Improvements in or Connected with Compound-lever Weighing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Compound-lever Weighing
Machines.
I HENRY POOLEY of Albion Foundry Liverpool, Weighing Machine Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
I will describe my invention as applied to a compound lever weighing machine,
for weighing cattle. The platform is carried by and mounted on compound levers in
any suitable known way and the weight of the animal weighed is ascertained by a
weight which I may term the indicating weight-adapted to slide on a steelyard,
such steelyard having the weight transmitted to it through suitable rods or levers,
and being provided with a "secret" counterpoise or balance weight and an automatic
disengaging handle or lever for throwing the machine in and out of operation.
The platform may be made of a cast iron frame having a wooden floor, and is
provided with a pen" constructed partly of wood and partly of iron or steel. The
ends of the pen are formed of angle or equivalent bars in the form of an arch and
are secured to the edge or side of the platform in such a manner, as to provide as
much space inside the pen as possible. The wooden members of the pen are secured
to the end upright arch bars-say to the web of an angle bar-, and run from end to
end of the pen. These wooden members may be arranged in any suitable number,
and secured by bolts and nuts, and metal washer plates below the head or nut where
the said nut or head holds the wood.
This construction of pen affords amongst other things a strong, simple, cheap and
effective structure & one that is capable of being readily and closely packed, and
easily taken to pieces or mended.
"
.6
The secret"balance weight I arrange on a screw, within a box, in the end of which
screw I provide with an aperture of irregular form, say of zig-zag or curved form.
The key to operate this screw is made of a similar or corresponding form. This
"
secret balance is placed in the head of the steelyard. The means by which the
operating lever or handle is automatically disengaged from its catch consists of a
weighted pawl or like device which, when the lever is pressed downwards whilst in
its locked or caught position, causes the catch to move out of the path of the lever,
thereby allowing the lever to be thrown up and put the machine in operation. When
the lever is next brought down and engaged with its said catch, the pawl or equivalent
device is moved into such a position that it is ready to act as described.
The indicating weight, which slides on the steelyard, is provided with an oscillating
or rotary minor weight which is used to indicate the minor division of weights on the
larger sliding weight, and it is so arranged that by turning it about its axis or centre
the centre of weight is thrown or moved nearer or further from the fulcrum of the
steelyard. A pointer and scale are employed in connection with this minor weight
indicating device.
I would state that, although I have described my invention as a whole applied to a
cattle weighing machine, parts thereof are also applicable to other compound lever
weighing machines.
Dated this Fifth day of December 1888.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON
Applicant's Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Compound-lever Weighing
Machines.
I, HENRY POOLEY, of Albion Foundry, Liverpool, weighing machine maker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
I will describe my Invention as applied to a compound lever weighing machine, for
weighing cattle. The platform is carried by and mounted on compound levers in any
suitable known way and the weight of the animal weighed is ascertained by a weight
-which I may term the indicating weight-adapted to slide on a steelyard, said
steelyard having the weight transmitted to it through suitable rods or levers, and
being provided with a 46 secret "counterpoise or balance weight and a disengaging
handle or lever for throwing the machine in and out of operation.
"
The platform may be made of a cast iron frame having a wooden floor, and is
provided with રી pen" constructed partly of wood and partly of iron or steel. The
ends of the pen are formed of angle or equivalent bars in the form of an arch and are
secured to the side or edge of the platform in such a manner as to provide as much
space inside the pen as possible. The wooden members of the pen are secured to the
end upright arch bars-say to the web of an angle bar, and run from end to end of
the pen. These wooden members may be arranged in any suitable number and
secured by bolts and nuts, and metal washer plates below the head or nut where the
said nut or head holds the wood.
This construction of pen affords amongst other things a strong, simple, cheap, and
effective structure and one that is capable of being readily and closely packed, and
easily taken to pieces or mended.
The "secret balance weight I arrange on a screw, within a box, in the end of
which screw I provide an aperture of irregular form, say of zig-zag, or curved form.
The key to operate this screw is made of a similar or corresponding form. This
secret" balance is placed in the head of the steelyard. The means by which the
operating lever or handle is disengaged from its catch, consists of a weighted pawl or
like device which, when the lever is pressed downwards whilst in its locked and
caught position, causes the catch to move out of the path of the lever, thereby
allowing the lever to be thrown up and put the machine out of operation or gear.
When the lever is next brought down and engaged with its said catch, the pawl
or equivalent device is moved into such a position that it is ready to act as described.
The indicating weight, which slides on the steelyard, is provided with an oscillating
or rotary minor weight which is used to indicate the minor division of weights
on the larger sliding weight, and it is so arranged that by turning it about its axis
or centre, the centre of weight is thrown or moved nearer or further from the
fulcrum of the steelyard. A pointer and scale are employed in connection with this
minor weight indicating device.
