US1213577A

US1213577A - Power-driven base-ball pitcher.

Info

Publication number: US1213577A
Application number: US10098616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry G Boardman
Original assignee: AUTOMATIC BASEBALL CO OF ILLINOIS
Current assignee: AUTOMATIC BASEBALL CO OF ILLINOIS
Priority date: 1916-05-31
Filing date: 1916-05-31
Publication date: 1917-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1934-01-23

Description

Patente Jan. 23, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. G. BOARDIVIAN.

lPOWER DRIVEN BASE BALL PITCHER.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAvsI, IsIe.

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VPOWER DRIVEN BASE BALL PITCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3l. 1916.

H. G. BOARDII/IAN.

PowEII IIIIIvEN BASE BAIL PITCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3|, I9Is.

- Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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POWER DRIVEN BASE BALL PITCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAYSI. 1916.

Lm 39577. Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

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HARRY G. BOARDMAN, OF CHICAGO,

0F ILLINOIS, 0F CHICAGG. ILLINOIS.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOMATIC BASEBALL GQ.

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

POWER-DRIVEN BASE-BALL JPI'ICHER.l

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 191'?.

Application led May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,986.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY G. BOARDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Power-Driven Base-Ball Pitcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to baseball pitchers, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a pitcher which will be power driven, and which will pitch balls continuously at regular intervals, this pitcher being located in a screened inclosure having a sloping floor so arranged as to return the balls to the pitcher. Y

A second object of the invention is to provide ball feeding means for such a baseball pitcher, these feeding means being arranged to receive the balls from the sloping Hoor, and to feed them tothe pitcher from either side.

A third object of the invention is to providea pair of power driven baseball pitchers which are arranged side by side, and served by the same feeding means, these pitchers being combined with mechanism whereby either pitcher may be run alone, and whereby the feeding means will in that case serve the operating pitcher from either side.

A fourth object of the invention is to pro vide a mechanism for actuating the feeding means which will be driven twice as fast when both pitchers are operating as when only one is operating.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide in connection with the feeding means an overflow trough which will receive any balls in excessof the requirements of the pitcher, passing these balls back to the feeding means in case of an over-supply of balls.

A sixth object of the invention is to pron can be made to throw to either side of a narrow court' so as or a left hand batter a ball to serve either a right in a small space.

of the invention is to prothe tension on the the 4Vspeed of the A seventh object vide means for varylng control spring so as to vary ball thrown. ,Y

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only: Figure 1 is a plan view of a court in which a pair of pitchers are placed. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of one of the pitchers. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pair of pitchers. Fig. 5 is a rear eleva tion of a portion of the feeding means and connections therebetween. Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of the lower portion of a pitcher, and its connected parts. Fig. 7 is an elevation of a portion of the drive for the feeding means. Fig. 8 is a partial section through the air dash-pot..

In my invention, a closed court 11 is provided,A this court having va fioor 12 which slopes back toal feeding trough 13. A playing field 14 is secured in the rear of the court, being fastened by pulleys to the top and back of the court, and being secured to the floor 12 at a point just behind the feeding trough 13. A pair of pitchers 15 and 16 are secured on the Hoor 12 just in front of the feeding trough 13, these pitchers being controlled by operators located on platforms 17 at the extreme front ofthe court. The court 11 is entirely inclosedwith canvas or netting, or both, so that there is no possibility of a ball being batted outside the court. A rear protector 18, and a front protector 19 are provided to protect the pitchers 15 and 16 from batted balls.

