IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING AND MEASURING MACHINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Baxter, of The Lawn, Brixton Hill, in
the County of Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING
AND MEASURING MACHINES."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Baxter at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th December 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY BAXTER, of The Lawn, Brixton Hill, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING AND MEASURING MACHINES."
The object of my present Invention is to improve those classes of weighing and
measuring machines described in the Provisional Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me dated July 30, 1880, No. 3137, and other similar machines, whereby
(first) the noise, and consequently the vibration, and wear and tear occasioned by
the return motion of the beam after weighing or measuring are prevented;
(secondly) the manufacture of certain modifications described in the Provisional
Specification of the said Patent is more easily carried out; (thirdly) where sufficient
height is available the speed of the machines so described may be accelerated;
and (fourthly) the adaptation of the semi-automatic machine to the weighing of
fluids.
I will now describe my first mentioned improvement, which is applicable to
semi-automatic or automatic weighing and measuring machines generally, and
afterwards its application to the semi-automatic weighing or measuring machine
described in the Provisional Specification of the before mentioned Letters Patent.
On an arm of the beam or on an arm moving with or actuated by the beam,
and as far as convenient from its centre of motion, I mount on a suitable axis a
piece of metal free to vibrate within certain defined limits as the aforesaid beam
or arm is moved up and down; this piece is shaped and centred so as always to
remain against one or the other limit of motion, and has a portion of it formed or
provided with a point or hook capable of engaging into the teeth of a controlling
wheel when suitably placed. On a pin fixed to the frame of the machine or on a
shaft rotating therein is placed the above mentioned wheel, preferably formed with
ratchet shaped teeth, and it is rotated at the required speed by any suitable moving
The
power which will cause the said wheel to revolve slowly without slipping.
said wheel is so placed. relatively to the beam or arm that when the latter is in a

page_text: position ready to fall back after the operations of weighing, or measuring, and
discharging, the pointed or hooked portion of the said piece of metal shall engage
in one of the teeth of the said wheel which, slowly revolving, allows the beam to
fall back in a gentle and noiseless manner without shock to the sensitive portions
of the machine; by the consequent alteration in the position of the beam or arm
the piece of metal falls over against the stop to which it now inclines, and remains
perfectly clear from interference with the said wheel or any other portion of the
machine until after the beam or arm has again operated.
I apply the above improvement to the semi-automatic weighing or measuring
machines described in my aforesaid Provisional Specification by fixing a wheel on
the axis of the pinion which actuates the cylinder or receptacle, and connecting it
with a similar wheel moving with the said controlling wheel in such manner that
there shall be no slip. Where no power is available to control the revolutions of
the said controlling wheel I connect with it by means of an ordinary wheel or
train of wheels or otherwise an oblique toothed wheel working in a worm which
carries a fly, or I connect it with any other suitable description of governor.
I do not confine myself to a ratchet wheel in any of the above applications, as in
some cases it may be more desirable to use a disc with pins on the face of it, or any
suitably formed wheel may be employed for this purpose. As regards my second
improvement, sometimes instead of fixing a disc or wheel and disc combined on the
axis of the cylinder, I cast a flange or flanges on the end or ends of the cylinder,
and keep down the latter while discharging by the stop or roller fixed on the frame
pressing on the outside or the inside of the said flange or flanges. In place of the pin
on the discharging apparatus which strikes the diminishing tray when it falls so as
to finally close it, and of the weighted lever which keeps open the said diminishing
tray while the small stream is running, and of the plate against which the said
tray strikes, I substitute a second tray actuated by the said discharging apparatus
to cut off the small stream, and a pin with or without a set screw to determine the
point to which the diminishing tray shall fall. In place of the rectangular tray
cradled over the cylinder, when I require the machine for weighing only and not
for measuring, I prefer to vary the shape of the said cylinder, making the opening
more than a sixth of the circumference, and raising sides from such opening like
the before mentioned tray, but forming part of the cylinder and not separated
from it. As regards my third improvement, where the perpendicular height of the
machine is immaterial, and it is of advantage to increase the speed of weighing or
measuring, I divide the cylinder, or, if I employ such, the rectangular receptacle or
weighing hopper, into two equal parts longitudinally, either by a stiff or flexible
diaphragm, and I have two openings opposite to each other instead of one only;
I also form two excisions in the disc or flange instead of only one. By these
means the time taken up in discharging is not so great, as the cylinder or
rectangular receptacle has not to turn a whole revolution, and moreover one
compartment may be discharging during a portion of the time that the other is
filling.
