High capacity golf ball processing system and method

An apparatus and method for the transportation of golf balls, particularly at a driving range, which includes one or more tanks remote from a range house and in proximity to a driving target, in which golf balls can be separate from other objects and mixed with a fluid. This mixture is then pumped to a central location, during which the balls remain immersed in the fluid which is made to flow at high velocity, providing a cleaning action. The balls can then be subjected to further cleaning, if desired, separated from the fluid and the fluid returned to the tank in a substantially closed system. A high capacity ball cleaner is provided to furnish the further cleaning which is particularly adapted to be used with the ball processing system and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for 
processing golf balls. More particularly, this invention relates to a 
system and method for cleaning and/or transporting a large number of golf 
balls at high speed. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The sport of golf enjoys a continuing increase in popularity at the present 
time. In addition to facilities on which the game of golf can be played, 
there are facilities for the practice of various aspects of the sport such 
as putting greens and driving ranges. The latter type of facility 
generally consumes a large amount of area since space is typically 
provided for a golf ball to be driven through the greatest flight distance 
of which the player is capable. In some instances, in order to reduce the 
area consumed by such a facility, a barrier such as a net is provided to 
stop driven golf balls in mid-flight. In either type of facility, a player 
will typically purchase a returnable container with a plurality of golf 
balls which he will then proceed to hit, in sequence, from a single 
location. It is also typical for a large number of players to drive golf 
balls from a plurality of spaced locations along one side of the facility 
in generally parallel directions. 
Accordingly, it is common for a great number of golf balls to be in use at 
a given time. The golf balls are periodically or continuously collected 
and returned to a central location, often referred to as a club house or 
range house, where they are again loaded into containers and sold to be 
used again in a similar fashion. To expedite collection of the golf balls, 
mechanized equipment is typically used. A common type of equipment 
includes a tractor with a sweeping device which sweeps the balls into a 
basket. When the basket is filled, the operator will then drive the 
tractor to the range house carrying the balls to be reused. 
This procedure has several evident drawbacks. First, the collection 
machinery will also pick up stones and will increase the amount of dirt or 
mud which adheres to the balls and which must be removed before reuse. 
Second, the use of such a piece of complicated and expensive machinery and 
a skilled operator to perform the transportation phase of this operation 
is extremely inefficient; the inefficiency being increased by the 
circuitous route which must often be followed in the interest of safety 
and to avoid interference with use of the driving range by players. 
Further, after the balls are returned to the range house, they must be 
cleaned prior to reuse. Mechanized devices for performing this cleaning 
operation are known in the art. One such device has two counter-rotating 
disks with textured surfaces which are spaced apart by approximately the 
diameter of a golf ball (1.62 inches). A stream of water is used to 
irrigate the golf ball while it is propelled between the counter-rotating 
disks. Either fresh water must be used or, more typically, filtration and 
recirculation must be provided. Other devices for performing this function 
are known but such other devices are also characterized by providing a 
specific path for balls through the device such that the balls will be 
cleaned in sequence. These ball cleaning devices are therefore subject to 
jamming, requiring nearly constant supervision of an operator, and of low 
throughput, cleaning a relatively small number of balls per minute. There 
is also a trade-off between capacity and period of immersion of the balls 
as well as the further disadvantage that dirt and mud will tend to dry on 
the balls prior to cleaning, increasing the tendency for such mud or dirt 
to adhere even more strongly to the balls. 
Since driving ranges are often relatively large facilities at which many 
players may concurrently practice, the labor and capital expenditure 
requirements of processing the golf balls are relatively high. Further, 
when the cleaning and redistribution operations are concentrated at a 
single central location, such as a range house, the labor-intensive phases 
of these operations present a physical limitation on how many players can 
be accommodated. If these operations are distributed between several range 
houses, variations n distribution may causes shortages of balls or require 
an increased number to be in use to avoid such shortages, again tending to 
increase the required capital expenditure. 
Accordingly, it is seen that there is a need to increase the degree of 
automation of driving ranges, particularly in the operations of cleaning 
and transportation of golf balls. Since driving ranges exist where more 
than 60,000 golf balls may be driven in a single day, there is also a need 
to increase the capacity of systems performing these functions to levels 
where such numbers can be accommodated. Similarly, a higher degree of 
automation which will permit the use of driving ranges by more players and 
permit the increase in size of newly constructed driving ranges is needed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a high 
capacity method an apparatus for the processing of golf balls. 
It is another object of the present invention to increase the level of 
automation of transportation and cleaning of golf balls. 
