Improvements in Counterpoise Apparatus for Weighing and Strength- testing and other Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Counterpoise Apparatus for Weighing and Strength-
testing and other Machines.
RICHARD WATSON Clerk in Holy Orders RICHARD WATSON no calling (son of the
above) 6 Clifton Place Stapleton Road Bristol do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in counterpoise apparatus for use in what
are known as automatic and other weighing and strength-testing machines and in
weighing, strength-testing and height measuring machines combined. In practice it
has been found that when springs have been used as a counterpoise to the weight
upon the platform they have altered according to the weather. And when weights
have been hitherto used they have caused a great shock to the machine when the
weight has been removed from the platform.
The present improvements have for their object to remedy these and some other
objections. This invention consists of a combined or separate pulley and spiral plane
or groove with two bands, cords or chains and two weights. The spiral pulley is
fixed upon the same spindle as the dial hand is fixed and it makes one revolution.
When one of the weights rises the other weight descends. The weight suspended
from the pulley counterbalances both the platform and also the weight suspended from
the spiral plane. And the weight suspended from the spiral plane counterbalances
only the weight placed upon the platform. When the weight is removed from the
platform, the weight suspended from the spiral plane rises to its highest point and the
weight suspended from its pulley descends to its lowest point. In order to carry
out our invention we construct our machine by using a part of the ordinary platform
weighing machine apparatus. Our platform consist of a flat or grooved plate of iron
with four legs, and four inclined flanges, and it is supported upon four knife edges
carried upon two frames, which are suspended by means of hooks from knife edges
fixed to the frame of the machine. The two frame pieces are coupled together in the
centre. One of the two frame pieces has an extended arm which is provided with-a
knife edge. This is the usual mechanism employed in platform weighing machines.
The knife edge of the extended arm is supported by a hook which is attached to a
chain, cord, wire, or band. The other end of the chain, cord, or band is fastened to a
pulley fixed upon the same spindle as the spiral pulley is fixed, or it may be attached
to the spindle itself. When the dial pointer or indicating finger is at zero, the
chain, cord or band is wound upon the spiral plane of its pulley; but when a weight
is placed upon the platform the spiral pulley rotates and the chain, cord or band to
which a weight is attached unwinds from the spiral plane a certain distance according
to the weight upon the platform or according to the strength exerted in lifting, and
at the same time the other weight suspended by a chain, cord or band from the spiral
pulley ascends. The aforesaid spindle may have ball bearings or it may rotate upon
a moving rail. We make a graduated dial of any suitable metal or material, marked
on the face or on the periphery in pounds, stones or other figures to show the weight
and strength, and fix it to the frame in front. The machine may have. the usual
strength testing contrivances. And when the machine is to be set free by a coin or
the like, the usual coin and locking apparatus may be employed.
Date this 20th day of Navambar 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Counterpoise Apparatus for Weighing and Strength-
testing and other Machines.
We, Richard WATSON, Clerk in Holy Orders, RICHARD WATSON (son of the
above), no calling, 14, Dean Street, St. Pauls, Bristol 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 counterpoise apparatus for use in auto-
matic and other weighing and strength-testing machines, and in machines in
combination with a weighing or strength-testing machine.
The objects of this invention are to dispense with counterpoise springs in the said
machines, and to lessen the shock which would be caused by the counterpoise weight
suddenly reassuming its normal position on the removal from the platform of the
body or thing being weighed, or when the strength-testing handles are liberated, and
also to lessen the indicating mechanism and friction.
This invention consists of the combination and arrangement of a pulley or wheel
or balance and a spiral cam and two bands, cords or chains, or their equivalents,
and two weights.
The spiral cam is fixed upon the same spindle as the index is fixed, and it makes
one revolution. When one of the said weights rises the other weight descends.. The
weight, which is suspended by a steel rihand or a cord or a flexible chain or its
equivalent from a pulley or wheel or balance, is the counterpoise weight, which
counterbalances the body placed upon the platform or scale to be weighed, and the
weight suspended by a cord or its equivalent from the said spiral cam, and also the
strength of persons testing their lifting power.
The weight suspended by a steel riband or cord or flexible chain from the said
spiral cam does not counterbalance the weight placed upon the platform to be
weighed, (as inadvertently stated in our provisional specification,) it only regulates
the said weight; for as the weight of the body placed upon the platform or scale to
be weighed increases, the leverage of the spiral cam diminishes.
-
This our invention may be carried out by several methods each producing a similar
result.
In the first arrangement we may fix upon a spindle, which is placed in the upper
part of the case, the said spiral cam with its riband, cord or chain and its regulator
or weight, and the said pulley with its riband, cord or chain and counterpoise
weight, and the said index, and another pulley, which is the pulley to which a chain
or its equivalent is fastened, and on which it is wound, when the apparatus is in its
normal position; and the said chain is connected with the extended arm of the
weighing or strength-testing gear as illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the accom-
panying drawings.
