IMPROVEMENTS IN SCALES AND WEIGHING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE HOPKINSON of 25, Parliament Street Harrogate, in the County
of York Commercial Travellor do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SCALES AND WEIGHING MACHINES to be as follows:-
For the purpose of reducing the height of Scales and for the purpose of preserving
a level bearing for the centres of Scales and weighing Machines I have invented two
Swing Bearings in which an ordinary Swing Bearing is free to work at right angles
to the said two Swing Bearings. These two motions allow the Beam or Beams of
Scales and weighing Machines to find level bearings where counters or floors are
not perfectly level. The ends of the centres do not grind against the sides of the
bearing boxes and great accuracy of weighing is consequently secured no matter in
what direction the counter or floor on which they stand may be out of strict level.
The reduction obtained by these double action swings in the height of Scales is
an advantage by saving room, by enabling any one to reach over the Scales and by
rendering the Scales more portable, firmer on their feet and loss likely to be knocked
over.
These double Swing Bearings when applied to Counter Balances and other
weighing machines do not reduce the height but they ensure level bearings and
freedom from friction of the centro ends with the bearing cases or boxes and the
result is greater accuracy of weighing.
The drawings Nos. 1 and 2 are full size of the double swing bearings D. D. as
applied to an eighteen inch Agate Counter Scale but they can be applied to any
other kind or size of Counter Scales or any kind of Counter or Floor Weighing
Machines whether of French, English or other pattern. For different sizes of Scales
and weighing machines they would of course be made in different sizes and modified
patterns, but the principle of the invention is that the double motion of the swings
shall allow the Beam always to work on level bearings, and, where required, the
height of the Scales can be reduced by their use.

page_text: '
I, JOHN GEORGE HOPKINSON of 25, Parliament Street; Harrogate, in the County
of York, Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SCALES AND WEIGHING MACHINES and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
For the purpose of reducing the height of Scales, and for the purpose of preserving
a level and steady bearing for the centres of Scales and weighing machines I have
invented a Double action Swing Bearing, consisting of two Swing Bearings upon
and between which an ordinary swing bearing is free to work at right angles to
'the said two swing bearings. The ordinary or third swing bearing works freely
with rounded, hollowed, or straight knife edges upon the hardened bearing surfaces
of the other two swing bearings. The third swing bearing carries the Agate Stones.
or hardened Steel on which the knife edges of the beam work. These two motions,
one at right angles to the other, allow the Beam or Beams of Scales and Weighing
Machines to find level bearings where counters or floors are not perfectly level.
The ends of the centres consequently do not grind against the sides of the bearing
boxes, and greater accuracy of weighing is thereby secured, no matter in what
'direction the counter or floor on which they stand may be out of strict level. The
reduction in the height of Scales, especially counter scales, obtained by the use of
theso double action swing bearings, is an advantage by the saving of room or space,
by enabling any one to reach over the Scales, by rendering the Scales more portable,
firmer on their feet, steadier in their action, and less likely to be knocked over by
accidents.
Theso double action Swing Boarings when applied to Counter Balances, Invorted
Machines,, French Pattern Balances, or other Weighing Machines, do not reduce the
height but they secure level bearings and freedom from friction of the centre ends
with the bearing cases, more regular action of the beams and connected links and
lovers and consequently greater accuracy of weighing.
In applying this invention to a Beam Scale, for example, I would proceed in the
following manner :-Two hardoned bearings would be made in each fixed cheek in
a line parallel to that of the beam but at about two inches higher level. In these
fixed bearings the two swing bearings work on centres and are parallel with one
another The third swing bearing is now placed on and between these two swing
Bearings and works freely on centres at right angles to the said two swing
bearings. This third swing bearing carries the beam, and by its free movement at
right angles to the free movement of the other two spring bearings automatically
secures level bearings for the Beam.
In applying this invention to a balance known as a French Pattern Balance,
I should proceed by making two hardened boarings in each check fixed to the frame.
In these fixed bearings the two swing bearings would work freely parallel with one
another. The third swing bearing in this example would be longer than for a
Beam Scale but in other respects would be fitted to work as before described, and
would secure level bearings, steady and reliable action of the Beam and connected
links and levers under the Beam, and greater accuracy of weighing.

page_text: The drawings Nos. 1 & 2 filed with the Provisional Specification shew the double
action Swing Bearings A A as applied to an 18 inch Agate Counter Scale, but they
can be applied and are an improvement to any other kind or size of Counter Scales
or any kind of Counter or Floor Weighing machine whether of French, English,
Inverted or other pattern. For different sizes they would of course be made
larger or smaller and in modified shapes, but the principle of the invention is, that
the double action of the three swing bearings-one swinging upon and between the
other two shall allow the beam always to work on level bearings, and without
undue swaying motion, and that, where required, the height of Scales can be
reduced by their use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st In scales and weighing machines a double action swing bearing in which
one swing bearing works upon and between two other swing bearings and at right
angles to the said two swing bearings.