Golf ball COR testing machine
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsMichael P. McNamara, Michael F. Vieira, Laurent Bissonnette
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention comprises an automated machine for testing the physical properties of spherical objects. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a firing mechanism that includes an inner and outer barrel. An object inside the firing mechanism is propelled towards a striking surface that faces the firing mechanism. Two sensors located at predetermined points between the firing mechanism and the striking surface measure the inbound and outbound velocity of the object. A computing device then uses an algorithm to determine the COR of a given set of objects. An angular device uses gravity to direct the objects to a retrieval chute, which uses a tubing system to direct the objects for re-testing or collection.
Claims26
An apparatus for measuring the physical properties of a golf ball, the apparatus comprising:
- a striking surface;
- a propelling device facing the striking surface that fires the golf ball toward the striking surface, wherein said propelling device comprises an interchangeable barrel system;
- a sensing unit located between the striking surface and the propelling device, wherein the sensing unit has a measuring field covering a space between the propelling device and the striking surface, and wherein the sensing unit is capable of measuring the time it takes for the golf ball to travel a distance in the measuring field of the sensing unit;
- and
- a computing unit that calculates the Coefficient of Restitution of the golf ball, wherein the computing unit is in communication with the sensing unit.
A method of measuring Coefficient of Restitution of a plurality of golf balls comprising the steps of:
- providing a propelling device, a striking surface, and a sensing unit located between the striking surface and the propelling device;
- automatically firing the plurality of golf balls towards the striking surface with the propelling device;
- measuring a first velocity of the golf balls before it contacts the striking surface;
- measuring a second velocity of the golf balls after it rebounds from the striking surface;
- and
- calculating the Coefficient of Restitution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.