U.S. patent number 3,838,676 [Application Number 05/293,020] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-01 for ball throwing machine with barrel extension.
Invention is credited to Edward W. Kahelin.
United States Patent |
3,838,676 |
Kahelin |
October 1, 1974 |
BALL THROWING MACHINE WITH BARREL EXTENSION
Abstract
An improved compressed fluid ball projecting apparatus having an
improved ball feeding device and ball control ejection barrel
extensions. The barrel extensions come in several forms to provide
for high and low velocity baseball ejection, and for the throwing,
of tennis balls. Included in each of several given forms of the
barrel extension structures is a slot extending through the wall of
the extension structure. A strip of friction material extends
inwardly through this slot. This strip of material is resiliently
mounted so as to be outwardly depressable through the slot in
response to engagement by a ball passing through the barrel and
barrel extension of the ball projecting apparatus. Adjusting screws
provide for adjustment of the position of the friction strip
relative to the wall of the extension for desired penetration of
the strip into the interior thereof. Diametrically opposite the
strip is a slippery surface so that a ball passing through the
barrel extension is subjected to the friction strip on one side and
the slippery surface on the other and is caused to spin
thereby.
Inventors: |
Kahelin; Edward W. (Manhattan
Beach, CA) |
Family
ID: |
23127282 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/293,020 |
Filed: |
September 28, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
124/75; 473/598;
124/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/409 (20130101); A63B 2047/004 (20130101); A63B
2069/402 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/40 (20060101); A63B 47/00 (20060101); A63b
069/40 (); F41f 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;124/11R,3R
;273/26D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Stouffer; R. T.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A ball throwing machine comprising:
a stand;
a ball ejection barrel supported by said stand;
means for ejecting a ball out of said barrel;
a barrel extension adapted for mounting on the end of said
barrel;
said extension having a slot extending through the wall
thereof;
said extension further having a strip of friction material
extending inwardly through said slot;
means for resiliently mounting said strip in said slot so that said
strip is outwardly depressable through said slot in response to
engagement by a ball passing through said barrel and said barrel
extension;
means for adjusting the position of said strip relative to said
wall for desired penetration of said strip into the interior of
said extension;
said barrel extension having a slippery inner surface diametrically
opposite said strip whereby a ball passing through said extension
is subjected to said outwardly depressable strip and said slippery
inner surface and be caused to spin thereby.
2. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein said slippery
inner surface is a Teflon material affixed to the inner surface of
the barrel of said extension.
3. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein said slippery
inner surface is a plurality of rollers having edges thereof
protruding into said extension.
4. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein said strip of
friction material comprises inwardly directed bristles against
which a ball will brush as the ball passes therethrough.
5. A ball throwing machine as in claim 4 wherein said barrel
extension has an inner sleeve insertable into said ball ejection
barrel for the ejection of balls smaller in diameter than the
diameter of said barrel.
Description
RELATED INVENTIONS
The present invention is an improvement over the apparatus shown
and described as a Baseball Pitching and Fielding Practice Device
in U.S. Pat. no. 3,018,769 which issued Jan. 30, 1962 to F. L.
Parsoneault. The details of that patent are hereby incorporated
herein as if fully set forth and reference is made to that patent
for an understanding of the present invention and its advantages
over the prior art. Both the Parsoneault patent and the present
invention are presently owned by K-Lin Specialties, Inc., 812 Fifth
Street, Manhattan Beach, Calif. 90266 and apparatus currently
marketed by them will incorporate the improvements set forth in the
present application.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Baseball, tennis and other popular games requiring swinging at the
ball with an instrument requires practice in hitting, catching,
retrieving and other specific maneuvers necessary in achieving
proficiency in the game. Hence, throwing the ball repeatedly and
with accuracy into a strike zone, into the air or with a bounce off
the ground is very desirable in the practice and training of a
participant. A machine for this purpose is preferable to the manual
propulsion of a ball by a person.
An excellent machine for the throwing of balls at a constant
velocity and with consistent accuracy is known as the "Fireball," a
trademark of K-Lin Specialties. It reflects the teachings of the
previously mentioned Parsoneault patent and is used in practice by
teams in professional leagues, schools, "Little League," and by
park and playground teams. It is light, mobile, easy to erect for
use and to disassemble for transportation and storage.
