A New or Improved Instrument or Machine for Weighing and Indicating the Value of Commodities or Articles Weighed.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Instrument or Machine for Weighing and
Indicating the Value of Commodities or Articles Weighed.
I, ARTHUR BRYCE MEES, of Comberton Villa Stourbridge, in the County of
Worcester Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its object so to construct and arrange the parts of an
instrument or machine for weighing and indicating the value of commodities or
articles that the price per pound or other unit of the commodity or article to be
weighed being set on one dial or indicator before the article is placed on the
balance or scales its total value shall be indicated on another or second dial or
indicator and if necessary or desirable its weight may be indicated on a third dial
or indicator.
According to one of the arrangements of my invention the instrument or machine
consists of a spring balance the spring of which has a certain number of effective
coils. The upper end of the spring is connected to the case of the balance in the
ordinary way and the lower end of the spring carries the bar from which is
suspended the pan or hook, in or on which the substance or article to be weighed
is placed. The suspender bar has connected to its upper end the lower end of a
vertical rod the upper end of which rod carries a pointer which when the instrument
is in use, moves over the weight dial or indicator and indicates the weight of the
substance or article being weighed. The vertical rod last referred to I will
hereinafter call the weight indicator rod.
Parallel to the weight indicator rod and on the opposite side of the spring is
another vertical rod which carries two pointers, one fixed to its upper end and the
other capable by means of a carrier to which it is connected, of adjustment on the
said rod. The carrier of the last named or adjustable pointer is in the normal
position of the parts of the instrument or machine engaged with one or other of the
series of coils of the spring of the balance and the rod on which it slides and the
fixed pointer carried by the said rod have a motion proportionate to the length of
the spring between its top or first effective coil and the coil with which the
adjustable pointer carrier is engaged.
By pressure on the front of the adjustable pointer carrier its free end, which is
engaged with one of the coils of the spring, may be disengaged therefrom and the
said adjustable pointer may be moved to any other position on its dial or indicator.
The adjustable pointer indicates on its dial or indicator the price per pound or
other unit of the substance or article to be weighed and the fixed pointer on the
same rod indicates on its dial or indicator the total value of the substance or
article weighed at the adjusted price.
For example say the instrument or machine is arranged to weigh up to twelve
pounds commodities or articles between a farthing and a shilling per pound. The
coiled spring of the instrument would have by preference in this case forty-eight
effective coils.
The weight dial or indicator would by preference be graduated or divided into
twelve divisions or parts each division representing one pound, and each of the
said twelve divisions would be subdivided into four or sixteen parts or sub-
divisions, each part or subdivision representing a quarter of a pound or one ounce
respectively.

page_text: The price per pound dial or indicator would be divided into twelve divisions
and each division into four subdivisions, each division representing one penny and
each subdivision representing a farthing.
The total value dial or indicator would be divided by preference into twelve
divisions, each representing one shilling, and each of the said divisions would be
subdivided into twelve parts or subdivisions each subdivision representing one
penny.
Say for instance that an article at two pence per pound is to be weighed. The
adjustable pointer carrier is disengaged from the coiled spring in the manner
herein before described and is moved until the adjustable pointer comes opposite
the mark or division representing two pence per pound and the fixed pointer on
the same rod points on its dial to zero. By removing the pressure from the
adjustable pointer carrier, its free end becomes engaged with the eighth coil of the
spring which coil coincides with the mark or division representing two pence per
pound. The rod to which the said adjustable pointer is connected and the fixed
pointer carried by it will when the substance or article is being weighed have a
motion eight forty eighths or one sixth of that of the weight indicator rod and its
pointer. Therefore if the article or substance weighs nine pounds the total value
pointer will move through eighteen subdivisions on its dial or indicator and indicate
one shilling and six pence.
Instead of suspending a pan or hook in or on which the substance or article to
be weighed is placed from the suspender bar of the instrument or machine a pair
of ordinary scales may be suspended therefrom. In this case the spring of the
balance must be made of double strength and adjusted first to compensate for the
weight of the scales; or the weight divisions if a weight indicator be used after
the spring has been made to compensate for the weight of the scales must be
made to represent one half the true weight less the weight of the scales on the
spring.
Or instead of the scales being suspended from the spring they may be supported
on a spring for use on a counter.
