Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1887
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
I JOHN KNOWLES LEATHER of 21 Priory Road, Anfield Liverpool, Commission
Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention is for the purpose of dispensing with the moveable weights which are
customarily used to ascertain the weights of Goods, Railway Wagons, Carts etc.
placed on an ordinary platform weighing machine and for this purpose I use one
weight which I call a Counterpoise, and which is at least as heavy as the total
moveable weights ordinarily used to ascertain the weights of materials placed on the
Machine Platform.
The Counterpoise may be in one or more pieces and may be made of Iron or other
suitable substance provided that the Counterpoise is lighter than an equal bulk of
Mercury, and that the exterior surface is not sensibly acted on by Mercury.
This Counterpoise I suspend from the knife-edge of the Steel-yard of the Weighing
Machine in a vessel of somewhat larger diameter than the Counterpoise, and con-
taining a sufficient quantity of Mercury to float it. When any wagon or other body
is placed on the Weighing Machine platform, it will cause the end of the Steel-yard
to rise, and lift either the whole or a portion of the Suspended Counterpoise out of the
Mercury until a Balance is formed between them.
The Mercury will fall into the space vacated by the Counterpoise in rising out of
the Mercury, and necessarily the height of the Mercury in the vessel containing it
will be lowered; and as the same or an equal weight, whenever it is placed on the
Weighing Machine platform, will always raise the Counterpoise out of the Mercury to
exactly the same extent, and consequently the Mercury will fall exactly to the same
Price Sd1

page_text: level; I can, by placing known weights on the platform, and noting the level of
the Mercury in the vessel in which the Counterpoise is suspended,-construct an
Indicating Dial or scale, by means of which I readily ascertain the weight of any
material placed on the platform of the Weighing Machine. For this purpose, either
in the vessel containing the Mercury and Counterpoise, or in a branch vessel con-
nected with it by means of a pipe, tube, or channel, through which the Mercury can
flow from one vessel to the other, I place a rod of Iron wood Glass or other suitable
material, which may be hollow or solid, but the total weight of which, together with
its appurtenances, should not be more than that when held in an upright position, it
will float in the Mercury contained in the vessel when at its lowest level. This rod,
which may be of any convenient length, I maintain in a perpendicular position by
means of Guides, so that, as it floats in the Mercury, it will rise and fall as the
Mercury rises and falls; and by attaching to the Top of it a pointer it will indicate on
a scale the level at which the Mercury stands in the vessel in which it floats, and as a
necessary consequence, also the level of the Mercury in which the Counterpoise is
suspended.
The Pointer attached to the top of the rod may be made to indicate on a
graduated scale the weights placed on the platform; or the rod can carry a graduated
scale on which would be marked the weights the machine is calculated to weigh and a
fixed pointer would indicate the weight placed on the platform;-or to the top of the
rod I attach a rack, which works into a pinion, which gives motion to a finger
traversing a stationery circular Dial, on the circumference of which is marked the
figures and graduations representing the weights the machine is calculated to
weigh or the Dial may revolve and the Indicating Finger be stationery.
To form the Indicating Dial or Scale I place on the platform of the Weighing
Machine known weights varying from the smallest up to the largest that the
weighing Machine is calculated to weigh. Commencing with the smallest weight
which it may be desired to indicate; the weight when placed on the platform will
cause the steel-yard to rise and lift the Counterpoise partially out of the Mercury,
which will fall, and the Floating rod will fall to an equal extent, and move either
the Index or the Dial Finger, and opposite which I mark on the Dial or Index
the weight placed on the platform. By placing on the platform such other weights
as it may be desired the Weighing Machine should indicate, Tons, cwts., qrs. lbs. etc.
may be marked on the Dial, which when the Finger points to them, in the ordinary
course of weighing any material placed on the platform, will correctly indicate the
weight of any such cart, wagon, or other material placed on the platform.
For the better understanding of my Invention, I refer to the Drawings, of which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the lower part of the
Aparatus; and in which A represents the Counterpoise, which is formed of either an
Iron bar with parallel sides; or of an Iron Cylindrical Cup, the outersides of which
are parallel, and in which is placed such a quantity of Lead as to make the Counter-
poise at least as heavy as the total weights ordinarily used to indicate the largest
weight which it is desired the Weighing Machine should weigh.
B represents a cylindrical vessel of Iron, the inner sides of which are parallel, and
which is somewhat larger in diameter than the Counterpoise A, so as to allow the
Counterpoise to move up and down without the sides touching each other, or coming
so near as to cause the mercury to adhere to the sides, and sufficiently deep to
hold the Counterpoise A when floating in a bath of Mercury.
C represents the Mercury in which the Counterpoise A is suspended & also in
which the indicating rod F floats.
