Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Ascertaining Weight, Strength, and Height, for Use in Combination or Separately.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Ascertaining
Weight, Strength, and Height, for Use in Combination or
Separately.
ABRAHAM PENGELLY, Yacht Builder, 38, Fore Street, Shaldon, Teignmouth,
South Devon. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improved method and apparatus for ascertaining the weight, strength,
and height, of persons, or the weight of articles of various descriptions, consists
of a receptacle or receptacles to hold water or other liquid, hollow cylinder or
cylinders are placed in the receptacle or receptacles to float in the water in such
a manner as to allow the water to pass freely and rise and fall between the cylin-
ders and receptacles (or receivers).
I prefer to allow very little space between the cylinders and receivers so that
the water may rise higlier in proportion in the receivers than the cylinders sinks
when in use. Yet effecting the same purpose as if more water were used.
Small rollers are mounted on the bottom of the cylinder or cylinders and on
the top rim of the receiver or receivers, to prevent the friction that would arise
by the cylinders and receivers coming in contact.
In constructing the apparatus for ascertaining the weight and strength of per-
sons or heavy articles, I prefer to use two receivers, having a pipe at the lower
part connecting the two thereby allowing the water to be at the same level in
each, a tap is also attached to let out the water when required, the said receivers
stand on a level base and spaced a convenient distance apart according to require-
ments.
A platform is suspended from the top of the cylinders for persons to stand on,
or for placing articles to be weighed.
A graduated scale is marked on the cylinder or cylinders and seen through
glass that is fixed to the receptacle or receiver for that purpose.
By the indicator being fixed to the cylinder it always remains the same at its
base or water line, and the correct weight will always be shown when used, and
not effected by the evaporation of the water that takes place in the receiver.
By another arrangement, a tube is fixed to the receiver the water to rise and
fall in it as in the receiver.
A float is used with a rod attached to it and placed in the tube to rise and fall
as the water in the tube and receiver. A graduated scale being marked on the
rod to ascertain the weight which would be shown by a pointer fixed on the top
of the cylinder.
In this case also the correct weight will always be seen and not effected by the
evaporation taking place in the receiver.
A guage glass may be fixed to the receiver with a graduated scale marked on
it or by the side of it to show the weight put on the cylinder. Yet in this case
the water in the receiver would always be required to be kept to its normal level.
For ascertaining the weight of light articles one receptacle with one cylinder,

page_text: instead of two or more may be used, and the article or articles placed on or in the
cylinder, and the weight shown as above mentioned.
The arrangement for persons ascertaining their strength consists of a platform
made portable, or it may hinghed at one end to the side of the receptacle, and to
turn up clear of the above named suspended platform when not in use.
Lines are fixed at the top of the cylinders, or to a span-piece which may connect
the cylinders at the top, the said lines reaching down on each side and passing
around pulley's, the lower ends of the lines having handles attached, and by the
person who stands on the platform drawing the lower ends of the lines upwards
causes the cylinders to sink and the amount of pressure put on the cylinders will
he seen, as in the case of weighing as before mentioned.
In the arrangement for ascertaining the height of persons, I prefer to fix a
small receiver at the outside of the larger receiver mentioned above, and to
receive a small cylinder to float in it. On the top of the cylinder an arm is fixed
for the purpose of being drawn down on the head of the person, and the height of
the person is shown by a pointer attached to the arm, or top part of the cylinder
pointing to an indicator fixed at the outside of the receiver.
Graduated scales may be placed on various parts of the apparatus to suit several
different countries, thus constituting an universal apparatus for use as above
described.
Dated this Fourth day of March 1899.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Ascertaining
Weight, Strength, and Height, for Use in Combination or
Separately.
ABRAHAM PENGELLY, Yacht and Boat Builder, 38, Fore Street, Shaldon, Teign-
mouth, South Devon, 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:-
This improved method and apparatus for ascertaining the weight, strength,
and height, of persons, or the weight of articles of various descriptions consists
of a receptacle or receptacles to hold water or other liquid, an hollow cylinder or
cylinders are placed in the receptacle or receptacles to float in the water in such
a manner as to allow the water to pass freely and rise and fall between the cylin-
ders and receptacles (or receivers).
I prefer to allow very little space between the cylinders and receivers so that
the water may rise higher in proportion in the receivers than the cylinders sink.
when in use yet effecting the same purpose as if more water were used.
Small rollers are mounted on the bottom of the cylinder or cylinders and on
the top rim of the receiver or receivers to prevent the friction that would arise
by the cylinders and receivers coming in contact.
1.
In constructing the apparatus for ascertaining the weight and strength of per-
sons or heavy articles, I prefer to use two receivers, having a pipe at the lower
part connecting the two thereby allowing the water to be at the same level in
each.
A tap is also attached to let the water out when desired, the said receivers stand
on a level base and are spaced a convenient distance apart according to require-
ments.

