Improvements in and connected with Grain Weighers
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
Improvements in and connected with Grain Weighers,
I, SYDNEY BUXTON, of 5, Bedford Row, W.C., Draughtsman, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the apparatus used for the supplying
and weighing of grain and the like and its object is to provide an arrangement which
will render the operation of such apparatus automatic.
The grain is supplied from a hopper the lower end of which is closed by two gates.
or sliding plates placed horizontally. These gates are operated by levers from the
outside so that they are opened or closed simultaneously.
My present invention provides a means by which the supply of grain is
automatically cut off when the proper quantity has been allowed to pass through. The
grain is supplied to a sack or other receptacle placed on a weighing machine or to
a suitable carrier on the same by which it can be deposited into a sack and when the
proper weight is reached an electrical device connected to the weighing machine is
operated and the gates are caused to close.
I propose to fix to the handle connected to the operating levers an arm carrying a
suitable weight which when released closes the gates. The weight or arm carries an
armature and a strong electro magnet is provided by which the armature and weight
can be held when the magnet is excited. When the proper weight of grain has been
supplied a contact device carried by the weighing machine breaks the circuit of the
magnet releasing the weight and allowing it to operate the levers. To open the
passage for the grain, the handle is pulled round raising the weight until it can be
held by the magnet, or the weighted arm could be raised automatically. Instead of
supplying the grain to a sack it may be fed into a second hopper from which it is
allowed to escape, when the proper weight has been supplied, into a sack or other
receptacle. In this case the lower hopper is also opened and closed automatically...
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of a
hopper provided with my improved apparatus together with the weighing machine
placed below the hopper, and Fig. 2 is a section of the lower end of the hopper
Showing the arrangement of gates, with a modification of the weighing apparatus,
which may be used in place of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.
To the gates A the levers B are connected through the links b and the levers B are
operated by the handle C rigidly connected to the lever D. The extremities of the
levers B and D are connected by the links d. The handle C is provided with the arm
or extension E on the end of which the weight e is fixed. This weight carries the
armature e which is supported on a rocking bearing. The weight and handle are
shown in their lower position in dotted lines. At the side of the hopper F the electro,
magnet G is fitted, which is excited by the generator H.
On the platform j of the weighing machine J the sack is placed, the platform falling.
when the proper weight is reached. On this weighing machine the contact post й
is fitted having the insulated portion at its lower end. The spring contact k¹ is
carried by the platform and the end bears on the contact post. The connections I,

page_text: pass from the generator and electro magnet to the spring contact and the contact post,
and in the position shown the circuit is completed causing the electro magnet to be
excited. On the platform j dropping, the spring contact will be moved over the
division between the insulating and conducting part, and will rest only on the
insulating piece k. The circuit is thus broken, and the magnet will cease to hold
the weight e. On this dropping into the position shown in dotted lines the levers
will be moved causing the plates A to close. To open the passage for the grain, the
handle C may be employed raising the weight until the armature comes into contact
with the electro magnet.
The arrangement is however rendered entirely automatic by the connecting rod M
which is fitted to the weighted arm and to the platform of the weighing machine or
to some part fixed to it. The lower end of this rod is slotted at me and a pin extends
into the slot. This allows the arm to be raised independently of the platform, but
at the same time the latter on rising raises the arm with it. The small catch N which
engages with the platform keeps it in its lower position until released, so that the
circuit can be kept open as long as desired. The weighted arm is not raised until the
catch is released, so that the supply of grain is cut off until the next sack is fitted.
The sack O is shown in Fig. 1 fitted to suitable supports and placed below the
hopper.
The weighing machine may also be provided with the hopper P shown in Fig. 2
and the grain supplied to this hopper which is constructed so that when the desired
weight of grain has been supplied it may be allowed to pass into a sack or other
receptacle. The latter can thus be instantly filled. The chute is provided with the
balanced door p closed by the weight p¹ and held in closed position by the magnet O
acting through armature q¹ and levers Q and q. This magnet is in circuit with
magnet G, so that on the circuit being broken as above described, the armature g¹ is
demagnetized and the door released the weight of the grain then causing it to open.
