IMPROV- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Scudder Chichester, of Brooklyn, in the State
of New York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROV-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN."
Sealed the 4th August 1863, and dated the 14th May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis-Scudder Chichester
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th May 1868.
I, LEWIS SCUDDER CHICHESTER, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN," to be as follows:-
The grain is supplied from a hopper or trough into a bucket; near the lower
end of the trough is a deflector that checks the delivery of the grain so that
the impetus of the grain does not affect the accuracy of the weighing. The
bucket is hung on centres and balanced by a scale beam with weights that arẻ
fitted to be lifted successively as the bucket and scale beam descend by the
weight of grain, added in the bucket. As the bucket descends a hanging cut-
off is disconnected and swings below the opening from the hopper arresting
the flow of grain except through a small opening in itself, and the grain™

page_text: running through this is sufficient to effect the perfect balancing of the bucket:
and weights, at which moment a second "cut-off dropping entirely arrests the
How of grain, "ând-the bucket is thrown forward sufficiently to cause it to tip.or
be inverted to deliver the grain. The bucket may reciprocate, and-in coming
back 'open the out-off and let the grain again run in, or several buckets may be
combined so as to make a rotary weigher. I have a peculiar latch consisting
of a block or blocks fitted on a vertical stem surrounded by a helical spring
and mounted in a pendant stud. The helical spring presses the stem and
block downwards. Inclined pieces are placed on each side of the bucket
frame and pass under their respective stops or blocks as the bucket swings up
to its place. When the bucket reaches the proper position the block will
spring down behind the inclines, and will form a catch to hold the bucket
antil filled, and when full it will again descend, and in so doing will draw the
inclines away from the stops and allow it to turn over and empty itself. By
this arrangement the bucket is held in place while being filled, and two or
-more cut-off's are employed to regulate the passage of the grain into the
buckets. The scale beam is mounted on knife-edge centres which take or
support the weight of the load, but will allow the bucket itself to revolve or
tip-over-so as to discharge the contents.
From the foregoing explanation it will be clearly understood not only that
the weighing can be effected with the greatest accuracy but also with great
Sanidity
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Lewis Scudder Chichester in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th November 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEWIS
SCUDDER CHICHESTER, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States
of America, send greeting.
:
..WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Lewis Scudder Chichester, Her special license that I, the said Lewis
Scudder Chichester, my exécutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Lewis Scudder Chichester,. my executors, administrators, and.

page_text: ssigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
t all-times thereafter during the term therein expressed; should and lawfully
night make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great;
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN," upon the condition
amongst others) that I, the said Lewis Scudder Chichester, by an
nstrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
nd ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner, the.
ame was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW. KNOW YE, that I, the said Lewis Scudder Chichester, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is.
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
ollowing statement, reference being had to the Drawing-hereunto annexed,.
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say)..
Fig. 1 is a plan of my said grain weigher with part of the frame removed;.
;, -2 is a vertical section of the same; and:
"
8 is a side view with part of the frame removed to show the scale
beam and connections to the bucket.
Similar marks of reference denote the same parts. . .
My Invention consists, first, in a mode of hanging a swinging bucket.
that receives the grain and tips the same out by swinging on its centers, and-
then swings back again to receive a fresh supply of grain.
Second, in a mode of fitting a series of weights so that they shall be succes-
sively and gradually raised as the weight of grain causes the said bucket to
descend, thereby avoiding any sudden motion or shock of the parts."
Third, in an arrangement of cut-off's that check and finally stop the flow of
grain from-a-hopper or spout into the bucket, as the saidybucket descends in
consequence of the weight of grain deposited in such bucket.....
Fourth, in a peculiar construction of delivery mouth at the lower end-of-the-
hopper or spout to arrest the momentum of the grain and thereby ensure
accuracy in the weighing operation, because the impetus-of the-descending.
grain is checked before reaching the scale.
Fifth, in a peculiar catch for holding the bucket while being filled.
In the Drawing, a is a frame of suitable size. and material, carrying the
brackets 1, 1, that receive the knife-edge centers 2, 2, of the lever scale beam b;-
which is formed as two arms uniting-near. the movable-balanço weights, andyź

