High capacity golf ball processing system and method
OwnerJames R. Brockinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims21
An apparatus for processing golf balls including
- a tank containing a fluid,
- means for introducing golf balls into said tank to form a mixture thereof consisting essentially of said golf balls and said fluid,
- a trough including means for separating said golf balls from said fluid,
- a conduit extending from said tank to a location proximate to said trough, and
- a means for pumping said mixture of said golf balls and said fluid from said tank, through said conduit, to said trough.
A method of processing golf balls including the steps of
- forming a mixture of golf balls and a volume of fluid, said mixture of said golf balls and said fluid consisting essentially of said golf balls and said fluid,
- pumping said mixture of said golf balls and said fluid from a first location to a second location through a predetermined length of conduit extending from said first location to said second location, and
- separating said golf balls from said fluid at said second location,
- whereby said golf balls are concurrently cleaned by said fluid and agitation within said conduit and transported from said first location to said second location.
A method of processing golf balls comprising the steps of
- introducing a mixture of golf balls and a volume of fluid into a conduit,
- passing said fluid and said golf balls through said conduit by gravity, and
- agitating said golf balls against a portion of an inner surface of said conduit with a rotary brush concurrently with said step of passing said fluid and said golf balls through said further conduit by gravity, said golf balls being deflected from a gravity-directed path along said inner surface of said conduit by said rotary brush.
An apparatus for processing golf balls comprising
- a conduit oriented such that a mixture of golf balls and a fluid may be passed therethrough by gravity,
- means for agitating said golf balls against a portion of an inner surface of said conduit, when said mixture of said golf balls and said fluid are passed through said conduit by gravity,
- whereby said golf balls are deflected from a gravity-directed path along said inner surface of said conduit by said rotary brush.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.