IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INDICATING WEIGHTS AND FORCES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINES FOR TESTING THE STRENGTH OF METALS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Ward of Tipton in the County of Stafford
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
INDICATING WEIGHTS AND FORCES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO MACHINES FOR
TESTING THE STRENGTH OF METALS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Ward at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1883.
"IMPROVEMENTS
THOMAS HENRY WARD of Tipton in the County of Stafford
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INDICATING WEIGHTS AND FORCES APPLICABLE
ALSO TO MACHINES FOR TESTING THE STRENGTH OF METALS
"
My Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for indicating weights and forces
applicable also to machines for testing the strength of metals and consists of certain
arrangements and combinations of spring plates, or plates or rods and a spring or
springs or their equivalents (as hereinafter described) acting on the principle of the
parallelogram of forces as described in the Specifications to my two former letters
Patent dated August 17th 1881 and Numbered respectively 3580 and 3581.
According to one mode of carrying out my Invention I employ two curved or
bowed spring plates connected together at their extreme ends with their concave
sides facing each other-One end of these combined spring plates is provided with
means for suspending the apparatus to a crane or other support whilst the opposite
end of the said combined plates is provided with a device of any suitable description
for receiving the load to be weighed.
To one of these spring plates is fixed a rack arranged to gear with a pinion
carried by the other spring plate-When a load is placed on or attached to the
lower or free end of the combined spring plates they are thereby deflected more or ⚫
less. and caused to approach nearer to each other whereby the rack imparts more or
less rotation to the pinion according to the amount of deflection imparted to the
plates by the load.
The axis on which the pinion is fixed carries on one or both ends thereof a

page_text: .
pointer or pointers for indicating on a dial or dials carried on the spring plate or
plates the weight of the load attached to or carried by the lower end of the
combined spring plates.
-
Instead of arranging the spring plates with their concave sides facing each other
as hereinbefore described they may be arranged in the reverse position that is to
say with their convex sides facing in which case the upper and lower ends of the
said plates are respectively connected to two rigid bars by one of which bars the
apparatus is suspended whilst the other' bar is connected to or carries the load to
be weighed. The weight being connected to or placed on the lower bar causes the
plates to deflect outwardly or to separate from each other and by means of a rack
and pinion arrangement similar to that herein before described indicate on a dial
the weight of the load.
""
"
According to another modification I employ two spring plates tempered flat or
nearly flat and connected at their upper and lower ends respectively to two rigid
bars as in the last described.arrangement.
In combination with the flat spring plates arranged as described-I employ a
spring or springs for the purpose of avoiding a combination of leverage strains and
tensional strains at the same time; that is to say, when the plates are unloaded
they are acted upon laterally by means of a spring or springs so as to be normally
deflected as a lever or levers, but when the load to be weighed is applied to the
lower ends of the plates the amount of lateral deflection is reduced more or less or
entirely removed according to the weight of the load the spring plates being then
in a state of tension.
"
"1.
'T
Instead of the rack hereinbefore described for imparting motion to the indicator
pointer I sometimes employ a toothed segmental or quadrant lever carried by one
of the spring plates and actuated by means of a lever connected at one end to the
segmental lever below the fulcrum on which it turns"
ns and at its
opposite end to
arms on the two spring plates in such a manner that when the spring plates are
deflected by the weight of the load the lever will cause the segmental or quadrant
lever to turn on its fulcrum and impart motion to the pinion and thereby to the
Indicator pointer.
According to a further modification I fix to one of the spring plates a quick
threaded screw rod arranged to pass through an opening in the other spring plate
and fitted with a correspondingly screwed nut by means of which the weight of
the load is ascertained in the following manner-When there is no load on the
apparatus the screwed nut is moved along the rod until it is brought into contact
with the adjacent spring plate through which the rod' projects-Upon placing on
or attaching a load to the lower ends of the spring plates 'they will be deflected and
the screwed rod caused to project further through the plate and carry the nut away
from the surface of the plate to a greater or less distance according to the amount
of deflection imparted to the spring plates by the load.
