 0.15wt% phosphorus, And most of the rest is iron. Golf club head made of gray cast iron. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron is in the form of an insert in the ball striking surface of the club head. 48. A golf club head according to claim 47, wherein the ball striking surface insert portion made of gray cast iron is attached to the embedding or opening portion of the golf club head. 49. A golf club head according to claim 48, wherein the striking face insert is attached to the club head by means selected from the group consisting of welding, mechanical locking fit, adhesive bonds, adhesive tape bonds, and any combination thereof. 48. A golf club head according to claim 47, wherein the body of the club head is made of a material different from gray cast iron. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the body of the club head is made of gray cast iron and the ball striking surface of the club head is made of another material. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has a tensile strength in the range of 80 ksi or less. 53. A golf club head according to claim 52, wherein the gray cast iron has a tensile strength in the range of about 15 to about 60 ksi. 53. A golf club head according to claim 52, wherein the gray cast iron has a tensile strength in the range of about 20 to about 40 ksi. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has an ASTM tensile rating selected from the group consisting of 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has a density in the range of about 7.0 to about 7.3 g / cm ³ . 50. A golf club head according to claim 49, wherein the density is in the range of about 7.1 to about 7.2 g / cm ³ . 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has a damping capacity of 2 to 125 times that of stainless steel. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has a modulus of elasticity in the range of about 10 to about 25 msi. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has a Brinnell hardness value in the range of about 100 to about 350. 61. A golf club head according to claim 60, wherein the Brinnell hardness value is in the range of about 100 to about 250. 47. A golf club head according to claim 46, wherein the gray cast iron has a chemical composition within the following weight range. 2.8 to 4.3 wt% carbon, 1.5 to 3.5 wt% silicon, Less than 1 wt% copper, Less than 2 wt% manganese, Less than 2.5 wt% nickel, And most of the rest is iron.