AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CONTINUOUS SELF- ACTING AND SELF-REGISTERING MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN, FLOUR, AND OTHER PONDERABLE MATTERS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Roberts, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironfounder, and Louis Luc, of the same Place, Balance
Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CONTINUOUS SELF-
ACTING AND SELF-REGISTERING MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN, FLOUR, AND
OTHER PONDERABLE MATTERS."
Sealed the 19th September 1865, and dated the 23rd March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Roberts and
Louis Luc at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd March 1865.
I, THOMAS ROBERTS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder,
and Louis Luc, of the same Place, Balance Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CONTINUOUS SELF-
ACTING AND SELF-REGISTERING MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN, FLOUR, AND
OTHER PONDERABLE MATTERS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This Invention has for its object an improved system of continuous self-
acting and self-registering machinery for weighing grain, flour, or other
ponderables; and an apparatus constructed according to this Invention may
consist of two double beam balances placed a little distance apart and parallel
to each other, the beams of each pair being connected together by rigid
transverse bars or webs, which may be cast in one piece with the double

page_text: beams, the beams having their fulcrums at, say, one-third their length from the
front; and to the longer ends of which are connected the weights, which are
divided into two or more parts, say, four-fifths of which are suspended by a
pendant arm from a transverse rod or beam, which extends from one beam
to the other, and which may be either rigid or fitted at the ends with knife
edges. When the bar is rigid a knife-edge joint is used in conjunction with
the pendant arm carrying the larger weights; this pendant arm, to which is
attached the larger weight, passes through a hole formed in the centre of a
plate, which constitutes, say, the other fifth of the counterpoise weight, that
is to say, suppose it is intended to use the apparatus for the purpose of
weighing centals of grain, the lower weight, which is suspended by the pendant
arm, will be elevated on 80 lbs. of grain or other substance being placed in
the scale at the reverse end of the beam. The larger weight is thus brought
into contact with the under surface of the flat plate, which represents 20 lbs.
weight in the scale. The flat plate representing the 20 lbs. in the scale rests
on the shoulders of, say, four upright standards, the upper ends of which pass
through the plates. When the full 100 lbs. weight is in the scale the flat
plate rests on the top of the under or larger weight, thus making up the
100 lbs. of counterpoise weight. The scales for containing the grain or other
material to be weighed it is preferred to make scoop-shaped, and suspend
them on pivots or trunnions resting on the head of two upright or nearly
upright arms, which are jointed to the short end of the beams. These two
upright arms are connected together below the scale by a transverse horizontal
bar or web, and are kept in position by two parallel bars, and are kept upright,
or a little forward of their lower axle on the ends of the beams by means of
two rods placed parallel to the beams, one end of which is connected to an
upright fixed standard, and the other to the upright carrying the scale, so
that the uprights carrying the scale are always held in a position a little
forward of the vertical, as the joints are formed with knife edges, as is well
understood by those acquainted with the art. To the under side of the scale
is attached a curved or hooked arm, with a sneck latch point. In the inside
of this hooked arm there is fitted on the inner side of one of the uprights a
jointed lever catch, which is formed with a stud piece on the side of the outer
end, which falls into the latch or recess on the end of the curved arm, when
the scale is elevated to its position for receiving the grain or other material.
Between the two pair of balances there is a rigid upright standard, in which
are formed the bearings of a vertical working shaft, on the head of which
vertical working shaft is fitted a spout, into which the grain or other material
to be weighed falls from a supply hopper immediately above, and from thence

