US2643883A - Air-controlled solenoid golf tee - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1953 B. A. HOGEBERG AIR-CONTROLLED SOLENOID- GOLF TEE Filed Oct. 16. 1950 INVENTOR. BA/er A. A/OGEBEEG A TToEx/EVS' June 30, 1953 B. A. HoGEBERG AYIRCONTROLLED SOLENOID GOLF TEE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1950 INVENTR. BART A. HOGEBEEG @whiff Patented .Junev 30, 1953 than UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,643,883 Y AIR-CONTROLLED SOLENOID GOLF TEE Bart A. Hogeberg, Seattle, Wash.

Application October 16, 1950, Serial No. 190,411

l operation than those previously available.

In my copending applicationSerial No. 34,279, filed June 21, 1948, there is described an auto'- matic golf ball teeing machine utilizing the force of a solenoid to effect descent of the reciprocable tee element for reloading each time a ball is driven therefrom. In that case the solenoid energizing circuit Was controlled by photoelectric means utilizing an interrupted beam of light restored each time the beam-obstructing golf ball was removed from the tee. The improvements comprising my present invention pertain to a novel automatic control system and means Which are herein illustratively described by' reference to their application in an automatic teeing machine of an improved solenoid type, but it should be understood that the automatic controls contemplated are also applicable in golf ball teeing machines of other types or employing other motivating mechanisms for the movable tee element.

u Another object of this invention is an` automatic ball-actuated control for a golf ball teeing machine which is unaffected by external conditions, such as the presence of ambient or accidental light conditions which might falsely trig- -ger a photoelectrie control as previously used, for

example; by shock or vibration which might falsely trigger or damage a purely mechanical type of control; by badly marred golf balls which might prevent proper functioning of previous air-operated controls; dirt or moisture which might inltrate and impair operation of various prior types of controls. More specically, an object is to achieve a ball-actuated air-operated control for automatic golf ball teeing machines which is largely impervious to these and other normally adverse conditions, hence capable of moresatisfactory and reliable operation than was previously obtainable.

My presently improved automatically controlled machine, employing a tee element constituting an air orifice, is capable of detecting badly marred golf balls if presented to the tee element in such a Way that a large defect in the ball registers With the rim of Such element, and thereupon of automatically rejecting such ball and reteeing another in its place. The operations of detecting and rejecting marred balls and reteeing thenext succeeding ones, indenitely if necessary, is continued until a ball is presented Which'has no seriousl defect thereon located to 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-33) alter appreciably the flow of air through the tee element. In that manner the badly cut golf balls eventually are detected, if not the first time through the machine, then at some future time, and, upon inspection by an operator, may be discarded if not playable for practice golf purposes. On the other hand minor surface defects which in no case arev serious enough to justify discarding the golf ball for practice purposes ordinarily Will not cause rejection of the ball by the machine. If a ball is rejected because of a fairly bad cut, for example, it may still be returned into the ball hopper and reused if desired with the probability that it will be so presented to the tee element, perhaps on several passages through the machine, that the defect will not cause the machine to reject it again, but ultimately a further rejection of such ball may be anticipated. The rejection of unplayable golf balls in one passagev or another through the machine insures that each bad ball may at least be inspected for discard purposes if desired although the defect might not previously have been known to the operator. Y

The actual lapse` of operating time between de- Vtection-rejection of a bad golf ball and automatically reteeing another ball in its place is not long enough to be objectionable to the practicing player, who in any event requires at least several seconds and usually much longer to reestablish himself at the proper stance'for another practice stroke.