In the "Fireball" machine, balls are automatically fed into a
propulsion chamber behind which is a chamber for supplying the
compressed air which propels the balls, one at a time and at
predetermined intervals, out of the barrel. A sleeve automatically
covers the ball entrance opening into the barrel before the ball is
ejected, to prevent the compressed air from escaping from the
opening. The machine also has a ball curve attachment on the end
for giving the ball a spin as it leaves the barrel.
The sleeve and the barrel over which it slides, in the "Fireball"
machine, must have a precision fit to prevent escape of compressed
air therebetween and yet permit effortless sliding of the sleeve
over the barrel each time a ball is ejected. Dirt or foreign
particles between the two cause jamming and malfunction. Looseness
of fit or play from wear cannot be tolerated.
The ball curve attachment ahead of the end of the barrel for
spinning the ball does not provide the high degree of control that
is desired, particularly when the balls are ejected at the slower
"Little League" velocities.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention incorporates the principle features of the
Parsoneault patent. A portable tripod mounted, angularly
adjustable, ball ejecting barrel is provided with an automatic feed
dropping a ball into the barrel after the previous one was fired. A
two step mechanism is now provided to prevent ball jamming, to
accommodate different sized balls and balls that tend to stick
together. The sleeve which moves over the opening in the barrel
also has been changed in the present invention to eliminate the
close fit previously required. This is done by providing for an
inner self sealing sleeve that bears against the inside of the
barrel when it is subjected to the compressed air yet slides
loosely inside the barrel when the compressed air has been spent. A
compressed air chamber is fed with a portable air compressor and a
timing device actuates an air pressure release, permitting the
compressed air to be released to the rear of the ball in the barrel
and firing it therefrom at a velocity depending upon the chamber
air pressure at the time of release. This velocity, of course, may
be regulated as desired for park recreational or professional play.
Instead of the ball spinning device forward of the barrel, a
plurality of barrel extensions are available for high and low
velocity baseball ejection, and for the throwing of tennis balls,
all with greater accuracy and consistency.
The foregoing improvements make the basic machine more reliable,
efficient and accurate in use without an increase in cost or
complexity. Its greater variety of uses, in addition to its
dependability, make it a more desirable machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ball throwing machine
constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in
vertical cross section, of the main components of the machine.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the barrel and sleeve taken along the
line 3 -- 3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in
vertical cross section, of the ball curving attachment as known in
the prior art.
FIG. 5 is a similar view of a first improvement.
FIG. 6 is a similar view of a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an end view of the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational, partly in
vertical cross section, of a third embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a similar view of a fourth embodiment, and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred type of baseball for
use with the machine in batting practice.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a ball throwing machine 10
built in accordance with the present invention. Included is a
tripod having legs 12, 14 and 16 connected to a U-shaped frame 18
having rearwardly extending legs 20, 22. Pivotally mounted on legs
20, 22 is a compression tank 24 having a barrel 26 extending
forwardly therefrom. A barrel extension 28 for a selected ball
control function is adapted for attachent to the outer end of the
barrel 26. The barrel 30 of a ball feeding device is attached to
barrel 26 by mounting bracket 32 and is adapted to drop balls, one
at a time, into opening 34 at the rear of barrel 26 preparatory to
their ejection. A sleeve 36 slides over barrel 26 to close the
opening 34 to prevent loss of compressed air which is used in
ejecting the ball from the barrel 26. This ejection is at
sufficient velocity to simulate a pitched ball, pop fly, grounder
or other desired simulation. As sleeve 36 moves forwardly, a
laterally extending lug 38 on the sleeve pushes the lower end of
pivot arm 40 on barrel 30 forwardly to ready a ball for dropping
into opening 34 when it is again uncovered by the rearward movement
of sleeve 36.