page_text: extends to the rear, where the weights are applied as hereafter shown. From
the ends of each arm of the lever.b are pendent links over knife-edge.centers 3,
passing down to similar centers 4 on the boxes d, that carry the gudgeons 5 of
the swinging bucket frame e, within which is the bucket et, that is formed of a
suitable size and shape, and is largest over the centers 5, so that the weight of
grain supplied into said bucket shall aid in tipping the frame and bucket
forwards to empty said bucket, after which the weights f, attached. at the
bottom of said buoket frame, bring it and the bucket back into a vertical
position, because.said weights are sufficiently heavy to overbalance, the empty
bucket. The bucket el is attached to the frame e, by the gudgeons or knife
edges; and is allowed a slight swinging motion on said gudgeons by two stops
shown by dotted lines,at o, o, Fig. 3, that are on opposite sides of a projection
on, the frame e determining the extent of motion. A crutch d-descending
from the scale beam is fitted, with regulating screws on each side of the
hanging journal d.. The weights 9 and h are placed over the rod i that hangs
.on knife-edge centers from the beam b, and the said rod is free to move within..
these. weights, the weights, themselves, when not lifted, resting on supports 6
from the frame a. Beneath each of these, weights 9 and h is.a. spring 7
around the rod,, resting upon an, adjustable collar, and k is.a small weight
which is the last to be lifted.
In order to effect the operations hereafter set forth it is necessary. that the
bucket of descend gradually, as the grain is supplied until the beam 6, comes
level when there is a pause for-a few grains to be added to perfect, the balance..
This is effected by the springs and weights, for as the grain is supplied into the
bucket, as hereafter shown, the spring 7 under the weight g is first gradually
compressed Hutil sufficiently. powerful to raise this weight g, when, the. next..
spring takes beneath the weight, and is compressed until that weight also
is raised, thus the movement is gradual without any shock, and the bucket
descends vertically until the beam. 6 comes level, at which time.a collar 8.
around, comes up against the under side, of the weight, k,, and the parts
remain in that position until sufficient grain is added to lift this weight k.and
cause the descent of the bucket, which operation stops the further supply.
of grain. At this moment the bucket, disconnects from stops hereafter
described, and the screw a in the crutch & takes against the journal d, so that
said journal cannot swing on the center: 8, and, the further raising of the scale
beam as the bucket slightly descends, tends, to turn the frame 6. in the
direction in which the scale beam is, moving on its centers 2, and hence the
bucket, which had descended, perfectly vertically is thrown slightly forward,

