Improved method and“ improved Тасто тог Measuring and Weighing Grain and other Granulated Substances.
Year: 1885

page_text: AI
Improved method and“ improved
Тасто тог
Measuring
and Weighing Grain and other Granulated Substances.
:
I EUGENE O'BRIEN of 34 Collingwood Street Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster Customs Officer do hereby declare the nature of the above invention for
MEASURING AND WEIGHING GRAIN, AND OTHER GRANULATED SUBSTANCES to be
as follows:-
A box made of sheet iron or other material, and hopper shaped at its top and
bottom, to allow the substance to be weighed, in and out. This box must be so
arranged that it can be made larger or smaller, and so hold more or less as required,
but never more than a given weight. This enlargement or diminution of the box
may be effected by it being in two parts, the bottom part sliding telescopic-like
over the top part, then made fast. Or it may be effected by arranging the sides
so, that they can be moved in or out. This box is suspended from one end of the
beam; and by the weights suspended from the other end, it is raised to meet a
supply spout, which fits loosely into its hopper-shaped top. When the box is full,
the supply is cut off, by a slide in the bottom of the supply spout. The box is
then parted (lowered) from the supply spout, and the little deficiency, if any, of
the required weight is let into the box by a valve in the side of the supply spout.
The substance is then allowed to discharge through the bottom hopper, by opening
the bottom, which may be a slide, or a door in one or two parts. The object to
be attained is, quick despach, by reason of the accommodating box receiving
instantaneously, nearly (not more than) the required weight, and discharging
instantaneously, also.
:

page_text: An Improved Method and Improved Machine for Measuring
and Weighing Grain and other Granulated Substances:
I EUGENE O'BRIEN of 34 Collingwood Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Customs Officer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN
· IMPROVED METHOD AND IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MEASURING AND WEIGHING
GRAIN AND OTHER GRANULATED SUBSTANCES and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This my Invention relates to certain improvements hereinafter set forth in and
in connection with that type of weighing machines in which a weighing receptacle,
or receptacles having a tilt bottom, or door, or doors is suspended from one end of
an equal armed weighbeam having a weight scale at the other end. The weighing
receptacle, or receptacles discharging the substance in weighed, or measured
quantities from the weighing receptacle, or receptacles as it, or they are filled and
weighed. This Invention particularly relates to improvements on machines such
as are described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me dated 27 September
1869 N° 2806.
My present improvements consist of a certain method of working herein set
forth and of a certain construction and arrangement of parts whereby I obtain
more accurate and better weighing with a great increase in the speed of weighing
over common practice with this type of machine.
In weighing machines of the duplex type of my former Patent N° 2806 A.D.
1869 the correctness of weighing depends upon the regularity of the supply,
which when not sufficient to keep the feeding outlet full particularly when the
final weighing is taking place, will give a stream of the substance being weighed
varying in bulk. The length of this stream namely the length between the feeding
shoot and the upper surface of the material in the weighing receptacle also variés
even when the supply is regular according as there is being weighed more, or less
of the material, and the upper surface is at a higher, or lower level in the weighing
receptacle and nearer to or further from the feeding shoot, which when the weighing
is completed in one compartiment diverts the stream into the other compartment,
leaving the varying suspended stream to fall into the compartment then discharging
and since this varying stream cannot be compensated for by a determinate weight,
the weighing by this class of machine is more or less inaccurate.
In the carrying out of my present Invention as applied to duplex weighing
machines, the weighing beam and double chambered weighing receptacle with a
double vibrating tilt bottom are connected and weigh, or measure and discharge as
above described but I so construct the weighing receptacle that it can be varied in
size, namely each of the two equal compartments can be enlarged, or reduced so as
to contain, when full the required maximum, or minimum or other intermediate
measure. This varying of the cubic weighing capacity of the chambers of the

