Improvements in or applicable to Apparatus for Weighing Cotton and other Goods.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th May, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Apparatus for Weighing Cotton
and other Goods.
I, EDWARD CUNNINGHAM of 71 Paradise Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Marine Fireman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to improve the arrangement hitherto in vogue
for weighing cotton and other substances. In the past the weighing of cotton at
the ship's side has been effected by placing the cotton in scales, weighing it, and
then transferring the cotton in a truck for carrying away to the warehouse or
elsewhere.
Now by my invention as applied to weighing cotton, I transfer the cotton direct
to the truck and then weigh the cotton and truck together, which effects a saving
in time and labour. The apparatus I employ comprises a suitable scale, the
platform of which where the cotton and truck are weighed, is formed of a suitable
shape having at one end a slot or orifice extending transversely across the
platform, this slot being somewhat narrower than the diameter of the truck
wheels. The slot is filled up by a plate having a limited vertical travel being
preferably provided with pins which slide in boles in the side of the platform.
I also provide a device for attachment to the truck so that the exact weight of
each truck can be accurately adjusted. This device comprises a box or chamber
which is arranged to be clipped or fastened on to the axle of the wheels. This
box or chamber has a sliding door so that the box can be filled or partly filled
with any suitable material, so that by regulating the amount of material inserted
into the box on each axle the trucks will all be adjusted to the same weight. The
truck moreover may be provided with a scraper to remove dirt or other substances
which are liable to adhere to the tread of the wheels. At one end of the scale or
platform I provide horizontal arms these being preferably secured to pivoted
pillars so that the arms will swing aside when the truck is put on the platform,
but when the truck is in place on the platform with the wheels in the slot, the
horizontal arms will form rests for the handles of the truck, a spring being
provided so that the horizontal arms will always swing back to one normal
position.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The cotton being lowered direct on to the truck, the truck is wheeled on to the
scale platform in which position the scale platform resting on the ground causes
the plate to close the transverse slot and lie flush with the surface. Immediately
however the platform rises in weighing the article, the plate drops down below the
level of the platform leaving a cavity in which the wheels of the truck fit, so that
each truck is locked in place and cannot move away so long as it is being weighed.
I have described my invention more especially in connection with weighing cotton,
but it is obvious that it may equally well be used for weighing other substances,
thus for example barrels may be weighed or other cylindrical objects, being simply
rolled on the platform and then held in place and prevented from rolling off when
the platform rises up by the slot aforesaid.
Dated this 18th day of January 1896.

page_text: device comprises a box or chamber H which is arranged to be clipped or fastened
onto the axle of the wheels by the clips I. This box or chamber H has a sliding
door J so that the box can be filled or partly filled with iron burrs or any suitable
material, so that by regulating the amount of material inserted into the box on the
axle the trucks can all be adjusted to a uniform. tare weight. The truck moreover
may be provided with scrapers K to remove dirt or other substances which are.
liable to adhere to the tread of the wheels D'. This scraper K is by preference-
mounted on the pin L which is secured to the frame of the truck.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The cotton being lowered direct onto the truck, the truck is wheeled handles.
foremost onto the scale platform A, in which position the scale platform resting on
the ground causes the plate E to close the transverse slot D and lie flush with the
surface. Immediately however the platform rises in weighing the article, the
plate E drops down below the level of the platform A, leaving a cavity in which
the wheels of the truck drop, so that each truck is locked in place and cannot move
away so long as it is being weighed and the truck handles rest on the arms M..
When the truck is moved off the platform after weighing, the goods on the truck
striking against the horizontal arms M will push them aside enabling the truck to
pass, after which the arms will swing back by the action of the springs.
It will be obvious that the drop plate E may be omitted if so desired, in which
case a stationary horizontal arm M' is provided as depicted in Figures 7 and 8, in
place of making it to swing aside, this stationary arm being so arranged that it.
will form a rest for the truck or its handles. The truck is wheeled handles.
foremost on to the scale platform A, and then supported on the arm M' in such a
manner that the truck is locked in place and cannot move away so long as it is.
heing weighed. To move the truck off the platform, all that is necessary, is to
disengage it from the arm M¹ and it can then be moved off. If desired the
platform may have a slight depression P to receive the wheels of the truck so as to
keep it in place on the platform.
I have described my invention more especially in connection with weighing
cotton, but it is obvious that it may equally well be used for weighing other
substances, thus for example, barrels may be weighed, or other cylindrical objects,
being simply rolled on the platform and then held in place and prevented from
rolling off when the platform rises up by the slot aforesaid.
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. In apparatus for weighing trucks loaded with cotton or other goods, the
combination with the platform on which the load is weighed, of horizontal arms.
projecting transversely across the platform at a suitable height above it, and so
arranged that the arms will swing aside when the truck is moved off the platform,.
but when the truck is in place, will form rests for the handles of the truck
substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for weighing trucks loaded with cotton or other goods, the-
combination of the platform on which the load is weighed with one or more
horizontal stationary arms projecting transversely across the platform at a suitable
height above it, and so arranged that they will form a rest for the truck and
prevent it being accidentally shifted when the load is being weighed substantially
as described.
3. For use in connection with weighing trucks loaded with cotton or other
goods, a device consisting of a box or chamber for holding weights, burrs or other
material, a door or its equivalent for giving access to the interior of the box and
means for fastening said box to the axle or other convenient part of the truck,.
whereby by regulating the contents of the box attached to each truck, the trucks.
can be adjusted to weigh one given uniform tare substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
apparatus for weighing cotton and other goods substantially as described and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th dex of Max 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.