US3785358A - Tennis ball propelling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A device employing motor driven variable speed drive means rotating two spaced propelling wheels rotating in opposite direction. Balls are fed into the ball propelling wheel assembly through a hopper incorporating an agitating carrousel with an auxiliary ball agitator. A speed drive with a split drive pulley varies the rate of rotation of the carrousel and the rate of delivery of the tennis balls through a tube to a ball feed guide, first positioning the balls in contact with the upper ball propelling wheel then into the ball propelling space. The angle of projection is regulated by adjustably varying the angle of the ball wheel arm. The device is normally electric powered incorporating remote control cables, a wheel mounted cabinet is desirable for mobility.

Description

United States patent DAngelo et a1.

TENNIS BALL PROPELLHNG MACll-llllNlE Inventors: Thomas ,1. DAngelo; William 111.

Strohmeyer; John 1K. Ulbrich, all of San Antonio, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Meyer Machine Company, San

Antonio, Tex.

Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 Appl. No.: 218,178

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1968 Maurey et al 74/230.17C 12/1959 Doeg r. 124/1 9/1968 Swartout.... 124/50 X 10/1971 Green 9/1971 Doeg 273/26 D X [451 Jan. 15,1974

1,743,576 1/1930 Smith ..124/49X 1,501,297 7/1924 Anderson 222/216 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne AttorneyWil1ard .l. Hodges, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A device employing motor driven variable speed drive means rotating two spaced propelling wheels rotating in opposite direction. Balls are fed into the ball propelling wheel assembly through a hopper incorporating an agitating carrousel with an auxiliary ball agitator. A speed drive with a split drive pulley varies the rate of rotation of the carrousel and the rate of delivcry of the tennis balls through a tube to a ball feed guide, first positioning the balls in contact with the upper ball propelling wheel then into the ball propelling space. The angle of projection is regulated by adjustably varying the angle of the ball wheel arm. The device is normally electric powered incorporating remote control cables, a wheel mounted cabinet is desirable for mobility. v

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED Y 51974 3. 785. 358

SHEET 2 BF 2 TENNIS BALL PROPELLING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention pertains to the art of propelling or projecting tennis balls by positioning them between two closely spaced opposite rotating wheels and frictionally projecting the balls at the tangent of the rotating wheels. The device is capable of being modified to project other types of balls such as baseballs.

2. Description of the Prior Art Numerous devices have been invented and patented pertaining to the art of projecting or propelling baseballs and tennis balls for player practice. Throwing arms, striking means, and propelling wheels have previously been utilized. US. Pat. Nos. 1,204,468, 2,729,206, 2,918,915 and 3,399,660 are typical of the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the art of mechanical tennis ball projecting means, it is highly desirable to impart an overspin to the ball to simulate the natural spin to the ball imparted by a forehand or backhand drive by a player. It is also necessary to vary the angle of trajectory or degree of loft of the ball. The rate and speed of delivery should also be controllable by adjustments integral in the projecting device. In the concept and development of the device of this invention, many objects and purposes were accomplished among which was the imparting of overspin on the projected ball. This has been accomplished by first positioning the ball in the ball feed guide in contact with the upper ball propelling wheel prior to contacting of the lower ball propelling wheel and projecting of the ball through the ball propelling space. The angle of trajectory is controlled by tilting the ball wheel arm on which the propelling wheels are mounted for rotation. This tilting varies the tangential angle of the two wheels comprising two parallel lines defining the ball propelling space. Adjustable variable speed drives vary the rate of rotation of the two propelling wheels. Bridging or arching of the balls in the feed hopper is eliminated by agitation cams, the carrousel pyramid, and the auxiliary agitator which are components of the ball feed mechanism. The rate of delivery of the balls to the ball propelling wheel assembly is accomplished through adjustable means in the feed belt drive regulating the rate of rotation of the ball carrousel. The combination of the device results in controlled delivery with a rate of drive and degree of lob simulating an expert opponent.

For a more detailed description of the construction and operation of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the attached several views wherein identical reference characters will be utilized to refer to identical or equivalent components throughout the various views and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of the device with a portion of the cabinet fragmented for clarity of view.