page_text: into a stationary double spout, one passage of which is immediately over one
scale and the other over the other. The double-inclined bottom of this
hopper spout forms two sides of a triangle, so that on the upright working
shaft being turned a little to one side more grain or other material to be
weighed will fall into one scale than the other, and on being turned round a
little further the whole of the material will run into one scale, thus entirely
cutting off the supply to the other, and on the shaft being turned back again
the vice versa action will take place. The vertical working shaft is fitted on
its lower end with a toothed wheel or its mechanical equivalent, which is
capable of being elevated or depressed on the shaft, and held in any position
required by means of set screws or their mechanical equivalents. When a
toothed wheel is used, the same gears into a vertical toothed rack of sufficient
length to enable the toothed wheel to be slightly elevated or depressed for the
purpose of giving greater or less throw to the vertical shaft. This vertical
toothed rack is attached to, say, the top of an eccentric, which is keyed on to
an horizontal rocking shaft working in stationary bearings between and
parallel to the scale beams. The rear end of this horizontal shaft is fitted
with a transverse cross head and upright arm resembling the letter T inverted,
the lower limbs of which extend across the two inner arms of the balance
beams, and are so arranged that on the partial elevation of the beam, one end
of the cross head being brought into contact with a set screw in the beam,
the horizontal shaft is partially turned, but is prevented turning further by
means of a catch lever jointed to a fixed standard, but upon a further weight
being placed in the scale an upright standard screwed into the beam acts on
the under side of the catch lever and releases it from a stud piece formed on
the side of the vertical limb of the inverted T-piece, thus allowing the
horizontal shaft the full amount of throw required. The other balance is also
fitted with a set screw and standard in the same way as that last described,
which act on a second catch lever, the inner ends of which, when at rest,
enclose the stud piece and lock the shaft; but on either catch being released,
the action of the beam against the ends of the lower limb of the inverted
T-piece causes the horizontal shaft to turn the required distance. On the
horizontal shaft is fitted a vertical arm, which acts on the end of a lever
working on a vertical axle, and the outer end of which works through and
gives motion to a double-headed tumbler hammer, jointed to a fixed standard,
or it may work loose on its axis, and have the same on the horizontal rocking
shaft. The form of this double-headed tumbler hammer may consist of two
arms which curve outwards, so that upon being thrown to one side by the
action of the lever in line with and above the rocking shaft by the action of

page_text: the arm on the said rocking shaft, the head of the tumbler hammer, which is
on that side to which it is thrown, strikes the inner end of the lever catch and
releases the same from the hook of the curved arm on the under side of the
scale, thus allowing the same to tilt and discharge its contents. For the
purpose of assuring accuracy and rapidity of action it is preferred to form the
rear end of the lever catch with a table or rule joint to open upwards to allow.
the tumbler hammer to return. The register dials or pointers are actuated
from the head of the inverted T-piece on the rear end of the horizontal rocking
shaft herein-before described. On the side of the head of the inverted T-piece
is a stud piece which works in a slot formed in the lower end of a pendant
arm attached to the bow of an escapement which works on a fixed axle im-
mediately above it. This escapement works into a ratchet wheel which gives
motion to a train of wheels actuating the pointers, as is well understood. If
preferred, in place of using the swivelling hopper spout herein-before described,
a double spout may be fitted on the under side of the supply hopper, mounted
on an horizontal axle, which is divided into two parts at the throat or upper end
by a vertical diaphragm. By this double hopper spout being thrown on one side,
the supply may be given into either scale, or by being partially thrown on to
one side, a larger supply may be given to one scale than the other, but if the
dividing diaphragm in the throat of the rocking spout be brought to a vertical
position, the supply to each scale will be the same. This double spout may
be actuated from the horizontal rocking shaft herein-before described in any
convenient manner. The whole of the apparatus may be enclosed in a casing
of wood or other suitable material, and may be kept under lock. and key.
The casing being fitted at the top with a supply hopper and the scales tilt
their contents into a discharge spout, and a sheet of glass may be used to
cover the face of the registering dials.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The grain or other material to
be weighed is thrown into the supply hopper when it passes into the swivelling
spout (or double rocking spout, when that modification is used), from whence
it falls into the double inclined bottomed hopper spout, from whence it falls
into the scale, when, say, four-fifths of the quantity to be weighed at each
draught, the scale is depressed and the larger of the counterweights on the
reverse end of the beam is elevated, and the set screw is brought into
contact with one of the cross arms of the inverted T-piece on the end of the
horizontal rocking shaft, which is mounted between and parallel to the twin
scale beams, which causes the rocking shaft to turn a short distance, and which,
by means of the vertical rack described, or its mechanical equivalent, the
upright swivelling shaft, the head of which carries the swivelling spout,

