Improvements in Computing Scales or Weighing Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Computing Scales or Weighing Apparatus.
A communication from THE COMPUTING SCALE COMPANY, of Dayton, Ohio, United
States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:
or
-
This invention relates to improvements in scales and particularly to that class
of scales known as even balance scales, that is to say scales in which an equal
portion of the weight is borne on each side of the fulcrum of the pivoted frame or
beam proper. The invention has for its object to provide a means for enabling the
price of articles to be determined with such a scale by means of a set of computa-
tions with which the poise or indicator sliding from one side to the other of the
fulcrum is adapted to register. With scales of this character employing the
graduated beam or bar to indicate weight, it is necessary to make use of a relatively
large and heavy poise for co-operation with said graduated beam, for example,
said poise must be sufficiently large and heavy when at the extreme of the gradu-
ated beam bar opposite to that end of the scale
which
on
the
article to be weighed is placed to exactly counter balance the article or
weight which is within the extreme capacity of the scale, to illustrate, if the
capacity of the scale is two pounds it is necessary to employ a sliding poise or its
equivalent which weighs two pounds. The invention consists broadly in com-
bining an even balance scale with a vertically adjustable table of computations
with which the sliding poise or its equivalent registers to indicate the value of
any article within the capacity of the scale. The invention further consists in
providing a scale with a movable or rotary table of computations within an outer
enclosing casing and a sliding poise for registering with said indications, having
its pointer or indicator projecting within said casing and an automatically closing
slot or aperture through which said pointer projects whereby the entrance of dust
or dirt is prevented. The invention further consists in certain novel details of
construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be now.
described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scale constructed in accordance with the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view looking at the rear side of the scales.
Figure 3 is a detailed front elevation on an enlarged scale of the graduated
beam or bar, marked in ounces and fractions thereof, and of the casing in which
the rotary member carrying the table of computations is located.
Figure 4 is a similar view of the cylinder removed from its casing.
Figure 5 is a transverse section through the casing showing the sliding poise in
side elevation and the internal construction of one of the casing heads with its

page_text: Hing the rotary member in its adjusted position with the desired set
of computations at the sight opening in the casing.
Figure 6 is a detail top plan view of the tare attachment for énabling tare to be
compensated for in this class of scales.
Figure 7 is a transverse section corresponding to Figure 2, but taken through
the poise.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the right hand end of the scales shown in Figures 1
and 2.
Figure 9 is a detail sectional elevation on the line x-x, Figure 8, looking toward
the front of the scales.
Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
The scales illustrated in connection with my present improvements are of the
even balance type. The letter A indicates a base having the usual central post
or standard B, provided at the upper end with bearings for the knife edge journals
of the pivotal frame C. This frame C constitutes the beam proper and at its ends
it is adapted to support the disks or pans or at one end to support a disk for the
weights and at the opposite end a pan or scoop for the article to be weighed, all
of which arrangements are well known and need not be further described by me,
it suffices to say, that D indicates the disk at one end for supporting the removable
weights and D' the removable pan or scoop at the opposite end, from both of which
vertical standards d extend downward and are provided with V-shaped bearings
somewhat widely separated for the accommodation of knife edged journals C,
located on each of the ends of the pivotal frame or beam. Below the pivotal frame
the standards extend down through the end posts a and are connected to suitable
levers or mechanism of the usual construction for maintaining the vertical position
of the standards and at the same time allowing them to move freely up and down
with the beam or pivotal member.
In the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the beam or
pivotal member is provided with end extensions E, at the front (Figs. 2 and 9)
to which are adjustably connected the cap pieces or ends F of the casing F within
which a rotary member carrying tables of computations is located. These caps or
end pieces F are further provided with seats on the upper side for the graduated
bar or beam (which latter for convenience I will term the graduated bar). The
seats and the graduated bar are preferably inclined backward at quite a sharp
angle in order to facilitate the reading of the graduations thereon and what is of
greater importance to enable the sliding poise G, to be provided with sufficient
weight for a scale of reasonably large capacity and at the same time not obscure
the table of computations with which the poise registers, in indicating the value
of the articles being weighed.
In the preferred construction the sight opening in the casing through which the
graduations on the table of computations are read, is located immediately in front.
of and below the graduated bar, and while the poise might be provided with a
mark or other means for pointing out the graduation with which it registers in the
table of computations located on the outside of the said opening, in the preferred
construction the sight opening is entirely closed by a glass or other transparent
closure Q, (Figs. 5 and 7) and the pointer is connected to and moves with the slid-
ing poise in close proximity to the rotary member carrying the table of computa-
tions. This is accomplished by slotting the casing behind and beneath the
graduated bar, as shown at f and extending the pointer or indicator G¹ in through
the slot into position to be seen through the sight opening in front of and below
the graduated bar.