D is a small pipe or channel connecting the large vessel B with the smaller vessel E,
and by means of which there is a free passage for the Mercury to pass to and fro
between the vessels B and E, in which the Mercury rises and falls to the same
level.
F is a float of Glass Porcelain, Iron, wood, or other suitable material, floating in
the Mercury, and made as light as possible compatable with the necessary strength.
To the top of F is attached a rack G, gearing into a pinion H, which gives motion

page_text: to the needle I, which traverses a stationery Dial K, on which are marked the figures
and graduations indicating the weight the Machine is calculated to weigh.
To prevent rust and also to present a smooth surface to the Mercury, I coat the
inner sides of the vessels B and E, and the outsides of the Counterpoise A, and also
of the float F when it is made of Iron,-with a coating of Gutta Percha, or Vulcanite,
or Papier-maché, or a Silicieous Glaze or other suitable substance which shall present
a smooth surface to the Mercury, and not be sensibly acted upon by it, and shall also
prevent the Iron from rusting.
When a weight is placed on the platform of the Weighing Machine, the Steel-yard X
rises and lifts the Counterpoise A wholly or partially out of the Mercury C, until a
Balance is formed. The Mercury will fall to fill up the space left by the Counter-
poise A in rising; and in consequence of the Mercury falling the float F falls to an
equal extent, and in so doing moves the pinion H which will cause the needle I to
point to that Weight marked on the Dial which is the equivalent of the weight of the
material placed on the platform.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Platform Weighing Machines.
JOHN KNOWLES LEATHER of 21 Priory Road, Anfield, Liverpool Commission Agent
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 is for the purpose of dispensing with the moveable weights which are
customarily used to ascertain the weights of Goods, Railway Wagons, Carts etc.
placed on an ordinary platform weighing Machine; and for this purpose I use one
weight which I call a Counterpoise and which is at least as heavy as the total
moveable weights ordinarily used to ascertain the weights of materials placed on the
machine platform. The Counterpoise may be in one or more pieces, and may be
made of Iron or other suitable substance or substances provided that the Counter-
poise is lighter than anequal bulk of Mercury and that the exterior surface is not
sensibly acted on by Mercury.
This Counterpoise I suspend from the knife-edge of the Steel-yard of the weighing
Machine in a vessel of somewhat larger diameter than the Counterpoise and containing
a sufficient quantity of Mercury to float it.
When any wagon or other body is placed on the Weighing Machine platform, it
will cause the end of the Steel-yard to rise and lift either the whole or a portion of
the suspended Counterpoise out of the Mercury, until a Balance is formed between
them.
The Mercury will fall into the space vacated by the Counterpoise in rising out of
the Mercury, and necessarily the height of the Mercury in the vessel containing it
will be lowered; and as the same or an equal weight whenever it is placed on the
weighing Machine platform will always raise the Counterpoise out of the Mercury to
exactly the same extent, and consequently the Mercury will fall exactly to the same
level I can, by placing known weights on the platform, and noting the level to
which the Mercury falls in the vessel in which the Counterpoise is suspended ;-
construct an Indicating Dial or Scale by means of which I readily ascertain the
weight of any material placed on the platform.
For this purpose either in the vessel containing the Mercury and Counterpoise or
in a branch vessel connected with it, by means of a pipe, tube, or channel, through
which the Mercury can flow from one vessel to the other, I place a rod made of
Iron, wood, glass, or other suitable material, or materials, which may be hollow or
solid, and composed of one or more pieces, but the total weight of which, together
with its apurtenances attached thereto, should not be more than that, when held in
an upright position, it will float in the Mercury contained in the vessel when at its
lowest level. This rod which may be of any convenient length & shape, I maintain
in a perpendicular position by means of guides, so that, as it floats in the Mercury it
will rise & fall, as the Mercury rises and falls; and by attaching to the top or upper
portion of it a pointer, it will indicate on a scale the level at which the Mercury
stands in the vessel in which it floats, and as a necessary consequence also the level

page_text: of the Mercury in the vessel in which the Counterpoise is suspended. The pointer attached
to the top or upper portion of the rod may be made to indicate on a graduated scale the
weights placed on the platform ;-or, the rod can carry a graduated scale on which would
be marked the weight the Machine is calculated to weigh, and a fixed pointer would
indicate, the weights placed on the platform; or, to the top of the rod I attach a
rack, which works into a pinion, or other suitable gearing which gives motion to a
finger traversing a Stationery Dial, on the face of which is marked the figures and
graduations representing the weights the Machine is calculated to weigh; or the
Dial may revolve, and the Indicating Finger be stationery.
