An Improved Ball Throwing or Bowling Machine.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ball Throwing or Bowling Machine.
We, FREDERICK HENRY KEANE and DAVID WILSON, both of Cappoquin
Foundry, Cappoquin, in the County of Waterford, Ireland, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention to be as follows
Our invention relates to machines for throwing balls and is particularly applicable
to cricketing practice, as a bowling machine, by reason of the accuracy of the
throw of the ball and the simple variations in elevation and direction of the machine,
by which either under or over-hand bowling can be given, and any desired
variations in the speed and length of pitch of the ball can be produced at will by the
operator.
Our machine is constructed as follows
A wood block foundation securely pinned to the turf forms the base, upon which
is bolted a metal base plate. An upper double standard frame is free to revolve
on a vertical axis on the said base plate, by a wheel and pinion gear, operated by a
suitable handle. The standard frame can be clamped to the base plate, when any
desired direction of throw of the apparatus has been fixed.
The upper ends of the standard frame carry a horizontal shaft on which is
supported a carrier and throwing arm to which a rotating motion is given by the
following appliances hereinafter described so as to deliver the ball at any desired
speed, by the rotation of the throwing arm about the said horizontal shaft between
the said vertical standards frame.
The said shaft is made hollow at one end carrying therein a sliding spring pressed
spindle called the carrier bolt, which carries a side bolt working in a suitable groove
by which the thrower carrier may be locked on the shaft or suddenly released when
desired by the action of a hand lever provided with cam faces reacting on cam
faces on the said spindle.
Upon the said horizontal shaft is a spring drum containing a strong coiled spring
for actuating the throwing arm. One end of the spring is attached to the said
drum which is practically locked in position by the winding gear hereafter described,
and the other end of the spring is attached to a pin projecting from the face of the
arm carrier. As winding gear, the spring drum has an internally cogged wheel
gearing into a pinion keyed to a winding up shaft provided with a hand wheel and
with two ratchet wheels toothed in opposite directions and on which engage two
pawls respectively, one a locking pawl pivoted on the frame, securing the drum
when wound, and the other on a winding-up spindle by which the spring may be
wound up by the aforesaid wheel.
The throwing arm is attached to the said carrier by a socket which causes the
arm to project at right angles to the main shaft. A balance-weight to counter-
balance the weight of the arm is attached to the carrier to render the movement
of the thrower steady.
At the outer end of the arm is a joint or hinge to which is attached the ball
holder.
The holder consists of suitable claws or fingers, and upon the said holder is a
catch to engage with the ball holder bolt which is formed as a separate rod running
along the throwing arm, and moved longitudinally along the arm by a lever pivotted
on the thrower-arm carrier plate.
The main ball holder has a finger on each side of the ball and one in front,
which forms a direct impediment to the escape of the ball when rotated until the

page_text: said finger is released. There is also a stationary finger at the back of the ball
prevent the ball falling out before the machine is started.
to
the opposite side of the arm carrier to that on which the spring drum is
situated is a hollow drum to make the design symmetrical, and it is provided with
an internally cogged wheel into which gears a pinion and hand wheel to adjust this
regulator drum which carries a trip on its exterior or interior to regulate the pitch
of the ball. The said trip, being fixed at a certain point by the adjustment of the
said regulator drum, after which it is clamped in position, strikes against the
projecting end of the aforesaid lever rotating with the carrier, which lever operates
the ball holder bolt and causes the ball to be released at the exact point desired.
Marks and figures may be cut round the regulator drum to indicate the exact
setting for various pitches, and also round the spring drum to indicate the throwing
force of the spring.
To put the machine in operation, first lift the cam handle until it rests against a
fixed stop on the frame. The sliding carrier lock is thus freed. The operator then
turns the winding handle or wheel which operates the spring drum and arm carrier
together, until the spiral spring shoots the carrier lock, when it comes opposite to a
slot or recess in the carrier boss.
The carrier is then held stationary and the continued winding sets tension on the
spring, until the desired amount of tension is produced, when the winding is stopped
and the locking pawl locks the winding spindle ratchet wheel.
The ball is then placed in its holder and the ball holder is placed in position by
the hand. To throw the ball, press down the cam handle, which draws the carrier
bolt. The throwing arm and carrier thus flies round and the pitch lever on the
carrier strikes the trip on the regulator drum, thus withdrawing the ball holder bolt
and releasing the ball from the holder at a definite point of its revolution.
It will be observed that the ball in our apparatus is mechanically released at any
desired point in the revolution of the thrower arm, and that the control and certainty
of its throw is thus much more perfect, than could be obtained where the ball is
merely held by friction or spring claws and allowed automatically to release itself
by centrifugal force as and when it could. In this latter case no two balls, differing
slightly in external size or material would act alike, and the point of release and
consequent pitch would vary with changes of velocity or with uneven or non-
spherical balls.
