AN IMPROVED STEELYARD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN OR AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A WEIGHING MACHINE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Hodgson, William Hodgson, and John
Needham, all of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Weighing Machine
Makers, Engineers, and Ironfounders, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
STEELYARD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN OR AS AN ATTACHMENT TO A
WEIGHING MACHINE."
:
Sealed the 6th August 1878, and dated the 12th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Hodgson, William
Hodgson, and John Needham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on.
the 12th February 1878.
CHRISTOPHER HODGSON, WILLIAM HODGSON, and JOHN NEEDHAM, all of Salford,
in the County of Lancaster, Weighing Machine Makers, Engineers, and Ironfounders.
"AN IMPROVED STEELYARD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN OR AS AN ATTACHMENT
TO A WEIGHING MACHINE."
Our said Invention relates to steelyards chiefly designed to serve as the indicating
beams of weighing machines, and consists in the novel construction and combination
of parts of the steelyard as herein-after described.
The said Invention comprises two bars mounted with a capability of free rotation
in bearings formed in the inner and outer ends of the frame or body of the steelyard,
which frame or body rests on knife edges in the usual manner.
The said bars are geared or connected with each other by toothed wheels, cranks,
or otherwise, so that one will turn with the other, and neither can turn separately.
The said rotating or revolving bars are, for convenience, placed parallel with each
other, and may be arranged side by side or one above the other, as desired. These
bars may be triangular, circular, square, or otherwise in transverse section. They
are graduated on each side to the English, the metric, and the Indian standard, or
with other suitable standards or scales. One bar or revolving part of the steelyard
is graduated to indicate tons and cwts. and equivalent or approximate weights on
any desired foreign scale or standard, and the other bar or revolving part is graduated
I Price R71

page_text: to indicate quarter cwts. and pounds, or the smaller divisions in ounces, or the same
or approximate values on any foreign standard.
The said bars must be so geared or connected with each other that the corre-
sponding sides, that is to say, the sides marked with the same scale or standard on
both bars, will always coincide in position, so that both bars will always exhibit
corresponding scales or standards.
On each of these bars we place a sliding weight, preferably of conical shape, so
that the graduations or marks on the revolving bars may be easily perceived.
These weights also serve for turning the said bars, and on the crown or largest part
of each weight is an elevated fillet, which is milled or roughed to facilitate the
turning of the said revolving bars. By the use of these sliding weights we dispense
with the usual swinging weights.
When the steelyard is to be used the sides of the bars representing either of the
scales or standards should be set opposite the weigher or attendant, who finds
thereon the weight of the object on the machine, and then by simply turning the
weight or ball on one of the revolving bars the graduated surfaces on another side
of each bar are brought opposite or in view of the weigher, who can thus at once
see the marks or graduations representing the same-weight on a different scale or
standard; that is to say, having first ascertained the weight of any object in tons,
cwts., or the fractions thereof, he can, by simply turning or rotating the said bars,
ascertain the equivalent of this weight on the Indian or any foreign scale or
standard that may be represented on the steelyard with correctness, thus avoiding
the objectionable loose weights, three sets or more of which would be required to
obtain the same result with ordinary steelyards.
Y
By our Invention we avoid the risk of mistakes so often- made in the addition
and subtraction of loose weights, as both clear and minute graduations of the scales
or standards used are plainly engraved or otherwise marked on the bars, and can be
always clearly seen by the weigher.
In some instances we fasten or secure the said bars in a determined position by
means of a stout spiral or straight spring, or other suitable means, placed in a
chamber or recess in the body or frame of the steelyard, on the top of which is
placed a steel plate arranged to press upon a reduced or flattened part of the said
revolving bars, and thus keep them fixed, to shew either of the standards or scales
with which they are marked. We sometimes make the said revolving or turning
bars hollow or tubular.
Our said Invention is applicable to any weighing machine in which a steelyard is
required or used; and can be attached to any existing weighing machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Christopher Hodgson, William
Hodgson, and John Needham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1878.
CHRISTOPHER HODGSON, WILLIAM HODGSON, and JOHN NEEDHAM, all of Salford,
in the County of Lancaster, Weighing Machine Makers, Engineers, and Ironfounders:
"AN IMPROVED STEELYARD, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN OR AS AN ATTACHMENT
TO A WEIGHING MACHINE."
Our said Invention relates to steelyards chiefly designed to serve as the indicating
beams of weighing machines, and consists in the novel construction and combination
of parts of the steelyard as herein-after described.
The said Invention comprises two bars mounted with a capability of free rotation
in bearings formed in the inner and outer ends of the frame or body of the steelyard,
which frame or body rests on knife edges in the usual manner.
The said bars are geared or connected with each other by toothed wheels, cranks,
or otherwise, so that one will turn with the other, and neither can turn separately.
They are graduated or marked with the English and other standard scales or
measurements of weight, and are provided with sliding weights.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which we will
now proceed to describe, and in which,-
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of our improved steelyard; Figure 2 is a side
elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, shew details of the said Invention, and Figure 9 shews a
modification of the same, as herein-after described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
a is the frame or body of the steelyard; b, b, are the knife edges on the same;
c, c, are the aforesaid graduated bars fitted to rotate in the bearings d, d', on the
frame a; e, c, are the toothed wheels, keyed or otherwise fixed on the bars c, c, and
which are geared together by means of the intermediate wheel mounted on the
stud or pin g, which is fixed in the frame or body a, as shewn in Figure 1; h, i, are
the sliding weights on the bars c.
The said rotating or revolving bars c are, for convenience, placed parallel with
each other, and may be arranged side by side, as shewn in Figure 1, or one above
the other, if desired. These bars c may be triangular, circular, square, or otherwise
in transverse section. They are graduated on each side to the English, the metric,
and the Indian standard, or with other suitable standards or scales. One bar or
revolving part of the steelyard is graduated to indicate tons and hundred weights;
and equivalent or approximate weights on any desired foreign scale or standard,
and the other bar or revolving part is graduated to indicate quarter hundredweights
and pounds, or the smaller divisions in ounces, or the same or approximate values
on any foreign standard.
The bars c, c, must be so geared or connected with each other that the corre-
sponding sides, that is to say, the sides marked with the same scale or standard on
both bars will always coincide in position, so that both bars will always exhibit
corresponding scales or standards.
In order to prevent any endwise movement of the said bars c, c, we form thereon
raised portions c', c', which fit into corresponding recesses in the bearings d, d', as

