Expl0itz
2008-12-10, 06:47
Mmmmkay, I know most people around this forum consider themselves gearheads because they work on cars and/or interested in cars. I consider myself a gearhead in a different type of way. So, anyways, I thought you guys might be a little interested in what I do for a living, and why I consider myself a gearhead.
If any of you have gone 10 pin bowling, you would be quite surprised to as what is actually back there setting the pins. I can tell you, it's amazing. Now, there are different variations of bowling machines, or pinsetters/pinspotters as they are called. I work on the Brunswick A-2 machines, and I love these things, as they are more mechanical then any of the others, but enough of that, here are some pictures, and a short description of what everything is, and does.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0128.jpg
This is where your ball ends up after you throw it. The ball is carried up those tan, curved rods by a metal wheel with a cork strip on it for traction. The rods are forced against the ball by spring tension and carried up onto a track where it is fed into a center 'accelerator' to get the ball back to you faster. There is also a bigger wheel that carries the pins up into a turn pan, that whether the pin is headfirst, or base first in the wheel, it will deliver them base first into the cross conveyor.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0131.jpg
This is a picture from the turnpan, looking up the cross conveyor. There are two belts that carry the pin up into the turret. That silver latch that you see at the top of cross conveyor, that is called a pin gate. After one pin drops into the turret, the pin gate locks to keep more then one pin from falling into the turret, and the pin gate is released after the turret indexs to the next spot for the next pin.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0139.jpg
That is what a pin falling into the turret looks like
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0135.jpg
As the pin crosses over the pin gate, it hits that paddle that you see in the picture. As the pin hits that paddle, the paddle pulls on some linkage, and releases a stop for a roller that lets the turret turn to the next spot for the next pin. As the turret turns, there is more linkage that releases the pin gate from underneath the turret. What you also see, is a top clutch pulley in the center of the picture, just next to the paddle, that is one of three clutches on this type of pinsetter.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0134.jpg
This is another picture of the turret, along with the deck. The deck is what you see come down and set the pins.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0142.jpg
Here is a picture of all ten pins waiting to drop into the deck. When the deck is up, and empty of pins, the 5 pin; which is the middle one, falls into a chute from the cross conveyor. When the 5 pin drops into the chute, it releases a latch, which lets a spring loaded 'spider' turn and release all ten pins into the deck.
NOW FOR THE MECHANICAL PARTS! YAY!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0141.jpg
All of that is the triggering linkage. There is way too much to explain in this post, but, I figured I would let you guys just see it anyways.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0132.jpg
Now, this is a picture of the gearbox. There are 3 sets of gears, and one drive shaft that is controlled by the clutch, that you can see in the bottom left hand corner of the picture. The drive shaft is a 60:1, The other three gears are a 4:1, 2:1, and a 1:1. The ratios are of the principle that once the ball is thrown, and the deck comes down, and goes back up and is waiting for the next ball, is considered a 360 degree cycle. Again, too much on the gearing to explain in this post, but it's interesting.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0133.jpg
Again, another picture of the gearbox, and the detector. The detector is slightly left of the center of the picture. It has the tan gear in/on top of it. This controls the whole operation of the machine, and is 100% mechanical. It works via cams, gears, and levers. It's really interesting to see it work.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0137.jpg
Another picture of the gearbox, but a view from the top. :D
HERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF RANDOM PICTURES FROM WORK.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0147.jpg
A ball going up the lift rods.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0148.jpg
A view from the back walkway behind the machines, and where I get around.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0143.jpg
The accelerator I was talking about. :D
If any of you have gone 10 pin bowling, you would be quite surprised to as what is actually back there setting the pins. I can tell you, it's amazing. Now, there are different variations of bowling machines, or pinsetters/pinspotters as they are called. I work on the Brunswick A-2 machines, and I love these things, as they are more mechanical then any of the others, but enough of that, here are some pictures, and a short description of what everything is, and does.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0128.jpg
This is where your ball ends up after you throw it. The ball is carried up those tan, curved rods by a metal wheel with a cork strip on it for traction. The rods are forced against the ball by spring tension and carried up onto a track where it is fed into a center 'accelerator' to get the ball back to you faster. There is also a bigger wheel that carries the pins up into a turn pan, that whether the pin is headfirst, or base first in the wheel, it will deliver them base first into the cross conveyor.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0131.jpg
This is a picture from the turnpan, looking up the cross conveyor. There are two belts that carry the pin up into the turret. That silver latch that you see at the top of cross conveyor, that is called a pin gate. After one pin drops into the turret, the pin gate locks to keep more then one pin from falling into the turret, and the pin gate is released after the turret indexs to the next spot for the next pin.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0139.jpg
That is what a pin falling into the turret looks like
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0135.jpg
As the pin crosses over the pin gate, it hits that paddle that you see in the picture. As the pin hits that paddle, the paddle pulls on some linkage, and releases a stop for a roller that lets the turret turn to the next spot for the next pin. As the turret turns, there is more linkage that releases the pin gate from underneath the turret. What you also see, is a top clutch pulley in the center of the picture, just next to the paddle, that is one of three clutches on this type of pinsetter.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0134.jpg
This is another picture of the turret, along with the deck. The deck is what you see come down and set the pins.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0142.jpg
Here is a picture of all ten pins waiting to drop into the deck. When the deck is up, and empty of pins, the 5 pin; which is the middle one, falls into a chute from the cross conveyor. When the 5 pin drops into the chute, it releases a latch, which lets a spring loaded 'spider' turn and release all ten pins into the deck.
NOW FOR THE MECHANICAL PARTS! YAY!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0141.jpg
All of that is the triggering linkage. There is way too much to explain in this post, but, I figured I would let you guys just see it anyways.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0132.jpg
Now, this is a picture of the gearbox. There are 3 sets of gears, and one drive shaft that is controlled by the clutch, that you can see in the bottom left hand corner of the picture. The drive shaft is a 60:1, The other three gears are a 4:1, 2:1, and a 1:1. The ratios are of the principle that once the ball is thrown, and the deck comes down, and goes back up and is waiting for the next ball, is considered a 360 degree cycle. Again, too much on the gearing to explain in this post, but it's interesting.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0133.jpg
Again, another picture of the gearbox, and the detector. The detector is slightly left of the center of the picture. It has the tan gear in/on top of it. This controls the whole operation of the machine, and is 100% mechanical. It works via cams, gears, and levers. It's really interesting to see it work.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0137.jpg
Another picture of the gearbox, but a view from the top. :D
HERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF RANDOM PICTURES FROM WORK.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0147.jpg
A ball going up the lift rods.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0148.jpg
A view from the back walkway behind the machines, and where I get around.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0143.jpg
The accelerator I was talking about. :D