Improved Relieving Gear for weignoriages.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improved Relieving Gear for weignoriages.
THOMAS JOSEPH MACKAY, Weighing Machinist, 47, Wharf Street, Stoke-on-
Trent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For the purpose of putting a weighbridge in or out of gear with the same
amount of force whether loaded or empty. To the counterbalance weight chain
on the quadrant of the existing gear is attached a slotted eye piece, with a
hook top and bottom for suspension. In the slotted eye piece is fixed one
end of an equal beam, movable on its axis and supported by a bracket. To
the same axis upon which is fitted an ordinary crank and pin at one end is
fastened an arm piece with a weight at the end. By removing this weight which
rests upon one end of the equal beam to the other end of equal beam by
the movement of an additional lever slotted at the bottom end and connected to
the crank pin. Thus adds weight to the counter balance weight on the quad-
rant, and assist in putting the weighbridge in gear when its platform is loaded.
Dated this 17th day of May 1899.
THOMAS JOSEPH MACKAY.
Improved Relieving Gear for Weighbridges,
1, THOMAS JOSEPH MACKAY, Weighing Machinist, of 47, Wharf Street, Stoke-on-
Trent, in the County of Derbyshire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to weigh-bridges, and concerns or relates to the
mechanism thereof, by which such weigh-bridges are put in and out of gear,
that is to say, their mechanism is put in a condition in which goods can be
weighed by the machine, or cannot be weighed, and the machine rendered, for
the time being, non-operative.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying draw-
ings, which shew the weighing portion of a weigh-bridge of the common plat-
form or like type for weighing rolling stock, and the like, of various kinds. In
connection with this type of mechanism, the improvements hereunder will be
described,
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing a construction of
weighing mechanism adapted to carry out this invention; and Figure 2 is a
plan of the mechanism, with the upper portion of the machinery removed.

page_text: Referring to the drawings, a represents the ordinary column of the weighing
mechanism of the machine, with the steel yard bracket b, and lever c for putting
the machine in and out of "gear." This lever c has attached to it by a chain d,
the weight d for balancing the weighing levers and platform of the machine
in the usual way; and it is mounted and worked about the fulcrum c', and
moves the bracket and steelyard through a rack or other suitable means, in
the well known way; being the rod connecting the steelyard with the weigh-
ing levers, as usual. All these parts so far referred to are known and exist in
machines as at present made.
To throw the machine into gear or a weighing condition, the lever c is
pressed down and the rod ², with the other movable parts connected with the
gear, are raised; in which action the weight d, balancing more or less the
weighing levers, platform, etcetera, assists the operator. And when it is moved
down to the position shewn in the drawings, it is held down by a catch in any
known or usual way.
According to this invention, if the load happens to be on or run onto the weigh-
bridge, when the machine is out of gear, and it is necessary, or required to put
the machine in gear under this condition, it is exceedingly difficult, and some-
times impossible to do so; and one object of this invention is to enable this to
be done witli comparative ease. And, conversely, in the case of it being neces-
sary or desirable to put the weighing mechanism out of gear, and lower the
parts to allow the weighing levers to rest on their rests, the object and effect of
the invention is to enable this also to be done with ease, and without danger to
the operator of the actuating handle or part, which cannot be done at present.
According to this invention, this effect is obtained by the employment in con-
nection with the existing ordinary balance weight, of a supplemental and
movable weight, capable of being set to act in connection with, and as an
auxiliary of this main weight, or not, at will; and it is furthermore adapted to
be operated so as to act at other times, counter to the main balance weight. In
the former condition, this weight serves as an auxiliary to, and assists the
action of putting the weigh-bridge in gear, while the load is upon it; and it
takes some of the pull or strain on the lever (c) off the operator's hands, and
assists him in lowering the levers and putting the machine out of gear when
the load is on the bridge.
.
One mode of operating or manipulating this auxiliary or counter-balance
weight is illustrated in the annexed drawings; and it consists of an upright
hand lever stationed adjacent to the column a, and connected up with, and
adapted to operate, the said movable auxiliary or supplemental weight through
an arm carrying the said weight; and a beam or lever adapted to be acted
upon by this weight arm at one part or end, whilst at the other part it is con-
nected or coupled up with the chain of the balance weight d; this beam or
lever being mounted on an axis supported by a bracket or brackets, and the
weight arm being also supported on the weight axis. It is to be stated, how-
ever, that other or modified means of operating this weight to act in the
manner and for the purposes described, may be employed under this invention.
Referring to the drawings regarding this mechanism, e is the actuating lever
of the mechanism, the lower end of which has a slot el, which operates in con-
nection with the crank pin f on one end of the weight arm h. At the opposite
end of this arm is the counter-balance or auxiliary weight w. The arm or
lever is carried on a spindle i supported in the bracket k. Also upon this
spindle i, a beam or lever o is carried; and this lever works in a plane parallel
with that of the arm h. This beam or lever at its outer end is connected with
the balance weight chain d by a double hook p, the connecting pin or part of
which works in a slot in this lever, to allow the lever or beam o to move in its
circular or curved path, without interfering with the rectilinear motion of the
chain. With the opposite ends of this lever or beam o, the weight arm h acts,
namely, when in the position shewn in full lines, it rests upon a projecting

page_text: part on the lever o; while when in the position shewn in dotted lines, it rests
upon the projecting part q' on the opposite side of the fulcrum. And there is
connected with this arm h, and a bridge piece on the lever o, a spring device s,
which acts as a buffer when the lever or arm comes on to either the stop
or q'; the upper end of the spring device being such, that it can slip from one
end of the bridge r to the other as shewn in dotted lines, as the arm is moved
to one or other side of the fulcrum.
The action, as will now be plain, is, that accordingly as the weight w rests
and bears upon the beam or lever o on the one side or the other of its fulcrum i,
it will act as an auxiliary to d, or as a counter balance to it to some extent.
In the position shewn in full lines in the figures it acts as an auxiliary, and
it will be moved to this position by placing the lever e to the position shewn,
through which the arm will be moved, so as to throw the weight w on to
that side of the vertical plane which it is shewn in. Then to move the weight
to the opposite position, the lever is pulled down away from the column a,
and through the crank pin f, moves the arm and weight w onto the opposite
side of this vertical plane, so that it will rest on the stop q', and act to some
extent as a counter balance to d. In the former position it assists the operator
in moving the lever e down and putting the platform and weighing mechanism
into gear, and when the load to be weighed is on the platform, its assistance is
most advantageous. And it is also advantageous and assists in the operation
of letting the lever crise, and the weighing levers onto their rests.
thrown over into the opposite position, it acts in a contra direction to the main
weight, both in putting the machine in and out of gear; and in this condition
the machine can be thrown in and out of gear when unloaded, with the usual
facility.
When
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: —
1. The herein described improvement in weigh-bridges, namely, the employ-
ment of a movable weight in connection with the mechanisms for putting a
machine in and out of its operative conditions, adapted to be moved so as to act
and serve as an assisting or relieving device, or not, at will: for the purposes
specified.
2. In a weighbridge, a balance weight for balancing or relieving the weight
of the weigh levers, platforni, or other parts, from the mechanism for putting
the machine in and out of its operative conditions, and a supplementary mov-
able weight adapted to be moved so as to act in connection with said balance
weight to augment same, or not, 'at will; substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
3. In a weighbridge relieving gear, a supplemental weight adapted to be
oscillated about an axis, and to act in connection with the main balance weight
by means substantially as set forth.
4. The weighbridge relieving mechanism having the weights, arm, and levers,
arranged and adapted to act as set forth with reference to and as shewn in the
drawings.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.