In order to ascertain the weight of the load the screwed nut which is provided
with a pointer is moved along the screwed rod until it is brought into contact with
the spring plate the amount of rotation of the nut necessary to bring it into this
position being indicated by the pointer on a dial which will at the same time shew
the weight of the load.
The screwed nut may be turned on the screwed rod by hand or it may be
worked automatically by attaching a weight or spring to the nut in such a manner
as to cause it to turn on the rod when the plates are deflected so as to keep it in
contact therewith,
According to another modification of my Invention the spring plates are by
their deflection made to act on a diaphragm or plunger so as to displace liquid
contained in a vessel and cause the said liquid to rise in a tube provided with
graduations the elevation of which fluid in the tube thus indicating the weight of
the load which causes the deflection of the plates! ⠀
According to a further modification I employ instead of the spring plates
herein before described rigid plates or rods connected in such a manner as to be

page_text: deflected inwards or outwards by a spring or springs arranged to act in a lateral
direction to the weight of the load.
The load to be weighed is attached to or supported on the lower connected
ends of the plates or rods the weight of which load will cause the plates or rods
to compress or extend the spring or springs according as it or they are arranged
between or outside the plates or rods and the indicating pointer will be actuated.
by means of a rack and pinion in the manner herein before described-Or instead
of springs a diaphragm or plunger or diaphragms or plungers for displacing liquid
in a chamber or chambers as hereinbefore described may be employed in
combination with the rigid jointed plates or rods.
In applying my Invention for the purpose of testing the strength of metals I
may employ the spring plates or jointed plates or rods either in a vertical or
a horizontal position. The following is a simple mode of employing them in a
horizontal position-I connect one end of the combined spring plates to a fixed
point in a frame or casting and connect the opposite end of the said combined
plates to the bar of metal or article to be tested the opposite end of which bar or
article is attached to a hydraulic plunger screw, lever, or other apparatus employed
for applying the strain. Upon applying the testing power the spring plates will
be deflected and by actuating indicating mechanism, as herein before described with
reference to the weighing apparatus the amount of power exerted on the rod or
article will be registered on the dial of the indicating apparatus.
It is obvious that various other arrangements may be employed for carrying out
my Invention according to the strength required and other circumstances for
example two or more pairs of spring plates may be employed in one and the same
machine either for ascertaining weights or for testing the strength of metals or
for indicating forces generally.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Henry Ward in the Patent Office on the 24th January
1884.
THOMAS HENRY WARD of Tipton in the County of Stafford "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR INDICATING WEIGHTS AND FORCES APPLICABLE
ALSO TO MACHINES FOR TESTING THE STRENGTH OF METALS."
My Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for indicating weights and
forces applicable also to machines for testing the strength of metals and consists
of certain arrangements and combinations of spring plates or plates or rods and a
spring or springs or their equivalents (as hereinafter described) acting on the
principle of the parallelogram of forces which is the principle utilized in the
arrangements described in the Specifications of my two former Letters Patent dated
August seventeenth One thousand eight hundred and eighty one and numbered
respectively 3580 and 3581.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed particularly, to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures..
Figure 1 represents in front elevation Figure 2 in side elevation and Figure 3
in back elevation an apparatus constructed according to one arrangement of my
Invention. Figures 4 to 7 are details of the operating gear drawn to a larger scale
Figure 4 being a side elevation with one of the plates removed. Figure 5 a
section on the line 1, 2, Figure 4. Figure 6 a section on the line 3, 4 Figure 4
and Figure 7 a section on the line 5, 6. Figure 4.