A compressor 42 is the source of compressed air which is stored in
compression tank 24 through conduit 44. Pressure control regulator
46 controls the pressure within the tank 24 at the time of its
release to fire the ball. Pressure within the 10 to 15 psi (pounds
per square inch) range is appropriate for ejecting a ball at Little
League speeds of 40 to 70 feet per second velocity whereas a safety
valve 25, shown in FIG. 2, set at approximately 30 psi limits the
velocity of ball ejection for professional use.
Conduit 48 leads to a cycle valve 50 which is operated by a timing
motor 52 to connect it with conduit 54. This actuates release of
compressed air from tank 24 for firing the ball.
A batter can tell when a ball is about to be ejected by watching
the semi-circular member 56 rotate in front of disc 58 as the cycle
valve 50 rotates to connect conduit 54 to air from conpressor 42 to
fire the ball.
In the embodiment in FIG. 1 the compressor 42 connects with
conduits 44 and 48 through a T-fitting 60 attached to leg 16 which
is hollow. A conduit 62 connects the compressor 42 to the leg 16.
However, other connections between the compressor 42 and the cycle
valve 50 and compression tank 24 are within the teachings of the
present invention.
Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown the cylindrical compression
tank 24 having a front end plate 64 and a rear end plate 66. Rear
end plate 66 has a central bore 68 through which a smaller cylinder
plunger 70 is slidingly mounted. The front end of plunger 70 has a
resilient sealing pad 72 adapted to plug opening 74 in the front
end plate 64. This opening 74 communicates with the rear end of
barrel 26 for supplying compressed air behind a ball in the barrel
when the sealing pad 72 is moved rearwardly to expose the opening
74. A guide rod 76 extends forwardly of pad 72 and is slidingly
supported by bracket 78 on end plate 64. The rear end of cylinder
plunger 70 is sealed with a plug 80 which has an air fitting 82
adapted for connection with conduit 54 in FIG. 1. Plug 80 also has
a central opening 84 in which is slidingly mounted a shaft 86
connected to a piston head 88 within cylinder 70. The outer end of
shaft 86 is held by a bracket 89 fastened to the outer surface of
rear plate 66. A handle 90 is also attached to bracket 89 and may
be used to change the angle of barrel 26 between ball ejections as
desired. A compression spring 92 between bracket 89 and plug 80
keeps the cylinder plunger 70 in its forward position, as shown,
with the sealing pad 72 over the opening 74 until compressed air
enters fitting 82 and into the chamber between plug 80 and piston
head 88. Since the piston head 88 cannot move forward, to the right
in FIG. 2, the plug 80, and thus plunger 70 with its sealing pad
72, must move rearwardly, to the left in FIG. 2. This releases the
compressed air in chamber 24 behind the ball in barrel 26 and the
ball is ejected. As the cycle valve 50 in FIG. 1 continues to
rotate, the fitting 82 becomes exposed to the atmosphere and the
triggering compressed air between plug 80 and piston 88 is lost.
Compression spring 92 then pushes the cylinder plunger 70 forwardly
again (as shown in FIG. 2) and air pressure again builds up in
chamber 24 for the next ball ejection. Ring 94 attached to fitting
82 on plunger 70 may also be pulled rearwardly by hand to cause
firing at any time should the automatic timed firing through motor
52 and cycle valve 50 not be desired.
The buildup of air pressure in compression chamber 24 is also used
to close the opening 34 in barrel 26 prior to the firing of the
ball. This is necessary to prevent loss of air behind the ball
until it leaves the barrel. This is accomplished by another
pressure responsive actuator within chamber 24. This actuator
consists of a cylinder 96 attached to the inner surface of front
plate 64. A rod 98 is slidingly mounted on plate 64 and is attached
at its inner end to a piston head 100 within the cylinder 96. Its
outer end is attached to cylinder sleeve 36 on barrel 26.
Compression spring 102 between plate 64 and piston head 100 holds
sleeve 36 rearwardly, as shown, until air pressure against piston
100 builds up, depresses the spring, and moves sleeve 36 forwardly
to close opening 34. This position is shown in phantom lines 36A.
An air bleed 104 through plate 64 prevents back pressure to piston
head 100.