Instead of the price per unit and total value being indicated on parallel
vertical dials or indicators, they may be indicated on a circular dial or indicator
under or over the weight indicating dial, the rectilinear motion of the weight
indicator rod communicating a circular motion to the pointer of the circular dial
or indicator by means of a rack and pinion.
Dated this 13th day of March 1893.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Instrument or Machine for Weighing and
Indicating the Value of Commodities or Articles Weighed.
I ARTHUR BRYCE MEES, of Comberton Villa Stourbridge in the County of
Worcester, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object so to construct and arrange the parts of an
instrument or machine for weighing and indicating the value of commodities or
articles weighed that the price per pound or other unit of the commodity or article
to be weighed being set on one dial or indicator before the article is placed on the
balance or scales, its total value shall be indicated on another or second diel or
indicator and if necessary or desirable its weight may be indicated on a third dial
or indicator.
According to one of the arrangements of my invention the instrument or machine

page_text: consists of a spring balance the spring of which has a certain number of effective
coils. The upper end of the spring is connected to the case of the balance in the
ordinary way and the lower end of the spring carries the bar from which is
suspended the pan or hook in or on which the substance or article to be weighed is
placed. The suspender bar has connected to its upper end the lower end of a
vertical rod, the upper end of which rod carries a pointer which, when the
instrument is in use, moves over the weight dial or indicator and indicates the weight
of the substance or article being weighed. The vertical rod last referred to ! will
hereinafter call the weight indicator rod.
Parallel to the weight indicator rod and on the opposite side of the spring is
another vertical rod which carries two pointers one fixed to its upper end and the
other capable by means of a carrier to which it is connected, of adjustment on the
said rod. The carrier of the last named or adjustable pointer is in the normal
position of the parts of the instrument or machine engaged with one or other of
the series of coils of the spring of the balance and the rod on which it slides and
the fixed pointer carried by the said rod have a motion proportionate to the length
of the spring between its top or first effective coil and the coil with which the
adjustable pointer carrier is engaged.
By pressure on the front of the adjustable pointer carrier, its free end, which is
engaged with one of the coils of the spring, may be disengaged therefrom and the
said adjustable pointer may be moved to any other position on its dial or indicator.
The adjustable pointer indicates on its dial or indicator the price per pound or
other unit of the substance or article to be weighed and the fixed pointer on the
same rod indicates on its dial or indicator the total value of the substance or article
weighed at the adjusted price.
For example, say the instrument or machine is arranged to weigh up to twelve
pounds commodities or articles between a farthing and a shilling per pound. The
coiled spring of the instrument would have by preference in this case forty-eight
effective coils.
The weight dial or indicator would by preference be graduated or divided into
twelve divisions or parts, each division representing one pound, and each of the
said twelve divisions would be subdivided into four or sixteen parts or subdivisions
each part or subdivision representing a quarter of a pound or one
respectively.
ounce
The price per pound dial or indicator would be divided into twelve divisions and
each division into four subdivisions, each divisiou representing one penny and each
subdivision representing a farthing.
The total value dial or indicator would be divided by preference into twelve
divisions, each representing one shilling, and each of the said divisions would be
subdivided into twelve parts or subdivisions each subdivision representing one
penny.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation one of my
new or improved instruments or machines, the weighing pan or hook being omitted.
Figure 2 represents the same view as Figure 1, the dial or indicator plate being
removed;
Figure 3 represents the said instrument in vertical section the section being
taken in a plan at right angles to the front face of the instrument and
Figure 4 represents the said instrument in cross section.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the said Figures 1, 2,
3 and 4.
