IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING AND WEIGHING HOGSHEADS OR OTHER PACKAGES OF SUGAR OR OTHER MERCHANDISE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Craig, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
UNLOADING AND WEIGHING HOGSHEADS OR OTHER PACKAGES OF SUGAR OR
OTHER MERCHANDISE."
Sealed the 17th June 1879, and dated the 21st December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Craig at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1878.
JAMES CRAIG, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING AND WEIGHING HOGSHEADS OR
OTHER PACKAGES OF SUGAR OR OTHER MERCHANDISE.”
This Invention has for its object to facilitate the unloading and weighing of
hogsheads or other packages of sugar or other merchandise.
The improved apparatus comprises an inclined plane or platform arranged to
receive the hogsheads or other packages at its higher end (from a ship, for example),
and to deliver them from its lower end (upon a car, or lorry, or other wheeled
vehicle). At one part of the inclined plane there is a break or space, which is
occupied by a separate piece, forming at the same time a continuation of the inclined
plane and the scale of a beam weighing machine. The apparatus is specially
designed to admit of the convenient use of a beam weighing machine, and the scale
to receive the hogsheads or other packages is suspended from one end of the beam,
which is overhead, by a cage or open framework, designed to allow a hogshead to enter
upon the scale, and fitted with one or more movable bars to detain it thereon during
the weighing operation. From the other end of the beam there is suspended the
usual weight scale, or by preference a rod having a disc at its bottom end to receive
the weights, which weights are by preference in the form of discs or cheese-like
blocks, having radial slots to allow of their being put on the suspension rod. The

page_text: weights are also formed each with two pairs of studs projecting from diametrically
opposite points, and they are transferred to and from the suspension rod as required
by means of a pair of rods, having heads at their bottom ends to engage with the
studs, and connected to a crosshead above, which is suspended from a crane or other
convenient hoisting apparatus.
The part of the platform between the weighing scale and the higher end is fitted
with deep rails for hogsheads or similar packages to run on and be guided by, and
these rails are by preference made adjustable to different widths by means of hand
levers and rods. Skids or frictional sliding pieces, fitted to the rails and formed
with arms for the hogsheads to bear against, are provided for regulating the descent
of the hogsheads along the inclined plane, and may be connected by chains or ropes
to a winding barrel.
For rectangular and other packages two small trucks are provided, being arranged
to run on two pairs of rails on the inclined plane, and being connected by a chain
or rope passing round a pulley at the upper end, so that the descent of one may
cause the return up of the other. If found preferable, even hogsheads may be
conveyed on trucks instead of being rolled upon rails.
With the apparatus herein before described there is by preference combined any
suitable known kind of hydraulic motive-power apparatus, by means of which the
various movements required may be effected, and there may also be fitted at a con-
venient part between the weighing scale and the higher end of the inclined plane
apparatus for applying the ordinary sampling instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Craig in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th June
1879.
JAMES CRAIG, of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING AND WEIGHING HOGSHEADS
OTHER PACKAGES OF SUGAR OR OTHER MERCHANDISE."
"IM-
OR
My said Invention has for its object to facilitate the unloading and weighing of
hogsheads or other packages of sugar or other merchandise.
My improved apparatus comprises an inclined plane or platform, arranged to
receive the hogsheads or other packages at its higher end (from a ship, for example),
and to deliver them from its lower end (upon a car or lorry, or other wheeled vehicle,
for example). At one part of the inclined plane there is a break or space which is
occupied by a separate piece, forming at the same time a continuation of the inclined
plane and the scale of a beam weighing machine. The apparatus is specially designed
to admit of the convenient use of a beam weighing machine, and the scale to receive
the hogsheads or other packages is suspended from one end of the beam, whilst from
the other end there is suspended either the ordinary weight scale, or, as I prefer, a
rod having a disc or plate at its bottom end to receive the weights. The weights
are by preference in the form of plates, with slots to allow of their being put on
the suspension rod, and are each formed with two pairs of studs projecting from
opposite sides, and they are transferred to and from the suspension rod as required,
either by means of a pair of rods attached to a crosshead above, and connected to
suitable hoisting or moving apparatus, or as I now prefer, by means of a frame
mounted on a wheeled carriage, which can be easily moved towards or from the
suspension rod for the purpose of putting on or removing the weights. The
arrangement last indicated avoids the extra cost and inconvenience of overhead
gearing.