In its presently preferred and herein illustrated form the improved golf ball teeing ma'- chine comprises a lvertically reciprocable tee element constituting an air orifice which is opened and closed by removal and deposit of a golf rball uponthe tee. Thisl tee element, guided for vertical movement in a housing or ball-guide tube to which a golf ball delivery chute is connected, is moved dovvnvvard into ball reloading position by the force of a solenoid acting in opposition to a tee-elevating spring, generallyr as in my copending application cited above. However, in the 'present' case the solenoid is completely enclosed in a separate tube located apart from' the ball-guidetube and has a vertically reciprocable armature connected to the tee element by means of a transverse arm extending through registering slots in the tubes. As a result dirt, moisture or other foreign material which might'` accidentally drop into the open ball-guide tube will fall harmlessly at the bottom thereof and will tion of` the lsolenoid operating device;

In accordance with this invention I have discovered that the use of positive air pressure, by which air is blown up and out through the tee element orice, is markedly less critical and much more stable and reliable as a basis for a ball-actuated control than the former suggested practice of using a vacuum to suck air inward through such orifice. It will be appreciated that in either case the valving action of a golf ball placed upon and removed from such tee element orice is utilized as the influence by `which pressure is changed in the pneumatic system to effect actuation of a pressure sensitive switch or other control device which initiates operation of tee element motivating means. It is found that even small surface irregularities or defects on a golf ball may, if they prevent a tight seal of the ball upon the tee element orice, usually prevent a sufficient pressure change in a vacuum type control system for reliable operation. However, with the type of system contemplated by my present invention,

namely one using positive air pressure, such` only relatively large cuts and mars in the surface of the golf ball prevent normal actuation of the control device by air pressure change, and in that case the failure of the machine to operate in the normal way utilized as the basis for rejecting the bad ball and reteeing another as previously mentioned.

In the operation of the machine, air is blown upwardly and out through the tee element as an orifice, flowing freely through such orice when open or uncovered by a ball but building up -a back pressure when a ball eiectively closes oif such tee element orifice upon which it seats. Normally the initiation of back pressure in the pneumatic system, caused by the presence of a ball on the tee element, causes a diaphragm operated switch to effect opening of the solenoid energizing circuit and thereby permit the teereelevating spring to elevate the tee element into ball-teed position. If a ball is badly marred,

however, it may fail to cover this orice sufficiently to produce ample back pressure to actuate the switch. Consequently time delay means is incorporated in the switch circuit to insure deenergization of the solenoid after a predetermined interval of time following descent of the tee element to reloading position even should a badly marred golf ball fail to cause a back pressure high enough to operate said diaphragm operated switch. Accordingly the tee element never remains permanently in the down position.

Upon elevation of the tee element, carrying a ball which effectively closes olf the discharge orifice therein, such tee element will remain in its -elevated position indefinitely until such ball is struck or otherwise removed therefrom. When the latter does occur the attendant reduction ofback pressure in thefpneumatic system causes the diaphragm operated solenoid control switch to eifect energization of the solenoid for lowering the tee element to receive another ball from the delivery chute. On the other hand, if in the teed position of the tee element the golf ball on the tee element fails to close the orifice therein sufficiently to build up the requisite back pressure in the system for maintaining the solenoid deenergized, then, after -a predetermined time delay inherent in the control circuit, the

tee element, carrying the defective ball, will is advantageously y again automatically be lowered by reenergization of the solenoid. When this occurs the defective golf ball is automatically struck from the descending tee element by a deecting arm which projects into the path of descent of the defective ball to unseat the same from the tee element, but which is freely pivoted to swing upward out of the path of an ascending ball carried by the tee element.

These and other features, objects 4and advantages of my present invention including certain details of the preferred and herein illustrated form thereof will become more fully evident from the following detailed description based upon the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation View of the imy proved teeing machine with the tee element in ball-teed position.

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation view with the tee element in ball-receiving or reloading position, parts being broken away to show interior details.

, Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the control system including the solenoid energizing andcontrol circuit cooperating with the pneumatic ball actuated means.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the machine comprises a base plate I0 upon which the ball g-uidetube I2 is mounted in upright position. The tee element I4 reciprocates vertically in this tube between elevated, ball-teed position shown in Figure l and depressed, ball reloading position shown in Figure 2. An inclined ball-delivery chute I6 (Figure 3) delivers golf balls G to a loading position, represented by the ball outline G1, beside a suitable entrance opening in the side of the ball guide tube I2l at or slightly above the level of the tee element i4 in its depressed position, similar to the arrangement disclosed in my copending application cited above.