Such construction in a large measure prevents the entry of dust into the casing
and consequently the rotary member carrying the table of computations is pro-
tected, but in order to further protect it and to absolutely exclude all dirt and
dust the slot or opening is kept normally closed by means of a curtain or gate i
which in the preferred construction is formed by a strip of flexible material such
as rubber, held in place by the casing or by the graduated bar as will be presently

page_text: explained. The poise may be of any ordinary construction and may if desired
slide directly on the graduated bar, but the construction is preferred in which the
sliding poise is supported and slides on a supplemental bar or track located
immediately behind the graduated bar, whereby it is held out of contact with the
face of the graduated bar and consequently the surface or face of the latter is not
marred or worn by the sliding of the poise over the same thus preserving the
finish and preventing the wearing away or obliteration of the graduations thereon.
Referring now particularly to Figures 5 and 7 it will be seen that the graduated
bar H is provided on the rear and under side with a supplemental bar or more
properly a track H preferably of hardened material such as steel and the sliding
poise G is provided with double slots, one of which accommodates the graduated
bar proper and the other of which accommodates the track and the parts are so
proportioned that the poise is supported above or out of contact with the front
surface or face of the graduated bar. For convenience in supporting the flexible
gate or curtain i, it may be clamped between the graduated bar and track and to
support the glass or transparent closure for the sight opening there is provided
a frame I which clamps the glass in place along the lower edge and supports its
upper edge against the underside of the lower edge of the graduated bar, the edge
of the glass thus forming one side of the slot through which the pointer G projects
and saves the necessity of forming but one opening in the casing, as will be readily
seen from Figures 5 and 7.
The rotary member carrying the sets of computations for indicating the value
of articles weighed on the scale in its preferred form is cylindrical in cross-section
as indicated by the lines K, Figures 5 and 7, being supported in the casing by
journals entering bearings in the ends of the casing and is adapted to be rotated
by means of a knob or hand piece k at one end so as to bring any one of the sets of
computations into view at the sight opening, said tables of computations being of
a character which will presently be explained.
To hold the cylinder in its adjusted position and further to indicate when it is
in proper position for any one of the sets of computations to be read through the
sight opening, the cylinder is provided with a tooth wheel L at one end and one of
the casing heads or cap pieces is provided with a spring pressed or spring pawl
having an anti-friction roller in its end adapted to take in the teeth or serrations
of the wheel L with sufficient force to hold "the cylinder in its adjusted position,
but at the same time to allow said cylinder to be readily rotated by the application
of force to the hand piece or knob at the end.
The table of computations on the rotary member consists first of sets of gradua-
tions which indicate the value of articles at different rates per pound when balanced
by the poise sliding on the graduated bar and secondly of sets of computations,
shown in lightly printed figures in the example Fig. 4, which indicate the cost of
articles balanced by the sliding poise plus the removable weight or counter-poise M,
with which the scale may be provided, as distinguished from supplementary
counter weights which may be also used, as hereinafter explained.
<<
As
In order to eliminate all chance of the wrong weight being placed on the disk
to balance the articles cost of which can be determined from the second set of
computations, said weight is made of a distinctive form and is marked in colors
so that it would not be possible for one to use another weight by mistake.
shown in Figure 1, for instance, this weight which is lettered M, is of a key-
stone" form and weighs two pounds, thus with the scale having its bar graduated
as shown and with the two pound sliding poise, the canacity of the scale for
computing directly is just doubled, that is to say, the sliding poise will balance
two pounds and the distinctive weight will balance two pounds, enabling four
pounds or any fraction thereof to be computed at any of the rates indicated on the
cylinder.
To further increase the capacity of the scale and make it in all respects so far
as capacity is concerned like an ordinary even balance scale, an additional set of
counter weights is provided lettered N, Figure 2, preferably of regular weight as

page_text: five, ten, fifteen or twenty pounds or capable of counterbalancing this amount by
the use of one, two or more of them and in order to compute with the greatest
facility the cost of articles so counter-balanced there is provided on the rotary
member at one end sets of computations lettered which indicate the value of
articles exactly balanced by each one of the supplemental weights or each
combination of the supplemental weights desired at each rate per pound. These
latter sets of computations being mounted on a cylinder or rotary member are
brought into view beneath the sight opening and in order to determine which of
the columns is to be read in connection with any particular supplemental weight,
on the casing opposite to the columns of computations so as to be
in line with any of the computations in each column, suitable figures
are marked which indicate the weight corresponding to the value in
that column at the particular price per pound appearing through the
opening. For example in the structure shown the Figures 4, 5, 10, 15 and 20
marked on the casing adjacent to the sight opening at the left hand end and
lying opposite to the columns of supplemental weight computations on the rotary
member, indicate the weights of articles the value of which is computed in the
respective columns.