page_text: conducts the larger proportion of grain or other material being weighed into
the reverse scale, thus allowing only a small quantity to fall into the scale,
which has been slightly depressed, which small quantity continues to run in
until the last fifth of the draught has caused the scale to descend, by which
means the set screw, further elevating the lower limb of the inverted T-piece,
causes the rocking shaft to turn a little further, and the rigid arm on the
rocking shaft to strike the inner end of the horizontal lever which actuates the
hammer, to be thrown on one side when the hammer descends on to the inner
end of the catch lever and releases the scale, which tilts by its own action and
empties its contents into the discharge spout, from whence it falls on to the
floor, or is received in any suitable receptacle. On the rising of the inner end
of the beam, as the scale descends after receiving its last portion of its charge,
the vertical standard on the beam lifts the catch lever in connection with the
upper limb of the inverted T-piece, thus allowing the rocking shaft to fall
to its full extent, and thus actuating the escapement of the registering appa-
ratus. On the scale discharging its contents, the beam is brought back by
means of the counterweights, and the latch hook on the under side of the
scale engages itself with the catch lever, and locks it in position until its next
descent. The action of the twin balance on the opposite side is precisely the
When the rocking shaft is turned to its full extent the swivelling
spout is so turned that the whole of the supply is discharged into the opposite
scale until that has received, say, four-fifths the amount of the draught, when
the rocking shaft is actuated by the partial descent of the scale of the
twin beam, and elevating the inner end of the beam, so as to bring the set
screw on that beam in contact with the reverse arm of the inverted T-piece,
which causes the swivelling spout to turn round and discharge the larger part
of its supply into the other scale, and so on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
ROBERTS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Ironfounder, and LOUIS
Luc, of the same Place, Balance Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc, Her special license that we, the
said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and., Ireland, the Channel.
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CON-
TINUOUS SELF-ACTING AND SELF-REGISTERING MACHINERY FOR WEIGHING GRAIN,
FLOUR, AND OTHER PONDERABLE MATTERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same 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 we, the said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):
--
This our said Invention has for its object an improved system of continuous
self-acting and self-registering machinery for weighing grain, flour, or other
ponderables; and an apparatus constructed according to this our said Inven-
tion may consist of two double beam balances placed a little distance apart
and parallel to each other, the beams of each pair being connected together
by rigged transverse bars or webs, which may be cast in one piece with the
double beams, the beams having their fulcrums at, say, one-third their length
from the front, and to the longer ends of which we connect the weights, which
we divide into two or more parts, say, four-fifths of which are suspended by a
pendant arm from a transverse rod or beam, which extends from one beam to
the other, and which may be either rigid or fitted at the ends with knife
edges. When the bar is rigid we use a knife-edge point in conjunction with
the pendant arm carrying the larger weight. This pendant arm, to which we
attach the larger weight, passes through a hole formed in the centre of a plate
which constitutes, say, the other fifth of the counterpoise weight, that is to
say, suppose it is intended to use the apparatus for the purpose of weighing
centals of grain, the lower weight, which is suspended by the pendant arm, will

page_text: be elevated on eighty pounds of grain or other substance being placed in the
scales at the reverse end of the beam. The large weight is thus brought into
contact with the under surface of the flat plates which represents twenty pounds
weight in the scale. The flat plate representing the twenty pounds in the scale
may rest on the shoulders of, say, four upright standards, the upper ends of
which pass through the plates. When the full one hundred pounds weight is.
in the scale the flat plate rests on the top of the under or larger weight, thus
making up the one hundred pounds of counterpoise weight. The scales for
containing the grain or other material to be weighed we prefer to make scoop-
shaped, and suspend them on pivots or trunnions resting on the head of two
upright or nearly upright arms, which we jointed to the short end of the beams.
These two upright arms are connected together below the scale by a transverse
horizontal bar or web, and are kept in position by two parallel bars, and are
kept upright or a little forward of their lower axle on the ends of the beams
by means of two rods placed parallel to the beams, one end of which is con-
nected to an upright fixed standard and the other to the upright carrying the
scale, so that the upright carrying the scale are always held in a position
a little forward of the vertical, as the joints are formed with knife edges, as
is well understood by those acquainted with the art. To the under side of
the scale we attach a curved or hooked arm with a sneck latch point. In the
inside of this hooked arm there is fitted on the inner side of one of the
uprights with a jointed lever catch, which is formed with a stud piece on the
side of the outer end, which falls into the latch or recess on the end of the
curved arm when the scale is elevated to its position for receiving the grain
or other material. Between the two pairs of balances there is a rigid upright
standard, in which are formed the bearings of a vertical working shaft, on the
head of which vertical working shaft is fitted a spout, into which the grain
or other material to be weighed falls from a supply hopper above, and from
thence into a stationary double spout, one passage of which is immediately
over one scale and the other over the other. The double inclined bottom
of this hopper spout forms two sides of a triangle, so that on the upright
-working shaft being turned a little to one side more grain or other material
to be weighed will fall into one scale than the other, and on being turned
round a little further the whole of the material will run into one scale, thus
entirely cutting off the supply to the other, and on the shaft being turned back
again the vice versa action will take place. The vertical working shaft we
fit on its lower end with a toothed wheel, or its mechanical equivalent, which
is capable of being elevated or depressed on the shaft, and held in any position
required by means of set screws or their mechanical equivalent. When a