page_text: and the weight of grain being above the center 5 and the bucket also slightly.
swinging on 1, cause the bucket and frame to turn on the gudgeons, 5'in.the.
boxes d, and tip out. the grain into a bag, spout, or other similar receptacle..
As the grain is tipped out the scale beam descends and leaves.the weights g, h,,:
and k on their respective supports 6, and raises the centers. 5. of the bucket,,
and the bucket and frame swing back by the counterpoise.fi to their former:
position.
In order to supply the grain to the bucket I employ any suitable hopper,
trough,.or.spout, at. the lower end of which is the delivery mouth formed of.
a box m, in which is a deflector n that directs the grain. upon: the inner sides,
of such box m, so that it falls thereon at right angles to the surface, and hence's
the momentum the grain, may have acquired in.running down the spout or
trough is checked and the grain simply falls through the mouth..at the lower.
edge of this box m into the bucket e¹, hence, the momentum of the grain:can
have no effect upon the accuracy of the weighing.
The supply of grain to the bucket is checked.and finally entirely stopped or
cut off when the given weight of grain has passed into the bucket by swinging.
cut-offs. I have shown three of these, but two or more may be. used. : Thèse
cut-off's p, q, and r, are hung at each end on the studs q, gi projecting from
the sides of m, and 10 are pendent toe-pieces from the respective.cut-offs that'
are acted upon by the projecting plates 11 from the frame e... The toe-pieces of
the cut-off p are shorter than those of the cut-off.q, and those of the cut-off ri
are the longest; and this cut-off p has an opening near the center larger than":
the opening in g.. while the cut-off r has no opening. As the bucket swings
back and is held by a suitable latch, the plates 11 press back the toe-pieces and i
cut-offs, opening the mouth for the supply of grain. The grain runs quickly
into.the bucket, and as said bucket descends, as before specified, the plates 11
draw below the toes 10 of the cut-off p, and that drops, checking the flow of
grain; but the grain. still runs through the hole in p, and the further descont of
the bucket. causes the cut-off q to drop, and. the small supply running through.
the hole in the same perfects the balancing. of the weigher, and the-dropping
of the cut-off'r prevents the further descent of the grain. until the bucket-tips,
empties the grain, and swinging back, again opens the cut-offs. The cut-offs.
as they fall take against a cross rod 12 or similar stop, and an apron of leather,"
or, other material may. hang from the edge of m, near the rod 12; to prevent
the cut-offs scattering the grain as they fall through the.descending-stream
The peculiar stops-that: I'employ for retaining the bucket while being filled ·
consist, each. of a block 13:fitted on, a vertical stem in a pendent stud.14.

page_text: from (a), and a helical spring around this stem presses it..and the block...
downward, and inclines s on each side of the bucket frame e pass under the
respective stops as the bucket swings up to place, and the said blocks 18
springing down, behind this incline hold the bucket until the descent of the
bucket. again draws the inclines below said stops 13, and allows the bucket to
swing as before mentioned. "I make use of a roller 14 on a rod in a socket 15
on 'e, that acts against the other side of the stop 13, so that the bucket.is hold
by the incliness, and roller 14, but is free to descend, because the roller
relieves friction, and, yielding, prevents the parts binding; and as the bucket
comes up to its place the said roller and spring relieve the. shock on the
stop 13.
13
. I have represented my weighing machine as fitted with one bucket to
oscillate for the reception and discharge of the grain, but it will be apparent
that two or more buckets could be fitted between the heads e, if made circular,
each bucket being 'hung in a similar manner to that shown, and in that case
the motion would be an intermitted rotation, the swinging of one bucket
bringing the next up into position for receiving the grain; the cut-offs to allow
for this movement would have to swing on the opposite side of the hopper to
open in the direction of the rotation.
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First, hanging the box d. on which the bucket swings or turns, by a
link taking the center 3. on the scale beam b, for the purposes and as
specified. ↑ Wa
Second, I claim. the crutch
and screws in combination with the
box d and scale beam 6,. for the purposes specified.
Third, I claim the bucket frame e, receiving the bucket e¹, in the manner
substantially as specified in combination with the counterpoise f, for the
purposes set forth.
- Fourth, I claim a spring or springs applied to the weight or weights sub-
stantially as specified, for allowing a gradual movement to the scale beam and
grain bucket for the purposes specified.
. Fifth, I claim the arrangement of the cut-offs (p, q, r,) in combination
with, the swinging or oscillating bucket and frame e, for the purposes
specified..
: Sixth, I claim the deflector n at the delivery mouth m of the hopper or
spout to check the momentum of the grain, as specified..
Seventh, I claim the stop 13 in. combination with the incline s, to retain
the bucket as it comes up to position for receiving the grain, as specified..

page_text: Eighth, I claim the spring roller 14 in combination with the stop 18, for
the purposes and as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Scudder Chichester, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
LEWIS SCUDDER CHICHESTER. (L.S.)
Witnesses
LEMUEL W. SERRELL,
121, Nassau St., N. York.
CHAS. H. SMITH,
121, Nassau St., N. Y.