IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PLATFORM WEIGHING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS. PATENT to Henry Pooley, the younger, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer and Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND APPERTAINING TO PLATFORM WEIGHING MACHINES."
Sealed the 22nd January 1878, and dated the 8th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Pooley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1877.
HENRY POOLEY, the younger, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
and Ironfounder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PLATFORM WEIGHING
MACHINES."
This Invention relates to a novel construction of platform weighing machine by
which the parts are arranged so as to be securely stowed, fastened, and locked, for
the purpose of preventing injury to the machine during transit from one place to
another, such as from a yard to an upper floor of a warehouse, at the same time
the stowing, locking, and fastening of the parts is so effected that an unskilled
person can readily re-arrange the machine for weighing purposes.
That this Invention may be understood, I will describe its application to a
portable platform weighing machine with steelyard for weighing cotton bales or
such like goods.
A suitable box or frame (mounted on three wheels, the front wheel being on a
pivot and actuated by a suitable handle) contains an arrangement of lever weighing
mechanism, which supports a platform being the weighing platform. The frame
carries a suitable pillar provided with a steelyard.
My improvements consist in hingeing the pillar carrying the steelyard to the
frame of the weighing machine, so that when the machine is not in use the pillar
and steelyard can be canted over and laid down in a horizontal position on the
platform of the machine, and securely fixed in that position by an arrangement,
such as hinged bolt attached to the frame, and taking into a jaw on the pillar, and
secured by a thumb nut.

page_text: To enable the pillar to be canted over, I make the connecting rod between the
weighing levers and the steelyard capable of adjustment so far as its length is
concerned.
When the machine is required for weighing and the pillar is in a vertical position,
the pillar is held in such position by means of two hinged bolts, which take into
jaws on either side of the base of the pillar, which is then secured by thumb nuts.
My Invention further consists of a locking arrangement for securing and setting
the weighing levers when not in use. Such arrangement for locking may consist of
a link, which passes under the weighing lever, and is capable of being lifted by
means of a locking handle on the weighing machine frame. The same object may
be effected by a screw bolt or like means. The steelyard is also arranged with a
locking mechanism, such as a screw bolt, the end of which takes into the short
arm of the steelyard.
I by preference arrange the steelyard locking bolt with a spiral spring to enable
the locking bolt to be more readily withdrawn from the steelyard.
I arrange the steelyard preferably with duplex graduated weighing bars, one
bar carrying the standard balance weight of the goods to be weighed, and the other
weighing bar carrying the marginal balance weight. The standard balance weight
is so arranged that it can be locked in position.
Where the platform rests on the carrying bars I provide suitable springs or
buffers to neutralize shocks, and I likewise provide the bearings of the wheels with
suitable springs or buffers.
The end of the machine is provided with ordinary ring bolts, or shackles for
lifting.
By the arrangement of machine just described, all the working and particular
parts can be kept adjusted and in working order, inasmuch as, when it is required
to move the machine all the parts can be readily locked in a secure position.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by"
the said Henry Pooley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th February-
1878.
HENRY POOLEY, the younger, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer
and Ironfounder: "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO PLATFORM WEIGHING
MACHINES."
This Invention relates to a novel construction of platform weighing machine,
by which the parts are arranged so as to be securely stowed, fastened, and locked_
for the purpose of preventing injury to the machine during transit from one place
to another, such as from a yard to an upper floor of a warehouse, at the same time
the stowing, locking, and fastening of the parts is so effected that an unskilled
person can readily re-arrange the machine for weighing purposes.
That this Invention may be understood I will describe its application to a
portable platform weighing machine with steelyard for weighing cotton bales
or such like goods.
A suitable box or frame mounted on three wheels, the front wheel being on a
pivot and actuated by a suitable handle, contains an assemblage of weighing levers
which supports a platform, being the weighing platform. The frame carries a
suitable pillar provided with a steelyard.
My improvements consist in hingeing the pillar carrying the steelyard to the
frame of the weighing machine, so that when the machine is not in use, the pillar
and steelyard can be canted over and laid down in a horizontal position on the
platform of the machine, and securely fixed in that position by an arrangement,
such as a hinged bolt attached to the frame, and taking into a jaw on the pillar,
and secured by a thumb nut.
To enable the pillar to be cauted over I make the connecting rod between the
weighing levers and the steelyard capable of adjustment, so far as its length is
concerned.
When the machine is required for weighing, the pillar is secured in a vertical
position by means of two hinged bolts, which take into jaws on either side of the
base of the pillar, and is then secured by thumb nuts.
My Invention further consists of a locking arrangement for securing and setting.
the weighing levers when not in use. Such arrangement for locking may consist of
a link, which passes under the main weighing lever, and is capable of being lifted
by means of a locking handle on the weighing machine frame. The same object
may be effected by a screw bolt or like means. The steelyard is also arranged with
a locking mechanism, such as a screw bolt, the end of which takes into the short
arm of the steelyard.
I by preference arrange the steelyard locking bolt with a spiral spring, to enable
the locking bolt to be more readily withdrawn from the steelyard.
I arrange the steelyard preferably with duplex graduated weighing bars, one
carrying the standard balance weight of the goods to be weighed, and the other
weighing bar carrying the marginal halance weight. The standard balance weight
is so arranged that it can be locked in position.
Where the platform rests on the carrying bars I provide suitable springs or
buffers to neutralize shocks, and I likewise provide the bearings of the wheels with
suitable springs or buffers.
The end of the machine is provided with ordinary ring bolts or shackles for
lifting.
By the arrangement of machine just described all the principal working parts
can be kept securely locked and in proper position, when it is required to move the
machine.
The nature, object, and purposes of this my Invention having been set forth as
above, I will now proceed to describe in detail how. the same may be practically
carried out, and for that purpose I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings,