As regards my fourth improvement, when it is required to adapt the semi-
automatic weighing or measuring machine, as described in my aforesaid Provisional
Specification No. 3137, to the weighing of fluids, I substitute for the delivery
hopper with its diminishing tray and front plate an ordinary cock or valve with an
arm weighted so as to close it unless otherwise prevented; such arm is shaped to rest
on the beam in the same manner as the arm of the diminishing tray until it is
caught by the weighted lever, as explained in my said Provisional Specification;
the small stream of fluid then flows, and when the true balance is attained the
subsequent action is the same as described in my said Provisional Specification, the
discharging apparatus in falling depressing the arm on the cock or valve sufficient
to entirely close the same. Care must be taken that the weight on the weighted
lever is greater than that on the arm which closes the cock or valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Baxter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th June 1881.
st
WILLIAM HENRY BAXTER, of The Lawn, Brixton Hill, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING AND MEASURING MACHINES."
The object of my present Invention is to improve those classes of weighing and
measuring machines described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me dated July 30th, 1880, No. 3137, and other similar machines, whereby (first) the
noise, and consequently the vibration, and wear and tear occasioned by the return
motion of the beam after weighing or measuring are prevented; (secondly) the
manufacture of certain modifications described in my said Patent is more easily
carried out; (thirdly) where sufficient height is available the speed of the machines
so described may be accelerated; and (fourthly) the adaptation of the semi-automatic
machine to the weighing of fluids.
I will now describe my first mentioned improvement, which is applicable to
semi-automatic or automatic weighing and measuring machines generally, and
afterwards its application to the semi-automatic weighing or measuring machine
On an arm
described in the Specification of the before mentioned Letters Patent.
of the beam or on an arm moving with or actuated by the beam, and as far as
convenient from its centre of motion, I mount on a suitable axis a piece of metal
free to vibrate within certain defined limits as the aforesaid beam or arm is moved
up and down; this piece is shaped and centred so as always to remain against one
or the other limit of motion, and has a portion of it formed or provided with a
point or hook capable of engaging into the teeth of a controlling wheel when
suitably placed. On a pin fixed to the frame of the machine, or on a shaft rotating
therein, is placed the above mentioned wheel, preferably formed with ratchet shaped
teeth, and it is rotated at the required speed by any suitable moving power which
will cause the said wheel to revolve slowly without slipping. The said wheel is
so placed relatively to the beam or arm that when the latter is in a position ready
to fall back after the operations of weighing or measuring and discharging the
pointed or hooked portion of the said piece of metal shall engage in one of the
teeth of the said wheel, which, slowly revolving, allows the beam to fall back in
a gentle and noiseless manner without shock to the sensitive portions of the
machine; by the consequent alteration in the position of the beam or arm the piece
of metal falls over against the stop to which it now inclines, and remains perfectly
clear from interference with the said wheel, or any other portion of the machine,
until after the beam or arm has again operated.
I apply the above improvement to the semi-automatic weighing or measuring
machines described in my aforesaid Specification by fixing a wheel on the axis of
the pinion which actuates the cylinder or receptacle, and connecting it with a
similar wheel moving with the said controlling wheel in such manner that there
shall be no slip. Where no power is available to control the revolutions of the
said controlling wheel, I connect with it by means of an ordinary wheel or train
of wheels, or otherwise, an oblique toothed wheel working in a worm which carries
a fly, or I connect it with any other suitable description of governor. I do not
confine myself to a ratchet wheel in any of the above applications, as in some cases
it may be more desirable to use a disc with pins on the face of it, or any suitably
formed wheel may be employed for this purpose.