page_text: tooth wheel is used the same gears into a vertical toothed rack of sufficient
length to enable the toothed wheel to be slightly elevated or depressed for the
purpose of giving a greater or less throw to the vertical shaft. This vertical
toothed each is attached to, say, the top of an eccentric, which is keyed on to
an horizontal rocking shaft working in stationary bearings between and
parallel to the scale beams. The rear end of this horizontal shaft is fitted with
a transverse cross head and upright arms resembling the letter T inverted,
the lower limbs of which extend across the two inner arms of the pair of
balance beams, and are so arranged that if on the partial elevation of the
beam the cone end of the cross head is brought into contact with a set screw
in the beam, the horizontal shaft is partially turned, but is prevented turning
further by means of a catch lever jointed to a fixed standard, but upon a
further weight being placed in the scale an upright standard screwed into the
beams acts on the under side of the catch lever, and releases it from a steed
piece formed on the side of the vertical limb of the inverted T-piece, thus
allowing the horizontal shaft the full amount of throw required. The
other balance is also fitted with a set screw and standard in the 'same way as
that last described, which act on a second catch lever, the inner ends of which
when at rest enclose the steed pieces and locks the shaft; but on either catch
being released the action of the beam against the end of the lower limb of the
inverted T-piece causes the horizontal shaft to turn the required distance. On
the horizontal shaft fit a vertical arm, which acts on the end of a lever
working on a vertical, and the outer end angle of which works through and
gives motion to a double-headed tumbler hammer jointed to a fixed standard,
or it may work loosely on its axis and have the same on the horizontal rock-
ing shaft. The form of this double-headed tumbler hammer may consist of
two arms, which curve outwards, so that upon being thrown to one side by
the action of the lever in line with and above the rocking shaft by the
action of the arm on the said rocking shaft, the head of the tumbler hammer
which is on that side to which it is thrown strikes the inner end of the lever
catch and releases the same from the hook of the curved arm on the under
side of the scale, thus allowing the same to tilt and discharge its contents.
For the purpose of insuring accuracy and rapidity of action we prefer to form
the rear end of the lever catch with a table or rule joint to open upwards to
allow the tumbler hammer to return. The register dials or pointers are actuated
from the head of the inverted T-piece on the rear end of the horizontal rocking
shaft berein-before described. On the head of the inverted T-piece is a steed
piece which works in a slot formed in the lower end of a pendant arm attached to
the bow of an escapement which works on a fixed axle immediately above it. This