page_text: weighing receptacle is effected by providing each compartment with a device so
constructed as to cut off or reduce the capacity of the chamber. These devices
which may take the form of slides are worked by screwed rods, or their equivalents
by which they may be raised, or lowered and when lowered cut off and isolate
certain equal portions in each compartment. Thus when the slides are down the
compartments hold the least and when the slides are raised the cut off, or isolated
portion is added, giving the compartiment its full capacity. This variable weighing
receptacle is fed, or supplied with the substance to be weighed by a fixed shoot,
having two small equal valves in its side and a double outlet at its bottom. The
bottom of this shoot fits loosely into the top of the double chambered weighing
receptacle, its outlets opening respectively into the respective compartments of the
weighing receptacle. Each of the outlets of the feeding shoot is provided with a
sliding door, or damper to be worked by hand. To fill one compartment of the.
weighing receptacle the hand slide in the feeding shoot directly over the compart-
ment is pulled out. After the compartment is filled the hand slide is pushed in,
so cutting off the supply. The flow of grain into this compartment being thus
severed from the supply the balance to make up the required weight herein called
the make-weight is fed from one of the valves in the side of the supply spout into
a reserved portion at the back of the weighing receptacle. The beam then descends
under its load and a locking gear hereafter described being released allows the tilt
bottom to open and discharge. The small valves on the side of the supply spout
are provided with a cut off which is worked by an automatic mechanism by
suitable connecting rods from the tilt bottom to a lever on the cut off which is
arranged so that when one valve is shut the other, is open.
In operation the slide doors, or dampers of the feeding shoot are worked alternately
and thus the weighing goes on from side to side. In pulling out either of the slide
doors to fill the weighing receptacle, it shoots a bolt, or locking device under the
weighing end of the weigh beam and so prevents the descent of the weighing
receptacle by the momentum of the inflowing substance, the superweight of the
material in the supply shoot resting on the material which fills the weighing
receptacle. The pushing in of the slide door severs this extra weight from the
weight in the weighing receptacle, which latter must always be less than the
required weight.-It also pulls back the weigh beam locking device leaving
the beam free for weighing so that when the makeweight has been received from
the valve in the supply spout, the beam descends and the contents of the weighing
receptacle discharge.
The speed of weighing depends upon the volume of the supply, the size of the
outlet of the feeding shoot and the inlet of the weighing receptacle, which latter
must always be less than its outlet in order that the discharging compartment may
be emptied before the filling compartment is filled. If for example in the case of
a machine for weighing grain these inlets and outlets are made as large as
practicable the weighing receptacles may be alternately filled and discharged with
a speed greatly exceeding the duty performed by other weighing machines of this
type.
Inasmuch as the upper surface of the grain in that part of the weighing
receptacle before mentioned which receives the make-weight is always the same
distance from the valve which supplies the make-weight and that the supply, for
example in the case of grain is always sufficient to pass full bore through this
valve, which is of small dimensions, say two inches square, therefore the volume of
this stream is unchangeable and as the cut off as hereafter shown is near the
surface of the grain in the weighing receptacle the length of the stream at the
time the weighing receptacle begins to descend is inconsiderable. The weighing
receptacle only descends about three quarters of an inch before its discharge
commences and before the cut off is closed by the action of its connection with
the discharging door, therefore the quantity of grain to be compensated for is that
which passes through the valve while the weighing receptacle is descending this
three quarters of an inch, and this under all circumstances may be considered a