It is a further object of the invention to avoid the use of ball collecting 
machinery for the purpose of transporting of golf balls. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to reduce time between 
collection and washing of the balls and to provide maximum immersion time 
without reducing the capacity of the system or increasing the required 
number of balls in use at a given time. 
In order to achieve the above objects, there is provided, in accordance 
with one aspect of the invention, a method of processing golf balls 
including the steps of placing golf balls in a fluid and accelerating the 
fluid containing the golf balls. 
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of cleaning 
and/or transporting golf balls is provided comprising the steps of forming 
a mixture of a fluid and a plurality of golf balls and pumping the mixture 
from a first location to a second location. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a system for 
processing golf balls is provided including a tank containing a fluid, a 
device for introducing golf balls into a fluid to form a mixture of the 
fluid and the golf balls, and a pump for pumping said mixture from a first 
location to a second location. 
In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, a cleaning device 
and method is provided including a conduit into which the balls are 
introduced and an agitator means for agitating the golf balls against the 
inner surface of the conduit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is 
shown, in schematic form, the overall structure of golf ball processing 
system 10. The system circulates a fluid, preferably water, in a closed 
loop from a tank in which golf balls are mixed with the fluid. The mixture 
of the golf balls and fluid are then inducted into the pump 13 through 
induction conduit 14 by suction, accelerated by, for example, an impeller 
13a within the pump and discharged, under pressure, through conduit 18. 
Conduit 18 is preferably a nominal four-inch diameter pipe commonly 
available. It is deemed desirable that the inside diameter of the pipe be 
approximately three times the diameter of a golf ball to maintain flow 
velocity within the pipe as well as some turbulence without permitting 
substantial slowing of the flow at any location within the volume of 
conduit 18. Care must also be exercised in the selection of pipe since it 
has been found that one particular brand and grade of nominal four-inch 
PVC pipe is of an inside diameter which will allow four balls to wedge 
across the pipe by slight flexing of the sidewalls thereof. Even this type 
of pipe may be operable to practice this invention if sidewall flexing is 
suitably restrained. Typically, jamming will not occur unless water flow 
rate is severely restricted while golf balls are in the system. Jamming 
usually occurs when flow rate increases after restriction. 
Conduit 18 preferably discharges at an elevated location and preferably 
into a golf ball cleaning device 31, which will be described in detail 
below, and which should be considered as optional in the basic system. The 
mixture of fluid and golf balls are thus discharged into a trough 20 which 
can advantageously be located on the roof of the range house. Besides 
providing a convenient elevation of trough 20, such a location can 
incidentally provide significant evaporative cooling of such a range 
house, providing enhanced comfort to the attendant thereof. The golf balls 
are separated from the fluid by an inclined screen 21 which supports the 
golf balls but allows the fluid to freely flow through to be collected in 
trough 20. The golf balls are propelled by gravity along the inclined 
screen and into conduit 22 by which they are conveyed, also preferably by 
gravity into bin 23 from which they are retrieved by an attendant for 
distribution to players. The bottom of bin 23 is preferably inclined 
downwardly in the direction of the attendant's preferred position to 
insure that the golf balls will be easily retrieved by the attendant. 
Since the balls will carry some moisture when discharged through conduit 
22 a drain (not shown) can advantageously be provided at the lower end of 
bin 23. Alternatively, the bottom of the bin can be fabricated from a 
perforated plate or even screening similar to screen 21. To minimize 
moisture in the bin, conduit 22 preferably extends a substantial distance 
above the maximum water level in trough 20 which can be easily determined 
through experience for each installation. Generally speaking, if trough 20 
is positioned five feet or more above water line 12 (or 47), conduit 18 is 
a nominal four-inch pipe and conduit 19 is a nominal six-inch pipe, pump 
discharge pressure is not excessive and the horizontal cross-sectional 
area of trough 20 is twenty square feet or more, a rise of six inches of 
conduit 22 above the bottom of trough 20 will be sufficient to prevent 
objectionable amounts of fluid from entering conduit 22. Increase of 
horizontal cross-sectional area of trough 20 and increase of distance of 
conduit 22 from the discharge point of conduit 18 (either or both of which 
may be desirable to enhance evaporative cooling of the range house) will 
generally reduce surface turbulence and reduce the amount of rise which 
will be found to be satisfactory. Baffles (not shown) may also be used to 
decrease the rise of conduit 22 above the bottom of trough 20, should such 
a decrease be necessary in a particular installation. 
