Pneumatic bowling ball return method and apparatus

An apparatus for delivering bowling balls from a pit area of a bowling alley to an approach area storage rack, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated tube having a bore extending therethrough, the tube having an entrance end and an exit end, the bore being shaped for closely receiving bowling balls at the entrance end and sequentially passing the bowling balls therethrough to the exit end;
• a lift tube having an entrance end and an exit end, the lift tube having a bore equal to the bore of the elongated tube, the lift tube entrance end proximate to the elongated tube exit end, the lift tube entrance end positioned for sequentially receiving the bowling balls exiting the elongated tube;
• means for delivering the bowling balls from a pit area to a position immediately adjacent to and in alignment with the entrance end of the tube;
• and
• means for forming a partial vacuum at the entrance end of the tube and sequentially sucking the bowling balls into the entrance end of the tube and for accelerating the balls toward the exit end the partial vacuum means positioned to the tube exit end;
• a lift track having a first end and a second end, the first end of the lift track affixed to the elongated tube bore at a lower surface of the bore, the second end of the lift track affixed tot he first end of the lift tube at a lower surface of the bore of the lift tube, the track positioned for sequentially receiving the bowling balls at the track first end and diverting the bowling balls to the track second, the track second end passing the balls form the tube exit end to the entrance end of the lift tube, the lift tube exit end affixed above an alley surface for sequentially delivering the bowling balls to an approach area ball storage rack;
• and
• means for controlling the speed of the balls while traveling from the entrance end of the elongated tube to the exit end of the lift tube for placement into the ball storage rack.

An apparatus for returning bowling balls from a pit area of a bowling alley to a ball storage rack at the approach area of the bowling alley, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated tube having:
• an entrance end and an exit end;
• a bore extending therethrough;
• and
• the bore being shaped for closely receiving bowling balls;
• a track at the entrance end of the tube having:
• a pair of rails parallel and separated to sequentially receive the bowling balls;
• a first end and a second end;
• the first end affixed at a pit area and immediately adjacent to and in alignment with a trough located at a pit end of a bowling alley;
• the second end affixed at the entrance end of the tube and positioned immediately adjacent to and in alignment with the entrance end of the tube;
• and
• the first end in a raised position when compared to the second end;
• a source of air flow comprising:
• a vacuum box affixed to the exit end of the elongated tube;
• a motor and fan assembly,
• the motor and fan assembly affixed to the vacuum box, the fan having a fan rotating for providing a direction of air flow from the entrance end of the tube to the exit end;
• and
• a regulated power source cooperating with the motor for controlling the speed of the motor;
• the elongated tube having an opening on the top side of the tube wall approximate to the exit end of the tube;
• a lift tube having:
• a first end and a second exit end;
• a bore equal to the tube bore and passing therethrough;
• the first end affixed proximate to the elongated tube opening;
• and
• the second exit end affixed above the alley floor positioned for sequentially depositing the bowling balls into a ball storage rack;
• a lift track passing through the tube wall opening having:
• a set of parallel rails positioned so as to sequentially receive the balls;
• a first end and a second end;
• the first end affixed to the bottom of the bore of the elongated tube approximate to the tube opening;
• and
• the second end affixed to the first end of the lift tube;
• the tube opening such to receive the ball and lift track in combination;
• and
• a flap covering the tube opening the flap hinged to the tube wall.

A method of delivering bowling balls from a pit area of a bowling alley to an approach end of the bowling alley comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongated tube having an entrance end and an exit end, the tube having a bore for closely receiving bowling balls;
• placing the tube entrance end proximate a bowling alley pit area;
• placing the tube exit end proximate a bowling alley approach area;
• providing a track having a first end and a second end;
• placing the first end adjacent to the pit area in a position for sequentially receiving the bowling balls;
• placing the track second end adjacent the tube entrance end;
• delivering the bowling balls from the pit area to the track first end;
• and
• positioning the track for sequentially delivering the balls from the first end to the second end into a position for being received at the tube entrance end.
• sequentially delivering the bowling balls from the pit area to the entrance end of the elongated tube;
• injecting an air flow through the elongated tube such that a partial vacuum is created at the entrance end;
• sequentially placing the bowling balls at the entrance end of the elongated tube so that the bowling balls are sequentially sucked from the entrance end to the elongated tube exit end, the exit end proximate to the approach area;
• and
• regulating the air flow for controlling the speed with which the bowling balls travel from the elongated tube entrance end to the exit end of the elongated tube.

A method of returning bowling balls from a pit area of a bowling alley to a ball storage rack located at an approach area of the alley, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongated tube having an entrance end and an exit end, the tube having a bore for closely receiving bowling balls;
• placing the tube entrance end proximate and below a bowling alley pit area;
• placing the tube exit end proximate a bowling alley approach area;
• providing a track having a first end and a second end;
• placing the track first end proximate the pit area in a position for sequentially receiving the bowling balls;
• placing the track second end adjacent the tube entrance end;
• positioning the track for sequentially delivering the balls from the first end to the second end into a position for receiving bowling balls at the tube entrance end;
• sequentially delivering the bowling balls from the pit area at an elevation above the elongated tube along the track to the entrance end of the elongated tube;
• injecting an air flow through the elongated tube such that a partial vacuum is created at the tube entrance end;
• receiving the bowling balls to and in alignment with the entrance end of the elongated tube so that the bowling balls are sequentially sucked from the entrance end toward the exit end of the elongated tube in proximity to the approach end of the alley;
• ejecting the bowling ball from the elongated tube exit end;
• placing the exit end of the elongated tube proximate a ball storage rack located above the alley in the approach area of the alley;
• sequentially delivering the bowling balls from the tube exit end to the ball storage rack;
• and
• regulating the air flow for controlling the speed with which the bowling balls travel from the entrance end of the elongated tube to the exit end of the tube.

An apparatus for returning bowling balls from a bowling alley pit area to an approach area, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated tube having a bore extending therethrough, the tube having an entrance end positioned proximate to a pit area and an exit end positioned proximate to an approach area, the tube bore being shaped for closely receiving bowling balls at the entrance end and sequentially passing the bowling balls therethrough to the exit end;
• means for sequentially delivering the bowling balls from the pit area to the tube entrance end;
• means for generating air flow for causing partial vacuums at the tube ends, the partial vacuum at the tube entrance end for sequentially sucking bowling balls at the entrance end and accelerating the balls toward the tube exit end through a substantial portion of the tube, the partial vacuum at the tube exit end causing an opposite air flow in a remaining portion of the tube proximate the tube exit, the opposing air flow decelerating the bowling balls passing through the remaining portion to the exit end;
• and
• means for sequentially delivering the bowling balls from the tube exit end to the approach area.