page_text: which sufficiently illustrate my Invention to enable any person to carry the same
into practical effect.
Like letters and figures marked on the Drawings denote like parts throughout
the various views.
Figure 1 is an end elevation shown partly in section of a platform weighing
machine constructed according to my Invention.
"
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, showing the pillar hinged over and
fastened down, the view being partly in section.
Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 2 shown partly in section and with platform and
pillar removed.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that A is the frame of a platform
weighing mechine mounted on wheels C, C¹; B is the weighing platform; D, the
pillar E, the steelyard; F, the weighing levers.
My improvements consist in hingeing the pillar D to the frame A at G, so that
when the machine is not in use, the pillar D and the steelyard E can be canted
over and laid down in a horizontal position on the platform B, and securely fixed
in that position by an arrangement, such as the hinged screw bolt H, which is
attached to the frame A, and takes into the jaw K of the pillar D, and is secured
by a thumb nut I (see Figure 2).
To enable the pillar D to be canted over, I make the connecting rod J between
the weighing levers F and the steelyard E capable of adjustment, so far as its
length is concerned, or this may be effected as shown in the Drawings by the use
of the chain L and the pin or cross bar M, the rod J being arranged to unhook
from the steelyard and the chain L, allowing the pillar D and rod J to be canted
over. The rod J is prevented from dropping into the pillar beyond the required
distance by the cross pin M.
When the machine is required for weighing, and the pillar D is in a vertical
position, the pillar D is held in such a position by two hinged bolts N, or their
equivalent, which take into jaws O on either side of the base of the pillar D, which
is then secured by the thumb nuts P.
My Invention further consists of a locking arrangement for securing and setting
the weighing levers F when not in use. Such arrangements for locking may
consist of a link such as Q, which passes under the weighing lever at F¹, and is
capable of being lifted and secured by means of the locking handle, such as R on
the frame A. The steelyard E is also arranged with locking mechanism such as
the screw bolt S, the end of which takes into the short arm of the steelyard E.
I arrange the steelyard E preferably with duplex graduated weighing bars, the
bar a carrying the standard balance weight b, and the bar e carrying the marginal
balance weight h. The standard balance weight b is so arranged that it can be
locked in position by the screw d.
The platform B is provided with a guard T, which is cut out and serves as
rest for the pillar D.
Where the platform B rests on the carrying bars, I provide suitable springs or
buffers U to neutralize shocks. I likewise provide the bearings of the wheels C
with suitable springs or buffers at V.
One end of the frame A is provided with ring bolts or shackles W for lifting,
and the other end with a suitable handle X.
Having now described and ascertained the nature and construction of my Inven-
tion, and shown how the same may be carried into practical effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise dimensions and details
of the weighing machine as shown in the Drawings, but what I claim as my
Invention and secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,―
:
First. The construction and arrangement of a weighing machine, in which the
pillar and steelyard are made to cant and lay over on the platform of the machine,
and be secured thereto when the machine is not in use, as herein-before described
and shown in the Drawings, or any modification thereof.
i
Second. Constructing and arranging the pillar and steelyard of platform weighing

page_text: machines, so that the steelyard and its attendant parts are capable of being
locked or fastened to the pillar when not in use, as herein-before described and
shown in the Drawings, or any modification thereof.
Thirdly. Constructing and arranging the weighing levers of platform weighing
machines, so that such levers can be locked or secured to the frame of the machine
when not in use, as herein-before described and shown in the Drawings, or any
modification thereof.
Fourthly. Cosntructing and arranging a platform weighing machine generally, as
herein-after described and shown in the Drawings, or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Pooley, the younger, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENKY
(L.S.) POOLEY, JR.