a is the case of the instrument and is the coiled spring of the same fixed to the
top of the case. The coiled spring represented has forty-eight effective coils;
but the number of effective coils in the spring varies in different instruments with
the number of divisions in the scale on the dial or indicator plate on which the
price per unit of the substance to be weighed is indicated. To the lower end of
the coiled spring b, the bar c is connected, from which bar the pan or hook for
supporting the articles or commodities to be weighed is suspended. The upper end

page_text: C
of the suspender bar e carries a vertical rod d extending to the upper end of the
case of the instrument. The said rod d carries a pointer d², for moving, when the
instrument is in use, over the weight dial or scale and indicating thereon the weight
of the commodity or article weighed. The dial plate of the instrument has a
vertical opening, extending from the top to the bottom of the said instrument
through which opening the pointer 2 and the other pointers hereinafter described
project and in which they work. The said rod d I will hereinafter call the weight
indicator rod. Situated in the upper part of the case of the instrument is another
vertical rod e parallel with the first named weight indicator rod d. The said rod e
carries two pointers e² and f. The pointer e2 is fixed to the top of the said rode but
the pointer is capable of a sliding motion thereon. The connection of the rod e
with the spring is effected by means of the pointer f which is constructed as
follows. I take a piece of thin sheet elastic metal or alloy and double it at or near
its middle so as to form two parallel branches or arms f³, f (see Figure 4). The
branch or arm 2 is bent at right angles near its end the said bent end when the
pointer is in place bearing against the back face of the dial plate. In the said
bent end a tubular part is made for taking upon the rod e.
The end of the
other branch or arm f³ is forked at its free end the forked end being marked ƒ for
engaging with one or other of the coils of the spring b. The indicating part
the said pointer is made by cutting an approximately V shaped slit in the
branch and bending outward the cut or slitted part at right angles to the
other part.
of
The instrument represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is designed to weigh commo-
dities or articles not exceeding twelve pounds in weight having values of from a
penny to a shilling per pound. The edge of the opening in the dial or indicator
plate over which the weight indicator or pointer d² moves when the instrument is
in use is graduated or divided into twelve divisions or parts, each part representing
one pound and each of the said twelve divisions is graduated or subdivided into
four divisions or parts each sub-division representing a quarter of a pound. The
said divisions may however be still further divided so as to indicate ounces on the
said scale or dial. The other edge of the vertical opening in the dial plate has
two parallel scales on it one the price per pound in pence" scale and the other the
"product in shillings or total value scale. Each of the said scales is divided
into twelve principal divisions or parts. Each principal division in the price per
pound scale represents one penny and is divided by four sub-divisions each
sub-division representing a farthing. Each principal division in the total value
scale represents one shilling and is sub-divided into twelve parts each sub-division
representing a penny. It will be seen by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the
pointer is longer than the pointer e and passes over the total value scale to the
price per pound scale.
"
66
The instrument is used as follows;-Say for instance it is desired to weigh o
commodity or article the price of which is ninepence per pound. The doubled part
of the pointer is pinched or compressed so as to disengage its forked end f° from
the coiled spring b, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, and the said disengaged
pointer and with it the rod e are moved to the bottom of the case a of the
instrument. When the said rod e comes in contact with the bottom of the case a
the pointer moves on the said rod e into its lowest position. By now moving the
pointer and rod e upwards until the top of the said rod comes in contact with the
top of the said case a the pointer f can be adjusted on the said rod e to the position
desired, namely, opposite the ninth principal division on the said scale, when it is
released and becomes engaged with the thirty sixth convolution of the coiled spring.
On placing the commodity or article to be weighed on the hook or in the pan of
the instrument the rod e and its pointer will have a motion three fourths that of
the weight indicator rod of and pointer as the rode is moved by three fourths
of the effective coils of the spring ; hence if the weight indicator or pointer
indicates a weight of nine pounds the total value pointer will be opposite the
division on its scale indicating a value of six shillings and nine pence. Thus, by

page_text: the use of the instrument the necessity for calculation and the possible error in
making calculations is avoided.
Instead of suspending a pan or hook, in or on which the substance or article to
be weighed is placed, from the suspender bar c of the instrument or machine, a
pair of ordinary scales may be suspended therefrom. In this case the spring of
the balance must be made of double strength and adjusted first to compensate for
the weight of the scales; or the weight divisions, if a weight indicator or
pointer d² be used, after the spring has been made to compensate for the weight
of the scales must be made to represent one half the true weight less the weight
of the scales on the spring.
Or instead of the scales being suspended from the spring they may be supported
on a spring for use on a counter.
Instead of the price per unit and total value being indicated on parallel vertical
dials or indicators they may be indicated on a circular dial or indicator under or
over the weight indicating dial, the rectilinear motion of the weight indicator rod
communicating a circular motion to the pointer of the circular dial or indicator
by means of a rack and pinion.