page_text: shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1. If desirable, we may in some instances use
more than two of such bars.
The sliding weights h, i, are preferably of the shape shewn, so that the graduations
or marks on the revolving bars may be easily perceived. These weights also serve
for turning or adjusting the said bars, and on the crown or largest part of each
weight is a raised fillet h¹, i', which is milled or roughened to facilitate the turning
of the said revolving bars. By the use of these sliding weights h, i, we dispense
with the usual swinging weights.
j is the balance ball in a chamber; k is a screw, termed a secret balance screw;
I is a loose cover of the said chamber, and provided to permit access to the said
ball; m is a cover for the gear wheels.
When the steelyard is to be used the sides of the bars representing either of the
scales or standards should be set opposite the weigher or attendant, who finds
thereon the weight of the object on the machine, and then, by simply turning the
weight or ball on one of the revolving bars, the graduated surfaces on another side
of each bar are brought opposite or in view of the weigher, who can thus at once
see the marks or graduations representing the same weight on a different scale or
standard;
that is to say, having first ascertained the weight of any object in tons,
cwts, or the fractions thereof, he can, by simply turning or rotating the said bars,.
ascertain the equivalent of this weight on the Indian or any foreign scale or
standard that may be represented on the steelyard, with correctness and without
the objectionable loose weights, three or more sets of which would be required to
obtain the same result with ordinary steelyards.
By our Invention we avoid the risk of mistakes so often made in the addition
and subtraction of loose weights, as both clear and minute graduations of the scales
or standards used are plainly engraved or otherwise marked on the bars, and can be
always clearly seen by the weigher.
In some instances we fasten or secure the said bars in a determined position by
means of small screws n with milled heads, as shewn in Figure 9, or by other
suitable devices, and thus keep them fixed to show either of the standards or scales
with which they are marked. We sometimes make the said revolving or turning
bars hollow or tubular, as shewn in transverse section in Figure 4.
Our said Invention is applicable to any weigbing machine in which a steelyard is
required or used, and can be attached to any existing weighing machine.
And in some instances we attach to the sliding weights a suspended or swinging
weight, as shewn in side and front elevation in Figures 7 and 8, in which o is a
ring fitted to turn freely on the saddle p, which slides on the bar; q is a shackle
hung on the studs o' of the said ring; and r is the said swinging weight attached
to the said shackle.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we claim,-
First. A steelyard provided with bars of any desired sectional form, which are
graduated or marked according to any desired scales, standards, or measurements of
weight, and are fitted to rotate in suitable bearings, and so connected or geared
together that the movement of one of the said bars necessitates a corresponding
movement of the other bar or bars for the purpose specified.
Second. A steelyard or weighing apparatus with graduated bars or other suitable
marked or graduated devices, and other parts so constructed and arranged that the
weight of any object can be ascertained, on two or more different scales or standards,
either of which can, by a simple movement or adjustment of the apparatus, be
exhibited, so that without any calculation the equivalent of any weight on one
scale may be immediately ascertained or shewn on another scale, and wherein all
loose weights are dispensed with, and the large or integral quantities and the
fractions thereof are both shewn at the same time.
Third. The combination with the said bars of the weights constructed either as

page_text: shewn in Figures 5 and 6, or in Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawing, and as above
set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Christopher Hodgson, William Hodgson, and
John Needham, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of
August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight.
CHRISTOPHER HODGSON. (L.S.)
WILLIAM HODGSON.
JOHN NEEDHAM.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)