Improvements in Self-contained Portable Weigh Bridges.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-contained Portable Weigh Bridges.
I, CHARLES CHANDLER MILLER, Engineer, of No. 311, Broadway, New
York, in the County of New York, and State of New York, United States of
America, 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 an improvement in platform scales and particularly to
wagon scales which are usually of from two to ten tons capacity, these scales as
ordinarily constructed occupy from two to three feet in depth and it frequently
happens in places where such a scale is desired that the ground is so filled with
moisture that the vault in which they are usually placed would fill with water, in
which case in order to provide a scale it would be necessary to elevate the parts
above the ground, but when elevated to such an extent it is very hard to drive
thereon with a loaded wagon; or if the approach be so gradual that a loaded team
may reach the platform without difficulty, said approach must be of such length as
to be very costly of construction and furthermore interfere with traffic by
obstructing the roadway. The same objection to the great height of these scales
is met with in buildings constructed of iron where the scale must rest on the floor
beams and yet not be too high to drive upon with a loaded wagon.
So, also, on wharves or docks where a scale is needed to weigh ice, coal, or other
articles in bulk, the municipal authorities will not allow the dock to be cut or the
street to be opened to set a scale of the ordinary pattern requiring so great depth.
So, also, it is very costly to construct a scale of such proportions for a temporary
purpose, such as for schools, hospitals, public buildings and the like where a scale is
required capable of weighing great amounts only periodically, to weigh supplies of
coal and the like, and heuce my scale possesses great advantages in that it is
portable, that is, it can be readily set up or taken down without requiring a great
amount of work to form its bed. It can be readily seen that the cost of foundation
and equipment of a scale from two to three feet in depth and of the usual wagon,
hay, and stock scale construction would be so great as to almost prohibit of its use
when required only at long intervals of time.
Furthermore, although there has been for many years a demand for a wagon
scale of less depth than those inanufactured by scale makers and attempts have
been made to meet this demand, all such so far as I am aware have been made
shallow at the expense of quality.
My object is to make a scale equally as good if not better and at the same time
to so arrange the parts that less than one-half the depth will be required than is
usual in setting a scale of the same capacity; for example, I can build a five ton
scale in ten inches of depth or less if necessary.
To accomplish this object my invention therefore consists primarily in an
arrangement of the operating parts of the scale, the supporting pipe levers and
corner irons being placed alongside of the platform instead of below same, as is
customary.
It further consists in placing this mechanism within enclosing boxes on each of
two sides of the scale, which boxes form part of the frame or coping of the scale
and bring the platform and mechanism on the same plane.
Finally it consists in various details of construction all as hereinafter described.

page_text: mvention is lustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one corner of a wagon scale embodying my
invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are detail views partly in section of portions of the scale.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of a scale constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 5 is a plan with the standard removed. ⚫
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified construction of scale
containing my invention; and
Fig. 7 is a view partly in section at right angles to Figure 6.
In these drawings the upright standard, scale beam, steelyard rods and parts
above the platform are all of ordinary and well known construction. The
foundation of the scale, if permanent, may be of stone or brick or any other
suitable material, but I have herein shown the enclosing casing and framework as
being of wood and iron, or all of iron. The platform may also be of wood or iron.
The front and rear ends of the scale framework are of usual construction and material.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the boxes in which the pipe levers and
loops supporting the platform at each corner are placed, these boxes as shown in
Figure being made of iron and closed except for the necessary openings to allow
of the passage of the loops supporting the pipe levers, and the bearings for the
platform.
In this figure and in the sectional views, Figures 2 and 3, B-represents the pipe
levers running lengthwise of the box, being connected at one end with the levers K
obliquely arranged which transmit the weight through the proper connection to
the scale beam.
Each box at each corner has a countersunk central portion a in which is placed
a pin or rod D, while an opening or openings through the box permit the passage
of the sides of a clevis C which is suspended from the pin or rod D. The depth of
the countersink in the corner of the box is equal to or slightly more than the
thickness of the pin D and clevis C, and in practice 1 provide a corner plate which
fits over the box for keeping dirt and moisture away from the parts C and D.
Each pipe lever B has at either end a projecting portion shaped something like a
bell crank. The vertical portion B₁ thereof is provided on either side with a knife
edge pivot E which fits within the hardened eyes formed on the lower ends of the
clevis or loop C, whereby the pipe levers are supported at each corner.
