CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING SOLID BODIES AND FOR MEASURING FLUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OP DAMPERS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ellis Rowland, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR WEIGHING SOLID BODIES AND FOR MEASURING FLUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OP
DAMPERS."
Sealed the 7th January 1864, and dated the 12th November 1863.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Ellis Rowland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 12th November 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELLIS
ROWLAND, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING SOLID BODIES AND FOR MEASURING FLUIDS,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING
OF DAMPERS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn declaration that I am the first and true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ellis Rowland, do hereby declare that
the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal. fully describes

page_text: and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawings (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to an apparatus for weighing solid bodies or measuring
fluids wherein water or other liquid confined within a chamber is applied and
employed as the counterbalance to the body to be weighed, such chamber
communicating with a graduated tube to indicate the weight by the height of
the water in the tube.
A second part of the Invention relates to a similar arrangement of apparatus
to be employed to open and close "dampers" in the flues of a furnace
employed to heat a steam boiler or generator, the rise and fall of the beam
being effected through the medium of the water, instead of being adapted to
weighing, is applied to the aforesaid purpose.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, similar letters of
reference being marked upon corresponding parts.
Figure 1 represents a side view of the weighing apparatus, partly shown in
section, to illustrate the internal arrangement; Figure 2 is a plan view of the
same; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus for opening and closing
"dampers," also shewn partly in section; and Figure 4 represents an apparatus
for measuring liquids.
In Figure 1, a is a pedestal or column supporting a hollow vessel and
receptacle or dish b, having a deep channel or groove formed around its
circumference, which is partly filled with mercury y, as shewn in red. This
dish is filled with water or other liquid z, shewn in blue, which floats upon the
mercury, and the inverted cup or bell c bears and floats upon its surface, the
sides of the cup dipping into the mercury and water in the groove; from
the upper surface of this cup the column d extends upwards, and receives the
pivote or fulcrum upon which the beam fis balanced at the centre of its
length, the extremities of the said beam being furnished with trays or
platforms g, g', for the reception of articles to be weighed. A tubular column
is also connected with the liquid z, into which it rises through the channel i,
as shewn in dotted lines; and the said tubular column is composed of glass or
transparent material, and is graduated to denote parts of pounds or gallons
(or other weight or measure), the position of the liquid in the tube indicating
the weight upon the tray or platform; this column also forms a bearing or
support for a second pivot or fulcrum e¹.
The action of the weighing apparatus or scales is as follows;-When the

page_text: body to be weighed is heavy and bulky, it is to be placed on the tray or
platform g, in which instance the weight is supported by and bears upon the
pivot or fulcrum e, which becomes the balancing point, and the weight causes
the pivot e to lift the cup or bell c, which is followed by the liquid, thus the
column of liquid in the tube falls, and the weight of the body on the tray is
indicated on the graduated scale by the position of the liquid in the tube..
In weighing lighter and more valuable articles the weight is to be placed on
the tray g', in which instance the fulcrum or pivot e becomes the balancing
point, and the pressure of the weight falls upon the column d and upon the
cup c, and consequently pressure is exerted on the liquid surface in the dish b,
which causes the liquid to rise in the tubular column h, and the weight is
ascertained by the height of the liquid, the mercury in the groove effecting a
water-tight joint, and preventing the liquid from escaping from the dish when
the pressure is applied.
In adapting this apparatus to the opening and closing of dampers the
channel i is connected with the beam f, which is mounted upon a central pink,
and a link is attached to the upper end of the bell, which is retained in a
vertical or parallel position by a radius rod m, a weight n being attached at
the end of the beam opposite to the damper o, the weight being sufficiently
heavy to hold the cup down until the pressure of water and steam in the boiler
exceeds any given pressure; when such excess of pressure occurs the water from
the boiler lifts the cup, and by raising that portion of the beam causes the
damper o to descend into the flue p.
In measuring liquids, the channel i is connected with the vessel containing
the liquid to be measured, the flow of which is controlled by a tap g. Another
channel is also connected with the channel i, through which the liquid is
drawn off" after being measured, such being controlled by the tap r.
When liquid is to be measured, the tap g is opened, and the handle end of
the beam fis drawn down (as shewn), which raises the bell c to any height,
according to the quantity required to be measured (the degrees of measure-
ment being marked on the side of the cup); this causes the liquid to fill the
bell c as far as it is raised; the tap q is then shut, and the tap r opened; the
weight n then presses on the bell c, and causes the measured quantity to issue
therefrom through the channel or pipe i¹.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim,-
First, the novel construction and arrangement of apparatus for weighing

page_text: solids and measuring liquids, wherein liquid is employed and made serviceable
(either by pressure or suction), instead of the counterbalance weights in
ordinary use.
Secondly, I claim the application and adaptation of liquid to the said
purpose.
And, thirdly, I claim the arrangement of apparatus and means employed for
opening and closing "dampers," as herein-before described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ellis Rowland, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ELLIS ROWLAND. (L.S.)