FIG. 2 is a-right side view of the device with reference to FIG. 1 with a portion of the cabinet fragmented fo clarity of view.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device disclosing primarily the interior of the ball hopper and that portion of the feed mechanism, comprising the carrousel ball agitator.

FIG. 4 is a slightly enlarged, fragmented sectional view of the device taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmented, sectionalized view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrates a view of the machine from the position of the player.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a description of the method of construction and use of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the various views. The device was constructed on a mounting frame 10 on which all of the propelling components were mounted. The device is enclosed in a cabinet 11. The ballpropelling wheel assembly 12 is powered by a drive motor 113 which is secured to amotor mounting board 14.Drive motor 13 had mounted on its output shaft a 3 A inch spring loaded variablevelocity split pulley 15. Driving force through V belt drive means is imparted next to a 3 inch outer V belt drive pulley 116 and in turn to an inner 5 inch V belt pulley 17 which are mounted side by side on the lower ballwheel drive shaft 18. With specific reference to FIG. 1 following the drive means a 4 k inch diameter upper ball wheelflat drive pulley 19 contacts theupper V belt 22. The belt proceeds around theflat drive pulley 19 toidler pulley 20 which retains and secures it in position and in contact withflat drive pulley 19. The feed belt drive means for the ballpropelling wheel assembly 12 comprises a motor drive belt 211 which interconnects variablevelocity split pulley 15 and outer pulley 16. The 5 inch diameter inner belt pulley 17 is connected toidler pulley 20 byupper V belt 22 whose outer surface contacts and drives upper ball wheelflat drive pulley 19. The lowerball propelling wheel 25 is secured to lower ballwheel drive shaft 18 adjacent the outer 16 and inner 117 V belt pulleys. Theball propelling wheels 25 and 32 should have an outside diameter of eleven inches with a diameter of ten inches in theball channel 26. The shaft for the lowerball propelling wheel 25 is mounted in a ball bearing mounting bracket (not shown) which is secured to mountingcross arm 29. The lowerball propelling wheel 25 and upperball propelling wheel 32 are maintained on a common axis and secured in relative position byball wheel arm 30 which is hingedly secured to mountingframe cross arm 29. The upperball wheel shaft 33 and lowerball wheel shaft 13 are rotatably mounted in ball bearing bracket means (not shown) secured to theball wheel arm 30. Idler pulley shaft 37 is likewise rotatably mounted onball wheel arm 30 above'the upperball wheel shaft 33 in suitable bearing means.

Adjustable means are provided to vary the relative position of lowerball propelling wheel 25 and the upperball propelling wheel 32. A tilting of theball wheel arm 30 varying the tangential angle of the closest point of contact ofwheel 25 and 32 and determines the angle of theball propelling space 36. This elevation control means 39 comprises an elevationcontrol mounting bracket 40 which is secured to mountingframe cross arm 29 adjacent cabinet 11. A turning of angle adjusting crank 41 drivesangle adjusting screw 42 on which is threadably mountedangle adjusting swivel 43. Thisswivel 43 is connected at its lower extremity to lower connectinglink 44 which is pivotally attached to elevationcontrol mounting bracket 40. The

upper connectinglink 45 interconnects elevation control means 39 toball wheel arm 30. A turning of angle adjusting crank 41 movesangle adjusting swivel 43 resulting in a tilting ofball wheel arm 30 varying the angle of tangential projection of ball propelling space The rate of rotation of ball propellingwheel assembly 12 is varied by the relative distance between variable velocities split pulley l5 and outer belt pulley 16. To accomplish this adjustmentmotor mounting board 14 is tiltably secured to apivot hinge 51 which in turn is fixedly attached to mounting frame bypivot hinge bracket 52. Attached to the opposite end ofmotor mounting board 14 ismotor board arm 53. This arm is pivotally attached tomotor lift rod 55 by means ofpivot 56. A motor lift crank 57 is operably attached to the opposite end ofmotor lift rod 55. A rotation of crank 57 will lift or depressdrive motor 13. A variation of the distance between variable velocity splitpulley 15 and outer V belt pulley 16 opens or closes variable velocity splitpulley 15 varying the diameter of its output. Employing a constant ratedrive motor, this adjustment will vary the revolution per minute of the lower and upper 32 ball propelling wheels. Amotor rod lock 58 is mounted on cabinet 11 adjacent motor lift crank 57 and comprises a hand rotated clamping device for securingmotor lift rod 55 in the selected adjusted position.