'llhe pitchers 15 and 16 are practically duplicates of each other, except that they are arrangedY for right and left hand operation as will be readily understood from the drawings. Fach of the pitchers consists of a base 20 on which is mounted a cast iron standard 21, this standard being of U-sec'- tion with a web 22 extending across the forward end thereof. Secured to the web 22 by means of bolts 23 is a gear frame 24, this gear frame having bearings therein in which a gear shaft 25 is free to turn. Se-

cured on the gear shaft 25 is a worm gear 26, this worm gear meshing in and being driven by a worm 27 which is secured on a shaft 28 carried in bearings on the gear frame 24. 'llhe shaft 28 is driven through a coupling 29 by an electric motor 30. rlfhe gear 26 is provided with a crank pin 31 on which a roller 32 is free to turn, the roller 32 fitting into and sliding freely in a slot 33 which is formed in a crank lever 34. rllhe slot is so shaped that that portion contained in the arc a-b of Fig. 3 is concentric with the center of the shaft 25 when the roller 32 is located therein, the portion 11@ l hereinafter. The crank lever 34 is pivoted on an eccentric portion of a pin 35, this' pin having ends 36 which are eccentric with the portion 35, and these ends 36 being journaled in and turning freely in an eccentric bearing bracket 37 which is secured to the web 22 by means of bolts 38. Secured on one end of the pin 36 is an eccentric lever 39, this lever. being connected through a rod 40 with a bell crank 41 which turns on a pin 42 secured in -a bracket 43.formed on the basel 20. The other arm of the bell- -crank 41 is connected through a rod 44 with an operating lever 45, each of the operating levers 45 being located on one of the platforms 17 within easy reach of the operators'. A clevis bar is mounted in pins 51 on the upper end of the crank lever 34, and a spring 52 is, secured in a clevis 53 which is pivoted on pins 54 formed on the clevis bar 50. The opposite end of the spring 52 is secured to a clevis 55 which is pivoted on a vpin 56 passing through the lower end of a throwing arm 57. The throwing arm 57 is in turn pivoted on a pin 58 carried in a throwing arm bracket 59. Secured to the upper' end of the throwing arm 57 is a throwing finger 60, this throwing finger being preferably formed of stid wire bent in U-shape of a suiicient size to form a trough,

and in which a baseball such as that shown at 61 can readily roll. Secured on the upper end of the throwing arm 57I between the two sides of the linger is a hook 62, this hook being engaged by a latch 63 which is pivoted on a pin 64 carried'in a latch bracket 65, the latch bracket 65 being secured on a web 66 of the throwing arm bracket 59. A compression spring'67 tends to hold the latch 63 in engagement with the hook 62 thereby restraining the throwing arm 57 against the tension of the spring 52. A trigger 68 is pivoted on ,a pin 69 carried on the latch bracket 65, one end of this trigger extending up between the two arms of the throwing finger 60 in such a position that it will be hit by the ball 61 as it rolls downwardly over the finger, and the other end 70 of the trigger 68 being lso placed that it will throw the latch 63 out of engagement with the hook l62 wheri the trigger is struck by the ball.

Pivoted on trunnions 75, carried on an extension 76 of the throwing arm bracket 59, is a dash-pot 77, this dash-pot having a piston 78 sliding therein. rllhe piston 78 is provided with a piston rod 79 which is pivoted on a pin 80 carried in ears' 81 formed on the top of. the throwing arm 57. rllhe piston 78 is vprovided with a plurality of small holes 85, these holes being closed I by a valve washer 86, this valve washer 86 The throwing arm bracket 59 is secured.

by means of pins 90 to a vertical shaft 91 which turns freely in `projections 92 formed on the web 22, this shaft extending down and terminating in a crank 93, this crank having a pin 94 which extends out and is engaged by a spiral cam 95,7this spiral cam being secured on an adjusting shaft 96. Each of the adjusting shafts 96 extends forward and is connected to an adjusting lever 97, each of which is placed on. one of the platforms 17 within convenient reach of the operator.

