Improvements in and relating to Weighing Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Weighing Machines.
We, MATTHEW BLAKE and JOHN BARCLAY, both of the Firm of Blake Barclay
and Company, Engineers, Victoria Works, Greenock, Renfrewshire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new method and machine or mechanism for
weighing and recording the weight of grain, coal, ores or other material while it is
being travelled on chain band, pan, tray or other conveyors, this being effected by
these improvements in an automatic and continuous manner.
In carrying these improvements into effect a horizontal base frame would have
two vertical columns or standards bolted at its one end and one column at its other
end. A balanced steel-yard arm or lever would be fulcrumed on a knife edge in a
frame plate near its one end and an open vertical link or bar frame would be
suspended from this end of lever and pass down below the base plate where a
transverse spindle carrying a roller would be mounted in eye bearings at lower
forked end of frame. The conveyor band and material to be weighed is
transmitted or passed over this roller. This roller would be held longitudinally
and transversely in position by a set of drag links braced with diagonal stays and
hinged say on conveyor faming. A pendulum counterbalance weighted rod is
hung from steel yard arm so that in its normal position with conveyor empty its
centre of gravity comes under the fulcrum of arm.
The other end of the steel yard-arm is left free to balance the load on conveyor
and is steadied preferably by a vertical rod having a disc freely suspended in an
oil cylinder or dash pot on base plate of machine, and from this end of arm the
weight record readings are taken. For this purpose a frame is carried at the
upper part of the vertical column and a moveable vertical quadrant is mounted to
oscillate on this frame, the top edge surface of quadrant bearing under the free
end of steel yard arm. A rod is connected at its one end to the oscillating quadrant
frame and at its other end to the vertical arm of a bell cranked lever fulcrumed to
machine frame and having a counterweight on its horizontal arm. A similar rod
and lever are mounted adjacent to the aforesaid and the end of rod is connected to
the lower end of a vertical lever or link having its upper end fulcrumed or hung
on a pin in machine frame and which is termed. the steel yard arm compression
lever. The forked vertical parts of the bell crank levers have anti-friction rollers,
mounted on pins in them, and these rollers are acted on by cams mounted on a
transverse spindle rotating in bearings on a bracket in machine frame, and this
spindle is driven by bevel or other gear from and in time unison with the shaft
which actuates the conveyor band or from one of the guide rollers of the conveyor
band and this is so geared as to measure and record the weight passing over
conveyor in definite portions and at definite recurring intervals corresponding to
the movement of conveyor and distance between supports.
A pawl is mounted on the quadrant frame and when the steel-yard rises the
quadrant is brought by its counterweight lever a starting or forward stroke under
it, and then the cam will actuate the lever and rod and give the quadrant a return
stroke proportionate to the load and the pawl on quadrant will actuate a ratchet
wheel mounted on a spindle in framing. This spindle would have a chain wheel
mounted on it and through an endless chain and pinion transmit its motion to a

page_text: spindle to which a weight recording counting machine is attached or other suitable
gear might be used. Instead of a counting machine a paper barrel and marking
pencil may be used working in time unison with the travelling load. The com-
pression lever is operated on by its cam in time unison and holds the steel-yard arm
in position and prevents any movement of it taking place while the quadrant is
taking the weight readings. A graduated test plate is mounted on machine frame
opposite the oscillating end of steel yard lever, to show the load at any particular
moment. A shifting balance weight is mounted on the steel yard lever so as to
counterbalance the weight of conveyor band when unloaded.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When a weight is passed over the roller on suspended frame at fulcrated end of
steel-yard arm, it depresses it and draws down frame and end of yard arm thereby.
elevating oscillating end. The compression lever coming forward holds yard arm
in this position until the moveable quadrant is brought forward to take readings.
Both these movements being made as described with cams and levers the compression
lever a little in advance and remaining stationary till after the quadrant has taken
readings and is on the returning stroke. The quadrant on its forward stroke by
the action of counterweight brings along with it as described a pawl which works
on a ratchet wheel and on the quadrant touching yard arm it remains stationary
the cam performing the rest of the stroke without displacing it. On the backward
stroke the cam catches up quadrant forcing it back to its original position and the
pawl fixed to it also forces round ratchet wheel. From this wheel the readings
are conveyed to the counting machine. This motion is continuous, the weight
passed over roller being indicated by the rise of the yard arm, which in turn
regulates the distance quadrant falls forward to transmit on its return stroke the
motion to ratchet wheel and counting mechanism. If a uniform weight is passed
over roller, yard arm remains stationary and the quadrant falls forward same
distance every stroke, and ratchet wheel and counter indicate a uniform load upon
conveyor. If the weight is not uniform variable quantities are indicated on each
stroke.