The components of this tennis ball propelling machine possessing the most salient novel features, in combination with the aforedescribed components, is theball feed mechanism 60. This mechanism is constructed in the top portion of the cabinet 11 frame 10 structure. Tennis balls may be delivered from theball feed mechanism 60 through a 3 /2 inch flexibleball feed tube 61 which is operably attached to ball feedguide 62.Ball feed guide 62 is retained in position relative the upperball propelling wheel 32 by means of an upper ball feedguidebracket 63 which is rigidly secured toball wheel arm 30. The lower end of ball feedguide 62 is maintained in position by means of the lowerfeed guide bracket 59. An important feature of ball feedguide 62 is its relative position tangentially adjacent and arcuately spaced congruent with the circumference of upperball propelling wheel 32. The combined function of these components impart an overspin to the balls delivered by the ball propellingwheel assembly 12. At the opposite end of theball feed tube 61 isball hopper 64. Mounted for rotation in the base of theball hopper 64 is aball carrousel 65. Thiscarrousel 65 is a cylindrical like structure approximately 9 inches in diameter and 3 inches in length. Thiscarrousel 65 has constructed in its outer circumference fourball pockets 66 which are 2 /8 inches in diameter. Mounted adjacent the space between these ball pockets 60 are four small raisedagitation cams 67. Mounted in the center of theball carrousel 65 is acarrousel pyramid 68 with a base of approximately four inches and a height of approximately 5 inches. In the bottom ofball hopper 64 is an opening communicating with theball feed tube 61. A ball stop 69 projects over thecarrousel 65 above this opening to insure that only one ball is delivered to theball feed tube 61 at a time. To further prevent bridging or arching of the balls and to assist continuous feed through theball feed mechanism 60 there is mounted adjacent thecarrousel 65 anauxiliary agitator 70. This device compises a three-pronged agitator with arms of about 2 inches in length. The arms project outward from a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the interior surface ofball hopper 64. Mounted on the exterior surface ofball hopper 64 isagitator motor 71. This motor is interconnected to source of electric power and rotates theauxiliary agitator 70. Mounted on the base ofball hopper 64 is a carrousel drive motor 73 and to the shaft of this motor is secured a carrousel split drivepulley 74. Rotatably mounted in the base ofball hopper 64 is carrousel drive shaft 72. The ball carrousel 65 is mounted on and driven by this shaft 72. Secured to the lower extremity of this shaft 72 iscarrousel drive pulley 75. Adjustably positioned between carrousel split drivepulley 74 and carrousel drivepulley 75 is a carrouselidler pulley 76. Thispulley 76 is mounted on idler arm 77 which may be selectively positioned and secured byidler arm clamp 78. Thesepulleys 74, 75, and 76 are interconnected bycarrousel V belt 79. Thus, a variation of tensioning of this V"belt 79 by means of idler arm 77 and carrousel idlerpulley 76 opens or closes the carrousel split drivepulley 74 and varies the rate of rotation ofball carrousel 65. This adjustment will determine the rate of feed of the tennis balls to theball feed guide 62 which delivers the balls to ball propellingwheel assembly 12. Acarrousel switch 80, FIG. 4, may be provided to interrupt or control the power supply to the carrousel drivemotor 73. Such aswitch 80 may be attached to themotor 73 by means of a long remote control cable (not shown) to permit the coach or operator of the device to control its operation from a distance.