Secured'on the inner side of the web 22 is an adjustable throat 100, this throat being provided with slots 101 through which bolts 102 pass so that it can be moved up or down as may be desired. The balls are elevated by means of a chain 105, this chain carrying buckets 106 which are of the form shown in Fig. 3. The chain "105 passes over a head sprocket 107 this sprocket turning freely on a head shaft 108 which may be adjusted up or down in slots 109 formed in head sprocket projections 110 of the standard 21, this adjustment of the shaft 108 being provided for the purpose of taking up the wear of the chain 105. Located on brackets 111 are idler wheels 112 which tend to hold the chain in the position shownl in Fig. 3, and turning freely in extensions 113 of the standard 21 is a foot shaft 114, this foot shaft being rigidly secured to a ratchet wheel 115, and a sprocket wheel 116, the chain 105 passing over the sprocket 116 and being driven thereby. The ratchet 115 is provided with teeth 117 which are engaged by a pawl 118 carried onva pawl arm 119 which turns freely lon the shaft 1 14. The pawl arm 119 is driven through a`rod 120 from a pin 121 secured on the crank lever 34, the rod 120 passing through a block 122 which is swiveled on the pin 121. A compression spring.123 surrounds the rod 120 and presses at one end on a nut 124, and at the other end on the block 122. A spring 125 surrounds the shaft 114, one end being secured in the extension 113, and the other.

i eov Fig. 3 to manner as to rotate itin a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 against the tension of the spring 123.

Secured to the extensions 113 is a trough 126, this trough being cut away at- 127 and 128 as shown in 4Fig. 4 to allow the bucket 106 to pass therethrough. An auxiliary trough 129 is formed on the rear of the trough 126, this auxiliary trough being higher and being inclined as shown in Fig. 5 so as to feed any balls back in case of a surplus of balls accumulating in the trough 126; such surplus of balls being raised by the pressure of the incoming balls into the trough 129. v f

Belts 130 and 131, passing over

pulleys

132 and 133, pass through the trough 13. The

pulleys

132 and 133 are secured to

shafts

134 and 135 respectively, to which are also secured

sprockets

136 and 137. A chain 138 passes over these sprockets as shown in Fig. 5, and also 'over idler sprockets 139 and 140, this chain being driven by a driving sprocket 141 carried on a shaft 142. The shaft 142 extends inwardly ing journaled in a feeder shaft bracket 150. A ratchet wheel 151 is secured to the forward end thereof, this ratchet wheel being engaged by racks 152 and 153 which slide in guides 154, and which are driven by links 155 from crank pins 156 carried on cranks 157 which are secured to the shafts25. Each of the racks 152 and 1541s held in engagement with the wheel 151 by a Hat spring 158.

The method of operation .is as follows:

The motor 30 being energized by electric current from any suitable means, the gear 26 is driven by the worm 27 rection as viewed in Fig. 3. At the instant shown in that drawing one of the balls has inafter be described, this ball passing over the adjustable throat onto the finger 60 over which it passes. This movement of the ball 61 from the position shown at A in the position shown at B in Fig. 3 taking place during the time that the roller 32 is in the dwell of the slot'33. During this time, although the gear, 26 has moved through an arc equal to the angle a-b, there has been no change in i the crank lever 34.

ing this period. The ball 61 strikes against the end of the trigger 68, causing the latch 63 to release the hook 62, and the thro-wing arm 57 is row X of Fig. 3, the forward by the finger 60,'this ball 61 rolling up thel finger as the arm-.57 rotates and being discharged toward'the batter. As the throwing arm 57 moves forward, the dashpot 77 serves to check the final force of its movement, the degree of this checking action between the pitchers, be-

in a clockwise dias will herethe position of e The tension on the, spring 52 has thereby been maintained dur-` rotated in the direction of the ar` ball 61 being thrown.

l96 tov turn either latched in place This movementv the ratchet wheel 115 through the pawl 118 so that the ratchet wheel 115, the shaft 114,

.and the sprocket 116 are turned 90o for each revolution of the gear 26. The sprocket 116 and the chain 105 are so proportioned, and the buckets 106 are so located, that one of the balls 61 is delivered into the position A for each revolution` of the gear 26, the actual delivery of the ball to the throwing finger 60 taking'place while the roller 32 is in the dwell of the slot 33. i

The movement of the shaft 25 is transmitted through the'y crank 157 and the crank.