In the second arrangement we may fix upon a spindle, which is placed in the
upper part of the case, the said spiral cam with its riband, cord or chain and its
regulator or weight, and the said index, and the aforesaid wheel which has teeth,
and which may be geared either with a rack or with a gearing chain; and we may
fix either a pulley or a gearing wheel on another spindle with knife edges, which is
placed in the upper part of the case above the spiral cam. In this arrangement one
end of the said gearing chain or its equivalent may be connected with the extended
arm of the weighing or strength-testing gear or with a scale or dish, and the other
end of the said chain or its equivalent may be connected by means of the said pulley
or gearing wheel and a cord or gearing chain with the aforesaid counterpoise weight
and regulator, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
In the third arrangement we may place the said spiral cam with its riband, cord
or chain and its regulator or weight, and the said index, and the said wheel with
teeth, in the same position in which they are placed in the second arrangement; but

page_text: instead of using a wheel or a pulley, we use a balance which turns upon knife edges
like ordinary balances. In this arrangement, (which we prefer,) the extended arm of
the weighing or strength-testing gear is connected with the said balance and spiral
cam with its cord and regulator or weight by means of a gearing chain or its equiva-
lent; and the counterpoise weight may be connected with the said balance by means
of a flexible chain or cord or band or its equivalent as illustrated in figure 5 of the
accompanying drawings. In all these arrangements the index is placed upon the
spindle of the spiral cam, and it makes one revolution; and when the apparatus is in
its normal position, the band or cord or flexible chain, (one end of which is fastened
to the spiral cam and the other end of which is fastened to the said regulator or
weight,) is wound upon the circumference of the spiral cam, and the said regulator or
weight is elevated or drawn up to its highest point; and the counterpoise weight,
which is suspended by a band or cord or flexible chain or its equivalent from a pulley
or a wheel or from a balance, is down at its lowest point, and the index is at zero:
but when a weight is placed upon the platform or scale, or when force is exerted in
pulling, upwards the aforesaid handles, if the machine be unlocked for operation, the
said weight suspended from the spiral cam will descend, and its cord or band or
flexible chain will unwind from the circumference of the said spiral cam, and at the
same time the counterpoise weight will rise, and the index will rotate a certain
distance according to the weight of the body placed upon the platform or scale, or
according to the said force exerted in lifting; but when the said weight is removed
from the platform, or when the aforesaid handles are liberated, the two weights return
to their normal position, and the index returns to zero; and thus in all the three
arrangements the indicating mechanism is lessened by placing the spiral cam with its
cord and regulator or weight on the spindle on which the index is placed.; and the
friction is lessened by the unwinding, (instead of the winding up,) of the flexible
chain, cord or band of the spiral cam, when a weight is placed upon the aforesaid
platform or scale, or when force is applied to the aforesaid handles; and the aforesaid
shock is lessened very much by the action of the aforesaid two constant and con-
tinually opposing weights.
If desired, in order to weigh more quickly by more quickly stopping the vibration
of the index which would be caused by a weight being suddenly placed upon the
platform to be weighed, we may employ an inflated house-bellows upon which the
aforesaid extended arm of the weighing or strength-testing gear may press as it
descends, or any other suitable device may be used for this purpose.
In order to enable our invention to he more fully understood, we will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which figures 1, 3,
and 5 are front elevations with part of the case removed, showing three different
arrangements of our counterpoise apparatus for use in weighing and strength-testing
and other machines; figures 2 and 4 are side elevations with part of the case removed,
showing two of the said three different arrangements.
Similar letters indicate similar parts in all the drawings.
Referring to figure 1, 6 is a spindle in the upper part of the case upon which is
fixed the said spiral cam d with its regulator or weight and cord e, and the said
pulley a with its counterpoise weight m and cord or chain g, and the said index; ;
and another pulley e is fixed upon the spindle b, which is the pulley to which a chain f
or its equivalent is fixed, and on which it is wound when the apparatus is in its normal
position; and the said chain fis connected with the extended arm of the weighing
or strength-testing gear or with a scale or dish.
In figure 2 the counterpoise apparatus is arranged as it is in figure 1. In figure 2
6 is a spindle in the upper part of the case upon which is fixed the aforesaid spiral
cam d with its regulator or weight 7 and a cord e, and the aforesaid pulley a with its
counterpoise weight m and cord or chain g, and the aforesaid index j; and the other
aforesaid pulley c which is also fixed upon the spindle b, and which is the pulley in
this arrangement to which a chain for its equivalent is fastened, and on which it is
wound when the apparatus is in its normal position; and the said chain fis connected
with the arm h of the weighing or strength-testing gear or with a scale or dish.