page_text: escapement works into a satchel wheel, which gives motion to a train of wheels
actuating the painters, as is well understood. We prefer in some cases in place
of using the swivelling hopper spout herein-before described; to use a double
spout on the under side of the supply hopper, mounted on an horizontal axle,
which we divide into two parts at the throat or upper end by a. vertical
diaphragin. By this double hopper spout being thrown on one side the supply
may be given into either scale, or by being partially. thrown on to one side
a large supply may be given to one scale than the other, but if the dividing
diappragin in the throat of the rocking spout be brought to a vertical position
the supply to each scale will be the same. This double spout may be actuated
from the horizontal rocking. shaft herein-before described in any convenient
manner. The whole of the apparatus may be enclosed in a caseing of wood
or other suitable material, and may be kept under lock and 'key, the casing
being fitted at the top with a supply hopper, and the scales tilt their contents
into a discharge spout, and a sheet of glass may be used to cover the faces of
the registering dial.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The grain or other material
to be weighed is thrown into the supply hopper, when it passes into the
swivelling spout (or double rocking spout, (when that modification is
used), from whence it falls into the double enclined bottomed hopper spout,
whence it falls into the scale, when, say, four-fifths of the quantity to be
weighed at each draft, the scale is depressed, and the larger of; the counter-
weights on the reverse end of the beam is elevated, and the set screw is
brought into contact with one of the cross arms of the inverted T-piece on the
end of the horizontal rocking shaft, which is mounted between and parallel to
the twin scale beams, which causes the rocking shaft to turn a short distance,
and which by means of the vertical rack described or its mechanical equivalent
the upright swivelling shaft, the head of which carries the swivelling spout,
conducts the larger proportion of grain or other material being weighed into
the reverse scale, thus allowing only a small quantity to fall into the scale,
which has been slightly depressed, which small quantity continues to run in
until the last fifth of the draft has caused the scale to descend, by which
means the set screw.further elevating the lower limb of the inverted
T-piece causes the rocking shaft. to turn a little further, and the rigid
arn on the rocking shaft to strike the inner end of the horizontal .lever,
which actuates the hammer to be thrown to one side, when the hammer
descends on to the inner end of the catch lever and releases the scale, which
tilts by its own action and empties its contents into the discharge spout, from

page_text: whence it falls on to the floor or is received in any suitable receptacle. On
the rising of the inner end of the beam, as the scale descends after receiving
its last portion of its charges, the vertical standard on the beam lifts the catch
lever in connection with the upper limb of the inverted T-piece, thus allowing
the rocking shaft to fall to its full extent, and thus actuating the escapement
of the registering apparatus. On the scale discharging its contents the beam
is brought back by means of the counterweights, and the latch hook on the
under side of the scale engages itself with the catch lever, and locks it in
position until its next descent. The action of the twin balance on the opposite
side is precisely the same When the rocking shaft is turned to its full extent,
the swivelling spout is so turned that the whole of the supply are discharged
into the opposite scale ntil that has received, say, four-fifths the amount of the
draft. When the rocking shaft is actuated by the partial descent of the scale
of the twin beams, and elevating the inner end of the beam, so as to bring the
set screw on that beam in contact with the reverse arm of the inverted
T-piece, which causes the swivelling spout to turn round and discharge the
larger part of its supply into the other scale, and so on.
That this our said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
we have hereunto annexed Drawings our apparatus, constructed according to
our said Invention, like letters and figures marked thereon being used to
denote similar parts. In Figures 1 and 2 the Drawings are set out on a scale
of one inch and a half to the foot, where calculated for an apparatus for
weighing, say, fifty to sixty pounds at a draught. Figure 1 is a back elevation
of one of our improved autonic and self-registering scales, seen with the back
portion of the enclosing case removed for exposing the mechanism of the
interior; and Figure 2 is a vertical, partial, sectional side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a full-sized elevation, illustrating one of the upright standards and
the scale catch which holds the scales in position, one scale being partially
shown. Figure 4, a full-sized view of the tumbler for relieving the scales
from their catches. Figure 5, a full-sized side elevation of the rocking shaft
and its fittings for a machine calculated to weigh from fifty to sixty pounds.
Figure 6 is a half-sized view of the weights and the standard upon which the
upper weight is carried, and a portion of the platform for carrying the lower
weight, and which is suspended from the end of the scale beams. Figure 7 is
a full-sized view of the sliding and adjusting weight, one of which is placed on
each pair of beams for the purpose regulating the scales. Figure 8 is an end
view of a stationary hopper, which is fitted underneath with a double-throated
spout, which is mounted on a rocking shaft having its axis parallel to the scale