A hall in loading position G1, is pushed into the ball guide tube I2 by the loading plunger I8 automatically upon descent of the tee element I4 into ball reloading position as shown in Figure 2. For this purpose the plunger I8 is guided through an aperture in the delivery chute outer wall for reciprocation generally horizontally through the center of ball loading position Gi in a direction transverse both to the ball delivery chute and ball guide tube I2, the plunger traveling between retracted position shown in Figure l and inwardly thrust position shown in Figure 2. Reciprocation of such loading plunger between these positions is effected by swinging of the bell crank 2U upon a horizontal pivot 22 carried by the fixed supporting arm 2li projecting laterally from the side of the ball guide tube I2. The generally horizontal arm 26h of the bell crank projects into the ball guide tube I2 through a suitable vertical slot in the side thereof adjacent the root of support arm 24, which slot accommodates swinging of armrgh. A tension spring 26 connected at its upper end to the bottom of the guide chute I6 and at its lower end to the arm 20h normally urges such arm upwardly into contact with an adjustable stop 28, thereby maintaining the plunger I8 normally in its retracted position withdrawn from the delivery chute by the generally upright arm 2Ilv of the bell crank pivotally interconnected with such plunger. Adjustable abutment elements 30 and 32 carried respectively by the vertically reciprocable tee element supporting-head 35i and the inwardly projecting end of,thearmlh-:interengage upon. descent movement: ciY the tee element head St, and thereby causesuchxarmzto swing downwardly withr the remaining; downward. travel of the head 3d. Consequently asthe-teeelement is arrivingat ball reloading position,` attendant rocking of theY bell crank drives the loading. plunger I-8 inwardv to thrust a ball from loading position'Cn into the ball guidetubeto seat upon the tee element.

Descentmovement. of the tee-element supporting head Sis effected by means of an intermittently energized solenoid device xed uponv the support I adjacent to the ball guide tube I2. The solenoid coil S appearing partly in Figure 2, comprises a largenumber of conductor turns surrounding the nonmagnetic vertical tube 36 received centrally within the solenoidhousing 38 andprojecting upwardly to a height materially above thesolenoid. Thetwo tubes, I2 and 36, are interconnected by a brace 3l as shown. The tube 36 slidably receives and guides the magnetic solenoid armatureelement l for vertical reciprocation therein; Energizing current is supplied to the solenoid winding at appropriate times through the two-wire conduit 1w' whichv enters a terminal mounting d2, located at the top of the solenoid housing.' i

A compression spring' is received in the lower portion of the armature? guide tube 36 and reacts upwardly on thesolenoid armature element la to maintain such armature normally in an elevated positionshown in Figure 1. A crossarm fit extending through'. alignedy vertical slots i3 and 59, respectively in the ballV guide tube I2 and arma ture guide tube 36, as shown, rigidly interconnects the tee element supporting-head Sil and the solenoid armature element 413.- This crossarm provides full support for the tee element head and thereby causes the tee element to reciprocate up and down between the-extreme positions mentioned, effected by energization and deenergization of the solenoid which acts in opposition to the force of' the armature spring. When the solenoid is energized the armature element M, and with it the element I4 are drawn downward magnetically into ballreloading position of such tee element andthe spring Se is thereby com.- pressed. When the solenoid is deenergized the spring relaxes and raises these elements into their upper position.