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
A is an equal armed weigh beam mounted and having its fulera A¹ on a
frame A2 which may be of any convenient construction. B is a weighing receptacle
mounted on one end of the weigh beam A and divided by a central diaphragm B¹
into two equal chambers.1 and 2. and having a double vibrating tilt bottom E.
C is a weight scale suspended from the other end of the weighbeam A. D is
the shoot, or spout through which the substance to be weighed is fed into the
weighing receptacle. The weighing receptacle B is so constructed that its capacity
can be increased, or reduced for example each of the chambers 1 and 2 is provided
with a slide device a for varying their size which is so constructed that it can be
raised, or lowered by a screwed rod a¹ and a handle a².-This device is shown in
its lowered position in the Drawings and by raising the device a the capacity of the
weighing receptacle can be increased. The bottom of the shoot, or feed spout D is
provided with two slide doors or dampers d d¹. These feed doors d d¹ are constructed
as hand slides and slide on the bars d² and between the guides d³ and the central
bar d³ of the shoot D and when closed shut off the main supply from the shoot D
to the weighing receptacle B and are opened by hand alternately for filling the
chambers 1, or 2 with the material to be weighed, the main supply of which passing
through the opening caused by the withdrawal of the slide door d, or d¹ must be
less than the required weight. To provide for this deficciency the main shoot D is
provided with two small side shoots, or valves e e¹ provided with a cut off device f.
The function of these side valves e e¹ is to supply the make-weight after the sliding
door d has been closed and the main supply shut off. This make-weight passes
through the side valve e, or e¹ into the reserved portion of the compartment 1 or 2
until the weighing receptacle descends when the locking device hereafter described
is released and the double vibrating tilt bottom E to opens the chamber being
weighed and in opening moves the cut off device f so as to close the valve e or e¹
(and open the opposite one) by means of the rods f¹ and levers f2 which are so
connected together (see Figure 2) as to allow for the primary descent of the
weighing receptacle before the cut off is effected. As before mentioned and for
the reasons set forth the make-weight is fed from the valves e e¹ into a portion of
the weighing receptacle which is cut off, or reserved by the diaphragm b (see
Figures 2 and 5) so that the stream of the make-weight is always at the same
volume.
Upon the frame A² there is a fixed bracket, or projecting arm g which as the
weighing receptacle B descends operates the locking and releasing device of the
double vibrating tilt bottom E, which I will now describe. This locking device
consists of a lever or prop h fulcrumed at h' and serving as a prop to the knee

page_text: joint formed by the links i for one side of the door E and to the knee joint
formed by the links k for the other side of the door E. The position of the lever
prop h in relation to the links i and will be understood upon reference to
Figure 1 and to the details shown in Figures 7. 8. 9. 10 and 11.
The lever prop h
is provided with a pin h² which as the weighing receptacle descends comes in
contact with the bracket g before mentioned, thus taking the prop h from the
knee joint of the links i, or from the knee joint of the links k whichever it may
then be supporting, the prop h being caused to take the position to hold up the
other side of the door E by reason of the opening of the then discharging side of
the door E. It will be seen that the links and the links are connected with
the weighing receptacle, the vibrating bottom, and with one another by joints
which when the links are in the position shown at k are slightly out of line, the
centre joint being slightly inclined to the centre h¹, thus the pressure borne by the
links is supported by the prop lever hand when this lever is tripped up the links
naturally give way and allow the tilt bottom E to tilt over and discharge. The
less the links i and k are out of line, the less is the pressure against the prop h and
the less is the downward pressure required to be exerted by the weighing receptacle
to trip up the prop h. The prop h is nearly balanced, the side with the pin h
being just heavy enough to overbalance the other side and return the prop h to its
horizontal position in which it is kept by the pin h, the pin h* coming in contact
with the boss of the lever h as shown. This locking and releasing gear is very
sensitive, a most important consideration in machines of this class which require
the locking gear to release with ease.
The feed shoot D is supported from the frame A² by the brackets L. Centrally
within the feed shoot D there is a spindle M one end of which passes through the
back of the feed shoot and carries loosely the cut off device f and the other end
passes through the other side of the feed shoot and terminates in a handle. On
and fastened to this spindle M there is an inside cut off or shutter N which is used
to stop either of the valves discharging when it is required to stop the weighing.
As before mentioned the slide doors d d¹ of the main shoot D as they are pulled
out and pushed in are guided by the guides d³ and slide on the bars d² which
bars d² form part of the bracket d' which is bolted to the underside of the main
shoot D. dare stops on the slides d d limiting the travel of the slides on the
bracket d. On each side of the frame A' there is provided a locking devices for
locking the weigh beam while the weight of the column of material through the
shoot D is on the weighing receptacle. This locking device 8 is in duplicate and
consists of the bolt s carried by guide brackets and worked by a lever s¹ and a
link s from the slides d d respectively working as follows. Each link 82 is
provided with a pin 83 and each slide door d d is provided with a pin 84 so that
when the slide door is closed, the pin 8 comes in contact with the pin 83 on the
link s thereby causing the link to withdraw the weigh-beam locks and when
the slide door is opened the pin s' comes in contact with the end of the levers 8¹
and so inserts the weigh-beam lock. The levers 8¹ are supported by the brackets
and the links 82 are supported from the main shoot by the links t.
I have in this description shown an example of a means of contracting, or
enlarging the chambers of the weighing receptacle, but I do not limit my Invention
to this particular means as the chambers can be increased or reduced by being of a
telescopic, or other equivalent construction or the sides of the weighing receptacle
can be so made as to move in, or out and so enlarge or contract the weighing
receptacle.
I would also have it understood that a machine according to my Invention' is
suitable for weighing all kinds of granular and pulverous substances and materials.
The method of operation may be thus briefly described. Presume the adjustable
slides of the weighing receptacle bel set to weigh in the chambers 1 and 2 centals
of grain, which adjustment can be readily ascertained. One of the slides d, or d¹
is opened, the corresponding chamber bottom being locked. The opening of the
slide locks the weighbeam and allows the compartment to instantaneously fill from

