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

Supremely cool, I've always wondered how that works.

Now a couple of pictures of my shop. It's been kind of redone since these pictures were taken, but what the hell...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0120.jpg

That's my desk. We've got a new one since this was taken.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0118.jpg

Parts wall, we keep the bigger stuff that cant fit in drawers on the wall, and it's easier to know what parts to order when you can see them.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0116.jpg

Parts bins. Where we keep the smaller stuff, and the nut/bolt cabinet. =)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0123.jpg

:D :D :D :D


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0124.jpg

It isn't much, but it gets the job done. :(


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0126.jpg

15 ton press for pressing on the big cams and such that you saw in the above pictures.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0127.jpg

Oxy/Acetylene tanks for cutting. They should be chained to the wall, but OSHA isn't going to ever come back there... I hope. A vaccum, and a AC/DC 300/200 Miller Thunderbolt XL welder. Now, those tanks REALLY shouldn't be in that room...


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0125.jpg

The welding table/take my anger out table. Trust me, it's been cleaned since the picture was taken....

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/120808_114300.jpg

Mmmhmm... for those nosy managers that like to visit me in my shop. They usually cant read the helmet for a few minutes after getting a nice arc flash.

Now, this is a from a gearbox that I ripped apart today.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/112508_145700.jpg

Off the machine, it's a beast. I think it weighs over 250 Lbs with everything in it.


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/120908_181700.jpg

The gearbox housing itself with the gears ripped out


http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/120908_181600.jpg

The 4:1, 2:1, and the 1:1 with the detector out of the gearbox.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/120908_181701.jpg

All the other dirty crap that I took off the gearbox.

__________________________________________________ ____


Any questions about this stuff and I'd be happy to answer them. I hope you enjoyed it.

If you tell me no one has died in your [awesome] work shop, I'm forever calling you a liar.

Nope. Does it really look that dangerous?

Nope. Does it really look that dangerous?

It's got a nice peaceful flow, in between the beaten-in door and the claw marks on the ground :D
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0123.jpg

It's got a nice peaceful flow, in between the beaten-in door and the claw marks on the ground :D
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/O__RLY/100_0123.jpg

And the fan that appears to be rigged to take out anyone that comes through the door.

Nope. Does it really look that dangerous?

Just curious... Why do you not post the entire truth table in your sig???

Sounds like a pretty cool job to be honest. You could go in there with a wild hangover and nobody would know.

Is it bad that I judge jobs on how drunk you can be before you get fired?

One question
Where abouts do you store the monkeys that stack the pins? I didn't see their cages anywhere...
Nah!!! I actually found that interesting :D