Aswill be evident the solenoid device, including coil. and armature, isventirely separate from the ball .guide ltube and tee element and is laterally offset therefrom so that, in a ground installation, for example, dirt and water dropping through the ground orfloor open-ing aligned with the reciprocating tee element Il for teeing of golf balls through such opening will not come into contact with the solenoidv device norinterfere with any parts which bear slidably upon` each other or otherwise. In this latter. connection itwill be noted that the ball guide tube. i2 serves noguiding function with respect to the tee element supportingehead except insofar as slot d8 assists in preventing horizontal,swingingv of the crossarm 45 about the verticall axis of armature guide tube 3B. if desired the armature element and guide tube 3&3 may be adapted to function as a dashpot device, as disclosed inmy copending application cited above, to prevent-excessive acceleration and deceleration of the solenoid armature at the ends of travel thereofi l l In order to render the improved solenoid golf ball teeing `machineaful-lyautomatic so that each time a golf .ball G is drivenv from the tee element Gil I4! the machine' automaticallyv lowersr` and Vreelevates the tee element with another ball teed thereon, such element herein is madeinr the form of a tubular orifice through which air is blown upwardly against the bottom of Va golf ball seated thereon' as shown in Figure 1. The tee'element I4 is-a rubber tube which is stretched elastically to t around the tubular supporting stud 52 (Figure l) carried by1 the reciprocative head 34. An air passageway 5I! is formed through thisv head which communicates with the tubular tee ele-v ment andan air supply tube 54 branching from the lower portion of the headf Air under pressure is delivered to the tube 54 by a flexible hose 561 The side of the ball guide tube I2 has a vertical slot 53 thereinl to accommodate such tube and hosefor vertical reciprocation of the tee element.

As shown schematically in Figuree, the exible hose 56- extends toa suitable pressure source such as the blowerB. If no ball is seated upon the upper end of the tee-element to close off itsorice opening the air impelled by the blower will ow freely through the tube 56, passage 5I and out through the tee element orice. Under this condition the force of the blower will be converted largely into velocity head, and the pressure head inthe air'passages named will be relativelyy low. However, when a golf `ball G is seated upon the upper end of the tee element I4 and eiectively closes the opening therein, a back pressure develops in thesek air passage-s which is relatively higher than the pressure under the'previous con-gV dition; l p

Thisv pressure variation accompanying opening and closing of the tee element orice by the removal and replacement of a golf ball thereon is utilized to actuate a control switch 6@ (Figure 4) in a manner effecting energization and deenergization, respectively, ofthe solenoid S. For this purpose, the arm of switch 61B is actuated by a control rod 62 connected tothe central portion of a pressure-sensitive diaphragm 6i, which constitutesu the dividing partition in a vhousing B, the lower portion of which is sealed except for an opening communicating with a air tube 53. The latter in turn extends into the hose 58 or other pressure point inthe pneumatic system, for' transmitting the air pressure of the 4latter continuously to the lowerhalf of the diaphragm housing 66 as shown. The diaphragm causes switch I to be opened (Figure 4) when the tee 'element orice is substantially closed by the presence of a golf ball on the tee element I4, and to be closed upon removal of such ball from the tee element. Referring to Figure4, the preferred complete electric circuit for the teeing machine and automatic control device thereinr isenergized by aup'lication orstandard` alternating voltage to the input-terminals 'Ill across which themotor of blower B is directly connected as shown. One contact of diaphragm switch Sil is energized` through the supplyrconductor I2 and through the switch 'Hi when the latter is closed by depression'of-its control arm i8`l under the weightof a golf'ball in the delivery chute Iii. If rthere areno golf balls in the delivery chute the entire circuit, except blower B, is deenergized by switch I6-then being open.

The other contact of the switchis connected -to thel Contact t0 of the relay switch 82 and to the cathode of the thyratron tube 84. The relay switch 82 is of the normally closed type and 'its other terminal 86' is-connected to the point 881 in the full-wave bridge rectifier circuit 90 and to one side of the primary winding of the filament transformer 92 for the thyratron tube 84. The other side of the filament transformer primary is connected to the supply conductor I4 which in turn is connected to the opposite point 94 in the bridge rectifier 90. One side of the winding of relay 82 is connected to conductor I4 and its opposite side, through the current-lim.. iting resistor 96, to the anode of the thyratron 84. Anode and grid of the thyratron are interconnected, as through a resistor 98 of high resistance value, so that the thyratron functions as a diode rectifier. A filter condenser IIlii is connected between the terminals of the relay winding as shown to convert the relay energizing current impulses of thyratron rectifier 84 into a steadier energizing current so that the relay will not chatter when energized. The output terminals of the full-wave bridge rectifier 90 are connected to the terminals of solenoid S through the supply conductors I02 and I04.