Sleeve 36 has an upwardly and rearwardly extending tab 106 which
passes through a slot (not shown) in the back cover 108 of barrel
30 to its phantom line position 106A to receive ball 110 when the
lower end of pivot arm 40 has been moved forwardly by the laterally
extending lug 38 on sleeve 36. Arm 40 has an upper pivot mounting
111 on the top of barrel 26 with a lever arm 112 extending
upwardly. Tension spring 114 is connected to this lever arm to
return pivot arm 40 to the position shown when sleeve 36 is
returned to its rear position. Attached to pivot arm 40 is a ball
stop arm 116 which moves upwardly with the forward movement of
pivot arm 40 and out of the path of ball 110 to permit it to roll
down into contact with tab 106A. When sleeve 36 and tab 106A move
rearwardly, opening 34 is exposed and the ball drops down into the
barrel 26. As lever arm 40 moves rearwardly the ball stop arm 116
moves downwardly to stop the next ball in the ball feed barrel 30.
A spring pressed detent 118 on barrel 26 prevents the ball from
moving forwardly until ejected by the compressed air when plunger
70 is actuated.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 36 actually consists of an outer
sleeve 120, an inner seal 122, tab 106, lug 38 and a ball
positioning bolt 124 connecting the outer sleeve 120 and and inner
seal 122 through a slot 126 in barrel 26. The outer sleeve 120 may
have a loose fit over barrel 26 to avoid binding problems and to
insure dependability without precision manufacturing. The problem
of air leakage is resolved with the inner seal 122 which preferably
does not form a complete cylindrical wall. With a longitudinal
strip removed from its cylindrical wall, its longitudinal edges 128
and 130 are spaced and permit radial flexibility. This seal
preferably is made from sheet metal which snugs against the inner
surface of barrel 26 when subjected to the blast of compressed air
from chamber 24 used in ejecting the ball from barrel 26. In the
absence of such pressure it retracts enough to slide along the
inner surface of barrel 26 without binding.
The barrel extension 28 has a collar 132 adapted to fit over the
outer end of barrel 26. A thumb screw 134 fastens it securely in
place. Along the upper inner surface of the barrel 28 is a
longitudinal strip 136 of friction material such as rubber which
may be recessed into the barrel by an amount regulated by
adjustment screws 138 and 140. Along the lower surface is a
longitudinal Teflon strip 140 or other strip of non-friction
material that may be adhesively applied or baked on as a plurality
of coatings. As a ball passes through extension 28 the upper
friction material tends to retard the upper portion of the ball and
the non-friction material 141 lets the lower portion of the ball
continue. This results in a spinning motion of the ball as it
leaves the extension 28. Other forms of extensions are set forth in
subsequent views.
In FIG. 4 there is shown the ball spin device used in the old
"Fireball" machine which preceded the extensions of the present
invention. Here a sleeve extension member 142 is provided with an
attaching collar 144 engageable on the end of the ejection barrel.
Locking screw 146 rigidly secures the sleeve member 142 on the
barrel in a desired position of angular adjustment around the axis
of the barrel. An arm 148 is pivoted on lug 150 on the extension
142 and extends through a U-shaped bracket 152 near the end of the
extension 142. A compression spring 154 bears down on the arm 148.
An adjusting screw 156 passes through arm 148 and bears on the
outer surface of sleeve extension 142 to limit the downward
movement of arm 148 in response to the compression on spring 154.
By adjusting the screw 156, the inclination of arm 148 may be
adjusted.
The under surface of arm 148 has a strip of friction material such
as rubber attached thereto which extends into the path of travel of
a ball ejected through the sleeve extension 142. The adjustment of
screw 156 regulates the amount of spin imparted to the ball and
thus the degree of curving action applied to the ball.
While this prior art development has merit, it also had problems
which made it lack dependable accuracy. For example, the
differences in balls fired such as slight variations in size,
roughness, and moisture content would change the angle of ricochet
of the ball from the friction material. Thus, improvements were
necessary such as those in FIGS. 5 to 10, inclusive.
The structure in FIG. 5 is similar to the prior art structure in
FIG. 4 and like parts are identified by like numerals. However,
extension 142A in FIG. 5 is longer. It was found that with the same
amount of compressed air, the ricochet of the ball from the
friction pad 158 reduced its velocity. By lengthening the
extension, the initial velocity could be restored without an
increase in compressed air. This, however, did not correct the
accuracy problems in the prior art device.