Were such frictional grip even capable of adjustment it would be impossible to
have any definite adjustment to suit the many varying conditions of a wet ball
liable to slip or a dry ball with sand or grit on it. tending to make it bind; or to suit
the merest derangement of parts, or careless handling in the placing of the ball in
various positions in the claw.
These serious drawbacks we obviate by our aforesaid definite and adjustable
positive method of release at any desired point of the swing.
The trip tappet referred to as fitted to a regulator drum may be equivalently
attached to the frame or base plate.
By turning the machine half round on its base plate and correspondingly adjusting
the release tappet or trip, the apparatus can be made to deliver over-hand or under-
hand balls at will.
By the winding wheel ratchet arrangement, if the thrower-arm and carrier con-
tinue to revolve after discharge of the ball, the spring drum travels with the carrier
and does not rotate the winding-wheel or handle.
By the spring carrier lock arrangement there is no need to force back the
thrower-arm or to handle it at all for rewinding, as it is brought back to its normal
position by winding the handle, and thus engages the carrier-bolt. The lock
ratchet does not act until the spring is wound.
Dated this 8th day of Jul. 1900.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Ball Throwing or Bowling Machine.
We FREDERICK HENRY KEANE and DAVID WILSON both of Cappoquin
Foundry Cappoquin, in the County of Waterford, Ireland, Engineers do hereby
declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to machines for throwing balls and is particularly applicable
to cricketing practice as a bowling machine by reason of the accuracy of the throw
of the ball and the simple variations in elevation and direction of the machine by
which either under or over-hand bowling can be given, and any desired variation
in the speed, length of pitch, direction and movement of the ball can be produced
at will by the operator.
By our invention we obviate the many disadvantages existing in the bowling
machines that have been used up to the present viz. :
1stly excessive wear and tear
2ndly the danger owing to uncertainty of direction of aim, and
3rdly the large amount of power required to be put into the machine in comparison
with that given out in propelling the ball.
These disadvantages we overcome by allowing the machine to bring itself to rest
after having thrown the ball instead of suddenly arresting the throwing mechanism
to release the ball from its holder thereby having to overcome some considerable
resistance before it leaves the holder.
The ball being mechanically and freely held and mechanically and automatically
released by the throwing arm, at a definite and predetermined point in its revolution,
the direction in which the ball leaves the machine is perfectly certain and under the
control of the operator.
We can also give the ball a revolving motion round an axis within itself and can
regulate and determine the position of that axis in relation to the direction of the
ball and a horizontal or vertical plane as the case may be.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being
had to the letters and figures marked thereon like letters refer to like parts in the
various figures.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of our improved bowling machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower part of the same.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the upper part as shown in Fig. 1 looking from the left
to the right.
Figs. 4 and 5 are views of the throwing arm showing the releasing device.
Fig. 6 is a part sectional view of the adjustable stop for tripping the ball
releasing mechanism showing the means for securing the same to the side of the
frame.
Fig. 7 is a view of the shoulder or bearing carrying the index finger and the
registering disc for determining the tension on the spring also the ratchet wheel
and pawls and the boss of the lever.
Fig. 8 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 9 is a view of the pawl or catch of the revolving frame showing its engage-
ment therewith.
Fig. 10 is a side view of the same.
Fig. 11 shows a modified arrangement for effecting the same purpose as that
shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the ball retaining device and the release mechanism
alapted to be moved round the axis of its support.

page_text: Fig. 13 is a view of the adjustable stop for tripping the ball releasing mechanism,
arranged so as to permit the revolving frame to make one two or more revolutions
before the release mechanism is operated.
Our machine is constructed as follows, a wood block foundation A is securely
pinned to the turf and forms the base upon which is bolted a metal base plate B
within this base plate is supported the lower part of the frame B¹ so as to be
capable of revolution therein, such revolution being conveniently effected by means
of a cog wheel b, attached to the base thereof and the pinion operated by a hand
wheel and shaft b' from the exterior.
This frame B¹ may be maintained in any fixed position by means of a set screw, a
preferably engaging against an inclined face arranged around the frame B¹ so as to
maintain it in the required position and prevent it from being disengaged from the
base plate B by an upward strain. Upon the upper part of the frame B' we mount
an upper double standard frame C by means of a knuckle joint C₁ the said joint
being locked in any desired position by a jamming screw c.
It will thus be seen that the whole of the machine may be revolved on a vertical
axis on the base plate B, and the upper part capable of a certain amount of
sideward movement in a vertical plane.
The upper ends of the standard frame C carry bearings C' in which are supported
the shaft D.
Upon this shaft D the carrier E with the throwing arm E¹ is mounted so as to
revolve freely thereon.