As regards my second improvement, sometimes instead of fixing a disc, or wheel
and disc combined, on the axis of the cylinder, I cast a flange or flanges on the
end or ends of the cylinder, and keep down the latter while discharging by the

page_text: Boop of one xed on the frame pressing on the outside or the inside of the sai
flange or flanges. In place of the pin on the discharging apparatus which strike
the diminishing tray when it falls so as to finally close it, and of the weighted leve
which keeps open the said diminishing tray while the small stream is running, an
of the plate against which the said tray strikes, I substitute a second tray actuated
by the said discharging apparatus to cut off the small stream, and a pin with o
without set screw to determine the point to which the diminishing tray shall fall
In place of the rectangular tray cradled over the cylinder, when require the
machine for weighing only and not for measuring, I prefer to vary the shape of
the said cylinder, making the opening more than a sixth of the circumference, and
raising sides from such opening like the before mentioned tray, but forming par
of the cylinder and not separated from it.
As regards my third improvement, where the perpendicular height of the machine
is immaterial, and it is of advantage to increase the speed of weighing or measuring
I divide the cylinder (or if I employ such) the rectangular receptacle or weighing
hopper into two equal parts longitudinally, either by a stiff or flexible diaphragm
and I have two openings opposite to each other instead of one only. I also form
two excisions in the disc or flange instead of only one. By these means the time
taken up in discharging is not so great, as the cylinder or rectangular receptacle has
not to turn a whole revolution, and moreover one compartment may be discharging
during a portion of the time that the other is filling.
As regards my fourth improvement, when it is required to adapt the semi-
automatic weighing or measuring machine, as described in my aforesaid Specification,
to the weighing of fluids, I substitute for the delivery hopper with its diminishing
tray and front plate an ordinary cock or valve with an arm weighted so as to
close it unless otherwise prevented. Such arm is shaped to rest on the beam in the
same manner as the arm of the diminishing tray until it is caught by the weighted
lever as explained in my said Specification; the small stream of fluid then flows,
and when the true balance is attained, 'the subsequent action is the same as
described in my said Specification, the discharging apparatus in falling depressing
the arm on the cock or valve sufficient to entirely close the same. Care must be
taken that the weight on the weighted lever is greater than that on the arm which
closes the cock or valve.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, and 13 represent my first mentioned improvement, and Figures 3
and 4 a modification of the same; B, Figures 1 and 13, represents the beam; x² is
a piece of metal centred thereon and free to vibrate within certain limits regulated
by the pins ³, 23, shown at Figure 13; y² is the regulating or controlling wheel on
the same axis as the gut wheel 23, which is kept constantly rotated in the direction
shown by the arrow by means of the gut 24 or any similar means. When the.
beam is released from its load, the pivotted piece 2, Figures 1 and 13, is in a
position (shown by dotted lines) to catch in a tooth of the controlling wheel y²,
which thus gently lowers the beam B and prevents it descending rapidly with a
shock; when the beam B is as low as it can go, the point of x² falls over and offers
no obstacle to the delicate action of the beam. Figures 3 and 4 are side views of
the modification of the above herein before referred to, which is more particularly
applicable to my semi-automatic weighing or measuring machines described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me, dated July 30th, 1880,
No. 3137; B is the beam; Q is the arm actuated by the beam; q² is the piece of
metal centred thereon; y² is the controlling wheel; H2 is the pinion on the gut
wheel which actuates the machine; 23, 2³, are wheels driven by the wheel H³,
which wheels give motion to the regulating or controlling wheel y²; v is a stud on

page_text: the end of the piece of metal q³, acting as a hook instead of as a point; q' is a
projection against which the arm of q strikes when the beam is up to prevent q³
resting against the wheel y, but this is not essential in every case. Figure 3
shows this modification of the apparatus before weighing or measuring, and
Figure 4, after weighing or measuring, and with the beam B depressed. If
preferred, instead of the toothed wheels H2, z,, a gut, chain, or strap, may be
used to give motion from the axle of the wheel H2 to that of the wheel 2, thus
dispensing with the wheel 2 and the teeth of the wheels H2 and Where no
power is available, I use the arrangement shewn in Figure 2, where 2³ is an oblique
toothed wheel on the same axis as the controlling wheel y², and y' is a worm with
a fly or fly wheel on its axis. In this arrangement the piece of metal x², Figure 13,
catches on the controlling wheel y² in the same manner as that before described.