According to this mode of carrying out my present Invention I employ two
curved or bowed spring plates A with their concave sides facing each other and
with their extreme ends connected together in any suitable way for example as
shewn in the drawing. At one end of these combined spring plates is provided a
loop shackle or the like as at a for suspending the apparatus to a crane or other
support whilst at the opposite end of the said combined plates is provided a loop
shackle or the like as at a² for receiving the load to be weighed. To one of the
plates A is hinged or jointed a rack B gearing with a pinion C. carried by the
other plate A. When a load is placed on or attached to the loop a² or its
equivalent the plates A are thereby deflected more or less and caused to approach
nearer to each other whereby the rack B imparts a greater or less movement of
rotation to the pinion C according to the amount of deflection imparted to the
plates A by the load. The axis c on which the pinion is fixed or formed carries a
pointer (or pointers) to indicate on a dial E (or dials), also carried by the spring
plate or plates, the weight of the load attached to or carried by the lower end of
the said plates A.
Any suitable means may be used for connecting the aforesaid gear to the
plates A. In the drawings I have shewn a casting F for carrying the axis of the
pinion the said casting being secured to one of the plates A by the screws of the
dial E being secured to the said casting by the screws f2. b is a roller and 62 is
a spring which may be provided for retaining the rack in gear with the pinion
and b³ is an opening in the spring plate for the passage of the rack
Instead of arranging the plates A with their concave sides facing each other as
herein before described they may be arranged in the reverse position that is to say
with their convex sides facing each other as shewn in Figure 8 in which case the

page_text: upper and lower ends of the said plates A are respectively connected to two rigid
bars (or equivalent connecting pieces) a³ a' by one of which bars or connecting
pieces the apparatus is suspended whilst the other bar or connecting piece carries a
hook shackle or receiver for the load to be weighed which load causes the plates to
deflect outwardly or move from each other and by means of a rack and pinion
arrangement operate a pointer to indicate on a dial the weight of the load. This
rack and pinion arrangement will be like that herein before described with
reference to Figures 1 to 7 and I therefore have not considered it necessary to
shew it in Figure 8.
According to another modification I employ two plates or sets of plates A (which
may be spring plates tempered flat or nearly flat) connected at their upper and
lower ends respectively to two rigid bars or connecting pieces as in the last
described arrangements. In combination with these plates arranged as describéd
I employ a spring or springs as at g. Figure 9 for the purpose of avoiding too
severe a strain due to a combination of leverage or deflection strains and tensional
strains at the same time and in the same plate. When the. plates are unloaded
they are acted upon laterally by means of the said spring or springs 'g so as to be
normally deflected laterally as a lever or levers but when the load to be weighed is
applied at the lower ends of the plates the amount of lateral deflection of the said
plates is reduced more or less (as indicated by dotted lines) according to the weight
of the load. The arrangement of rack and pinion gear herein before described can
be used with the plates. and springs shewn in Figure 9 and therefore I do not
consider it necessary to shew the said gear in the said Figure 9.
Instead of the straight rack hereinbefore described for imparting motion to the
indicator pointer. may employ a toothed segmental or quadrantal lever or curved
rack as shewn at H Figure 10, the said lever or rack being centred at .h to a
casting i carried by one of the spring plates A and actuated directly by means of
a rod or link j connected at one end to the segmental lever H the said rod or link j
being connected at its opposite end to the other of the plates A in such a manner
that when the plates A are deflected by the weight of the load the rod or link j
cause the segmental or quadrantal lever or curved rack H to turn on its fulcrum h
and impart motion to the pinion C and thereby to the indicator pointer as herein-
before described.
According to a further modification I may employ instead of the spring plates
liereinbefore described rigid plates or rods A² as indicated by the diagram Figure 11
connected by joints or hinges a³ in such a manner as to be deflected outwards (or it
may be inwards) by a springig? (or springs) arranged to be acted upon in a lateral
direction under the weight of the load. The load to be weighed is attached to or
supported on the lower-connected ends of the plates or rods the weight of which
load will cause the plates or rods to compress (or extend) the spring (or springs)
according as it or they are arranged between or outside the plates or rods and the
indicating pointer will be actuated by means of a rack or toothed sector and pinion.
gear in the manner hereinbefore described. I have not considered it necessary to
shew this gear in Figure 11. as it can be arranged as herein before described with
reference to the preceding Figures
In applying my Invention for the purpose of testing the strength of metals,
I may employ the spring plates or jointed plates or rods as hereinbefore described
arranged in a vertical horizontal or any other convenient position. The following.