page_text: beams; and Figure 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same. The
feed arrangement illustrated by Figures 8 and 9 is another arrangement for
feeding the scales in lieu of the swivelling spout.
A, a casing enclosing the principal working parts of the apparatus; B,
standards or pillars upon which the scale beams have their fulcrums, and
is cast with an arm, which is slightly bent forward at the top and carries
a knife edge, which is encompased by a link or connecting rod, the other
end of which is connected by another knife edge on C, upright or nearly
upright standards, on the heads of which the scale is pivoted. We prefer to
allow these standards to fall a little forward from the vertical line. These
standards rest on knife edges on the outer ends of the scale beams at d², and
each pair are connected together by an horizontal transverse bar or bars, web
or webs; D, the scale beams. We would bere remark that there are two beams
parallel to each scale, which are placed parallel to each other and connected
together by E, transverse bars as webs; F, an adjustable standard forming
rests for the inner ends of the beams; G, the larger weight, which is suspended
to the ends of the beams and rests on J, a platform, which is suspended by K,
small pendant rods which hang on knife edges on the ends of the beams; L,
the upper and minor weights which rest on M, an adjusting nut on the head
of N, a fixed standard which passes through a hole in the platform J, and a
hole in the centre of the lower weight G; O, a locking nut on the standard N ;
P, a short vertical standard supported on the scale beam, to which is fitted Q,
an horizontal tube, which encloses R, a sliding weight which is actuated by S,
a small screwed shaft, on the outer end of which is fitted T, a milled head.
This adjusting screw has its bearings at one end in the standard P, and at the
other in U, an enclosing cap; V, a weight surrounding the horizontal tube,
and which is capable of being slid backwards and forwards by hand, and is
locked in the required position by W, a thumb screw; X (Figures 1, 2, 4,
and 5) is the horizontal rocking shaft, placed between the twin scale beams,
and which in Figure 5 is seen full sized (but broken for convenience of space).
The outer end of this shaft is fitted with Y, an inverted T-piece, which gives
motion to the rocking shaft (X by being acted upon alternately as each pair
of beams rise. On the ascent of either of the pairs of beams the upright arm
is thrown a little to one side slightly turning the rocking shaft, and on the
further ascent of the beam, and on lifting of the smaller weight, the shaft is
thrown over a little further, giving the required motion, as will be hereafter
explained; Z, set screws in the transverse bars between the beams for adjusting
the amount of throw.

page_text: a and a, small catch levers which have their fulcrum on 6, stationary
framework; c and c, small pendant rods suspended from the outer ends of the
catches a and a, and the lower ends of which pass through holes in the
transverse beams E, and which pendant rods are provided. with d and d,
small collars, by which the beams lift the rods on the last or smaller weights
being lifted, by which the inverted T-piece is relieved from the catches,
it will be observed, lock with a small stud on the back of the vertical arm
of the T-piece Y.. The head of the T-piece is connected by e, a small
link, to f, a transverse .lever, having its fulcrum on the stationary frame at g,
the outer end of which carries h, a counterbalance weight, and to the other
end of which is jointed i, a rod, the inner end of which is connected to
a pall or ratchet, or their mechanical equivalent, which gives motion to
the train of wheels actuating the pointers, as is well understood, enclosed
in k, the indice box; 1, a telescope crank or lever, the arm of which is
formed. tubular, fitted with m, a sliding rod, the upper end of which is
formed with an eye, into which takes n, a short horizontal lever, on the
lower end of o, the vertical reciprocating shaft shown in Figure 5, broken
off, but seen in Figure 2 at full length, the head of which carries p, the
inclined spout; q, a bracket for carrying the foot of the shaft o; r, a second
telescopic crank arm keyed on the outer end of the shaft X, through the eye
on the head of which passes the outer end of s, a bell crank lever, having its
fulcrum at t, and the inner end of which passes through the triangular opening
of the head of u, the tumbler or striker, the form of which will be seen on
reference to Figure 4; v, a small adjusting screw, having a weighted head for
the purpose of regulating the force of the action of the tumbler; w (Figure 3)
is a beam lever on the inside of the upright standard c, carrying the scale, the
inner end of which is elongated by a, a short arm or lever jointed to the inner
end of the rocking beam or lever W by a rule joint, against which the tumbler
acts in its down. stroke, the object of the joint being to alter the tumbler to
return without acting on the levers; Y, the fulcrum of the beam W; Z, a
connecting rod, the lower end of which is jointed and the outer end of the
beam W, and the upper end of which is jointed to A, the lever catch for locking
the scale in position by. means of B, a stéed piece on the under side of the
scale; C, fulcrum of the lever catch A; D, support for E, a stationary hopper,
below which is fitted F, a rocking double-throated spout, mounted on G, a
rocking shaft, which may be actuated from the rocking shaft X in any con-
venient manner; K (Figures One and Two), a stationary double-throated spout
L, the scales, which are pivoted on the upright standards C in such a manner