With such an arrangement therefore when additional weights are employed,
the user first turns to this third set of computations and from the figures on the
casing determines which column corresponds to the supplemental weights
employed and reading the figure at the sight opening opposite this number, sees
the value of that portion of the article balanced by the supplemental weights
and if the sliding poise has also been used to balance the article this amount is
added to the value indicated by the pointer on the sliding poise in the first set of
computations.
It will thus be seen that, in the scale illustrated, the cost of any weight of goods,
up to two pounds in weight, can be read off directly on the scale corresponding to
the price required. Such cost being shown in heavy type. Should the weight of
the goods be between two pounds and four pounds (i.e. the limit of the combined
total weight of the counterpoise G and removable weight M) the cost of the goods
would be directly read off from the lightly printed figures on the scale. Should,
however the goods weigh more than four pounds then the supplementary weights
and the scale shown in the left hand side of Figs. 3 and 4 must be also employed,
and the price indicated thereon be added mentally to that indicated by the sliding
poise as before explained.
In even balance scales it is highly desirable that some means should be provided
for determining tare and in the present structure a means is provided for accom-_
plishing this end and at the same time overcoming all difficulties incident to the
employment of a secondary beam while enabling the ordinary graduated bar or
beam to be employed in weighing the article. To accomplish this result a
relatively heavy tare weight is provided which preferably, though not necessarily,
is located on the side of the pivotal member opposite to the side on which the
casing and computing member is located, thus in a measure counter-balancing the
weight of said computing member and distributing the strains more evenly on
the knife edge bearings.
In the preferred construction this tare weight P is mounted on or forms a part
of a screw ? of relatively sharp pitch, supported by the frame of the pivotal
member and adapted to be rotated by the knob or handle P1 at one end. Gradua-
tions may be formed on the periphery of the weight or on the frame itself and in
position to register with the knife edge of the weight or other indicator thereon
as shown in Figure 2. The knob or handle it will be observed extends out to
the end of the pivotal member in convenient position to be grasped and what is of
greater importance, the weight itself while employed to allow for the determining
of tare for anything within the capacity of the scale, is nevertheless so located as
to be entirely out of the way and in no way detracts from the usefulness of the
scales or hinders its operation.

page_text: In all scales the sensitiveness depends upon the relative proportions of weight
of the beam or pivotal member above and below the horizontal plane of the pivots,
thus if the center of gravity is too high the scale is too sensitive and will not come
to balance at any time and if the center of gravity is too low, the scale is not
sufficiently sensitive to be accurate, and as a convenient means for sealing the
scale or setting it to make it sensitive to the proper degree "gravity" is adjusted
by adjusting the casing carrying the computing member vertically. This is
accomplished by forming vertical ways on the extensions E and fastening the
caps in place in these ways by means of said screws e passing through slots e¹
into the extension (see Figs. 8 and 9).
In making use of the scales, as an illustration, assume that the user places the
goods to be weighed in the pan 1, the goods being valued at 20 cts. per pound,
he turns the cylinder by means of the knob k, until the figure 20 appears at the
extreme right hand end of the sight opening and then moves the poise G along
until the goods are balanced. When this has been done the poise will indicate
on the graduated bar the weight of the goods and the pointer (registering with
the computations on the cylinder K, will indicate the cost at a rate of 20 cts. per
pound.
Should the weight of the goods require the use of the distinctive weight M to
effect a balance then the two pounds would be added to the weight indicated by
the poise and the cost would be read from the second (or lightly printed) set or
distinctive set of computations in the 20 ct. row, on the member K. If the goods
weighed one pound the reading would be 60 cts. (Fig. 4) and if the goods weighed
three pounds the reading would be 60 cts. (Fig. 4). Should the weight of the goods
be even greater than as above explained, say eleven pounds, and require the use,
say of the 10 pound weight and the poise to balance them, the user would look
first at the figures on the member K exposed beneath the figure 10 at the left
hand end of the cylinder (Figure 3), which would be two dollars and mentally add
this amount to the amount indicated by the pointer G', to wit, twenty cents and
would then know at once that the cost of the goods was two dollars and twenty
cents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what claim is:
1. In an even balance scale, the combination with the centrally pivoted beam or
frame and the receiver for the goods to be weighed and disks for the removable
weights pivotally supported on the opposite ends of said pivotal beam or frame,
of the vertically adjustable price computing member connected with said pivoted
beam or frame and a movable poise for registering with the computations on said
member for determining the value of the articles weighted on the scales; sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a scales, the combination with the centrally pivoted beam or frame and the
receiver for the goods to be weighed and disks for the removable weights, pivotally
supported on opposite ends of said pivoted beam or frame, of the vertically adjust-
able rotary price computing member mounted on said frame and extending on
opposite sides of its pivotal center; substantially as described.