The horizontal projecting part B2 of the bell crank carries also the knife edge
fulcrum pivot F which supports the fulerum loop or clevis G, which carries the
bearing H to which are secured at either corner of the scale, by bolts I, the
platform timbers J, this bearing H projecting through the wall of box A. By
this arrangement any weight placed on platform J will depress it and its
bearings H and the consequent pull on loop G through angle arm B serves to
oscillate the pipe lever B on its fulcrum E, and this oscillating motion is trans-
mitted through the levers K to the scale beam, see Fig. 4.
It will be seen that the box A in which the loops and pipe levers are supported
forms a part of the framework or coping of the scale and by arranging them in the
horizontal plane of the platform instead of in the vertical plane as is usual I am
enabled to so construct the scale that it will occupy less than one-half the usual
depth, and as I believe I am the first to place the operating parts of a platform
scale on a level with but outside the platform, and in the surrounding coping
instead of beneath the platform, 1 herein claim broadly this arrangement of parts.
While the form shown in Figure 1 is preferred, I have illustrated in Figures 6
and 7 an alternative construction in which the boxes A are made of wood except for
the corner iron L which is attached thereto. Furthermore, instead of having only
one bell crank projection on either end of each pipe lever, I provide two, the knife
edge pivots E and F, extending between the respective arms B1, B2 thereof. In
this instance the loop G is double as shown and embraces a block G¹ which bears
on, the knife edge pivot F, instead of having the hardened eyes resting on said

page_text: pivot F as in Figure 1. Various other details of construction will readily suggest
themselves to those skilled in the art but such changes I claim to include within
the scope of my invention.
It will be seen that by my construction the levers and platform are suspended in
a way to allow them perfectly free vibration, and by substituting a chair or stand
for the loop C I can still further reduce the height of the scale. This scale by
removing the operating levers from beneath the platform is of great value when
used for weighing loose grain since it allows of a very large opening through the
platform to receive the hopper.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a weighing scale of the character described, the platform, the surrounding
coping, the supporting levers therefor, said supporting levers being arranged
within the coping entirely beyond the vertical plane of the platform, but practically
included between the planes bounding the top and bottom thereof; substantially as
described.
2. In a weighing scale, enclosing boxes A forming a part of the surrounding
coping or framework of the scale, the platform, the loops supported thereby, the
levers B, the knife edge pivots E resting in bearings on the loops C, said levers,
loops and pivots being contained within said boxes A, and bearings H pivotally
connected with the levers B and attached to the platform; substantially as
described.
3. In a weighing scale of the character described, the platform, casings arranged
alongside the platform and forming part of the coping, and the supporting levers
arranged within said casings; substantially as described.
4. In a weighing scale of the character described, the platform, the practically
closed boxes A, the pipe levers enclosed therein, the bell cranks thereon, the loops,
and bearings H between the bell cranks and the platform; substantially as
described.
5. In a weighing scale of the character described, the platform, and the
supporting levers and loops therefor, said levers and loops being arranged entirely
outside the vertical plane of the platform, but practically included between the
planes bounding the top and bottom thereof, with a supporting bearing as H
between the levers and loops and the platform; substantially as described.
6. In combination with the platform, the pipe levers supporting the same, the
enclosing boxes for said pipe levers having openings in the top for the passage of
a loop, and a pin or rod as D adapted to rest on the top of said box and encircled
by said loop, said loop supporting the pipe levers; substantially as described.
7. In a weighing scale, the combination with the supporting box having the
countersunk portion, the pivot or rod D placed within said countersunk portion,
the loop or clevis supported by said rod or pivot, the pipe lever B having the knife
edge pivot E hung from the loop C, the knife edge pivot F, the loop G bung
therefrom, the bearing H supported at one end in the loop G, all said parts being
arranged within the box, the bearing B extending outside thereof and secured to
the platform of the scale; substantially as described.
8. The enclosing boxes A having openings in the top at the ends for the passage
of loops, and having openings on one side at the ends for the passage of the levers
to which the platform is attached, the openings in the top of each box being
countersunk sufficiently to afford a seat for the upper end of the loops which are
thus protected from wear, being below the surface of the coping; substantially as
described.
Di .
L
1002
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
70 Chancery Lane, Loudon, W.C., Filing Agent.