Year: 1888

page_text: I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of The Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Pall
Mall, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
follows:-
be as
My invention relates to coin operated apparatus for indicating the weight of a
person.
The principle of my invention lies in the indication.of the pressure set up in the
fluid contents of a vessel by means of the pressure transmitted thereto by the operator
or person using the machine. It is evident that the principle can be carried into
effect in a number of ways, for example by means of device resembling what is
known as a hydrostatic balance, or by means of a closed air vessel with a flexible wall
communicating by means of a pipe with a manometer or pressure gauge.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. M.E., M.S.T.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C..

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Operated Apparatus for Indicating a Person's
Weight.
I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of the Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Pall
Mall, London, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to coin operated apparatus for indicating a person's weight.
The principle of my invention lies in the indication of the pressure set up in the
fluid contents of a vessel by means of the pressure transmitted thereto by the operator
or person whose weight is to be ascertained.
It is evident that there are many ways of carrying the principle of my invention
into effect; and I shall now proceed to explain in detail one way, the said way being
that which I have so far found to be the most convenient in practice. In order that
such detailed description may be more readily understood I have annexed hereunto
sheets of drawings diagrammatically illustrative of my invention and I have inserted
in the same figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation. In these drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar or
equivalent parts.
In figure 1 A is a cast iron box having a metal cover B corrugated so as to be
flexible. C is a platform upon which the person whose weight is to be ascertained
stands and which is connected to and conveniently supported by the flexible cover B.
D is a tube passing from A to the manometer E. It will be seen that when a person
stands upon the platform the air in A is compressed and a pressure varying with
the weight of the person to be weighed is transmitted to and indicated by the said
manometer. To prevent rocking or excessive vibration of the platform when the
weight of the person to be weighed is upon it I find it convenient to provide its under
surface with annular ribs or projections cc cc as shown in section in the figure. The
box A is conveniently lined to prevent leakage with a suitable paint or coating and
for this purpose I prefer to use one of the more flexible varieties of what is known as
Molyneux's Composition. The manometer E may be of any convenient kind such for
example as a pressure gauge of the Bourdon type.
In order that the weighing machine may indicate only after payment I find it con-
venient to employ the device shown in figures 2, 3 and 4 for controlling the trans-
mission of the pressure to the manometer. In these figures D represents the pipe
passing to the manometer as before and F a cock or valve therein connected to the
Handle G by the shaft H which passes through the casing J of the machine. From
the shaft H, and inside the said casing, passes the slotted arm K which embraces the
pin Lupon the bolt M. This bolt is provided with two recesses m¹ and m² and two

page_text: play-pins m³ and m² which latter limit the amount of movement of the bolt M. N is
a locking lever turning upon the centre n¹ one of whose arms n² is fitted with a
projection which engages the recess m² when as will be hereinafter described the parts
are in such position that the valve F is open. The other arm n³ is weighted; and its end
rests on the top of the replacing rod 0 (which passes freely through the guide
rings P P¹) and whose lower end rests on a step Q of the platform C.
The recess m² is designed to receive the detent (or its equivalent) of the coin
releasing or coin actuating part of the apparatus. I desire it to be understood that
my invention does not comprise any coin-releasing or coin-actuating or coin-dis-
charging device. There are many convénient coin-releasing or coin-actuating or
coin-discharging devices which are well suited for the purpose of my invention: and
as these are well known to persons conversant with the art it is unnecessary for me to
further refer to them here than merely to state that, the action of the coin having
released a detent from the recess m₁, the valve F and the bolt M are free to be
operated by the handle G. I desire to state here that I refer to the recess m² simply
for purposes of demonstration; and that I do not in any way limit myself, when using
that form of my invention which I herein specify in detail, to its use, as it is obvious
to those acquainted with the art that there are several well known contrivances by
which through the action of a coin the bolt M may be freed.
The action of that part of my apparatus illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 4 (of which
figure 2 is an end elevation, figure 3 a side elevation of the parts in their normal
position, and figure 4 a side elevation of the parts when a person is being weighed)
is as follows. The operator standing on the platform C will cause the latter to be
slightly depressed; and the rod O will therefore move away from under the end of
the lever N, though the latter will still retain its normal position. The coin being
inserted, and its action having left the bolt M free to move, the operator turns the
handle G in the direction of the arrow so as to cause the arm K, acting upon the
bolt M through the pin L, to take up the position shown in figure 4. The valve will
now be open and will be retained so by the projecting part of the arm n² having
entered the recess m²; and the pressure of the operator upon the platform will be
transmitted to the manometer E whose pointer will indicate the operator's weight.
This having been ascertained, the operator will step off the platform, which on rising
will, by means of the replacing rod O, tilt back the lever N to its normal position.
The arm n² will now no longer engage the recess m², and the spring R will pull the
parts back to their normal position, and so close the valve, when, the recess m¹ being
again engaged by the coin operated detent, the machine cannot be operated until
another coin is inserted.
Figure 5 illustrates a complete machine constructed in accordance with my
invention.
It will be understood that the form of my invention hereinbefore specified in
detail merely illustrates one way of carrying the principle of my invention into
effect. It is obvious that, without departing from its principle, the form of my
weighing machine may be greatly altered. For example it is not necessary that the
fluid employed should be air. Any stable gas or liquid will answer the purpose. Nor
is it necessary to employ a manometer of the kind illustrated as a liquid column
indicator will be quite suitable for the purpose. Or the machine may be constructed
of the form of a hydrostatic balance, which is a form that is the obvious equivalent
of that set forth-Again if the weight of the operator be employed to enlarge or
expand the vessel containing the fluid, instead of to compress it as hereinbefore
illustrated, the pressure in the fluid instead of increasing with the weight of the
operator will decrease therewith and the manometer may take the form of a vacuum
gauge. Numerous other self evident modifications will readily suggest themselves.
I desire it to be understood that I lay no claim to coin operated weighing machines
broadly as I am aware that many forms of what may be distinguished as mechanical
weighing machines have been published. Such machines however differ widely in
principle from mine: and are much more complicated, more costly and more liable to
derangement.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The improvement in coin operated apparatus for indicating a person's weight
consisting in means for indicating the pressure set up in the fluid contents of a vessel
by means of the pressure transmitted thereto by the weight of the operator substantially
as set forth.
2. The combination of a fluid containing vessel and a manometer substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of a fluid containing vessel, a platform and a manometer
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination substantially as and for the purpose set forth of a fluid con-
taining vessel a manometer and a device for controlling the transmission of the pressure
to the manometer.
5. The improvement in coin operated apparatus for indicating a person's weight
consisting in the arrangement and combination of parts constituting the controlling
device substantially as set forth with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4.
6. The improvement in coin operated apparatus for indicating a person's weight
consisting in the arrangement for locking the valve in its open position substantially
as set forth with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4.
7. The improvement in coin-operated apparatus for indicating a person's weight
consisting in the releasing arrangement whereby the valve is caused to be closed
substantially as set forth with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1888.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1888.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.İ.M.E., M.S.T.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.