IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN WEIGHING APPARATUS OR MACHINERY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN WEIGHING APPARATUS OR MACHINERY." A com-
munication from abroad by John Benjamin Stoner, of Toledo, Ohio, United
States of America, Mechanic.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN WEIGHING
APPARATUS OR MACHINERY." [A communication from abroad by John Benjamin
Stoner, of Toledo, Ohio, United States of America, Mechanic.]
This Invention relates to improved grain-weighing apparatus or machinery of
that class in which a rising and falling hopper, provided with two compartiments
into which the grain is alternately delivered, is employed for automatically shifting
the valves by which the flow of the grain into said compartments and its discharge
from the same are controlled by the gravity of the grain delivered to the hopper,
and it has for its object to provide for automatically distributing and stroking the
grain in the compartments, and to provide an adjustable counterbalance for the
hopper, as more fully hereinafter specified.
To this end the Invention comprises, first, the combination with the hopper of
a chute having two branches through which the grain is fed to said hopper, and
provided with a bucket-wheel which is rotated by the gravity of the grain and
actuates two rotary distributors or strokers located in the compartment in the
upper part of the hopper through the medium of suitable mechanism.
Secondly. The combination with discharge valves mounted on a rock-shaft at
the lower part of the hopper, and cut-offs for alternately opening and closing the
branches of the chute to stop or permit the flow of grain to said compartment, of
mechanism operated by the lower valves to alternately shift the cut-offs and
alternately admit the grain to each compartment of the hopper.
Thirdly. The combination with the chute through which the grain is fed to the
hoppers of a bucket-wheel, adapted to be automatically operated by the inflowing

page_text: grain, and two strokers or distributors mounted upon vertical shafts and arranged
to rotate in each compartment in the upper part of the hopper, with suitable
connecting mechanism for transmitting motion from the shaft of the bucket-wheel
to the strokers or distributors.
Fourthly. A double-chambered hopper provided with an oscillating discharge-
valve at the bottom, and with a large upper and a small lower compartment in
each chamber, the two compartments of each chamber being connected by a
contracted throat, whereby a sudden discharge of both chambers and premature
operation of the supply-gates are prevented.
Fifthly. The combination of the said hopper with a branching double supply
chute with two cut-off gates, and suitable mechanism for operating the same, for the
purpose of alternately supplying the upper chambers of the hopper.
Sixthly. The construction of balancing weights in such a manner that they
may be readily set into and out of operation without removing them from the
machine.
Seventhly. An adjustable partition in each upper chamber of the hopper, whereby
the capacity of said chambers may be either enlarged or contracted according as
the specific gravity of the different grains being weighed may require.
Eighthly. The combination of an oscillating weighted lever-arm, the double-
chambered hopper, and the oscillating double discharge valve.
In practising the said Invention, and with respect to the first, second, and third
parts thereof, I provide a frame supporting the various working parts of the
apparatus; there is also a hopper formed with two compartments, the lower portions
or which are contracted to a point, and from thence gradually enlarged to the
bottom, the object of which is to suddenly discharge a portion of the grain when
the valve at the bottom is opened, and thus allow the counter balance to act
directly.
The said hopper is mounted in a rocking or oscillating frame fulcrummed within
the frame of the machine, being secured to the said rocking frame at its forward
ends by means of links which are attached to trunnions secured to opposite sides
of the hopper. To the opposite side of the hopper are also rigidly attached
uprights, to the upper and lower ends of which are pivotted short levers, the ends
of which are pivotted to one end of bars respectively, the other ends of said bars
being pivotted to the frame of the machine, whereby the hopper is caused to rise
and fall in a strictly vertical plane. The movement of the rocking frame is limited
by stops secured to the frame of the machine.
To the rear end at each side of the rocking frame are pivotted on knife-edges or
fulcrums downwardly extending links, which near their lower ends are pivotted
to the forward end of a platform upon knife-edges or fulcrums, the lower ends of
said links being connected by means of a bar. The rear end of the said platform
is supported at opposite sides on knife-edges or fulcrumns and is capable of an
oscillating motion thereon. The upper side of said platform is provided with two
parallel ways or rails upon which is adapted to travel a weight which is mounted
on flanged wheels. I provide a leading screw passing through a female thread
nut secured in a transverse slot in the weight; said screw is journalled in standards
attached to the platform so as to rotate freely and traverse the weight back and
forth upon the rails or guides.