With this arrangement when the load is travelling over the suspended weighing
roller the vertical pendulum arm is caused to sway backwards until the horizontal
distance between centre of gravity of arm and fulcrum of steel yard multiplied by
moveable balance weight equals leverage at fore end of steel yard multiplied into
passing load.
The pawl used to transmit motion to ratchet wheel would preferably consist of
four pawl arms of variable length mounted on the one 'spindle; or instead of
toothed pawls a friction pawl or clutch organ may be used to slip over a plain
surface wheel on the forward stroke of quadrant and oscillate and grip the wheel
on the return stroke of quadrant acting like a silent feed. A pawl would be used
to prevent ratchet wheel from slipping back. Instead of quadrant having a smooth
acting curved surface for steel yard to bear on said surface may be stepped in
which case the compressing lever mechanisin may be dispensed with and instead of
an oscillatory motion a reciprocating movement may be given to the pawl lever, or
quadrant.
Instead of the recording mechanism being located as described it may be placed
at one side near end of machine where suspended roller is situated and the pendulum
weight hang down at one end of lever or have a spring at opposite end. Or the
registered weighings may be transmitted through lever or other gear to the
recording mechanism located some distance away from suspended conveyor roller;
or said measuring quadrant and gear may be arranged to take readings at lower
end of vertical pendulum arm.
Dated the 10th day of May 1895.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co..

page_text: Improvements in and relating to weighing Machines.
We, MATTHEW BLAKE, and JOHN BARCLAY, both of the Firm of Blake
Barclay and Company, Engineers, Victoria Works, Greenock, Renfrewshire, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing that is to say :—
This invention has reference to a new method and machine or mechanism for
weighing and recording the weight of grain, coal, oras or other material while it is
being travelled on chain, band, pan, tray or other conveyers, this being effected by
these improvements in an automatic and continuous manner.
I
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
same into practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto appen lel two
sheets of explanatory drawings in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 an end view of a weighing
machine as constructed in accordance with our improvements, while Figure 3 is a
perspective view of part of the mechanism broken away.
Figure 4 on Sheet 2 is a detached elevation of part of the mechanism, showing
principally the qudrant and pawls and operating levers and cams. Figure 5 are
detached views at right angles to each other showing the operating pawls and part
of ratchet wheel. While Figure 6 is a plan view broken away of the counterpoise
roller and steadying framing located below conveyor band.
Referring to these drawings:-
In carrying these improvements into effect a horizontal base frame A would have
two vertical columns or standards A' A' bolted at its one end, and one column A²
at its other end. A balance steel yard arm or lever B would be fulcrumed on a
knife edge in a frame plate B' near its one end, and an open vertical link or bar
frame B³ would be suspended from this end of lever Band pass down below the
base plate A where a transvere spindle B carrying a roller B³ would be mounted
in eye bearings at lower forked end of frame B³. The conveyor band C and
material C¹ to be weighed or transmitted or passed over this roller B. This
roller B would as shown in Figure 6 be held longitudinally and transversely in
position by a set of drag links C2 braced with diagonal stays C³ and hinged say
at C* on conveyor framing. A pendulum counterbalance weighted rod b is hung
from steel yard arm B so that in its normal position with conveyor empty its centre
of gravity comes under the fulcrum of arm B.
The other end B2 of the steel yard arm B is left free to balance the load on
conveyor, and is steadied preferably by a vertical rod 6 having a disc freely
suspended in an oil cylinder or dash pot 62 on base plate A of machine, and from
this end B² of arm B the weight record readings are taken. For this purpose a
frame D is carried at the upper part of the vertical column A² and a moveable
vertical quadrant a is mounted to oscillate on this frame D, the top edge surface a¹
of quadrant a bearing under the free end of steel yard arm B. A rod c is con-
nected at its one end to the oscillating quadrant frame a and at its other end to the
vertical arm'c' of a bell crank lever ce fulcrumed at es to machine frame D and having .
a counterweight on its horizontal arm c². This rod c is fitted with a coupling a*
for adjusting the quadrant a. A similar rod d and bell crank lever d' d² fulcrumed
at d and having a counterweight d are mounted adjacent to the aforesaid, and
the end of rod d is connected to the lower end of a vertical lever or link d
having its upper end fulcrumed or hung on a pin at de in machine frame D, and
which is termed the steel yard arm compression lever. The forked vertical

page_text: parts cd of the bell crank levers have anti-friction rollers ex d* mounted on pins
in them, and these rollers are acted on by cams e¹, e, mounted on a transverse
spindle e rotating in bearings on a bracket D' in machine frame D, and this
spindle e is shown as driven by bevel gear e³ to 6 from and in time unison with
the shaft which actuates the conveyor band C, or from one of the guide rollers C
of the conveyor band and this is so geared as to measure and record the weight
passing over conveyor in definite portions and at definite recurring intervals
corresponding to the movement of conveyor and distance between supports.