From trough 20, a drain is provided into conduit 19 which is preferably 
larger in diameter than conduit 18. A nominal six-inch diameter pipe has 
been found to be sufficient for a flow rate of about 200 gallons per 
minute established through a nominal four-inch conduit 18. Fluid is thus 
returned to tank 11 which is preferably of a capacity to allow 
sedimentation in the tank. Sedimentation can be enhanced by the addition 
of a flocculent or the like to the fluid, which is preferably water. In 
practice, this has not been found necessary. Sediment will thus collect at 
the inclined portion of the bottom of tank 11 and can be purged from the 
system by the opening of valve 24 through drain conduit 25. An additional 
settling tank can be also be provided and may be particularly useful where 
purging of tank 11 may be difficult due to the grade level at the desired 
location. When such a purge of sediment is carried out, replenishment of 
the fluid will be necessary. The purging interval will depend, in part, 
upon the volume and horizontal cross-sectional area of tank 11 and is 
typically on the order of several days at maximum use. 
As perfecting features of the system 10, tank 11 is preferably installed 
with respect to ground level 44 such that fluid level 12 will be about six 
inches above ground level 44. This arrangement provides what is considered 
to be the greatest convenience for maintenance of the system and allows 
conduits 18, 19 to be buried in the immediate vicinity of tank 11. 
Alternatively, and with particular regard to smaller driving ranges where 
a barrier is provided to interrupt the flight of driven golf balls, the 
tank can be advantageously be installed at ground level or, alternatively, 
at any convenient level with respect to a conveyor arrangement such as 
inclined grade 45 and/or 15. Whether or not such an inclined grade or 
other conveyor such as a mechanical conveyor is provided, it is deemed 
preferable that a rack or trap 17 be provided in an inclined area to allow 
separation of balls from foreign matter such as rocks having a different 
dimension than the golf balls. Typically, foreign matter of a smaller 
dimension will drop through grating 17, which is preferably formed of 
parallel strips which are arranged at a spacing of about 1.5 inches, on 
center. Rocks having a dimension greater than this spacing will either be 
sufficiently out of round to remain on the grate 17 or be restrained by 
bar 17', arranged transversely across the lower end of the grating 17 and 
spaced above it by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a golf 
ball, to be removed manually. Such a trap for foreign matter may also 
include a chute 16 to assist in regulating the position at which the golf 
balls are mixed with the fluid. 
Water level 47 will usually be somewhat above water level 12 during 
operation of the system. Water level 47 depends upon flow rate and the 
diameter of conduit 19 should be chosen to provide a flow rate which 
substantially avoids sedimentation within conduit 19. In any case, at 
least where the major run of conduit 19 is installed horizontally or with 
a slight incline to enhance flow by gravity, sedimentation in conduit 19 
will be self-limiting. It should be noted however, that if the 
geographical circumstances of the installation so require, a return flow 
pump can be provided, preferably in the area indicated by bracket 39. In 
such a case, it may be desirable to reduce the diameter of the return 
conduit 19 downstream of such a return pump to increase flow velocity and 
reduce sedimentation. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, a preferred form of tank 11 will be described. 
Insofar as possible, common reference numerals will be used in the 
description of FIG. 2 as in the description of FIG. 1. 
The overall cross-sectional shape of tank 11 is rectangular with a 
rectangular partition arranged to provide a housing for pump 13, motor 40, 
mechanical drive coupling 41 and induction conduit 14 as well as outlet 
conduit 18, leaving a generally L-shaped portion to form tank 11. Return 
conduit 19 terminates in return exit opening 43. The rectangular partition 
essentially forms a baffle which enhances the sedimentation process 
mentioned above. Pump exhaust conduit 18 traverses tank 11 and this 
section can contain unions (not shown) which may be of use during 
maintenance. A control for valve 24 is preferably provided by control 
connection 42 within tank 11 which will assist in opening the valve 24 to 
remove sediment from tank 11 through conduit 25. The outlines of tank 11 
depicted in this figure by dotted lines are preferably those portions 
which are installed below grade, as illustrated in FIG. 1. 
The relatively narrow portion of the L-shaped portion of the tank is 
considered to provide a relatively strong fluid flow toward pump induction 
conduit 14 which assists in containing the golf balls in that vicinity. 
Additionally, it is to be noted that chute 15 in FIG. 1 is depicted in an 
orientation which is reversed, for convenience of illustration, from that 
being practiced as of the present date and it is considered to be 
preferable that the trajectory of golf balls discharged from the chute 15 
or 16 will traverse the general area of pump induction conduit 14. 
