Patent ID: 7104936

Claim:
A weight throwing machine comprising a frame, a weight support pivotally mounted on said frame, a handle for grasping for throwing the weight upwardly, and a reaction actuator connected between the frame and the pivoting weight support, said reaction actuator comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and piston having a check valve which permits substantially free flow from one side of the piston to a second side of the piston during upward throwing movement of the weight support, and an internal passageway in the fluid pressure cylinder including a restriction to control the flow from a second side of the piston to the one side when the weight support is released, to slow a rate of falling of the weight support under gravity, wherein said fluid pressure cylinder comprises a hydraulic actuator having a pair of concentric cylinders, an inner cylinder slidably mounting the piston and an outwardly extending rod attached to the piston, an annular space defined between the inner cylinder and an outer cylinder of the concentric cylinders, and an opening between the inner cylinder and outer cylinder on the second side of the piston, adjacent an outer end of the fluid pressure cylinder, said restriction comprising a passageway in a base end of the outer cylinder opposite from the outer end of the fluid pressure cylinder from which the rod extends and forming a flow passage between the annular space and the one side of the piston.