pins 156 to one of the racks 152 or 153, these racks having oppositely inclined teeth, and being so.arrangedthat the teeth of the ratchet wheel 151 are passed therebyif for anyfreason the racks 152 and 153 are stationary. The result fis that either of the shafts 25 will drive the shaft 142, or if both the shafts 25 are rotated the shaft 142 will be driven at twice the rate that it would be were only one of the shafts 25 rotated, the rotation of the shaft 142 actuating the `chain 138 through the sprocket 141, and the pulleys 142 and 143 are turned in such a way as to move the upper surface of the belts 130 and 131 toward the center of the pitcher. Any balls carried by the belts are therefore dellvered onto the trough from which they are carried upwardly by the buckets 106. Any crowding of the balls inthe trough tending lto lift same being provided for by the balls being caught by the overflow trough 129, andY returned 4to the belts 130 and 131. 4

Tt is desirable in many cases to install a pair of pitchers in a narrow space such as an ordinary city storeroom, and it is further desirable to be able to arrange either pitcher to deliver a ball in a convenient position to be struck by eitherv a right or a left hand batter.I This .can be accomplished by a rotation of the whole pitcher, but 1` prefer to move only the pitching arm bracket 59 which 1 accomplish by a rotation of the shaft 91 by means of the crank 93 and Ithespiral cam 94, .this rotation being accomplished by means of the shaft 96. 1t is thus possible for an operator on either of the pltforms 17 by operating the`shaft of the vpitchers to throw to thefright or the left, or to any intermediate position in the court to suit the convenience of the batter. It is further desirable to allow the operator of the machine to vary the speed of the pitched ball, and this is readily accomplished by varying the fulcrum of the lever 34, this being accomplished by turning the eccentric 35 through the rod 40, the bell crank 41, and the rod 44. VIt is thus possible for the operator by a manipulation of the lever 34 to cause the pitcher to throw either a fast or a slow ball.

'In actual operation a sufficient supply of balls is provided to allow for some storage and for filling all of the buckets 106 whichI are. ever in action at one time. The motor is so regulated and the parts are so proportioned that the balls are throwny at Sulliciently long intervals to suit the convenience of the batter. It is further possible to operate either onea or both pitchers, and to feed the balls twice as fast when both pitchers are operating as when one pitcher is operating. Y

- I claim as my invention:

1. A pair of baseball pitchers, two lifting means each adapted to deliver balls to one of said pitchers, horizontal means for feeding balls to said lifting means, driving o. means for each lifting means, and means by Y 3 which either or both of said drivin means can drive said horizontal means, said horizontal means bein driven twice as fast by both of said drivlng means as it is when driven by either alone.

2. In a baseball pitcher, a lifting means, ahorizontal trough through which balls are delivered to said lifting means, and an overflow trough for receiving excess balls from near the` center of said horizontal trough and delivering them to a point near the beginning of said horizontal trough.

3. In a baseball pitcher, a lifting means,

a horizontal trough through which balls are delivered to said lifting means, and a belt driven from said baseball pitcher for delivering balls to said trough.

4. In a baseball pitcher, a sloping floor, a horizontal troughV located in the low portion of said Hoor, a second horizontal trough for said pitcher, two belts extending in either direction from said pitcher and each delivering balls to said second trough, and means by which both of said belts are driven by said pitcher.

5. In a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket attached to said standard; a throwing armpivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of said throwing arm ;\a crank lever pivoted on said standard and having one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; and motorA driven means for actuating the other end' of said crank lever.

6. In a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket attached to said standard; a throwing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of sald throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted spring attached at one end to one end of. saidthrowing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standardand having one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof, said crank lever having a slot formed therein; a gear shaft; a gear on said gear shaft; power means for driving said gear; and a crank pinsecured on said gear, engaging said slot. and actuating said crank lever, a portion of said slot being curved on an arc having the same mean radius as said crank pin so that said pin can move in said curved portion of saidv slot without moving said crank lever.

8. In a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket pivoted about a vertical axis to said standard; means by which an operator can swing said bracket about said axis; a throw-- ing arm pivotedin said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of Said throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standard and having one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; and motor driven means for actuating the other end of said crank lever.