From an inspection of the circuit diagram, it will be evident that direct current energizing the solenoid S is supplied by the full-wave bridge rectifier 9U whenever all three of the switches 16, 60 and 82 are simultaneously closed, and that opening of any one of these switches disrupts energization of the solenoid and thereby causes the tee element I4 to return to elevated position.

Assuming that the on-oii switch 'I6 is closed by the pressure of a supply of golf balls in the delivery chute I6, the normal operation of the control circuit is as follows. With the tee element in its elevated position carrying a golf ball which effectively closes the tee element oriiice to create substantial back pressure in the pneumatic system, the diaphragm switch 60 is held open as shown in the figure. The relay switch 82 is then closed, being its normal position, as no energizing current then flows through the relay coil for the reason that the opening of switch 60 prevents flow of energizing current thereto through thyratron 84. Under these conditions no energizing current flows through the solenoid S either, and the tee element therefore remains indefinitely in its elevated position.

However, when the ball is struck from the tee element I4 and the tee element orifice is thereby1 opened, pressure in the pneumatic system immediately drops. This drop in pressure actuates the diaphragm 64 to close switch 69 and establishes flow of energizing current in the solenoid S. The tee element is immediately lowered thereby for automatic reloading by operation of the mechanism already described in connection with Figures 1 to 3. At the same time the thyratron filament commences heating by virture of current flow through the primary of filament transformer 92; however, no plate current will flow in the thyratron until after the lapse cf a thermal delay period represented by the several seconds required for the filament temperature to reach operating level.

This thermal delay period oifered. by the thyratron, and initiated at the time just indicated extends beyond the period of time required for the tee element to descend and another ball to be loaded upon the tee element by the teeing mchanism and reopen switch 60 to deenergize the solenoid. As soon as switch BB reopens, flow of heating current in the thyratron filament, not yet at operating temperature, is automatically cut olf, accompanied by deenergization of solenoid S. Therefore, the relay switch 82 never opens, as thyratron. does not conduct plate current, at any point in the normal cycle of operation, that is, when switch 60 is opened by a ball on the tee element, even though heating of the thyratron filament is initiated every time the switch 6|) is closed by removal of a golf ball from such tee element.

The machine and automatic control mechanism operates normally in the foregoing manner when the golf balls delivered to the tee element therein are not badly out or marred, which includes all those golf balls which might reasonably be used for practice golf with such a machine and even those having fairly vsubstantial surface irregularities. In other words, it is found that the pressure increase in the pneumatic system, influencing the diaphragm switch, whenever a golf ball is placed upon the tee element will be great enough to effect opening of such switch despite substantial surface irregularities on the ball registering with the rim of the tee element, and that a perfect seal between the ball and such rim is by no means necessary to effect that result. Only a very large cut or dent in the surface of a ball, registering with the tee element rim, will prevent a build-up in back pressure sufcient to open the switch 60 and cause deenergization of the solenoid S.

However, even when there is deposited on the tee element in its lowered position a ball which is so badly defective and is so positioned on the tee element rim that it fails to sufficiently block the orifice to effect opening of the switch 60, this circumstance nevertheless does not render the machine inoperative, but instead results immediately in the'automatic removal of the badly defective ball from the tee element and the automatic reteeing of the next ball in the delivery chute. The detection and rejection of badly defective balls in this manner is accomplished as follows. The cycle involved begins with the removal of a satisfactorily teed golf ball, that is, one effectively blocking the tee element orifice, from the tee element in elevated position, attended by closing of diaphragm switch $0 initiating descent of the element I4, and initiation of the thermal delay period represented by the time required for heating of the thyratron fila'- ment toa temperature conducive to flow of thyratron plate current. Then because the badly defective ball delivered upon the tee element arrived in ball reloading position fails to reopen the switch S0, the condition specified above, such tee element would tend to remain in the down position indefinitely except for the fact that after the elapse of a few seconds, the filament of thyratron 84 arrives at operating temperature and the tube becomes conductive. When the latter occurs, the thyratron functions as a rectifier supplying energizing current to the coil of relay 82 which opens the contacts of such relay.