However, in practice, this tank configuration provides a flow which will 
allow induction of balls deposited anywhere within the tank. 
Referring briefly now to FIG. 4, a cross-section of the preferred 
configuration of pump 13 will be explained. It is to be understood that 
while the pump 13 is preferably of the centrifugal type, other known types 
of pump, such as a diaphragm pump could be used. Pump 13 preferably 
includes an impeller which consists principally of a disc and impeller 
blades 13a. The impeller disc including blades 13a preferably is formed of 
steel and the impeller disc and blades are shaped to prevent or avoid 
jamming of golf balls within the pump housing. The configuration 
illustrated is commonly referred to as an open impeller configuration. A 
coating of a resilient material may be provided on the impeller to reduce 
damage to golf balls as they are propelled through the pump and may strike 
the impeller. In practice, such a coating has been found to be wholly 
unnecessary; a coating having been provided on the impeller initially, in 
experimental tests, but later found to have been totally abraded with no 
discernable increase in golf ball damage due to the golf balls having been 
inducted through the pump 13. In practice, it is estimated that only 1 
ball in 10 actually strikes the impeller and actual damage is observed 
only on an extremely small number of balls. 
The pump, motor 40 and drive arrangement 41 should preferably be chosen to 
provide a pressure suitable to raise the fluid over distance B shown in 
FIG. 1 and to provide a fluid flow velocity of 3-5 feet per second. In 
practice, a 12", open impeller pump, driven at 750 rpm by a 71/2 
horsepower electric motor has been found satisfactory in a generally flat 
installation and where height B is about 12 feet. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, the configuration of the optional additional ball 
cleaner will now be described. It is to be understood that the basic 
system, described above, provides a substantially complete cleaning of 
golf balls pumped through a predetermined length of conduit; which 
cleaning action could be enhanced by adding a material such as a detergent 
to the fluid or by the choice of fluid itself. However, if even more 
complete cleaning of the golf balls is desired or found to be necessary, 
the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 provides such additional cleaning 
at a capacity which is compatible with the high capacity of the basic 
system. 
The optional ball cleaner illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a generally 
cylindrical conduit which is axially aligned at an angle A with respect to 
a vertical direction in the installation. While it is deemed desirable 
that the angle A be limited to small angles so that the balls are 
maximally propelled by gravity and be propelled by brush 37 around the 
greatest portion of the circumference of the conduit, angles between 
0.degree. (vertical) and 90.degree. (horizontal) are possible. At flow 
rates of about 200 gallons per minute, it is preferable to limit angle A 
to about 75.degree. since greater angles would tend to concentrate the 
balls and reduce the high resistance of this ball cleaner to jamming. 
While it is also possible to propel the balls through the cleaner with 
water flow, the preferred flow rate of 200 gallons per minute would 
probably require a reduction of the diameter of the conduit 31, again 
reducing the potential capacity and resistance to jamming of the 
invention. 
Agitator 36, preferably driven by motor 32, through pulley and belt 
arrangement 33, 34, 35 is preferably a brush which is somewhat smaller 
than the interior bore or inside diameter of conduit 31 by approximately 
the diameter of a golf ball. The rotary brush is preferably driven at 
15-50 rpm. The bristles 37 of the rotary brush 36 then hold golf balls 1 
against the inner surface of conduit 31. The ends of brush are supported 
by brackets 38. The inner surface of the conduit 31 is preferably provided 
with a textured surface 46, in which case, the inside diameter of the 
conduit 31 will be defined by the textured surface. Provision can be made 
for rotation of conduit 31 so that the entirety of the interior surface is 
equally washed by the fluid, but in practice, this has been found to be 
unnecessary. 
In operation, the operator of ball collection machinery, if any, can merely 
transfer the collected balls to grate portion 17 of chute 15 and the balls 
will be conveyed rapidly to a distribution point such as a range house 
while simultaneously being cleaned in preparation for reuse. By 
positioning tank 11 in proximity to the ball collection area, optimum 
utilization of both machinery and personnel is made possible. The capacity 
of the system and method described is well in excess of 20 balls per 
second or 72,000 balls per hour. Thus, according to the invention, a 
system and method has been provided which provides for the simultaneous 
and automated transportation and cleaning of a large number of golf balls, 
reducing requirement of labor and supervision and permitting more 
effective use of other equipment on golf driving ranges. 
While the invention has been described in terms of a single preferred 
embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can 
be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended 
claims.