IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING-SCALES OR BALANCES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, EMIL ÜBRIG, one of the firm of E. Ubrig & Co, manufacturers, residing in
Berlin, Prussia, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING-SCALES OR BALANCES, to be as follows:―
My invention relates to spring-balances in which the scale is at the top of a
vertical frame or bar suspended to the weighing springs, and the improvement
consists in the means employed for guiding the said frame or bar, (which I shall
call scale-carrier) so that it will be kept in vertical position while being free to
move up and down.
In spring-balances of the kind specified, the scale-carrier has hitherto been con-.
nected to the stand of the instrument by means of four rods or links arranged in.
pairs one above the other and at a right angle to each other, the said rods being
pivoted with one end to the stand and with the other to the scale-carrier.
According to my invention these guiding-rods are replaced by elastic bands or
strips, permanently fixed with their ends respectively to the stand and the carrier.
By these means the balance is rendered more sensitive, as the frictional resistances
are reduced. The said guiding-strips or bands may be made straight or curved.
Generally they will coact with the weighing-springs to support and weigh the load ;-
but they may also be arranged to serve for the latter purpose without the ordinary
weighing springs.
ay 1885.
CARL PIEPER,
Agent for the said Emil Ubrig.

page_text: Improvements in Spring Scales or Balances.
"
I EMIL ÜBRIG, of the firm of "E. Ubrig & Co" Manufacturers, residing in Berlin
in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING SCALES OR BALANCES and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to spring balances in which the scale is at the top of a
vertical frame or bar suspended to the weighing springs, and the improvement
consists in the means employed for guiding the said frame or bar (which I shall
call scale carrier) so that it will be kept in vertical position while being free to
move up and down.
In spring balances of the kind specified, the scale carrier has hitherto been
connected to the stand of the instrument by means of four rods or links arranged
in pairs one above the other and at a right angle to each other, the said rods being
pivoted with one end to the stand and the other to the scale carrier.
According to my invention these guiding rods are replaced by elastic bands or
strips, permanently fixed with their ends respectively to the stand and the carrier.
By these means the balance is rendered more sensitive as the frictional resistances
are reduced.
The said guiding strips or bands may be made straight or curved. Generally
they will co-act with the weighing-springs to support and weigh the load; but they
may also be arranged to serve for the latter purpose without the ordinary weighing
springs.
The advantages of the guiding springs in comparison with the ordinary guide
levers, links or rods are evident, the parts are reduced in number and the con-
struction simplified, the friction produced by the links rods or levers and their
pivots avoided, all dead movement of the parts prevented and thus the incorrect
weighing arising from such said dead movement entirely done away with whereas
an exact operation of the parts is assured by employing my said improved spring
connections.
The said springs can be so arranged that they act solely as guiding springs or
the same can be so constructed that they compensate for the weight of the dish
and frame of the scale or balance or the same can be so arranged that they act not
only as guide springs or as such and for compensating for the weight of the dish
and frame but the same can be further employed as weighing springs alone or in
conjunction with the customary helical weighing springs.
The construction of the case is also considerably simplified as the protruding
portions of the same for receiving the guide rods links or levers are dispensed with
and if desired the frame to the said casing can consist of a simple cast or other ring
to which the face and back of the said casing can be readily attached-This con-
struction also allows the spring scale or balance to be applied to a simple wall

page_text: bracket which can be affixed to the wall in the kitchen or other room as represented
in the accompanying figures.
Figure 1 is a vertical section representing the arrangement of a spring balance
on my improved system.
The left hand half of this figure represents the frame and dish as being carried
by four spiral springs which act at the same time as frame guides and as compen-
sating and weighing springs whereby however helical weighing springs can be
employed so that the said spiral springs act only as guide and compensating
springs.
The right hand half of the same figure represents the employment of four leaf
springs which are at the one end attached to the frame or so called middle piece
and at the other end to the casing or to a suitable lug or holder fixed to the said
casing. These said leaf springs are admirably adapted for employment as guide,
compensating and weighing springs although it is evident that they can be employed
in conjunction with the ordinary helical weighing springs.
Figure 2 is the vertical section of the spring scale or balance arranged to be fixed
to a bracket as aforementioned and representing the application of two flat or leaf
springs which act as guide and compensating springs and a helical or weighing
spring for effecting the weighing of the matter or material placed on the dish or
upper part of the spring scale or balance although it will be evident that the said
flat or leaf springs can be also employed for assisting in the weighing operation-
It will be evident that a third leaf spring can be employed if thought desirable or
the lower leaf spring can be arranged at the opposite side of the casing without in
any way departing from the tenor of my said invention.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the centre of Fig. 2 with the bracket in
elevation.
Fig. 4 represents the arrangement of two leaf or flat springs lateral to the frame
and rack and pinion whereas the base of the said frame is attached to the upper
part of an elliptical spring fixed to the lower part of the casing and operating either
as weighing spring alone or in combination with the laterally arranged guide and
compensating springs.
Fig. 5 represents a further modification of my invention whereby an elongated
casing, long leaf or flat springs and the dial at the one end of the casing is
employed.
a Fig. 1 is the frame which carries the dish or other fixed or removable receptacle
and to which the rack k which is in gear with the pinion affixed to the spindle of
the hand or pointer is pivotted which said rack k is held in gear with the pinion
by means of a helical spring k¹.
b is the casing-c c as represented in the left hand side of Fig. 1 are spiral
springs which according to circumstances act as guide, compensating and weighing
springs or as guide and compensating springs the weighing in this latter case being
effected by one or more helical springs.
The spiral spring c is attached to the upper part of the open portion of the
frame a at its one end and is at the other end & attached to the casing b. These
said spiral springs are at e provided with a suitable slot through which and through
a boring of the casing b a screw or screw bolt f is so passed that this slotted part of
the said spring c can be firmly clamped or pressed against the inner surface of the
said casing. In this manner the said spring is decreased in length thus rendering
it possible to weigh heavier weights than when the full length of the spring is
allowed to be under action.
If the said spiral springs are allowed perfect free play between the point of
attachment to the frame a and the point of attachment d it will be evident that a
very sensitive scale or balance is produced and that light weights which it is other-
wise impossible to weigh on scales or balances constructed as customary can be
weighed with the greatest accuracy whereas it is only necessary to tighten up the
screw and shorten the length of the spring when the scale or balance will be
suited for weighing heavier objects.