page_text: .
A platform is suspended from the top of the cylinders for persons to stand on
or for placing articles to be weighed.
A graduated scale is marked on the cylinder or cylinders and seen through
glass that is fixed to the receptacle or receiver for that purpose.
By the indicator being fixed to the cylinder it always remains the same at it's
base or water line, and the correct weight is always shown when in use, and not
effected by the evaporation of the water that takes place in the receiver.
By another arrangement, a tube is fixed to the receiver the water to rise and
fall in it as in the receiver.
A float is used with a rod attached to it and placed in the tube to rise and fall
as the water in the tube and receiver. A graduated scale being marked on the
rod to ascertain the weight which is shown by a pointer fixed on the top of the
cylinder. In this case also the correct weight will always be seen and not effected
by the evaporation taking place in the receiver.
A guage glass may be fixed to the receiver with a graduated scale marked on
it or by the side of it to show the weight put on the cylinder, yet in this case
the water in the receiver would always be required to be kept to its normal level.
For ascertaining the weight of light articles one cylinder placed within a
receptacle may be used, and the article or articles placed in or on the cylinder
and the weight shown as above mentioned.
The arrangement for persons ascertaining their strength consists of a platform
made portable, or it may be hinghed at one end to the side of the receptacle and
to turn up clear of the above named suspended platform when not in use.
Lines are fixed at the top of the cylinders or to a span-piece which may connect
the cylinders at the top, the said lines reaching down on each side and passing
through pulley's, the lower ends of the lines having handles attached and by the
person who stands on the platform drawing the lower ends of the lines upwards
causes the cylinders to sink and the amount of pressure put on the cylinders will
as in the case of weighing as before mentioned.
be seen
In the arrangement for ascertaining the height of persons, I prefer to fix a
small receiver at the outside of the larger receiver mentioned above, and to
receive a small cylinder to float in it, on the top of the cylinder an arm is fixed
for the purpose of being drawn down on the head of the person, and the height of
the person is shown by a pointer attached to the arm pointing to an indicator
on the outside of the receiver.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing is a front view of the cylinder or receiver
containing the liquid. A is the cylinder, the base, C glass inserted watertight
into the receiver.
Fig. 2 is the inner cylinder which floats in the receiver.
D the cylinder, E the indicator which is seen through the glass C in Fig. 1.
F. F. are rollers fixed to prevent the cylinders from coming in contact.
Fig. 3. is a cylinder without indicator. D, the cylinder, G the pointer to in-
dicate the weight pointing to the indicator marked on the rod H.
Fig. 4, shows the receiver A, and the cylinder D in position for use. H the
rod with indicator marked on it and which rises in the tube J when the pressure
is put on the cylinder D.
Fig. 5 is a plan. I do not bind myself to this form, it may be made round or
any other suitable form if desired. A is the receiver, D, the floating cylinder,
Frollers to keep the cylinders in position.
Fig. 6 shows a rod H and float I which is placed in cylinder J as shown in
Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a double receiver joined together at the top by a span-piece and to a
base piece at the bottom, rods are suspended from the span-piece and at the lower
ends of the rods a platform is fastened which rises and falls according to the
amount of weight put on it. K is the span piece, LL the rods M the platform,
Na platform hinghed at one end for use for persons when testing their strength

page_text: as before stated. 0, 0, are pulley's fixed to the receptacle with lines reaching from
the span-piece, and having handles P one on each side for the person to draw
upwards. Q. Q. are supports for the hinghed platform when down in its place.
R is a cylinder fixed at the outside of the receiver, a rod with float, and arm at the
top to be drawn down on the head of the person, the indicator being marked on
the receiver, and the pointer attached to the arm pointing to the above named
indicator shows the correct height of the person. S is the rod. T the arm U the
pointer, and V the float.
Fig. 8 is a plan showing the span-piece and top part of the floating cylinder.
Fig. 9 shows the back part of the receivers with a tube W, attached to each
which causes the liquid to flow to an equal level in each receiver. X is a tap to
let out the liquid when required.
Fig. 10, is a plan showing lower platform. M, the platform, F, F, rollers, A, A
section of cylinder or receiver.
-
Fig. 11, plan of upper platform with hinges at one end and a portion at each
end cut out to clear the pulley's when turned up in place and not in use.
Graduated scales may be placed on various parts of the apparatus to suit
several different countries, thus constituting an universal apparatus for use as
above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
An apparatus for ascertaining weight, strength, and height, for use in com-
bination or separately the correctness of which it not effected by the evaporation
of the water or other liquid used, and so constructed that the liquid rises higher
in the receiver than the distance the cylinder sinks in the receiver when in use.
Dated this Fourth day of December 1899.
ABRAHAM PENGELLY.