9. In a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket pivoted about a vertical axis to said standard; means by which an operator can swing said bracket about said axis; a throwing arm pivoted insaid bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of said throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standard and having one end of said vtension spring attached to one end thereof, said crank lever having a slot formed therein; a gear shaft.; a gear on said gear shaft; power means for driving said gear; and a crank pin'scured on said gear, engaging said slot, and actuating said crank lever.

10. ,In a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket pivoted about a vertical axis to said standard; means by which an operator/ can `swing said bracket about said axis; a throwing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one, end to one end of said throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standard and` having one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof, said crank lever havinga slot formed therein; a gear shaft; a gear on said gear shaft;

power means fordriving said gear; and a crank pin secured on sald gear, engaglng said slot, and, actuating said crank lever,

Lamar? a portion of said slot -being curved on an arc having the same mean radius as said crank pin so that said pin can move in said curved portion of said slot without moving `sai crank lever.

11. In a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket attached to said standard; a throwing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at" one end to one end of said throwing arm; a crank *lever pivoted on said standard and having one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; eccentric means by ywhich an operator can vary the position of the pivot of said crank lever with relation to said standard to increase or diminish the tension of said spring; and kmotor driven means for actuating the other end of said crankilever.

12. 1n` a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket 'attachedto said standard; a throwing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of said throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standard and `having` one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; eccentric means by which an operator can vary the position of the pivot of said crank lever with relation to said standard to increase or diminish the tension of said spring; formed therein; a gear shaft; a gear on said gear shaft; power vmeans fordriving said gear; and a crank pin secured on said gear, engaging said slot, and actuating said crank lever.

13. ln a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket attached to said standard; a throwing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to'one end of said throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standard and having one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; eccentric means by which an operator can vary the position of the pivot of said crank lever with relation to said standard to increase or diminish the-tension of said spring, said crank lever having a slot formed therein; a gear shaft; a gear on said gear shaft; power means for driving said gear; and a crank pin secured on said gear, engaging said slot, and actuating said crank lever, a portion of said slot being curved on an are having the same mean radius as said crank pin so that said pin can move in said curved 'portion of said slot without moving said crank lever.

14. lln a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket pivoted about a vertical amis to said standard; means by which an operator said crank lever having a slot' 'end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; eccentric means by which an operator can vary the position of the pivot Lof said crank levergwith relation to said standard to increase or. diminish the tension of said spring; and motor driven means for actuating the other end of ,said crank lever. f

15. ln a baseball pitcher, a standard; a bracket pivoted about a vertical axis to said standard; means by which an operator can swing said bracket about said axis; a throwing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of said throwing arm; a crank lever pivoted on said standard and vhaving one end of said tension spring attached to one end thereof; 'eccentric' means by which an operator can vary of said crank lever with relation to said standard to increase or diminish the tension of said spring, said crank lever having a slot formed therein; a gear shaft; a gear on said gear shaft; power means for driving said gear.; and a crankpin secured on said'gear. engaging said slot, and actuating said crank lever.

16. ln a baseball pitcher, a standard, a bracket pivoted about avertical axis to said standard; means by which an operator can swing said bracket about said axis; a throw-v ing arm pivoted in said bracket; a tension spring attached at one end to one end of said throwing arm; a` crank lever pivoted on said standard and having one end of said tension spring attached to one end'thereof; eccentric means by which an operator can vary the position of the pivot of said crank lever with relation to saidstandard to increase or diminish the tension of said spring,

said crank lever having a slot formed therein; a gear shaft; a gear on said gear shaft; power means for driving said gear; and a crank pin secured on said gear, engaging said slot, and actuating said crank lever, a.

portion of said slot being curved on an are having the same mean radius as said crank pinso that said pin can move in saidcurved lportion of said slot without moving ysaid crank lever.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand at Olympia, Wash., this 24th day of April, 1916. 4

HARRY G. BOARDMAN.

the position of the pivot V ica