I provide a graduated beam located in the platform below the weight, also an
index attached to the weight and adapted to traverse the beam and indicate the
position of the weight with respect to the same in the same manner as upon an
ordinary scale-beam.
There is a rock shaft journalled in the hopper between the lower openings of
the two compartments, and carrying valves which are set at such an angle that
while one is closed against the discharge of one compartment the other will bo
open. Said rock-shaft has mounted upon its outer end a frame provided with a
segment having shoulders at each end, with which is adapted to engage a latch
mounted in ways attached to the hopper, which is operated by a stop on the frame

page_text: to alternately catch and release the shoulders, and permit the valves to be
alternately opened and closed by the weight of the grain in the hopper. The
opposite end of the rock-shaft is provided with a short arm which engages with
the bifurcated lower end of a lever pivotted to the hopper, its upper end being
similarly bifurcated and engaging a pin on a reciprocating bar mounted in ways
secured to the hopper in such manner that said bar will be reciprocated back and
forth as the rock-shaft is oscillated.
Two bars are pivotted to the frame of the machine and extend forward over the
edge of the said reciprocating bar in such position as to drop alternately into slots
formed in the reciprocating bar as said bar is shifted. Said bars are connected
respectively by links with levers pivotted to the chute, and at their opposite ends
connected by means of links to rods which alternately operate a cut-off located in
ways at the forward ends of the branches of the said chute. The said chute is
constructed with a cylindrical chamber, in which is mounted a bucket-wheel upon
a shaft projecting at each side of said chamber and provided with pulleys.
A hopper leads into the cylindrical chamber through which the grain is fed into
the chute.
There are two rotating strokers or distributors mounted upon vertical shafts
journalled in bearings in brackets attached to the frame of the machine. The lower
ends of said shafts extend into the upper parts of the compartments of the hopper,
so that the strokers or distributors mounted therein will level off the grain. when
the compartments are filled. Upon the upper ends of the shafts are mounted
pulleys which are connected by endless belts to other pulleys, by means of which
a rotary motion is imparted to them as the bucket-wheel is rotated by the inflowing
grain.
I provide an indicator connected by a link with the weighted platform which
serves to indicate the amount of grain that has passed through the apparatus.
In practising the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth parts of my said
Invention, I provide at the top of the frame an inclined forked chute connected at
its upper end with the bottom discharge opening of a grain-bin or elevator by
means of an ordinary spout or funnel. The branches of the chute are closed by
means of gates fastened to the ends of levers which have fulcrums on the chute.
Tho said branches terminate above two chambers of a hopper, which is suitably
suspended upon two knife-edge bearings of two parallel scale-beam lever-arms,
having suitable fulcrums on the frame of the machine, which fulcrums are on a
lower level than the said knife-edges in order to accellerate the descent of the
hopper. The rear ends of these lever-arms are united by a transverse scale beam
or bar, the play or dip of which is limited by stopping-plates having projecting
upper and lower abutments.
The rear ends of the lever-arms are by means of rods connected with the rear
ends of two lower levers having their fulcrums on the frame of the machine.
A transverse scale beam or bar is fastened to the rods, and upon this beam a
weight or weights are fitted loosely, and at will fastened thereto in order to keep
up the hopper while one of its compartments is being supplied with grain, and
also serve as the weights for weighing the grain. The weight is provided with an
angular slot, the horizontal part of which permits the weight to be applied to, and
withdrawn from, the scale-beam in a horizontal direction when said beam is in line
with said slot, and the vertical part of said slot permits the bean to move freely
up and down therein when either one of the weights is not in use for weighing.
A. set-screw in the top of each of the weights serves to clamp the weights to
the beam in order to make them operative for weighing purposes.
This set-screw
is screwed up when one of the weights is not to be used for weighing. A cross
piece of the frame supports the respective weights when not in use.
By this construction weights corresponding with the number of pounds con-
tained in any given bushel of grain may be mounted upon the supporting cross-
piece in a row, so as to be successively used for weighing purposes without the
necessity of removing them when not required for immediate use.