A pawl as is mounted on the quadrant frame a and when the steel yard B rises,
the quadrant a is brought by its counterweight lever ce a starting or forward
stroke under it, and then the cam e' will operate on the roller c* to actuate the
lever e¹ and rod c and give the quadrant a a¹ return stroke proportionate to the
load, and the pawl a ou quadrant a will actuate a ratchet wheel mounted on a
spindle in framing D over which the quadrant a oscillates. This spindle f
would have a chain wheel mounted on it and through an endless chains and
pinion transmit its motion to a spindle to which a weight recording counting
machine of ordinary construction at Z is attached, or other suitable gear might be
used. Instead of a counting machine a paper barrel and marking pencil, of
ordinary construction and action, may be used working in time unison with the
travelling load. The compression lever c¹³ is operated on by its cam e¹ in time
unison and holds the steel yard arm B in position and prevents any movement of
it taking place, while the quadrant a is taking the weight readings. A graduated
test plate h is mounted on machine frame opposite the oscillating end B² of steel
yard lever B to show the load at any particular moment. A shifting balance
weight B is mounted on the steel yard lever B so as to counterbalance the weight
of conveyor band C when unloaded.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When a weight is passed over the roller B on suspended frame B3 at fulcrated
end B of steel yard arm B, it depresses it and draws down frame B³ and end of
yard arm, thereby elevating oscillating end B. The link d³ of the compression
levers d to de coming forward holds steel yard arm B in this position until the
moveable quadrant a is brought forward to take readings.
Both these movements being made as described with cams el e² and lever
connections c to c and d to do the link d of compression levers a little in
advance and remaining stationary till after the quadrant a has taken readings
and is on the returning stroke. The quadrant a on its forward stroke by
the action of counterweight e brings along with it as described a pawl a
which actuates the ratchet wheel and on the quadrant a touching steel yard
arm B it remains stationary, the cam el performing the rest of the stroke without
displacing it. On the backward stroke the cam e catches up quadrant a forcing
it back to its original position and the pawl a' fixed to it also forces round ratchet
wheel. From this wheel the readings are conveyed to an ordinary counting
machine Z. This motion is continuous the weight passed over roller B³ being
indicated by the rise of the yard arm B, which in turn regulates the distance
quadrant a falls forward to transmit, on its return stroke, the motion to ratchet
wheel and counting mechanism. If a uniform weight is passed over roller B³,
yard arm B remains stationary and the quadrant a falls forward same distance
every stroke, and ratchet wheel and counter indicate a uniform load upon
conveyor. If the weight is not uniform variable quantities are indicated on each
stroke.
With this arrangement when the load is travelling over the suspended weighing
roller B the vertical pendulum arm b is caused to sway backwards until the
horizontal distance between centre of gravity of arm and fulcrum B₁ of steel
yard B multiplied by moveable balance weight, equals leverage at fore end of steel
yard B multiplied into passing load. A graduated index h may be used in front
of up and down movement of steel yard to show next weights placed on suspension
rods of machine when standing balanced by pendulum weight; while an index h¹

page_text: may be used of same weights when position of steel yard is modified by tension on
chain.
The, pawl used to transmit motion to ratchet wheel would preferably consist of
four pawl arms a² of variable length mounted on the one spindle a³ or instead of
toothed pawls a friction pawl or clutch organ of ordinary construction may be
used to slip over a plain surface wheel, instead of ratchet wheel on the forward
stroke of quadrant a and oscillate and grip the wheel on the return strike of
quadrant a acting like a silent feed. A pawl would be used to prevent ratchet
wheel from slipping back. Instead of quadrant a having a smooth acting curved
surface a¹ for steel yard B to bear on, said surface a may be stepped, in which
case the compressing lever mechanism d to do may be dispensed with, and instead
of an oscillating motion a reciprocating movement may be given to the pawl lever,
or quadrant a by ordinary equivalent mechanism.
Instead of the recording mechanism being located as described, it may be placed
at one side near end of machine where suspended roller B is situated, and the
pendulum weight & hang down at one end of lever or have a spring at opposite
end. Or the registered weighings may be transmitted through lever or other gear
to the recording mechanism located some distance away from suspended conveyor
roller; or said measuring quadrant and gear may be arranged to take readings
at lower end of vertical pendulum arm, these positions being varied to suit
circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The method of automatically and continuously weighing and recording
the weight of grain, coal, ores and the like, while it is being carried on conveyors,
substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. The general construction or arrangement and combination of the parts
of a weighing machine for automatically and continuously weighing and recording
the weight of grain, coal, ores, and the like, carried on conveyors, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In weighing machines, the arrangement and use of lever mechanism for
acting on the quadrant and steel yard arm to automatically and continuously
weigh and record the weight of material carried by band or other conveyors,
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated 10th day of February 1896.