The part of the platform between the weighing scale and the higher end is fitted
with deep rails for hogsheads or similar packages to run on and be guided by, and
these rails are by preference made adjustable to different widths by means of hand
levers and rods. Apparatus is provided in connection with the rails, to regulate the
descent of hogsheads along them, and for rectangular and other packages two small
trucks are provided, being arranged to run on two pairs of rails on the inclined
plane; and being connected by a chain or rope passing round a pulley at the upper
end, so that the descent of one may cause the return up of the other. If found
preferable, even hogsheads may be conveyed on trucks instead of being rolled
on rails.
With my improved apparatus there may be combined any suitable known kind
of hydraulic motive-power apparatus, by means of which the various movements
required may be effected, and there may also be fitted at a convenient part between
the weighing scale and the higher end of the inclined plane apparatus for applying
the ordinary sampling instrument, and also apparatus for tilting a hogshead or cask
for the purpose of repairing an end or head.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory Drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and representing one modification of my improved
apparatus. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, is a plan and Figure 2 is a
side elevation of my improved apparatus, and Figure 5, on Sheet 2, is a corres-
ponding back elevation; Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2, are an enlarged vertical section
and end elevation of a part of the weighing apparatus, and Figures 8 and 9 are a
plan and edge view of one of the weights; Figure 10, Sheet 2, is an enlarged

page_text: transverse section of the platform and rails, and Figures 3 and 4, Sheet 1, are a plan
and side elevation of the tilting apparatus.
The inclined plane or platform 1 forming part of my improved apparatus is sup-
ported at its higher end by a cross beam 2 which can be fixed in different positions
as to height upon a pair of tressles or gauntries 3, and its lower end rests on a cross
beam 4 carried upon a framing 5 which is under the scale 21 of the weighing
apparatus. On this platform 1 there are laid two main rails 6, the form of which
will be best understood from Figure 10, and which are adjustable at different
distances apart by means of a hand lever 7 connected to them by rods 8 and held
in position by a notched plate 9; these parts, which are repeated at opposite ends of
the rails or at other suitable points, being shown only in Figure 10. The rails 6
are of a box or hollow section with a slot along the top, the hollow parts serving
to retain and guide small wheels or sliding blocks on the feet or bottom parts of a
pair of moving brackets or holders 10) for regulating the speed of a hogshead 11
when rolling down the platform, which it does upon and guided by the rails 6. The
holders 10 are of an approximately triangular form and are attached to ropes or
chains which pass up along the hollows of the rails 6 to barrels or pulleys 12 on a
brake shaft 13 to which there is fixed a chain 14 connected to a weight 15. This
weight 15 counterbalances part of the descending tendency of the hogshead and is
sufficient to draw back again to the top the regulating holders 10 when these are
relieved of the hogshead.. The brake shaft 13 has also fast on it a brake pulley 16,
the strap of which is adjustable by a hand lever 17 by means of which the descent
of the hogshead 11 can be completely controlled. At the lower ends of the rails 6
their hollow parts are made with pockets 18, down into which the holders 10 turn
At the
when reaching them, and the hogshead 11 then passes over the holders.
same time the winding up of the chain 14 on the brake shaft 13 makes a plate 19
on a rod forming part of the connection act upon and compress a spring 20, and the
reaction of this spring afterwards assists the weight 15 when on commencing to
draw the holders 10 up again these holders have to be turned up out of the
pockets 18.
From the bottom end of the platform 1 the hogshead 11 immediately rolls into
or upon the weighing scale 21, which is constructed with two bearers 21, the tops of
which are inclined in continuation of the platform 1 and which are fixed upon
lower bearers 22 at right angles to them. Iron straps or bars passing under the
lower bearers 22 and continued upwards at the ends in frames 23 connect the scale
to a crosshead 24 above, and this crosshead is suspended from knife edges at the end
of the weighing beam 25. At the time when the hogshead 11' is being run on the
weighing scale 21 that scale is forcibly held close up to the end of the platform 1 by
means of cams on two horizontal shafts having a hand lever 26 fast on them, and
the hogshead is prevented from then running through the scale by a bridle or iron
strap 27 jointed to the end frames 23 of the scale." After the completion of the
weighing operation the bridle 27 is drawn up out of the way by means of a lever
28 and rope or chain connections and the hogshead can then roll out of the scale
and down two inclined beams 29 to a car or lorry 30 placed to receive it. In some
cases it may be found necessary to discharge the hogshead or other package direct
to the ground; to provide for this the weighing scale is made capable of being
turned half round, and skids are then placed at the side of the frame 5, down which
the hogshead rolls to the ground.