3. In a scales, the combination with the pivoted member, receiver for the goods,
and weights, of the vertical guides on the beam, the price computing member
adjustably supported on said guides and a removable poise for registering with
the computations on the price computing member; substantially as described.
4. In a computing scale, the combination with the rotary member, having tables
of computations thereon, of a casing enclosing said rotary member, having a sight
opening for exposing the tables of computations to view and a poise having an
indicator for registering with said computations, projecting within the casing;
substantially as described.
5. In a computing scale the combination with the cylindrical rotary member,

page_text: having tables of computations thereon, of the cylindrical casing enclosing said
rotary member and having a sight opening for exposing the tables of computation
to view and a longitudinal slot or opening, of a poise having an indicator project-
ing into the casing through said slot or opening and registering with the compu-
tations on the rotary member beneath the sight opening; substantially as
described.
6. In a computing scale, the combination with the rotary member, having tables
of computations thereon, of the cylindrical casing enclosing said rotary member,
a poise having an indicator for registering with the computations on the rotary
member projecting within the casing and a flexible gate for closing the opening in
the casing through which the indicator projects, whereby the entry of dirt is
prevented; substantially as described.
7. In a computing scale, the combination with the rotary member, having
tables of computations thereon and the cylindrical casing enclosing said rotary
member, having a sight opening and a longitudinal slot or opening at one side
of the sight opening, of a poise having an indicator projecting with the casing
through said longitudinal opening and a flexible curtain or gate for closing said
opening, whereby the entry of dirt is prevented; substantially as described.
8. In a computing scale, the combination with the rotary member, having tables
of computations thereon, and a graduated bar or beam mounted in an inclined
position, of the cylindrical casing having a sight opening at the lower edge of the
said bar or beam and the longitudinal slot or opening behind and beneath said
beam whereby the entry of dirt into said opening is prevented and a poise moving
over said bar or beam and having an indicator projecting through said longitudinal
slot or opening for registering with the tables of computations; substantially as
described.
9. In a scales the combination with the bar or beam mounted in an inclined
position, of a track or guide way mounted in fixed position with relation thereto
on the rear side, of a poise supported on said track and registering with the
graduations on the front side of the inclined bar or beam, whereby the poise is
prevented from wearing the surface of the bar or beam; substantially as
described.
10. In a scales, the combination with the inclined bar or beam graduated on its
front and upper surface and a track or guide way extending longitudinally and
mounted in fixed relation to said bar or beam, of the sliding poise working on said
track or guide way and overlying the front of the graduated inclined bar or beam
but supported out of contact with the surface thereof, whereby the wearing or
mutilation of the graduations is prevented; substantially as described.
11. In a computing scale, the combination with the beam, sliding poise and
removable weights of a rotary member having tables of computations of value
thereon of articles balanced by the sliding poise at different rates per unit, and at
one end, columns of computations of values of articles exactly balanced by
the removable weights at corresponding rates per unit and figures marked on the
member mounted in fixed relation to the rotary member corresponding to the
removable weight or weights and indicating which column of figures is to be read
in connection with the different removable weights: substantially as described.
12. In a computing scale, the combination with the beam, sliding poise,
removable weights and rotary member having tables of computations thereon,
with the sliding poise registers to indicate the cost of articles balanced by the
sliding poise and having also columns of figures at one end indicating the value of
articles exactly balanced by the removable weights, of a casing enclosing said
rotary member and having a sight opening through which the tables of compu-
tations and columns of figures are exposed to view, and figures in fixed relation to
and opposite said columns of figures on the rotary member corresponding to the
removable weight or weights and indicating which column of figures is to be read
in connection with the removable weights; substantially as described.
13. In a scales the combination with the frame pivotally supported on separate

page_text: bearings at a point intermediate its ends to swing in a vertical plane coincident
with its greatest length and receivers for the goods and reniovable weights
supported on opposite ends of said frame; of a graduated bar mounted on and
extending longitudinally of the frame in proximity to the front pivotal bearing
with a slide weight on said bar and a tare weight mounted on said frame in
proximity to the rear pivotal bearing, said bar and its weight and the tare weight
being located on opposite sides of a vertical plane taken longitudinally of the
pivotal frame at a point midway between the pivotal bearings; substantially as
described.
גי
L
& Ontah 1907
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.