By placing the friction material within the length of the extension
and providing a relatively non-friction surface on the other side
of the barrel inner surface, the ball can be made to spin without
ricochet and any curve developed will result from the spinning
effect of the ball, not its bounce from an object forwardly of the
barrel extension. In FIG. 6, there is shown a barrel extension 160
with an area 162 pivoted at bracket 164 on the extension. A slot is
provided in the wall of the extension to permit the friction
material 166 fastened under the arm 162 to pass into the extension
to contact a ball passing through the extension. A bracket 168 on
the outer end of the extension has a bolt 170 passing through the
bracket to engage the outer surface of the extension. The bolt is
threadedly connected to the end of arm 162 so that rotation of bolt
170 regulates its penetration into the extension. A spring 172
between bracket 168 and arm 162 provides outward resiliency when
the ball passes through and pushes the friction strip 166
outwardly.
On the opposite side of the extension from the friction strip 166
are two rows of rollers 174 mounted on the extension 160 by bracket
176. These rollers pass through the extension 160 to engage a ball
passing through. These rollers provide the slippery or non-friction
surface on the side of the barrel extension opposite to that of the
friction surface. Bolt 170 regulates the degree of spin on the ball
thus generated and the orientation of the extension 160 on the end
of the ball exit barrel determines the angular direction of the
spin. The end view in FIG. 7 is for additional clarity in
understanding its operation. As ball 178 is forced between the
rollers 174 and the friction strip 166, it lifts the strip up
against the spring 172. This also acts as a speed killer and can be
made to reduce the ball velocity if desired.
In FIG. 8 is another version wherein a long strip of friction
material is used to dampen the ball velocity to Little League
speeds. The bumpiness at slow speeds as in the case of the rollers
is not present. A forced spin is developed without ricochet for a
more reliable ball ejection. Here a longer strip of friction
material 180 is attached to the underside of arm 182 which is
resiliently mounted at both ends to barrel extension 184. Brackets
186, 188 are attached to the extension 184 and springs 190, 192
urge the strip 180 inwardly. Bolts 194, 196 are threadedly engaged
through arm 182 and bear against the extension 184 for adjustment
purposes both fore and aft. On the inner surface opposite strip 180
is a Teflon or similar slippery surface 197 which may be applied. A
liquid Teflon sprayed and baked in successive layers has been very
effective. Also a Teflon strip bonded or glued to the inner surface
works satisfactorily.
In FIG. 9 there is shown an attachment for throwing tennis balls.
Since the diameter of a tennis ball is 2.75 inches compared with a
baseball of 2.95 inches in diameter, a sleeve insert 198 is used
which extends down into the ejection barrel of the machine. Lip 200
fits between edges 128, 130 of inner sleeve 122 shown in FIGS. 2
and 3. Attaching collar 202 is used, as before, in securing the
extension 204 with the proper orientation. Arm 206 is pivotally
mounted by bracket 208 to extension 204 with bracket 210, bolt 212
and spring 214 resiliently adjusting the arm 206 for penetration.
Attached to arm 206 are stiff bristles 216 which frictionally
retard the upper surface of the tennis ball while Teflon surface
218 applies the slippery surface contact with the ball from the
other side.
In FIG. 10 is shown the configuration of a baseball preferably used
with the extensions in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. This ball is of
conventional size but has a second set of stitches symmetricaly
applied with a reverse pattern. Thus, stitching 220, 222, 224 shows
the conventional configuration with stitching 226, 228, 230
constituting the reverse pattern. If the ball has a molded rubber
outer surface the simulated stitching is textured for a distinct
rise along the stitching. The importance of this second set of
reverse stitching is that no matter how the ball is handled or
happens to drop into the sleeve for firing, the batter sees the
spinning of strings at the girth of the ball. The blur of strings
at top and bottom of the ball as it spins is not detrimental to the
batter.
Having described illustrative embodiments of the present invention,
other modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art
and it is to be understood that these variations are to be
considered as part of the present invention as set forth in the
claims.
* * * * *