page_text: that when filled with grain or other material to be weighed they will tilt
and discharge themselves when relieved of the catch gear illustrated by
Figure 3.
The action of this apparatus is follows:-The grain and other material
to be weighed and registered is introduced from a spout, or in any other
convenient way, where a continuous supply can be fed into the inclined
swivelling spout P, or when the modification at Figures 8 and 9 is used, into
the stationary hopper E, when, in the case of the swivelling spout, the grain
falls down into the stationary spout K, and slides down the bottom thereof,
and falls the scale L, until the required weight to lift up the weight, so
as to come into contact with the under side of the smaller weight V, the
rear end of the beam on its ascent bringing the set screw Z against the
under side of the point of one of the lower limbs of the inverted T-piece Y,
which is immediately over it, which causes the shaft X to turn a little to one
side, carrying with it the horizontal arm N of the vertical shaft O, thereby
turning the swivelling spout so that its charge will be divided between the two
scales, but allowing the major part to fall into the then empty scale. When
a sufficient quantity of grain or other material has fallen into the first-
mentioned scale to elevate the smaller weight, which was previously on the
top of the larger weight, the catch gear on the back of the inverted T-piece Y
is relieved, and allows the shaft X to fall over sufficiently to turn the upright
swivelling shaft o round, so as to discharge the whole of the material running
through the spout into the opposite scale, and the shaft X being thereon
sufficiently far over actuates the crank lever 5, the inner end of which throws
over the tumbler, the lower arm of which in its fall strikes X and relieves
the catch box on the under side of the scale, when the scale by its own
action immediately tilts and discharges its contents on to the floor or into any
suitable receptacle. The scale on the discharge of its contents is caused to
return to its former position by being weighted at the back, when it is again
locked in position by the latch B. When the reverse scale from the one
which has now been discharged is sufficiently loaded to elevate the larger
weight on its beam, the rocking shaft already described is turned round, and
the action goes on in the same manner alternately ad infinitum. When the
double-throated spout is used for directing the discharge of material to be
weighed as seen in Figures, and the supply is regulated or cut off from one
or other of the scales by its rocking action, the simple difference being that in
one case a vertical shaft is used, and in the other an horizontal one, which
shafts have precisely the motion.

page_text: We would here remark that the novelty of this our said Invention is a
system of machinery by which we are enabled to weigh a continual flow or
stream of grain, flour, or other ponderable matter, and to register the number
of drafts. This our said Invention varies from others of the kind in the fact
that no apparatus heretofore known has yet been constructed where the flow or
stream has not required has not required to be cut off during the discharge
of the contents of the scale, which we obviate by the use of the two scales
as herein-before described.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, and the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same
into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions herein-before described and
set forth, as it will be readily seen that the same may be considerably varied
without departing from the Invention, but what we claim as new and our
Invention is,
.
.
First, the construction and use of the two scales placed side by side,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and
set forth.
Secondly, the swivelling inclined spout, into which the grain or other
material. to be weighed falls from the hopper and the stationary double spout
which guides the grain or other material to be weighed into the scales.
Thirdly, the inverted T-lever on the rear end of the rocking shaft, con-
trolling and regulating the action thereof by the action or uprising of the
rear end of the beam lever, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and set forth.
Fourthly, the use of the rocking shaft for the purpose of distributing the
continuous flow of grain or other ponderable matters to be weighed into the
scales as herein-before described and set forth.
Fifthly, the construction and use of the tumbler hammer for disengaging
the scale for discharging each scale alternately after it has received its full
charge as herein-before described and set forth.
Sixthly, the peculiar locking apparatus and mode of operating the tilt scales
as herein-before described and set forth.
Seventhly, the rocking double-throated feed spout, fitted to the under side
of the supply hopper, and the means of operating the same, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and set forth;
and,―
Lastly, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of the

page_text: various parts forming the herein-before described double-action, self-acting, and
self-registering apparatus for weighing a continuous flow of grain or other
ponderable matters as herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Roberts and Louis Luc,
have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, this Twenty-second
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
Of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
THOMAS (L.S.) ROBERTS.
LOUIS
(L.S.) LUC.