page_text: the shoot D.-The slide is now closed and the grain in the shoot D is severed from
the grain in the weighing chamber. The closing of the slide unlocks the weigh
beam and the make-weight through the side valve completes the weight and causes
the receptacle to descend, the door to open, the cut off of the make-weight to close
and the chamber to discharge its contents.
In the beforegoing description I have particularly described a weighing machine
of a double chambered form according to my Invention, but I would have it
understood that this is only one form of machine to which the improvements
according to my Invention may be applied and that they are equally applicable to
single chambered weighing machines of the type to which this class of machine
belongs. In the case of single chambered weighing machines the parts will be
arranged as will be understood on simple instead of duplex form and to suit the
particular requirements of the case.
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:
First. The method substantially berein described of weighing granular and
pulverous substances, which method consists in opening and closing the doors,
or dampers by which the substance is alternately admitted and closed to the
weighing receptacles of machines of the type described the make-weight being
effected by an automatic device such as that herein described as and for the
purposes set forth.
Second. In weighing machines of the type herein described effecting the main
filling of the weighing receptacles by doors, or dampers (such as herein described)
operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The combination in weighing machines of the type herein described of
doors (such as d d') operated as herein described and a make-weight device (such
as the spouts e e¹) operated as herein described substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Fourth. In weighing machines of the type herein described effecting the cutting
off of the supply of the make-weight delivery by an automatically operated device
such as berein described substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. In a weighing machine of the type herein described an automatically
operated mechanism for locking and releasing the tilting doors thereof consisting
substantially of a lever such as h links and levers such as ii and k k and an
actuating device such as the pin h² and tappet g, or its equivalent as and for the
purposes set forth.
Sixth. In a weighing machine of the type herein described the combination of a
filling device consisting of doors, or dampers operated as described, an automatically
operated make-weight device such as described a device for locking and releasing
the tilting doors such as described and a device for locking and releasing the weigh
beam, such as described substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. The use in combination with weighing receptacles of machines of the
type herein described of a displacer whereby the capacity of such receptacles may
be varied substantially as set forth.
Eighth. In combination with weighing receptacles of machines of the type
herein described the displacing devices such as a as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. In weighing machines of the type herein described. effecting the locking
of the weigh beam through mechanism operated by the working of the filling doors,
or.dampers substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Tenth. In a weigh beam locking mechanism the use of a tappet device for
operating such mechanism, substantially such as that set forth with reference to
Figures 2. 3 and 6, or its equivalent.
Eleventh. The automatic. make-weight mechanism constructed and arranged
substantially as set forth with reference to the Drawings.

page_text: Twelfth. The shoot D slide doors, or dampers d d weighing receptacles 1 and 2
and make-weight mechanism arranged and constructed substantially as set forth
with reference to the Drawings.
Thirteenth. The use of a shutter such as N as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourteenth. The slides a and operating mechanism arranged and constructed
substantially as set forth with reference to the Drawings.