page_text: The spiral springs c¹ are at the one end fixed to the base or lower end of the said
frame a whereas the other end is affixed as described above in reference to the
springs c to the casing b of the said scale or balance.
These said lower springs c¹ are also slotted at e as above described and are
clamped to the interior or inner surface of the casing b for a like purpose as set
forth in the preceeding part of this specification. It will be evident from the
accompanying drawings that my improved spring balance or scale can be fixed to
the ordinary foot or base m as shown in Fig. 1 or to a bracket n as represented in
Fig. 2 & 3 The right hand half of Fig. 1 represents a modification of the arrange-
ment and construction of the guide compensating and weighing springs the same
construction of the frame a and the parts connected to the same being retained in
this case as set forth in the preceeding part of this specification in reference to the
left hand of the said Fig. 1. c² are the upper flat flexible springs which act simul-
taneously as guide, compensating and weighing springs; the same are at the one
end attached to the upper part of the open portion of the frame a whereas the other
end of the same is fixed in suitable manner to the casing b of the scale or balance.
The springs c³ are of like construction with the springs c² and are fixed at the one
end to the lower part of the frame a and at the other end to the casing b. Or the
two springs c, c', c², or c³ can be made from one piece of metal and be fixed at their
centre to the frame a and at the ends to the casing b precisely as represented and
described in reference to the separate springs c c¹ c² c³.
In the modification represented in Fig. 2 & 3 the frame a is replaced by the
rod a to which the rack k which gears with the pinion on the spindle to the hand
or pointer is pivotted. This said rack is of bell crank form the lower arm of
which is connected by means of a helical spring k¹ to a projection a² of the rod a¹
in such manner that the rack is held in intimate contact with the pinion . The
upper guide and compensating spring c³ is fixed at the one end to the rod a' and at
the other to the casing b whilst the spring c³ is attached to the lower end of the
said rod a' and the other end to the casing b. o is the helical weighing spring
which is at the upper end attached to a link or its equivalent protruding down-
wards through the casing and at the other end to a link or its equivalent fixed to
the lateral projection a² of the rod a¹-The lower spring c³ can be fixed to the
opposite side of the casing b or a double spring can be employed which is at both
ends attached to the opposite sides of the cases and at the centre to the base of the
rod a When the double spring is thus arranged the said spring can be employed
partially as weighing spring or if only small objects or materials are to be weighed
the helical spring can be omitted.
Fig. 4 is the vertical section of a further modification of my said invention.
The flexible flat or leaf springs c³ c² are at the one end attached to the frame a
and at the opposite ends to the casing whilst c is bent over in the form of an
ellipse and is attached at the centre to the lower part of the frame whereas the ends
of the same are fastened together and to the lower part of the frame so that the
said elliptical spring c³ acts as weighing spring alone or in combination with one or
more helical weighing springs.
It will be evident from the said Fig. 4 that an absolute straight vertical motion
of the frame is assured by this construction and it will also be evident that the
springs c c can also be used for taking up a part of the weighing functions of the
spring c³.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section and represents a further modification of my said
invention.
c² c³ are two long flexible guide and compensating springs which can be also
employed as weighing springs or as represented in the said Fig. 5 be used in
conjunction with a helical weighing spring o-These said guide and compensating
springs are at the one end suitably attached to the rod a² and at the other end to
the end of the elongated casing b. The lower end of the said rod a² carries an
arm p to which the rack k for operating the pinion on the spindle of the hand or
pointer is attached. The advantages of my system of flexible springs as substitute

page_text: for the customary rods, arms or levers will be so evident to all connected with this
branch of industry and the operation of the parts is so clearly represented in the
accompanying drawings and set forth in the foregoing specification that it will not
be necessary to further describe the action of the said parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be carried into effect I declare
that what I claim is:
1. In a spring balance or scale the application and employment of spriral springs
arranged for weighing light and heavier weights alone or in combination with
helical weighing springs or any mere modification of the same substantially as
described aud shown.
2. In a spring balance or scale the application and employment of flexible flat or
leaf springs as guide and compensation or as guide, compensating and weighing
springs alone or in combination with helical weighing springs substantially as
described and shown.
3. The construction application and employment of the parts of my improved
spring balance substantially as set forth in the foregoing specification and repre-
sented in the left hand half of Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings or any mere
modification of the same.
4. The construction application and employment of the parts of my improved
spring balance substantially as set forth in the foregoing specification and repre-
sented in the right hand half of Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings or any mere
modification of the same.
5. The construction application and employment of my improved spring balance
or scale or any mere modification of the same substantially as set forth in the fore-
going specification and shown in Fig. 2 & 3 of the accompanying drawings.
6. The construction application and employment of my improved spring balance
or scale or any mere modification of the same substantially as set forth in the fore-
going specification and shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The construction application and employment of my improved spring-balance
or scale or any mere modification of the same substantially, as set forth in the fore-
going specification and shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The general construction arrangement and combination of the parts of my
improved spring balance or scale substantially as set forth in the foregoing
specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.