The effect of opening the relay 32 is twofold. First, it effects deenergization of the solenoid S so that the tee element I4 is permitted to return to elevated position carrying the defective ball. Secondly, opening of the relay 82 breaks the energizing circuit for the prima-ry of thyratron iilament transformer 92, and the thyratron filament immediately commences to cool ofi. However, because of thermal lag of its filament a definite although short period of time elapses before the tube becomes non-conductive even after removal of filament current. During this lapse of time the thyratron continues to conduct, therefore,

which it does long enough for the tee element to Ireach velevated position.

When flow of plate current the thyratron H ceases `and permits the relay`82 againto return to closed position, Vthe diaphragm switch S still being closed, solenoid Slis again energized and the tee element again lowered carryingy the badly defective ball. The pivoted ball-deflecting arm |06 projecting into the path of the :descending golf ball then unseats the ball from the tee element and causes it -to roll out of the way, as

suggested by the dotted Aline position ofthe ball in'Figure 4. The empty tee element isthen free to receive another ball from the delivery chute.

' While the ball-deilecting arm is unyielding to are defective ball descending on the tee element, .it

is free to swing upwardly out of the rpath ofthe nextball being raised by'thetee element-as/'indicated bythe dotted line position of such arm.

thyratron until the tee element receives a-golf ball having a s uiiciently good surface engaging the tee element rim to reopen the diaphragm. switch 60. It is important to note, however, that the design or adjustment of the pneumatic'system and diaphragm switch is not-atall critical with relation to the degree of smoothness of the golf ball surface seated upon the tee element,f.

because the back pressure in the system builds up to a lrelatively vlarge-extent even when the tee element iscovered-by a fairly rough ball, which includes all of the golf balls which normally might be used for practice golf. However, the 1- control adjustment or design of the diaphragm switch may easily be made such that a very badly marred ball will fail to reopen the switch Se. As previously mentioned, a vacuum type system is extremely critical of adjustment and, except with Very expensive and elaborate vacuum equipment will fail to operate at all unless a very close seal between the tee element and the golf ball surface is obtained. Moreover, a vacuum system is also subject to the possibility of dirt and moisture being drawn by the vacuum into the system, to the damage of the equipment. In a positive pressure type system such as that disclosed herein, the amount of force directed upwardly against the golf ball and tending to unseat it from the tee element is negligible as the diaphragm actuated -switch may easily be constructed to respond sensitively to varying pressures at low level.

I claim as my invention:

l. Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee element reciprocable between ballteed and ball loading positions and having therein a normally open air orice adapted to be closed by seating of a golf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperating with such tee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically in loading position thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tee element to eiect passage of air through said orifice when open, pressure-sensitive control means connected with said pneumatic means for actuation of such control means oppositely by corresponding reverse changes of pressure in said pneumatic means eiected by seating and removal of a golf ball upon and from said tee element, respectively, tee element motivating means controlled by said control means to move said tee element from ball-teed position to ball loading position in response to pressure change accompanying removal of a golf ball from said tee element, and

Ufreverselyfin response to the reverse `pressure change accompanying loading of a-'golf vball Von said tee element, delay meansk connected itosaid motivating means to effect such reverse .operation thereof .automatically -upon expiration of -a predetermined delay periodvfollowing activation of said delay meansv should said .control means fail -to-eiect such reverseoperation, and

means operable to `activate said delay'means. upon removal of a golf ball from such tee element.