s a simple mode of employing them in a horizontal position which I will describe
with reference to Figures 12 to 16. Figure 12 being a vertical section Figure 13
plan. Figure 14 a detail as hereinafter described and Figures 15 and 16
espectively a vertical section and plan shewing the rack and pinion gear for
Sperating the pointer of the dial. One end of the combined spring, plates A is
ttached to a fixed part or casting of the frame K the opposite end of the said,
combined plates being connected to a head piece K2 capable of sliding between the
ods of the frame K and provided with means for connecting it to the bar of
netal or other article to be tested the opposite end of which bar or article is
l

page_text: attached to the ram or pistón rod m of the hydraulic cylinder M. (or to a screw
lever or other apparatus which may be employed for applying the strain or testing
force). Upon applying the said strain or testing force the spring plates 'A will be
deflected and by actuating indicating mechanisin analoguous to that herein before
described with reference to the weighing apparatus the amount of force exerted on
the rod or article will be registered on the dial of the indicating apparatus.
The indicating mechanism which I prefer to employ is shewn in the drawing
and consists of a toothed lever or quadrantal rack H2 counterweighed at 12 and
centred at h to the casting i carried by one of the plates A the said casting also
carrying the dial E and the bearings for the pinion C the shaft of which carries the
pointer. The other of the plates A carries a rod or link N which is connected to
the lever H by the pin ³ In order to prevent the rebound of the spring
plates A from injuring the pointer operating gear on the fracture of the article
being tested (if it be tested to destruction) a slot n is formed in the link N which
travels over the pins when such fracture occurs the counterweight at 2 bringing
the rack to its normal position. To prevent the said plates from passing their
normal position owing to the rebound the abutment rods p may be provided. One
of these is shewn in detail in Figure 14.
.
It is obvious that various other arrangements of the spring plates, or plates or
rods and springs, may be employed in carrying my Invention into effect according
to the strength required and other circumstances for example two or more pairs of
plate springs may be employed in one and the same machine either for ascertaining
weights or for testing the strength of metals or for indicating forces generally.
Figure 17 represents in side elevation an arrangement wherein two pairs of spring
plates, are arranged side by side they being connected to the same bars at top and
bottom. The dial may be in the centre or at one side or both sides and the pointer
may be actuated from one pair of plates if desired. Figure 18 shews an arrange-
ment wherein a pair of springs with double blades or leaves is employed the said
blades or leaves being preferably separated by distance pieces as shewn to prevent
sliding contact These arrangements it will be understood are provided with rack
or toothed sector and pinion gear and pointers and dials as hereinbefore described.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the number of spring
plates or plates or rods and springs employed as they may be varied as required.
There may if desired also be more than one pointer and dial say for example a
pointer and dial at both back and front of the apparatus in which case there may
be two racks and pinions or two pinions actuated by one rack. I prefer to employ
spring plates of single leaves or layers made thin and broad and rivetted at their
ends to the bars or connecting pieces.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to ine by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First A machine, or apparatus, for indicating weights, or forces, or the like,
consisting of a pair, or pairs, of curved, or bowed, spring plates, (or combinations
of plates, or rods, and a spring, or springs,) provided with a rack, or toothed
quadrant, or sector, and a pinion, or pinions, and a pointer, or pointers, and dial, or
dials, so that on a weight being suspended by, or force being applied to, the said
spring plates, (or combinations of plates, or rods, and spring, or springs,) an indica-
tion of the weight, or force, so applied is obtained by the direct operation of the
plates, or rods, upon the rack, or toothed quadrant, or sector, and pinion, or pinions
for operating the pointer, or pointers, of the dial, or dials, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated under several modifications in the accompanying
drawings.
Second-The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the machine or
apparatus for indicating weights or forces substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Third The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the machine or
apparatus for testing strengths or forces substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 12 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Henry Ward have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal this twenty-first day of January One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
THOMAS HENRY WARD (L.S.)