US1695209A - Apparatus for setting up skittle pins - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1928. 1,695,209

H. SCHWARZ APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP SKITTLE PINS Filed Dec. 20, 1927 19 17'1 5 i i -7 7- :ii 5 i i i f A| l Patented Dec. 11, 1928.

UNITED srares 1,695,209 Artur oFFICE.

HEBMNN SCHWARZ, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

Application filed December 20, 192'?, Serial No. 241,390, and in Germany September 23, 1926.

Apparatus is in existence for the setting up of the pins in skittle alleys by means of flexible pulling members which pass through vertical tubes in the platform usually em- 5 ployed as the skittle court.

The apparatus according to the present invention differs from this well known appara.- tus by the pins standing merely on the vertical tubes and not on the platform and by l the tubes in question being provided with vertical longitudinal slots for the passage of arms attached to frames vertically adjustable under the platform by means of endless chains, these arms being provided with bores or openings for the passage of the members which pull on the pins, whilst the tubes on which the pins stand pass into openings in the platform which are upwardly flared so that when the platform is raised by the setting gear the pins are also raised or set up.

A construction according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which Figures 1-3 show the most essential parts of the apparatus in partial vertical section, with the setting gear in different positions.

Figure 4 shows the upper part of a tube for the pin, with the lower part of a pin standing on it, the skittle platform and a part of the frame arranged below the latter, with the corresponding arm projecting into the tube and intended for guiding and stretching the pulling member, in partial vertical section.

Figure is a. section on line A-B of Figure 4 and y Figure 6 shows means for operating the setting gear.

The tubes 1 for the pins are secured in vertical position in step bearings 2 and pass through openings 3 correspondingly flared upwards of the usual platform or court 4 the upper surface of which is flush with the upper ends of the tubes 1 (Figure 1). Below the platform 4 is arranged a frame 5 which is suspended by means of angle irons 6 on endless chains 9 passing over sprocket wheels 7 and. 3. To the frame 5 are secured arms 10 which pass through vertical longitudinal slots 11 ofthe tubes 1 and are provided with a bore 12 for the passage and guidance of the pulling members 13 each of which is secured to the eye 14 of a bolt 16 mounted in an easily rotatable manner in the lower hollowed out part of the pins 15, and is provided at the bottom end with a solid ball or plate 17. The

bolt 16 is mounted in a metal cap 18 secured to the bottom end of the pin 15, the said cap both protecting the pin 15 at this point from wear and ensuring that it always stands in a vertical position on the tube 1.

The operation of the apparatus described is as follows:

l/Vhen the pins are to be set up the frame 5 is pulled down by driving the four endless chains 9. As soon as the lower end of the arms strikes the balls 17, the pulling members 13 which are preferably constituted by thin stranded steel wire, are stretched and the pins are first pulled with their bottom end over the openings 3 of the platform 4. Shortly before the completion of the downward movement of the frame 5 the lateral chain projections or lugs 19 strike the raising rods 20, so that at the end of the downward movement of the frame 5 the platform 4 reaches the position shown in Figure 3 and brings the pins 15 into the upright position, the said pins being at the same time brought into the verical positionV above the centre of the tubes 1 owing to the openings 3. By driving the four endless chains 9 in the opposite direction the frame 5 is raised again and the platform 4 returns to its original position.

For the driving of the setting gear or of the four endless chains 9 operating means shown such as for example that shown in Figure 6 may be employed. To the upper .left hand sprocket wheel spindle 21 is securedl adjacent to the sprocket wheel 7 a sprocket wheel 22, and to the lower right hand sprocket wheel spindle 23 adjacent to the sprocket wheel 8, a sprocket wheel 24. An endless chain 25 passes over the sprocket wheel 22 to a sprocket wheel 26, and an endless chain 27 passes over the sprocket wheel 24 to a sprocket wheel 28. Both endless chains 25 and 27 are parallel and positively connected together by means of chain cams 29 and 30 as well as by a pulling cable 31 passing over a setting gear disc 32, in such a manner that when the y.setting lever 33 is turned into the position shown in dotted lines in the direction ofthe arrow 34, the frame 5 will be pulled down by the driving of the endless chains 9, whilst it will be raised again when thev lever 33 is moved back.

Instead of the operating means shewn in Figure (3 any desired construction suitable for the purpose in View, namely for driving the four endless chains 9 may be used. The pulling cables 31 may be carried to the playends of said pins and provided with balls at their lower endsy a pair of endless drivingJ chains on which said frame is suspended, arms secured to said frame and provided with guiding bores for said pulling members and means for driving said Achains to cause said arms to Contact Wit-l1 said balls and thereby stretch said pullingmembers and to raise said platform to secure said pins in the vertical position.

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature.

HERMANN SCHWARZ.

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