page_text: The motions of the hopper are steadied by ordinary guide-stays. The hopper,
by means of a partition, is divided into two compartments, each of which is
subdivided into two connected chambers. The connection of said chambers is
effected by means of contracted throats in the inclined bottoms of the upper
chambers.
The lower chambers are alternately closed and opened by means of an oscillating
angular valve, having its fulcrum at the centre of the bottom of the hopper. Two
angular spring-catches are attached to the hopper, one to either end of the same,
and serve to latch alternately either side of a valve to the bottom part of the
hopper in the act of weighing, and two abutting stops are attached to the frame
below an upper arm of each of the spring-catches, at such an altitude that the
descent of the hopper will cause the upper arm of said spring-catches to come in
contact with the said abutting stops, and the latching end of the catches to be
thrown out by them, thereby disengaging the valve.
At the ends of this valve projections are provided whereby the ends of two
levers are supported when the valve is closed. Two other levers have their fulcrums
at the rear part of the frame, and they are connected by means of rods with the
levers carrying the supply cut-off gates.
A stationary hopper fastened to the frame below the suspended hopper receives
the grain from this hopper, and conducts it to a bin below or to a transporting-
vessel.
A sliding partition secured in guides is provided in each chamber, which
partition may be adjusted high or low, in order to give the required capacity for
grain of different specific gravity, and thus the hopper be capable of containing
so much grain delivered from the supply-chute at the moment of the closing of
the chute as shall be equal in weight to the weight or weights employed for
measuring, the grain weighed being always at the same level in the hopper at the
noment of cutting off the supply.
A weighted lever-arm attached to the oscillating valves serves to steady this
valve in either of its two main positions and facilitates the operation of the latch-
hooks.
One of the scale beam levers is provided with a pawl which operates an ordinary
counting mechanism secured to the side of the machine, whereby with the aid of a
suitable dial or dials the correct number of pounds measured is always indicated.
In the suspended hopper there are scales, the office of which is to shew the
fraction of a cargo of grain, which may remain in the hopper, but of not sufficient
quantity to be weighed in the hopper. In such case the scale will be so graduated
as to shew the number of bushels by "stroke" measure, and such fractional portion
of the cargo can then be discharged from the hopper by disengaging by hand a
catch from the oscillating valve.
The machine in its normal condition stands with one of the supply gates open,
and the corresponding lower chamber of the hopper closed by the oscillating
valve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th November 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAIN WEIGHING
APPARATUS OR MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by John Benjamin
Stoner, of Toledo, Ohio, United States of America, Mechanic.
This Invention relates to improvements in grain-weighing apparatus or
machinery of that class in which a rising and falling hopper, provided with two
compartments into which the grain is alternately delivered, is employed for
automatically shifting the valves by which the flow of the grain into the said
compartments and its discharge from the same is controlled by the gravity of the
grain delivered to the hopper, and the said Invention has for its object to provide
for automatically distributing and stroking the grain in the compartments, and to
provide an adjustable counterbalance for the hopper, as more fully hereinafter
specified.