To form the indicating Dial or Scale, I place on the platform of the weighing
machine known weights, varying from the smallest, up to the largest that the weighing
Machine is calculated to weigh.-Commencing, for convenience, with the smallest
weight which it may be desired to indicate; the weight when placed on the plat-
form will cause the Steel-yard to rise and lift the Counterpoise partially out of
the Mercury, which will fall, and the floating rod will fall to an equal extent, and move
either the Index or the Dial finger, and opposite which I mark on the Dial or Index,
the weight placed on the platform. By placing on the platform other known weights
which it may be desired the Weighing Machine should indicate, Tons, Cwts., qrs.
and lbs. etc. may be marked on the Dial, which when the Finger points to them, in
the ordinary course of weighing any cart wagon or other material placed on the
platform, will correctly indicate the weight of any such cart wagon or other material
placed on the platform.
For the better understanding of my invention I refer to the Drawings left with the
Provisional Specification, of which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a
sectional plan of the lower part of the apparatus ; and in which A represents the
Counterpoise which is formed of either an Iron Bar with parallel sides, or of a Cup
made of Iron or other suitable material, and by preference cylindrical in shape, the
outer sides of which are parallel, and in which is placed such a quantity of lead as to
make the Counterpoise at least as heavy as the total weights ordinarily used to indicate
the largest weight which it is desired the weighing Machine should. weigh.
B represent a vessel of Iron or other suitable material, by preference Cylindrical
in shape, the inner sides of which are parallel and which is somewhat larger in
diameter than the Counterpoise A, so as to allow the Counterpoise to move up &
down without the sides touching each other, or coming so near as to cause the
Mercury to adhere to the sides; and sufficiently deep to hold the Counterpoise A
when floating in a bath of Mercury.
C represents the Mercury in which the Counterpoise A is suspended and also in
which the Indicating rod F floats.
D is a small pipe or channel connecting the large vessel B with the smaller vessel E,
and by means of which there is a free passage for the mercury to pass to and fro
between the vessels B and E, in which the mercury rises and falls to the same level.
Fis.a float formed of a rod, hollow or solid, and of any convenient shape, and made
of Glass, porcelain, Iron, wood, or other suitable material or materials, (but by
preference I use a rod or Tube with a Bulb at the bottom) floating in the Mercury and
made as light as possible compatible with the necessary strength. To the top of the
rod F is attached a rack G, gearing into a pinion H, which gives motion to the needle I,
which traverses a stationary Dial K, on which are marked the figures and graduations
indicating the weights the machine is calculated to weigh.
When the weight is placed on the platform of the weighing machine, the Steel-
yard X rises and lifts the Counterpoise A wholly or partially out of the Mercury C,
until a Balance is formed. The Mercury will fall to fill up the space left by the Counter-
poise A in rising, and in consequence of the Mercury falling, the float F falls to an
equal extent, and in so doing moves the pinion H, which will cause the needle I to
point to that weight marked on the Dial which is the equivalent of the material
placed on the platform.
When it is desired to prevent rust 1 coat the inner sides of the vessels B and E, and
the outer sides of the Counterpoise A and the float F, with a coating of Gutta percha,

page_text: or of Vulcanite or of papier maché or of a Siliceous Glaze, or other suitable substance,
which shall present a smooth surface to the Mercury, and not be sensibly acted on by
it, and shall also prevent the Iron or other material from rusting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1st. The General arrangement or combination of a single weight called a Counter-
poise and a floating Indicator (for the purpose of dispensing with the movable weights
customarily used on platform weighing machines to ascertain the weights of materials
placed on the platform), the said Counterpoise being suspended from the knife-edge
of the Steel Yard in a bath of Mercury, combined with an Indicating rod or tube
floating in or on the Mercury for the purpose of Indicating the level of the Mercury
in the Vessel in which the Counterpoise is suspended; and with or without the inner
sides of the vessels B and E, and the outersides of the Counterpoise A and the float F
being coated with Gutta Percha, Vulcanite, or other suitable material for the
prevention of rust ;-as hereinbefore described."
2nd. The application of a Counterpoise formed of a hollow cup, the sides of which
are parallel and which is wholly or partially filled with Lead, and suspending the same
from the end of the Steel yard in a Bath of Mercury as herein before described.
3rd. The use of the Indicator F, floating in or on the Mercury for the purpose of
ascertaining the height of the Mercury in the Vessel in which the Counterpoise is
suspended, as hereinbefore described.
4th. When it is desired to prevent rust in the insides of the vessels B or E, or
the outer sides of the Counterposie A or the float F, the coating of such parts with a
coating of Gutta Percha, or Vulcanite, or Papier Maché, or of a Siliceous Glaze, or
other suitable substance; which shall present a smooth surface to the Mercury, and
not be sensibly acted on by it, and shall also prevent the Iron from rusting.
Dated this 27th day of Februa 1000