Or the arrangement last described may be modified so as to indicate price per
unit and total value only. This modified instrument is represented in front
elevation, side elevation and vertical section respectively in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of
the accompanying drawings; the weight pan represented in Figure 5 is omitted
in Figures 6 and 7.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 5, 6 and 7.
In this case I prefer to arrange the price per unit scale on the vertical dial
and the total value scale on the circular dial h. The instrument is arranged to
weigh substances or articles from one penny to two shillings per unit of the said
article or substance.
:
i is the case of the instrument or machine and the coiled spring of the same,
the said coiled spring being fixed to the top of the case as in the first described
instrument or machine is the suspender bar having in it the vertical slot c².
On one side or edge of the said slot c² a rack d is formed the teeth of which
engage with the teeth of a pinion e situated in the axis of the circular dial h. The
pointer k of the circular dial h is fixed on the axis of the pinion e. The pointer g
of the vertical or price per unit scale g is carried by a sliding tubular sleeve /
having tubular bosses at each side in which pusher rods m, m work. In each of
the sides of the instrument a vertical row of equi distant holes is formed (see
Figures 6 and 7). Through these holes the pusher rods m, m in the tubular bosses
of the sleeve pass for fixing the position of the sleeve and pointer g² carried
by it on the scale g. When the pusher rods m, m are in their pressed in position
their inner ends engage with one or other of the coils of the spring band support
that part of the spring above them when tension is put on the spring (see Figure 7).
The effective coils of the spring 6 at any time are those situated between the
advanced pusher rods m, m and the suspender bar c.
In the instrument represented the circular or total value scale is graduated to
indicate ten shillings. In order to indicate sums greater than ten shillings, the
bottom end of the suspender bar c is graduated so as to indicate in passing out of
the bottom of the case that the pointer k has made one, two or three complete
rotations according to the vertical distance travelled by the said suspender
bar c.
The spring of this instrument has to be made of such strength that when
the price per unit pointer g² indicates two shillings per unit, a weight of five
units, say, five pounds, will lengthen the spring b to such an extent as to make
the rack d on the suspender bar c turn the pinion e through a complete rotation.
This instrument is used as follows: The pusher rods m, m of the sleeve / being
withdrawn from the holes in the sides of the case i the said sleeve is raised or
lowered until the pointer 92 carried by it indicates the price per unit of the
substance or article to be weighed. The pusher rods m, m are then pressed

page_text: inwards so as to fix the sleeve and pointer 92 in their adjusted position on the case
and to engage the ends of the rods m, m with the spring b. On the stretching of
that portion of the spring b below the pusher rods m, m the suspender bar e
descends and the pinion e and pointer k are turned until the pointer indicates the
total value of the substance or article being weighed.
This instrument may be applied to scales or weighing machines in various ways;
one method of its application is represented in connection with a pair of ordinary
beam scales in Figure 8.
In this case the article or substance is placed on the plate n and the weights are
placed in the pan or dish p carried by the suspender bar c. When the balance of
the article or substance is effected the pointer k on the circular dial will indicate
the total value of the article or substance.
The units of weight and value units are varied according to the use for which
the instrument or machine is designed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention of "A New or Improved Instrument or Machine for Weighing and
Indicating the Value of Commodities or Articles Weighed ";—
First. The new or improved instrument or machine for weighing and indicating
the value of commodities or articles weighed herein before described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings the said instrument or
machine consisting essentially of a spring balance having on its dial or face three
parallel scales and pointers, working, when the instrument or machine is in use,
over the said scales, one scale and pointer indicating the price per unit of the
article or substance to be weighed and another scale and pointer indicating the
weight of the article or substance weighed and the third scale and pointer
indicating the total value of the substance or article weighed, the said pointers
being actuated and the several parts of the instrument or machine constructed,
arranged and operated substantially as herein before described.
Secondly. The modified instrument or machine hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings to be used in
connection with scales or weighing machines for indicating the total value of the
article or substance weighed by the said scales or weighing machines, the parts of
the said modified instrument or machine being constructed, arranged and operating
substartially as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. Operating the pointers or indicators of instruments or machines for
estimating the value of articles or substances weighed at a fixed price per unit of
the said articles or substances by means of coiled springs the operative lengths of
which with respect to the pointers being adjusted or varied according to the
price per unit of the said articles or substances substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Dated the First day of December 1893.