The said Invention comprises, the combination with the hopper of a shute
having two branches through which the grain is fed to the said hopper, and
provided with a bucket wheel which is rotated by the gravity of the grain and
actuates two rotary distributors or strokers located in the compartiment in the
upper part of the hopper through the medium of suitable mechanism, as more fully
hereinafter specified. It also comprises the combination with the discharge valves
mounted on a rock shaft at the lower part of the hopper, and the cut-offs for
alternately opening and closing the branches of the shute to stop or permit the
flow of grain to said compartment, of mechanism operated by the lower valves to
alternately shift the cut-offs and alternately admit the grain to each compartment
of the hopper. It also comprises the combination with the shute through which
the grain is fed to the hoppers of a bucket wheel, adapted to be automatically
operated by the inflowing grain, and two strokers or distributors mounted upon
vertical shafts and arranged to rotate in each compartment in the upper part of
the hopper, with suitable connecting mechanism for transmitting motion from the
shaft of the bucket wheel to the strokers or distributors. The said Invention also
comprises a double-chambered hopper, provided with an oscillating discharge valve
at the bottom, and with a large upper and a small lower compartment in each
chamber, the two compartments of each chamber being connected by a contracted
throat, whereby a sudden discharge of both chambers and premature operation of
the supply gates are prevented. It also comprises the combination of the said
hopper with a branching double supply shute with two cut-off gates, and suitable
mechanism for operating the same, for the purpose of alternately supplying the
upper chambers of the hopper. It also comprises the construction of the balancing
weights used in the machine, so that they may be readily set into and out of
operation without removing them from the machine. It also comprises an
adjustable partition in each upper chamber of the hopper, whereby the capacity of
the said chambers may be either enlarged or contracted, according as the specific
gravity of the different grains being weighed may require. And it also comprises
the combination of an oscillating weighted lever-arm, the double-chambered hopper,
and the oscillating double-discharge valve.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved apparatus with a portion
of the hopper broken away to show the internal construction of the said
honner and

page_text: Figure 4 represents a rear view of the hopper showing the mechanism for
operating the upper valves, the frame and levers being partly in section.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of another form of my improved grain weighing
machines.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same showing parts of the frame broken away
to expose the operating mechanism, and part of a measuring funnel in section to
show more clearly the inner construction of the same.
Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a central transverse vertical section of two balancing weights, one of
the said weights being shown in operation, and the other out of operation.
Figure 9 is a side view of one of the said balancing-weights suspended, and as it
appears when in operation.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings A indicates the frame
supporting the various working parts of the apparatus, and B, the hopper. The
said hopper is formed with two compartments C, C, the lower portions of which
are contracted at E, and thence are gradually enlarged to the bottom, the object of
such enlargement being to suddenly discharge a portion of the grain when the
valve at the bottom is opened, and thus allow the counterbalance to act directly,
as will be more fully hereinafter explained.
The said hopper is mounted in a rocking or oscillating frame F fulcrummed
within the frame A, being secured to the said rocking frame at its forward ends by
means of the links G, which are attached to trunnions H secured to opposite sides
of the hopper.
To the opposite sides of the hopper are also rigidly attached the uprights I, to
the upper and lower ends of which are pivotted the short levers K, the ends of
which are pivotted to one end of the bars L, the other ends of the said bars being
pivotted to the frame A, whereby the hopper is caused to rise and fall in a strictly
vertical plane. The movement of the rocking frame is limited by the stops F³
secured to the frame A.
To the rear end, at each side of the rocking frame, are pivotted on knife edges or
fulcrums M the downwardly extending links N, which near their lower ends are
pivotted to the forward end of a platform O upon knife edges or fulcrums P, the
lower ends of the said links being connected by means of a bar R. The rear end
of the said platform is supported at opposite sides on knife edges or fulcrums S,
and is capable of an oscillating motion thereon. The upper side of the said
platform is provided with two parallel ways or rails T, upon which is adapted to
W indicates a leading
travel a weight U, which is mounted on flanged wheels V.
screw passing through a nut Y having a female thread, and secured in a transverse
slot in the weight. The said screw is journalled in standards A' attached to the
platform O, so as to rotate freely, and cause the weight to travel back and forth
upon the rails or guides. B¹ indicates a graduated beam located in the platform
below the weight, and C' an index or pointer attached to the weight, and adapted
to traverse the beam and indicate the position of the weight with respect to the
same in the same manner as upon an ordinary scale beam. D' indicates a rock