page_text: •
Figure 3 illustrates the second arrangement of our counterpoise apparatus, in which
we may fix upon a spindle in the upper part of the case the aforesaid spiral cam d
with its regulator or weight and cord e, and the aforesaid index ;, and the aforesaid
wheel c¹ which has teeth, and which may be geared either with a rack or with a
gearing chain connected with the cord g and the counterpoise weight m, and the
extended arm of the weighing and strength-testing gear, and which passes over a
wheel with teeth a fixed upon a spindle with knife edges in the upper part of the
case above the spiral cam d.
0
In figure 4 the counterpoise apparatus is arranged as it is in figure 3. In
figure 4 is a spindle placed in the upper part of the
case upon which
is fixed the aforesaid spiral cam d with its regulator or weight and corde,
and the aforesaid index j, and the aforesaid wheel c¹ which has teeth, and which
may be geared either with a rack or with a gearing chain f1 connected with a
cord I; an a counterpoise weight m, and the extended arm of the weighing and
strength-testing gear; and the said gearing chain passes over a wheel a' with teeth
fixed upon a spindle with knife edges in the upper part of the case.
and
Figure 5 illustrates the third arrangement of our counterpoise apparatus and how it
may be combined with the ancient combined balance and platform-weighing machine.
In this arrangement we may fix upon a spindle placed in the upper part of the case
the said spiral cam d with its regulator or weight and cord or flexible chain
the said index j, and the said wheel c' which has teeth, and which may be geared with
a gearing chain f1 connected by means of a balance a² with a cord g, and a
counterpoise weight m, and the extended arm h of the weighing or strength-testing
gear.
Instead of the said arm, a scale or dish may be connected with the gearing chain f¹
and balance a².
The balance a² is fixed upon a spindlo 2 with knife edges in the upper part of the
case.
Several modifications may be made in the aforesaid counterpoise apparatus; but in
each of the said modifications a single and constant counterpoise weight, suspended
from a lever or balance or wheel or pulley or drum, will counterbalance a weight or
strength regulating weight, suspended by a cord or chain or riband from a spiral cam,
or from a spiral and conical fusee, the planes of which increase in size like the planes
of the conical wheel used in clocks; and the said counterpoise weight will also counter-
balance both the weighing platform or scale and the various weights of persons or
things placed upon it to be weighed, or the various strengths of persons testing their
lifting power and the said cord or chain or riband will unwind from the plane or
planes of a spiral cam, or from the planes of a conical fusee; when a weight is placed
upon the platform or scale to be weighed, or when strength is exerted in pulling
upward the aforesaid strength-testing handles, when the machine is set free for opera-
tion but the weight, suspended by a riband or cord or chain from the said spiral
cam, will not counterbalance either the weight placed upon the platform or scale to be
weighed, or the force exerted in lifting the said handles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we say that we are aware
of the Specifications of Everitt's Patent, No. 16,433 of 1884, and Page's Patent,
12,576 of 1885, and we do not claim the mechanism therein described and claimed,
and we declare that what we claim is :-
:-
1. In counterpoise apparatus the combination of a balance a³, cord g, counterpoise
weight m, gearing-chain f¹, arm of weighing and strength-testing gear h, spiral
cam d, cord or chain e, regulating weight, wheel or pinion c', and index j, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose horeinbefore described and illustrated in figure 5 of
the accompanying drawings.
2. In counterpoise apparatus for weighing and strength-testing machines the com-
bination and arrangement of a spiral cam d, cord or chain e, regulating weight 1,
index j, whoci or pinion c¹, gearing chain f, arm of weighing and strength-testing

page_text: gear h, wheel a, cord g, and counterpoise weight m, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In counterpoise apparatus for weighing and strength-testing machines the com-
bination and arrangement of mechanism by which a single and constant counterpoise
weight m. suspended from a balance a², or from a wheel a¹, or from a pulley a,
counterbalances a regulating weight 1, suspended by a cord or chain e from a spiral
cam d, and also counterbalances both the weighing platform or scale and the various
weights of persons or things placed upon it to be weighed, and also the various
strengths of persons testing their lifting power; and by which both the aforesaid
friction and shock of weighing and strength-testing machines and also the indicating
mechanism may be considerably lessened, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In counterpoise apparatus for weighing and strength-testing machines the com-
bination of parts for causing a flexible chain or steel riband or cord e, connected with
a regulating weight l, to unwind from off a spiral cam d, (instead of winding upon
it,) when the machine is set free for operation and a body is placed upon the
weighing platform or scale to be weighed, or when force is exerted in pulling
upward the strength-testing handles; and thus to lessen the friction of the said
machines, and so to ascertain the weight of a person or thing, or the lifting power of
a person more correctly, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21th day of July 1880
RICHARD WATSON.
RICHARD WATSON.