OPERATION In placing the tennis ball propelling machine in operation, the supply oftennis balls 81 are placed in theball hopper 64. The power supply cables of thedrive motor 13,agitator motor 71, and carrousel drivemotor 73 are attached to an external electrical supply which in your preferred embodiment was the standard 1 10 volt AC house circuit. The wiring cables have not been illustrated or described in detail in that a well known wiring harness of conventional design was employed. The machine is faced in the direction in which it is desired to propel]tennis balls 81. The hand adjusting crank 41 may be turned moving the elevation control means 39 tilting theball wheel arm 30 which accomplishes a tilt of the ball propellingwheel assembly 12 to accomplish the projecting of theballs 81 at the desired angle.

A loosening ofmotor rod lock 58 will permit a movement of motor lift crank 57 which operates throughmotor lift rod 55 which throughpivot 56 andmotor board arm 53 will raise or lowermotor mounting board 14 aroundpivot hinge 51 and thereby adjust the speed of propelling of thetennis balls 81 by the device. This variable rate of drive is accomplished through spring loaded variable velocity splitpulley 15 secured to the output shaft ofmotor 13. The lowering ofmotor mounting board 14 tensions motor drive belt 21 expanding variable velocity split pulley l5 reducing its diameter which, in turn, would reduce the rate of rotation of outer pulley 16 which directly affects the rate of rotation imparted to lowerball propelling wheel 25 and the upperball propelling wheel 32. This adjustment directly affects the velocity whichballs 81 are propelled from theball propelling space 36.

The rate of delivery of theballs 81 to the device is regulated by a loosening ofidle arm clamp 78 and a movement of idle arm 77 and a positioning of carrousel idlerpulley 76 in a position t0 vary the tension of thecarrousel V belt 79 which would expand carrousel split drivepulley 74 reducing its diameter thereby reducing the rate of drive of carrousel drivepulley 75 and in turn the rate of rotation ofball carrousel 65. With the device thus placed in the desired mode of operation, the coach or player may also control or interrupt the rate or interval of delivery ofballs 81 by thecarrousel 65 to the device by means of carrousel switch 8% which may, if desired, be connected to the carrousel drivemotor 73 by means of a long extension cable (not shown).

I claim:

l. A ball propelling machine comprising:

a. a mounting frame structurally capable of receiving and securely retaining multiple components,

b. a ball propelling wheel assembly, tiltably mounted on said mounting frame,

c. said ball propelling wheel assembly comprising:

1. a lower ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted on said frame structure,

2. an upper ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted above said lower ball propelling wheel and spaced therefrom, said spaced relationship defining a ball propelling space,

d. a ball feed guide mounted and retained tangentially adjacent and arcuately spaced concentric with the circumference of said upper ball propelling wheel at a distance sufficiently close to insure substantial continuous contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel of a ball to be propelled, said ball feed guide being positioned so as to bring a ball being propelled by the machine into contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel at a point above the said ball propelling space,

e. means for deliverying a ball to said ball guide,

f. drive means for rotating selected components of said ball propelling machine,

g. a ball hopper including a floor mounted above said ball feed guide,

h. a ball feed tube interconnecting said ball hopper and said ball feed guide,

i. a ball carrousel having substantially a cylindrical configuration, the axis of said cylinder extending upward from the floor of said ball hopper, said ball carrousel rotatibly mounted in said ball hopper,

j. a recessed cylindrical indentation constructed in the circumferential surface of said ball carrousel, said indentation extending the length of said cylindrical carrousel, said indentation defining a ball pocket,

k. an opening in the floor of said ball hopper constructed and arranged to permit a ball to pass from said ball pocket into said ball feed tube, and

l. a raised agitation cam secured to the upper surface of said ball carrousel.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a ear rousel pyramid secured to the upper surface of said ball carrousel and projecting into said ball hopper.

3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a ball stop secured to the interior surface of said ball hopper so positioned as to project over a said ball pocket at the position of cummunication with said ball feed tube.

4. The invention of claim ll further comprising variable drive means for rotating said ball carrousel at selected rates of rotation thereby varying the rate of delivery of balls to said ball propelling wheel assembly.