shaft journalled in the hopper between the lower openings of the two compartments,
and carrying the valves E', E¹, which are set at such an angle that while one is
closed against the discharge of one compartment the other will be open. The said
rock shaft has mounted upon its outer end a frame F¹ provided with a segment G',
having shoulders at each end, with which is adapted to engage a latch H¹
mounted in ways I attached to the hopper. This latch is operated by a stop K¹
on the frame to alternately catch and release the shoulders g and permit the valves
to be alternately opened and closed by the weight of the grain in the hopper, as
more fully hereinafter specified. The opposite end of the rock shaft is provided
with a short arm L', which engages with the bifurcated lower end of a lever M¹
pivotted to the hopper, its upper end being similarly bifurcated, and engaging a pin
on a reciprocating bar N¹ mounted in ways O' secured to the hopper in such a
manner that the said bar will be reciprocated back and forth as the rock shaft is

page_text: oscillated. P', P', indicate two bars pivotted to the frame A, and extending
forward over the edge of the reciprocating bar N¹ in such a position as to drop
alternately into the slots R¹ formed in the reciprocating bar as the said bar is
shifted. The said bars are connected respectively by the links S', S', with the
levers T¹ pivotted to the shute V¹, and at their opposite ends connected by means
of links W to the rods Y¹, which alternately operate the cut-offs Z located in
ways A² at the forward ends of the branches B2 of the shute Y. The said shute V¹
is constructed with a cylindrical chamber C, in which is mounted a bucket wheel D°
upon a shaft E2 projecting at each side of the said chamber, and provided with
pulleys F G indicates a hopper leading into the chamber C3, through which the
grain is fed into the shute Vi. H2, H2, represent two rotating strokers or dis-
tributers mounted upon the vertical shafts I2 journalled in bearings in the
brackets Z attached to the frame A. The lower ends of the said shafts extend
into the upper parts of the compartments of the hopper, so that the strokers or
distributers mounted therein will level off the grain when the compartments are
filled, as more fully hereinafter specified. Upon the upper ends of the shafts are
mounted the pulleys K, which are connected by endless belts to the pulleys F²,
by means of which a rotary motion is imparted to them as the wheel D is rotated
by the inflowing grain. L² represents an indicator connected by a link with the
weighted platform, which serves to indicate the amount of grain that has passed
through the apparatus.
The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows, that is to say:
The
The grain being allowed to flow into the shute rotates the bucket wheel,
imparting motion thereto, and through the medium of the belts and pulleys to the
rotary distributers or strokers. The parts being in the position shown in Figure 1,
the upper left hand cut-off being open, and the lower left hand valve closed, the
grain will flow into the left hand compartment of the hopper until it is filled.
weight of the grain will then overbalance the weighted platform, depressing the
hopper, which causes the latch in front to abut against its stop and release
the segment on the rock shaft, when the weight of the grain in the hopper will
throw down the lower left hand valve, discharging the grain from the said left
hand compartment. The opening of the lower left hand valve will close the lower
right hand valve and open the upper right hand cut-off, and the grain will flow
into the right hand compartment and continue until it is full. The hopper will
then be again depressed (having been elevated by the counterbalance when
relieved of the weight of the grain), when the parts will be shifted to their original
position, and the operation will thus continue so long as the grain continues to flow.
In Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 A indicates a frame having at its top an inclined
forked shute B connected at its upper end with the bottom discharge opening of a
grain bin or elevator by means of an ordinary spout or funnel. The branches b, b¹,
of the shute are closed by means of gates 62, 63, fastened to the ends of levers b*, b,
which have fulcrums at 6, 67, on the said shute. The branches b, b, terminate
above two chambers c, c², of a hopper C, which is suitably suspended upon two
knife-edge bearings d, d', of two parallel scale beam lever arms D, D, having suitable
fulcrums d², d, on the frame of the machine, which fulcrums are on a lower level
than the said knife-edges d in order to accelerate the descent of the hopper, as will
be hereinafter explained.
The rear ends of these lever-arms are united by a transverse scale beam or bar D³,
the play or dip of which is limited by stopping plates E having projecting upper
and lower abutments e, as shewn in Figure 6.
The rear ends of the lever-arms D, D, are by means of rods f connected with the
rear ends of two lower levers F, having their fulcrums at fi on the frame of the
machine.
A transverse scale beam or bar F' is fastened to the rods f, and upon this beam a
weight or weights G are fitted loosely and fastened thereto at will in order to keep
up the hopper C while one of its compartments is being supplied with grain, and
also to serve as the weights for weighing the grain.

page_text: The weight G is provided with an angular slot, the horizontal part g of which
permits the weight to be applied to and withdrawn from the beam F1 in a hori-
zontal direction when the said beam is in line with the said slot, and the vertical
part g of said slot permits the rod F¹ to move freely up and down therein when
either one of the weights is not in use for weighing.