The door is provided with the connecting rod Q which is connected with one arm
of the lever q fulcrummed at q2 and on the end of which an armature q¹ is carried.
This arrangement allows a comparatively slight magnetic pull to hold the door in its
closed position, as considerable leverage is obtained. The leverage is also greater
when the door is closed than when open, owing to the angle between the two arms of
the lever. The arrangement is such that the door is almost balanced and when it is
released by the magnet, the weight of the grain will cause it to fall open. On the
whole of the grain escaping the door will close by means of the weight pl and will be
held in closed position by the magnet on the magnet being excited. The catch N is
released from the platform automatically on the door closing. This is done by the
connecting rod R passing from the lever carrying the weight to a crank r, to one end
of which the pin is fitted. A spring causes this pin to be withdrawn when
released. On the platform falling and breaking the electric circuit, the door of the
lower hopper will open and the pin r¹ will be pulled back allowing the catch N to
project over the end of the platform and to hold the latter in its lower position. On
the door closing after the grain has escaped, the connecting rod R will be pushed
down and will press out the pin 1 against the catch. This will force the nose of the
latter over the edge of the platform, and will allow the platform to rise operating the
rest of the mechanism as above described. The arrangement is thus entirely
automatic, the whole operation going on in an uninterrupted manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) In apparatus for supplying and weighing grain, and the like the combination
with gates closing the passage from the hopper and levers operating the said gates,
of an electro magnet, a weighted arm connected to the levers and retained by the
inagnet, a contact making and breaking device fitted to the weighing machine, and
connections between the magnet and contact device, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.

page_text: (2) In apparatus for supplying and weighing grain, and the like the combination
with sliding gates closing and opening the passage from the hopper and levers
connected to the said gates for operating them, of a weighted arm fitted to the said
levers, an arinature carried by the weight or arm, an electro magnet adapted to
retain the said armature, and a contact making and breaking device fitted to the
weighing machine having an insulated portion and adapted when the platform falls
to break the circuit through the electro magnet, allowing the weighted arm to drop
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(3) In apparatus for supplying and weighing grain, and the like the combination
with gates closing and opening the passage from the hopper, and levers operating
the said gates, of a weighted arm fitted to the levers, an armature on the weight
or arm, an electro magnet adapted to retain or release the said armature, a contact
making and breaking device fitted to the weighing machine, connections between
the magnet and the contact device, and a catch on the weighing machine
adapted to retain the platform in its lower position, substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
(4) In apparatus for supplying and weighing grain, and the like the combination
with gates closing and opening the passage from the hopper, and levers operating
the said gates, of a weighted arm fitted to the levers, an armature on the weight
or arm, an electro magnet adapted to retain or release the said armature, a contact
making and breaking device fitted to the weighing machine, connections between
the magnet and the contact device, a connecting rod fitted to the weighted arm
and to the platform of the weighing machine, raising the arm with the platform,
and a catch on the weighing machine adapted to retain the platform in its lower
position, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
(5) In apparatus for supplying and weighing grain, and the like the combination
with gates closing and opening the passage from the hopper, and levers operating
the said gates, of a weighted arm fitted to the levers, an electro magnet adapted to
retain or release the said weight, a contact making and breaking device fitted to the
weighing machine, connections between the magnet and contact device, a receptacle
or hopper fitted to the weighing machine and adapted to receive the grain, a door
closing the said hopper and an electro magnet placed in the same circuit as the first
magnet, and holding the door in closed position, substantially as described and shown
with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, and for the purposes specified.
(6) In apparatus for supplying and weighing grain, and the like the combination
with a hopper from which the grain is supplied, means for closing and opening the
said hopper, and an electro magnet connected to the operating mechanism, of a
second hopper fitted to the weighing machine, a balanced door for closing the said
hopper, an electro magnet operating levers fitted to the said door, a catch adapted to
retain the platform of the weighing machine, and connections between the door and
the said catch, releasing it from the platform when the door closes, substantially as
described and shown in Fig. 2 and for the purposes specified.
Dated this Ofth day of Autoban 1907
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.