5. The invention ofclaim 4 wherein said variable drive means comprises:

a. carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley,

b. means for rotating said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley,

c. a carrousel drive pulley operably secured to said carrousel,

.d. a carrousel V belt interconnecting said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley and said carrousel drive pulley, and

e. a carrousel idler pulley adjustably positioned between said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley and said carrousel drive pulley, said carrousel idler pulley thereby contacting and selectively applying pressure to said \I" belt and varying tension on same thereby varying rate of drive through action of said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley.

6. The invention ofclaim 41 wherein said variable drive means comprises a remote control means attached to said variable drive means to selectively activate and de-activate said drive means.

7. The invention of claim ll wherein said drive means operably associated with said ball propelling wheel assembly further comprises:

a. an upper ball propelling wheel drive pulley of lesser effective drive diameter than,

b. the effective drive diameter of said lower ball propelling wheel drive pulley,

c. and the difference of effective diameters of said pulleys causes a greater rate of rotation for said upper ball propelling wheel relative to said lower ball propelling wheel.

8. A ball propelling machine comprising:

a. a mounting frame structurally capable of receiving and securely retaining multiple components,

b. a ball propelling wheel assembly tiltably mounted on said mounting frame,

c. said ball propelling wheel assembly comprising:

1. a lower ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted on said frame structure,

2. an upper ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted above said lower ball propelling wheel and spaced therefrom, said spaced relationship defin ing a ball propelling space,

d. a ball feed guide mounted and retained tangentially adjacent and arcuately spaced concentric with the circumference of said upper ball propelling wheel at a distance sufficiently close to insure substantial continuous contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel of a ball to be propelled, said ball feed guide being positioned so as to bring a ball being propelled by the machine into contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel at a point above the said ball propelling space,

e. means for delivering a ball to said ball guide,

f. drive means for rotating selected components of said ball propelling machine,

g. a ball hopper including a floor mounted above said ball feed guide,

h. a ball feed tube interconnecting said ball hopper and said ball feed guide,

j. a recessed cylindrical indentation constructed in 7 8 i. a ball carrousel having substantially a cylindrical pocket,

configuration, the axis of said cylinder extending k an opening i h fl f id b ll hopper upward from the floor of Sam ball hopper Said ball structed and arranged to permit a ball to pass from carrousel rotatibly mounted in said ball hopper, said ball pocket into said ball feed tube and the circumferential surface of said ball carrousel, an auxiliary agitator rotatibly Secured to and said indentation extending the length of said cylinj g into Said ball hopperdrical carrousel, said indentation defining a ball

Claims (10)

1. A ball propelling machine comprising: a. a mounting frame structurally capable of receiving and securely retaining multiple components, b. a ball propelling wheel assembly, tiltably mounted on said mounting frame, c. said ball propelling wheel assembly comprising: 1. a lower ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted on said frame structure, 2. an upper ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted above said lower ball propelling wheel and spaced therefrom, said spaced relationship defining a ball propelling space, d. a ball feed guide mounted and retained tangentially adjacent and arcuately spaced concentric with the circumference of said upper ball propelling wheel at a distance sufficiently close to insure substantial continuous contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel of a ball to be propelled, said ball feed guide being positioned so as to bring a ball being propelled by the machine into contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel at a point above the said ball propelling space, e. means for delivering a ball to said ball guide, f. drive means for rotating selected components of said ball propelling machine, g. a ball hopper including a floor mounted above said ball feed guide, h. a ball feed tube interconnecting said ball hopper and said ball feed guide, i. a ball carrousel having substantially a cylindrical configuration, the axis of said cylinder extending upward from the floor of said ball hopper, said ball carrousel rotatibly mounted in said ball hopper, j. a recessed cylindrical indentation constructed in the circumferential surface of said ball carrousel, said indentation extending the length of said cylindrical carrousel, said indentation defining a ball pocket, k. an opening in the floor of said ball hopper constructed and arranged to permit a ball to pass from said ball pocket into said ball feed tube, and l. a raised agitation cam secured to the upper surface of said ball carrousel.