Upon the centre of this shaft is fixed, preferably by being screwed thereon the
collar F to which is attached a coiled spring F1, the outer end of this said spring
being attached preferably to the end of the carrier E where the counter balance
weight e is situated. Upon the outside of the bearing c¹ we mount in a fixed manner
the ratchet wheel G upon the shaft D next to the ratchet wheel we mount loosely
a hand lever H upon the said shaft carrying preferably two spring pressed pawls h
which engage into the teeth of the ratchet wheel G.
Other spring pressed pawls g g are arranged upon the side of the bearing c¹ in
order to retain the ratchet wheel against the re-action of the spring F¹ in any position
in which it may be placed by the hand lever H.
The object of having two pawls is in order to get the same effect as if there
were twice as many teeth in the ratchet wheel G.
Upon the exterior of the shaft D. we rigidly attach a registering disc or collar I.
on which suitable numbers are engraved in order to register by means of the finger i
the amount of tension that may be put upon the spring F¹.
In Figs. 4 and 5 we show enlarged views of the carrier arm at the end of which
the ball is carried, it is preferably made as light as possible in order to allow of
suitable acceleration of speed to be obtained from a spring of ordinary tension.
At the end of the arm E' a cross bar e¹ is situated, one end of which carries a
flat plate to which a sling of leather or other flexible material J is attached,
preferably by means of screws.
The other end of the sling J terminates in a metal ring f1 and is retained in
position by means of a hook and a rod ¹ passing through a hole in the crossbar e¹
so as to meet the hook k.
The opposite end of this rod k¹ is attached to the tripping mechanism which may
consist of a bell-crank lever K which is pivoted upon the carrier arm E.
The rod k may be kept in the closed position by being spring pressed by a
spring K¹.
Upon the side of the frame and preferably upon the bearing we mount an
adjustable stop M against which one end of the bell-crank-lever engages in order
to trip the releasing gear.
This stop M is preferably mounted upon a disc m. which is capable of rotation
concentric to that of the carrier or carrier arm and may be fixed in any definite
position by a jamming nut and bolt m¹ passing through the side of the frame or

page_text: bearing and engaging in a circular dovetailed slot situated in the disc or plate m;
by this means the stop m can be fixed at any definite predetermined point in order
that the mechanism shall be there released.
Suitable marks or numbers may be arranged upon this disc in order to define the
point at which the release is to be made.
In Figs. 9 and 10 we show the retaining catch or pawl which prevents the rotation
of the carrier arm E' during the reinforcement of the spring F.
This catch N we mount upon a spindle n on the side of the frame C and upon
this spindle the handle N₁ is arranged so as to operate the catch N from the
outside.
This catch N engages against the projection n' situated upon the end of the
frame E.
In Fig. 11 we show a view of a modification of this arrangement.
The shaft D is made hollow at one end and carries therein a sliding spring pressed
spindle O which carries a side bolt O' working in a suitable groove in the shaft D
and adapted to engage with the recess situated in the collar F which carries the
spring F.
The release of the mechanism may be effected by the action of a hand lever P
attached to a cam face re-acting on a cam face P situated on the end of the
spindle.
In Fig. 12 we show the ball holder adapted to be turned about the axis of the
supporting arm E', the object of this arrangement is to permit of a twisting
movement being given to the ball in any particular direction when being delivered
from the sling J.
The set screw J' is provided at the side of the shoulder of the ball holder to
maintain the same in any definite position.
In order to provide for the operation of the releasing rod in any position of
the ball carrier we attach the rod to a sleever which slides freely upon the
arm E
.*
This sleeve is grooved and into which groove is inserted a split ring so as so to
be capable of easy sliding movement one with the other.
To this ring the rod R is attached at one end while at the other it is attached
to the bell crank K being suitably guided at the upper end by a guide R¹.
It is obvious that in whatever position the ball holder may be in relation to its
support that the tripping gear will properly operate the rod k in order to release
the sling J.
In Fig. 13 we shew a modified method of mounting the adjustable stop attached
to the disc m, so as to permit of one two or more revolutions of the carrier arm by
the spring F before the tripping gear releases the ball holder in order to transmit
a greater amount of energy to the ball than can be done in one revolution; this we
effect by mounting the disc m carrying the stop M upon the trunnion S of the
revolving frame E so as to slide sidewards thereon.
Upon the exterior of the trunnion S we form a screw thread preferably square
and arrange a small spring pressed sliding stop s upon a shoulder projecting from
the disc m.
The jainming screw m' is arranged to pass freely through the side of the frame
or bearing and jam against the backface of the disc m.
If now it is desired to allow the arm to be rotated by the spring four times before
the release mechanism is tripped the sliding stops is withdrawn from its engage-
ment with the screw thread on the trunnion S and moved towards the right hand
until the sliding stop s can engage with the fourth thread from the carrier E.