A set screw g² in the top of each of the weights G serves to clamp the weights to
the beam F¹, as shewn in Figure 9, in order to make them operative for weighing
purposes. This set-screw is screwed up, as shewn in Figure 8, when one of the
weights is not to be used for weighing. A cross piece a of the frame supports the
respective weights when not in use. By this construction weights corresponding
with the number of pounds contained in any given bushel of grain may be mounted
upon the supporting cross-piece a in a row, so as to be successively used for
weighing purposes without the necessity of removing them when not required for
immediate use.
The motions of the hopper C are steadied by ordinary guide-stays D². The said
hopper by means of a partition c¹0 is divided into two compartments, each of which
is subdivided into two connected chambers c, c', and c³, c³. The connection of the
said chambers is effected by means of contracted throats c, c, in the inclined
bottoms c, c, of the upper chambers.
The lower chambers c¹, c³, are alternately closed and opened by means of an
oscillating angular valve H, having its fulcrum h at the centre of the bottom of the
hopper. Two angular spring catches I, I¹, are attached to the hopper, one to either
end of the same, and serve to latch alternately either side of the valve H to the
bottom part of the hopper in the act of weighing, and two abutting stops h³, h³, are
attached to the frame A below an upper arm of each of the spring-catches at such
an altitude that the descent of the hopper will cause the upper arm of said spring
catches to come in contact with the said abutting stops, and the latching end of
the catches to be thrown out by them, thereby disengaging the valve H.
At the ends of the valve H projections h, h³, are provided, whereby the ends of
two levers J, J1, are supported when the valve is closed. The levers J, J¹, have
their fulcrums j,, at the rear part of the frame, and they are connected by means
of rods K, K', with the levers 64, 65, carrying the supply cut-off gates 62, 63
A stationary hopper L fastened to the frame below the hopper C receives the
grain from the latter, and conducts it to a bin below or to a transporting-vessel.
A sliding partition M, secured in guides m, is provided in each chamber c and c²,
which partition may be adjusted high or low in order to give the required capacity
for grain of different specific gravity, and thus the hopper be capable of containing
so much grain delivered from the supply-shute at the moment of the closing of the
shute as shall be equal in weight to the weight or weights G employed for
measuring, the grain weighed being always at the same level in the hopper at the
moment of cutting off the supply.
A weighted lever-arm attached to the oscillating valve H serves to steady the
valve H in either of its two main positions, and facilitates the operation of the
latch-hooks I, I¹.
One of the scale-beam levers D is provided with a pawl n which operates an
ordinary counting mechanism N secured to the side of the machine, whereby with
the aid of a suitable dial or dials the correct number of pounds measured is always
indicated.
In the hopper C, Figure 7, I have shewn scales V, V, the office of which is to
show the fraction of a cargo of grain which may remain in the hopper, but of not
sufficient quantity to be weighed in the said hopper. In such case the scale will
be so graduated as to show the number of bushels by "stroke measure, and such
fractional portion of the cargo can then be discharged from the hopper by dis-
engaging by hand the catch I or I¹, as the case may be, from the valve H.
"
The operation of this apparatus is as follows, that is to say -The machine in its
normal condition stands with one of the supply-gates open, and the corresponding
lower chamber of the hopper closed by the valve H.

page_text: The Drawings represent the gate b³ and the chamber c open, and the sliding
partitions A and weights G in position and ready for operation. The grain to be
measured is supplied from a bin above the machine or from an elevator into the
chute B, and it fills the closed branch 6 and passes through the open branch b¹ into
the chamber c², and through the throat into the closed chamber c³. After the
chamber c³ is filled the upper chamber c² becomes gradually filled with grain, until
its weight corresponds with the weight on the scale-beam, when the hopper is
caused to descend. During this descent of the hopper C the angular latch hooks
I, I, are tripped by the abutments h2, h3, and the grain in the chamber c³ forces the
valve H down, thereby closing the chamber c¹. The contents of the chamber c³ are
discharged instantly, and by their discharge the weight of the hopper is so much
lessened that the weight G begins to descend and causes the hopper to rise. While
the hopper is descending the lever J' also descends, and closes the gate b³ and cuts
off the supply from the branch b. While the hopper is ascending the weighed
grain in the chamber c² continues to discharge itself through the throat coupon the
valve below, from which it descends to the hopper L.