2. an upper ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted above said lower ball propelling wheel and spaced therefrom, said spaced relationship defining a ball propelling space, d. a ball feed guide mounted and retained tangentially adjacent and arcuately spaced concentric with the circumference of said upper ball propelling wheel at a distance sufficiently close to insure substantial continuous contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel of a ball to be propelled, said ball feed guide being positioned so as to bring a ball being propelled by the machine into contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel at a point above the said ball propelling space, e. means for delivering a ball to said ball guide, f. drive means for rotating selected components of said ball propelling machine, g. a ball hopper including a floor mounted above said ball feed guide, h. a ball feed tube interconnecting said ball hopper and said ball feed guide, i. a ball carrousel having substantially a cylindrical configuration, the axis of said cylinder extending upward from the floor of said ball hopper, said ball carrousel rotatibly mounted in said ball hopper, j. a recessed cylindrical indentation constructed in the circumferential surface of said ball carrousel, said indentation extending the length of said cylindrical carrousel, said indentation defining a ball pocket, k. an opening in the floor of said ball hopper constructed and arranged to permit a ball to pass from said ball pocket into said ball feed tube, and l. an auxiliary agitator rotatibly secured to and projecting into said ball hopper.

2. an upper ball propelling wheel rotatibly mounted above said lower ball propelling wheel and spaced therefrom, said spaced relationship defining a ball propelling space, d. a ball feed guide mounted and retained tangentially adjacent and arcuately spaced concentric with the circumference of said upper ball propelling wheel at a distance sufficiently close to insure substantial continuous contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel of a ball to be propelled, said ball feed guide being positioned so as to bring a ball being propelled by the machine into contact with the said upper ball propelling wheel at a point above the said ball propelling space, e. means for delivering a ball to said ball guide, f. drive means for rotating selected components of said ball propelling machine, g. a ball hopper including a floor mounted above said ball feed guide, h. a ball feed tube interconnecting said ball hopper and said ball feed guide, i. a ball carrousel having substantially a cylindrical configuration, the axis of said cylinder extending upward from the floor of said ball hopper, said ball carrousel rotatibly mounted in said ball hopper, j. a recessed cylindrical indentation constructed in the circumferential surface of said ball carrousel, said indentation extending the length of said cylindrical carrousel, said indentation defining a ball pocket, k. an opening in the floor of said ball hopper constructed and arranged to permit a ball to pass from said ball pocket into said ball feed tube, and l. a raised agitation cam secured to the upper surface of said ball carrousel.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a carrousel pyramid secured to the upper surface of said ball carrousel and projecting into said ball hopper.

3. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a ball stop secured to the interior surface of said ball hopper so positioned as to project over a said ball pocket at the position of communication with said ball feed tube.

4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising variable drive means for rotating said ball carrousel at selected rates of rotation thereby varying the rate of delivery of balls to said ball propelling wheel assembly.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said variable drive means comprises: a. carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley, b. means for rotating said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley, c. a carrousel drive pulley operably secured to said carrousel, d. a carrousel ''''V'''' belt interconnecting said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley and said carrousel drive pulley, and e. a carrousel idler pulley adjustably positioned between said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley and said carrousel drive pulley, said carrousel idler pulley thereby contacting and selectively applying pressure to said ''''V'''' belt and varying tension on same thereby varying rate of drive through action of said carrousel spring loaded variable velocity split drive pulley.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said variable drive means comprises a remote control means attached to said variable drive means to selectively activate and de-activate said drive means.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said drive means operably associated with said ball propelling wheel assembly further comprises: a. aN upper ball propelling wheel drive pulley of lesser effective drive diameter than, b. the effective drive diameter of said lower ball propelling wheel drive pulley, c. and the difference of effective diameters of said pulleys causes a greater rate of rotation for said upper ball propelling wheel relative to said lower ball propelling wheel.

8. A ball propelling machine comprising: a. a mounting frame structurally capable of receiving and securely retaining multiple components, b. a ball propelling wheel assembly tiltably mounted on said mounting frame, c. said ball propelling wheel assembly comprising:

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