When now the spring is reinforced and the carrier released and allowed to
revolve the tripping arm of the bell crank lever K shown in Figs. 4 and 5 misses
the stop M until some period in the fourth revolution when it shall have been
drawn sufficiently towards the revolving frame E so as to come in contact with the
stop M and thus release the ball.
The shoulder of the jamming screw m¹ being parallel, and fitting the hole in the

page_text: side of the frame or bearing c' allows the disc m carrying the stop to be moved
backwards and forwards in a fixed position.
When it is necessary to allow of two or three revolutions to be made before the
releasing mechanism is actuated the spring pressed stops is engaged with No. 2 or 3
thread upon the frame E respectively.
The end of the thread or rather the bottom of the groove between the threads is
brought gradually up to the full diameter outside in order that the stop shall be
gradually pushed out of the helical groove when the necessary distance has been
travelled by the disc M to effect the tripping of the releasing gear and thus prevent
any damage to the machine during the period that is occupied after the release of
the ball and the coming to rest of the parts.
We have described a flexible sling as the best means for holding the ball but
may equivalently use suitable claws or fingers which may embrace the ball and be
held in the embracing position by means of the rod k¹.
These fingers may be hinged on the opposite side of the cross bar e¹ to that
occupied by the retaining catch.
The operation of our machine is as follows:-
The ball is placed in the ball holder and retained by the link and catch or
hook k of the sling J being maintained under the hook k by the rod k¹.
The arm E' is placed vertical with the ball upwards so that the catch or pawl N
engages with the small projection n¹ on the revolving frame E.
The spring F is then wound up by means of the lever H through the pawls h
engaging with the teeth on the ratchet wheel G such reinforcement of the spring
being retained by the pawls 9 g.
The stop M on the disc m is then adjusted in the particular position at which
it is desired to trip the releasing mechanism in order to release the ball.
When so adjusted the jamming nut m¹ is screwed up to retain the disc m in that
position.
The amount of tension on the spring may be shown by any suitable marks or
figures arranged around the shoulder or flange on the registering disc I in connection
with the finger i.
When now the handle N' is lifted, the pawl or catch N moves away from the
stop n', the spring F revolves the frame and during such revolution the one arm of
the bell crank K on the carrier E comes in contact with the stop M operating the
rod and thus releasing the catch or link f' of the sling J, the ball forcing the
sling back in its projection from the machine.
The carrier E and ball holder continue to revolve until brought to rest by the
friction of the mechanism, such being permitted by the ratchet wheel G moving in
the direction so as to lift the pawls gghh over the teeth during the revolution of
the frame E.
As the retaining sling hugs the ball during its retention in the holder, when
released the sling gives to the ball a rotary motion round an axis within itself, and
the position of this axis may be adjusted by the rotation of the ball holder about
the axis of its support is shown in Fig. 12.
By this means we are enabled to bowl a breaking ball with our machine, or to
give a backward or forward twist upon the ball relative to the direction of its
path.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. A ball throwing or bowling machine consisting of a thrower arm adapted to
rotate by spring power about an axis in or about in a vertical plane provided with
a mechanical ball release at any definitely adjustable point of revolution, the axis
of rotation being mounted on a frame capable of adjustable rotation on a fixed base
plate round a vertical axis so that the machine may deliver over or under hand
balls at any desired pitch or speed substantially as described.

page_text: 2nd. In a ball throwing or bowling machine the combination of a pivoted ball
holder and a locking bar with a release lever or device carried with the locking
bar upon the throwing-arm or arm carrier and operated for the release of the ball
at any point by an adjustable trip or tappet on a regulator drum or other part of
frame or base plate substantially as described.
3rd. In a ball throwing or bowling machine an automatic spring pressed carrier
lock, to lock the thrower-arm-carrier, and released as a trigger mechanism by a
cam hand lever or other equivalent substantially as described.
4th. In a ball throwing or bowling machine the connection of a winding wheel or
handle to the winding spindle by a ratchet wheel and pawl to allow over running
of the thrower arm and drum, the aforesaid ratchet wheel engaging with a locking
pawl on frame to store the spring tension substantially as described.
5th. In a ball throwing or bowling machine an adjustable trip operating ball
release mechanism either on an adjustable drum or on other part of the frame or
base plate to determine the exact point in the revolution of the ball thrower for the
release of the ball therefrom substantially as described.
6th. In a ball throwing or bowling machine an adjustable trip operating ball
release mechanism adapted to be moved to an adjustable extent automatically by
the carrier arm to permit of one or more revolutions of the carrier arm before the
tripping of the ball release mechanism.
7th. In a ball throwing or bowling machine a ball holder capable of movement
and adjustment in an axis radial to the axis of rotation of the throwing arm
substantially as and for the purposes described.
8th. The construction and arrangement of a ball throwing or bowling machine
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 0th dow of Anzil 1901
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.