Meantime the valve H is
kept by the weight of the discharging grain and by the weight O in its reversed
position, until the upper end of the latch-hook leaves the abutment stop h², and by
its lower end latches the valve H to the bottom part of the chamber c¹. On the
further ascent of the hopper, the projection of the valve is caused to come in
contact with and lift the lever J, whereby the gate 62 becomes opened. The branch b
now discharges the grain into the chambers c, cl, the gate b3 remaining closed,
because the lever J¹ is not operated by the projection 3 of the valve when the
parts are in this position. The size of the throats c, c, is such that the weighed
grain in one chamber is discharged before the quantity supplied in the other
chamber is heavy enough to commence to move the hopper down. The operation
of the described parts is the same alternately on either side of the partition clo, so
that the supply and discharge go on without interruption, changing from right to
left, and vice versa in the hopper.
One of the weights G used for weighing the lightest kind of grain is clamped to
the centre of the beam F' and remains there, and when heavier grains are to be
weighed, additional weights G, corresponding to the difference of the weight of such
heavy grains as compared with the lightest, are attached in the manner described
to the beam E'.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In an apparatus for weighing grain, in combination with the hopper and
the shute for supplying the same with grain, a bucket-wheel mounted upon a shaft,
and two strokers or distributers, with suitable mechanism for transmitting motion
from the bucket-wheel to the same, whereby they will be automatically operated
by the inflowing grain, substantially as above described and as shown in Figures 1,
2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings, for the purpose specified.
Second. In combination with the discharge-valves mounted upon a rock-shaft at
the lowest part of the hopper, a lever operated by the said rock-shaft, and a reci-
procating bar operated by the said lever, the said bar being provided near its ends
with slots, into which two pivotted bars are adapted to alternately drop, the said
bars being connected to the levers for actuating the cut-offs of the shute for
alternately supplying each compartment of the hopper, substantially as above
described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings, for the purpose
specified.
Third. In combination with the rising and falling hopper, the platform fulcrummed
at one end to the frame of the apparatus, and at the other end to links fulcrummed
to the rocking frame which supports the hopper, the said platform being provided
with ways or rails, upon which is adapted to travel a weight mounted on wheels,
and provided with a leading screw, by means of which it may be shifted in order

page_text: to adjust the weight, substantially as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
Drawings, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In combination with the rising and falling hopper, a platform suitably
fulcrummed to the frame of the apparatus, and connected to the rocking frame
which supports the hopper, the said platform being provided with a movable weight
which may be adjusted as required, substantially as above described and as shewn
in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings, for the purpose specified.
Fifth. A hopper having its two chambers formed respectively with a large
compartment at the top and a small compartment at the bottom, and the two
compartments in communication with each other by means of a contracted portion
or throat, in combination with a two-way shute provided with cut-off gates, a scale-
beam, a double acting valve, and tripping mechanism for operating the cut-off
gates; this combination being such that the shute remains stationary, while the
two chambers of the hopper and the large and small compartments of each chamber
thereof rise and fall together, and the valve is opened on one side of the partition
of the hopper and closed on the other side thereof when only a small weight from
the full chamber of the grain is resting directly upon it, and the sudden discharge
of the whole chamber of grain cannot take place when the valve is thus opened,
substantially as above described with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7 of the
Drawings, and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. The hopper C having a large upper compartment and a small lower com-
partment, the two compartments being rigid with one another and connected by a
contracted portion or throat, whereby the weight of the larger portion of the grain
in a chamber of the hopper is supported in a great measure in the upper compart-
ment above the grain in the lower compartment while the discharge-valve is being
opened, and the grain is gradually discharged after the valve is opened, all
substantially as above described, and as shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7 of the
Drawings, for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The double valve provided with a counterbalance in combination with
the hopper having two chambers and relatively large and small compartments in
each chamber, which compartments are connected by a narrow throat, substantially
as shewn in Figures 5, 6, 7 of the Drawings, for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The weights slotted as at g, g¹, and provided with the set-screw g²,
substantially as above described, and as shewn in Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings,
for the purpose specified.
Ninth. The hopper provided with the vertical sliding partition M, substantially
as above described, and as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings, for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)