Ball speed automatic pausal indicator

Abstract

A ball speed automatic pausal indicator comprising a ball speed indicator assembly and an automatic reverse motion pauser. The ball speed indicator assembly includes a ball speed scale mounted on a rotatable drum and a stationary flat lens with a reference hairline. The automatic reverse pauser includes a battery, a timer motor, a cam driven by a speed reducer gear drive, a normally closed cam actuated switch, a normally open slip ring segment switch and a pawl-cogwheel combination. An indicator suitable for a pitching practice apparatus with a pivoted ball target plate. In the initial position, the cam actuated switch and the slip ring segment switch are both open. After a ball impacts the ball target plate of the apparatus, the indicator scale, the slip ring segment switch and the cogwheel will rotate with their common shaft. The slip ring segment switch will then close causing the timer motor to start. Operation of the timer motor will rotate the cam which will initially close the cam actuated switch and after a period of time, which is the pausal duration, will release the pawl from the cogwheel, allowing the cogwheel, slip ring segment switch and the indicator scale to return to their initial positions. The timer motor will continue to operate until the cam actuated switch is opened by cam action. Thus, the apparatus and the ball speed automatic pausal indicator are automatically restored to their initial positions. The pausal duration, during which the user of the apparatus should be able to read the speed of the pitched ball, can be set at the desired value by means of an adjustable resistor connected in series with the timer motor.

1 . An automatic reverse motion pauser of a ball speed indicator for the pitching practice apparatus.  
   
   
       2 . An automatic reverse motion pauser which comprises: a battery for providing electrical power, a chassis for providing structural support; a shaft; a normally open slip ring segment switch coaxial with, electrically insulated from, and fixedly connected to the shaft; a cogwheel coaxial with and fixedly connected to the shaft; a spring-loaded pawl constantly urged to engage with said cogwheel; a speed reducer gear drive; a timer motor for providing mechanical power to said speed reducer gear drive; a cam fixedly connected to the output shaft of said speed reducer gear drive; a normally closed cam actuated switch; and electrical wiring for connecting in series the battery, the parallel combination of said slip ring segment switch and said cam actuated switch, and said timer motor.  
   
   
       3 . The automatic reverse motion pauser of  claim 2  wherein said cam actuated switch and said slip ring segment switch are initially open.  
   
   
       4 . The automatic reverse motion pauser of  claim 2  wherein said cam will rotate in a manner such that said cam actuated switch is closed by cam action first and after a pausal duration, said pawl is disengaged from said cogwheel by cam action followed by the opening of said cam actuated switch also by cam action.  
   
   
       5 . The automatic reverse motion pauser of  claim 2  wherein the pausal duration is adjusted by means of an adjustable resistor connected in series with said timer motor.