The end of the weighing beam 25 to which the weights are applied has suspended
from it on knife edges a rod 31, to the bottom end of which a plate 32 is attached
for the weights 33 to rest on. The weights 33 are in the shape of plates, each
having a slot or notch 34, as shewn in Figure 8, to admit of its being placed cen-
trally as regards the rod 31. Every weight, or it may be only every alternate
weight, is made with two opposite longer projections 35, and two shorter ones 36,
but these projections are made in different positions on the several weights, their
use being to support the weights in their proper order, and without interfering
with each other, in a frame or box 37. The inner surfaces of the sides of this frame

page_text: or box 37 are made with stepped parts projecting inwards to different degrees s0
that the space between the sides is wider at the upper parts, and the projections
35, 36, on the weights 33 are made of different lengths to suit the steps. The frame
or box 37 is mounted on a wheeled carriage 38 which can run on rails 39 provided
for it upon the sole plate 40 of the pillar or standard 41 of the weighing machine.
In Figure 5 the frame or box 37 is shown as moved inwards clear of the suspension
rod 31,and when the weights are to be put on or taken off that rod the box 37 is
moved outwards, the rod being guided into its proper position by the cover 42 of
the box, which cover is formed with a slot having inclined sides or jaws to pass on
each side of the suspension rod. The cover 42 is also fitted with two wooden
blocks 43, one of which is connected to the upper end of a lever 44 at the side of
the box, and this lever can be moved to force in the block or draw it out again by
means of a screw and handwheel 45 for the purpose of gripping or releasing the
suspension rod 31.
The process of weighing may be conducted in the following manner:-The box
37 being in its outer position with the weights in their places in it, and the sus-
pension rod 31 also within it, the rod 31 is gripped by means of the blocks 43, and the
hogshead 11' is then allowed to get on the scale 21. Next, on releasing the blocks 43
the weight of the hogshead 11' makes the rod 31 lift as many of the weights 33 as
are required to counterbalance it, and the box 37 is then moved inwards clear of
the rod 31, leaving on that rod the weights which it has lifted. The weights 33
are always in the same order and are conspicuously marked or numbered on their
edges, commencing with the lowermost, so that the topmost weight will always
show the total weight on the scale. The lowermost weight has marked on it simply
its own weight, but the next one has marked on it the sum of its own weight and the
weight of the lower one, whilst the next one is marked with the sum of its own
weight and the two lower ones and so on, each weight always showing the sum of
its own weight and all below it. When the weights thus lifted and left on the
rod 31 have been recorded, the box 37 is moved outwards again, and then on the
hogshead 111 being allowed to pass onwards out of the scale the rod 31 will deposit
the weights in their respective places in the box and the parts will be ready for
another weighing operation.
My improved weighing apparatus dispenses with a great part of the labor
required in moving the weights of ordinary beam weighing machines; and it is
obvious that it may be advantageously used with any convenient arrangement for
putting the packages on and off the weighing scale instead of the inclined platform
and rails in combination with which I have shown and described it.
Figures 3 and 4 show convenient appliances for tilting a hogahead, and which
consist of a lever 46 with its fulcrum support and a small truck 47 with an inclined
frame for receiving the hogshead, on which truck the hogshead can be moved to
one side out of the way of other hogsheads passing down the platform.
A pair of lower rails 48, Figures 1 and 10, are laid down on the platform 1
between the main rails, such rails 48 being for small casks or barrels, and forming
with the two main rails, rails for two trucks on which rectangular packages or
boxes may be conveyed down the platform.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original, and
claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The arranging or combining together of parts of apparatus for unloading and
weighing hogsheads or other packages of sugar or other merchandise, substantially
in the improved manner hereinbefore described, and as delineated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
2. The combination of an inclined platform and beam weighing apparatus,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
3. The combination of the rails (6) for hogsheads and similar packages to roll on

page_text: and be guided by, with the holders or speed regulators (10) or their equivalents, as
herein before described.
4. The combination of the holders (10) with the brake shaft (13) and parts con-
nected therewith for returning the holders, substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The combination of parts forming the weighing apparatus and herein before
described.
6. The combination with a beam weighing machine of parts for applying the
weights, such parts being constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Craig, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JAMES CRAIG. (L.S.)