`2. The automatic golf ball teeing apparatus defined'in'claim l, whereinthe pneumatic means Acomprises ablower connected to the tee element and operable to force airV underpositve pressure out through 'the tee element orifice when open and to build-up back pressure when agolf ballkis seated on such tee element Veiectively to close such orice.

3. The automatic golf ball teeing apparatus defined in claim l, and further delay means operatively connectedto the motivating means and vcontrolling such motivating means to effect movement of the tee element into ball loading position thereof automatically upon expiration of the delay period of such further delaymeans, and means interconnecting the first-mentioned 'delay means `and said -further delay meansto actuate said further delay means .by operation of said first-mentioned delay means in the: event a vdefective golf ball fails )to `close the tee ele- Lil) v:ment orifice.

4. The automatic golf ball teeing apparatus defined in claim 1, and further ldelay means operatively connected to the control means and` to the motivating means and operable to prevent actuation of the motivating means by the control means during a predetermined period following initiation of movement of the tee element toward ball-teed position.

5. Automatic golf 'ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee element reciprocable between ballteed and ball loading positions and having therein a normally open air orifice adapted to be closed by seating of a golf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperating with such tee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically in loading position thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tee element to blow air under positive pressure outward through such tee element orifice when open and to build up 'back pressure therein when closed, pressuresensitive control means connected with said pneumatic means for actuation of such control means oppositely by corresponding reverse changes in pressure in said pneumatic means eiTecte-d by seating and removal of golf balls upon and from said tee element, respectively, and tee element motivating means controlled by said control means to move said tee element from ball-teed position to ball loading position in response to pressure decrease accompanying removal of a gol-i ball from said tee element, and reversely in response to pressure increase accompanying loading of a golf ball on said tee element by said loading means.

6. Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee element reciprocable between ballteed and ball loading positions and having therein a normally open air `orifice adapted to be closed by seating of a golf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperative with such tee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically in loading .position thereof, pneumatic means connected to said tee element to effect passage of air through said orifice when open, pressure-sensitive control means connected With said pneumatic means for actuation of Isuch control means oppositely by corresponding reverse changes of pressure in said pneumatic means eiected by seating and removal of a golf ball upon and from said tee element, respectively, tee element motivating means controlled by said control means to move said tee element from 'ball-teed position to ball loading position in response to pressure change accompanying removal of a golf ball from said tee element, and reversely in respon-se to the reverse pressure change accompanying loading of a golf ball on said tee element, automatic means connected to said motivating means to effect movement of the tee element into ball-teed position and immediately thereafter back into ball loading position failing `actuation of the control means to cause movement of the tee element from ball loading position to ball-teed position, and means cooperating with said tee element and automatically operable to unseat a golf ball carried by said tee element during movement thereof from ball-teed to ball loading position.

7. Automatic golf ball teeing apparatus comprising a tee element reciprocable between ballteed 4and ball loading positions and having therein a normally open air orifice adapted to be closed by seating of a golf ball on such tee element, ball loading means cooperating with such tee element to deliver a golf ball to such element automatically in loading position thereof,

to effect passage of air through said orifice when open, pressure-sensitive control means connected with said pneumatic means for actuation of such control means oppositely by corresponding reverse changes of pressure in said pneumatic means effected by seating and removal of a golf ball upon and from said tee element, respectively, tee element motivating means controlled by said control means to move said tee element from ball-teed position to ball loading position in response to pressure change accompanying removal of a golf ball from said tee element, and reversely in response to the reverse pressure change accompanying loading of a golf -ball on said tee element, and delay means connected for actuation by operation' of said control means and connected to said motivating means operatively to eiect such reverse operation thereof automatically upon expiration of the delay period of said delay means should said control means fail to effect such reverse operation.

BART A. HOGEBERG.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,253 Goehler et al. Aug. 18, 1936 2,335,280 Hogeberg Nov. 30, 1943 2,520,952 lMozel Sept. 5, 1950

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