When the beam has lost its load and has returned to the position indicated by
dotted lines at B*, Figure 13, the stops ³, x³, and the centreing of the piece of
metalmust be arranged in such a manner that the beam B when it rests on the
controlling wheel 2 through the piece of metal a², shall have a tendency to rotate
the oblique toothed wheel in the direction of the arrow (see Figure 2).
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are side views of part of the machines with my second
improvement applied thereto. Instead of employing the disc on the axis of the
drum or cylinder, as described in my said Specification hereinbefore referred to, I
cast a flange D', Figure 5, on the end of the said drum or cylinder D, having a
space formed therein so as to allow the pin or roller D2 to enter when the drum
descends; D² thus travels inside the flange and keeps down the drum during its
rotation. In place of the pin on the discharging apparatus, as described in my
before mentioned Specification, and various parts in connection therewith, I employ
a second tray worked by the discharging apparatus Q. In Figure 6 this is shown,
I being the first or diminishing tray, and 12 the second tray having a fork thereon
in which a pin or attachment Q2 works so as to instantly close the tray I² when
the discharging apparatus Qfalls. Instead of the tray or hopper cradled over the
cylinder, as described in my before mentioned Specification, when the machine is
required for weighing only, I make the cylinder as shown in section at D³,
Figure 7, raising the sides, and thus making it contain more and discharge itself
better.
As regards my third improvement, Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, show the method of
carrying it into effect.
Where the weighing receptacle D is cylindrical, I divide it
into two equal parts by a stiff diaphragun 8, S, Figure 8, and I make two openings
into the drum and two excisions in the disc P; thus two weighings will be obtained
in one revolution of the drum. If the receptacle D is rectangular, Figure 10 shows
the method of obtaining the same result. In Figure 9, 8, S, is a flexible diaphragm,
and by its use the cylinder will contain nearly as much as in the plan described in
my before mentioned Specification, and will only require rotation half the number of
times. P is the disc with two excisions. Figure 11 shows the application of the
flexible diaphragm to a rectangular receptacle D having two openings. P is the
disc with two excisions. This improvement is not applicable where the machine is
required to measure as well as to weigh.
In applying my semi-automatic weighing or measuring machine to the weighing
of fluids, I adopt the following arrangement, which is my fourth improvement, and
which is shown at Figure 12:-
Instead of the delivery hopper through which the granular substances pass to
the drum or cylinder, I place the pipe conveying the fluid having an ordinary cock c
with a weighted arm & thereon tending to close it; this arm rests on the beam B
by means of a stud or projection d¹. J is the weighted lever described in my
former Specification herein before referred to, which must be heavier than the arm d;
thus when a certain quantity of fluid has run into the receptacle D the beam B
descends, and the cock c closes until the arm u thereon comes against the weighted
lever J; the small stream then runs, and when the exact weight is obtained the
beam descends by the action of the tumbler, as described and claimed in my before

page_text: * mentioned Specification with respect to Figures 1, 2, and 3, when the arm or
projection t comes in contact with the arm u, and entirely closes the cock c, or the
same effect is produced by the fall of the discharging apparatus Q, described with
respect to Figures 4 and 5 of the Specification hereinbefore referred to.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,—
First. The application to machines of the class herein described of a swinging
piece of metal centred on the beam or on a lever actuated by the beam and capable
in certain positions of taking into the teeth of a wheel which slowly revolves, so as
thereby to control the return motion of the said beam, substantially as herein shown
and described.
Second. The casting of a flange D' on the end of the cylinder or drum D instead
of fixing a separate disc on the axis of said drum, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Third. The tray 12, Figure 6, worked by connection with the discharging lever Q,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Fourth. The drum or receptacle D divided by means of a fixed or flexible
diaphragm and having two openings instead of one, substantially as shown and
described with respect to Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Fifth. The modifications whereby my semi-automatic weighing machine is
rendered applicable to the weighing of fluids, substantially as herein shown and
described with respect to Figure 12.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Baxter, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. H. BAXTER. (L.S.)