I would state, that, although I have described my Invention as a whole applied
to a cattle weighing machine, parts thereof are also applicable to other compound lever
weighing machines.
In the annexed drawings, which serve to illustrate the Invention is shown the
machine, the parts and arrangement of which are hereinbefore more particularly
specified, and having the improvements according to this Invention. In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 2 an end view; and
Figure 3 is a plan.
Figures 4 and 5 show the end and side members, respectively, of the metallic frame
which supports the wooden floor boards, in cross section.

page_text: Figures 8 and 9 show the indicating weight according to the Invention, in side
elevation and plan, respectively; and
Figure 10 illustrates the gear and means by which the lever which puts the
apparatus in or out of action is caught and released.
In describing the above drawings, I use the same letters and figures of reference to
denote the same parts throughout.
Referring, in the first instance, to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the Drawings, A is the bed-
plate or frame of the machine; B is the metallic platform frame which is mounted on
bearings in the usual way; B' is the wooden flooring which is supported on the
platform frame B (see Figures 3, 4 and 5); Care angle iron or steel arch bars, the
lower ends of which are bent inwards, and secured to the platform frane B at b (see
Figures 2 and 3); D are the wooden side rails which connect the two arch bars C
together, the fastening of said bars being made by bolts or rivets and a washer bar c
located outside the wooden bars; E are ordinary gates, hung on hinges; and F is the
column of the weighing machine which is of well known form.
It will be observed that the platform is so made, and the arch bars C are so secured
to the outside edge thereof, that no diminution of space or area of the machine is
made inside the pen.
This construction of pen for weighing cattle &c., that is, a pen of wood side rails and
iron or steel end bars or posts, especially when made in the form of arches as shown
in the drawings, and secured to the metal frame which supports the flooring or
platform, constitutes a pen which comprises the combined qualities of lightness,
strength, and simplicity, and consequent cheapness of construction.
Referring now, more particularly, to Figures 3, 6, 78 and 9 of the drawings, the
steelyard is designated G, and in Figures 6 and 7 the secret counterpoise is shown
disposed in the end thereof. It consists of a slot in the steelyard in which a weight is
placed and adapted to be moved to and fro in it by the screw x,
which is operated,
that is, is turned round one way or the other, by a corrugated key y which may fit in
a corresponding corrugated recess z in the end of the screw. Side plates ware
attached to the weight w to hide or cover the slot and the parts therein, and they also
move with the weight.
The indicating weight, shown more clearly in Figures 8 and 9 is designated H and
is movable along the steelyard G in the ordinary way. This weight is used to
ascertain the approximate weight of the load being weighed, but the true balance and
actual weight is ascertained by a minor weight (shown in dotted lines) which is
mounted on a pin and is moved about its axis in the head of the weight H which is
made hollow to receive it. This minor weight h is of a semi-cylindrical shapo and
consequently, when it lies on one side of its axis, its whole weight is exerted on that
side, and vice versa, but, when standing between the two possible extremes, varying
weights upon the steelyard will be exerted, as will be understood. For the purpose of
reading, the top of the cap covering the space in which the weight works, is
provided with a scale, such as that shown, and the weight is provided with an external
pointer which traverses the scale. Any suitable and convenient arrangement of
scales and divisions of weights may be used in connection with this combination
-weight.
In Figures 2 and 10 (but more clearly in Figure 10) the device for catching engaging,
holding and relieving the lever by which the machine may be put in or out of gear, is
shown. The lever is designated K and puts the machine in and out of gear in the
ordinary way. The catch arrangement consists of a catch L and a weighted pawl M,
both being mounted in a bracket N at 7 and m, respectively. When the machine is in
gear, the lever K, and catch and pawl L, and M, are in the position shown in full
lines in the Figure. To release it and put the weighing mechanism out of the
gear,
pawl M is thrown over into the position shown in dotted lines, thereby raising the
heel m¹ of the pawl out of contact with the toe 7 of the catch, and the lever K is
depressed so allowing the catch to fall down out of the path of the lever K, into the
position shown in dotted lines. The lever may then be raised; but in its upward
movement it strikes the body of the pawl M and throws it back into the position

page_text: shown in full lines in the figure, and of course moving with it the catch L, the
correct position of which being assured by its end coming against the inner surface of
the plate N' as shown.
To put the machine in gear or operation, the lever K is pulled down, and in this
action it presses back the catch L,which, when the lever is past it, resumes its
position by the action of the pawl M, and so the lever is automatically caught and
locked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would state that it is
not intended to confine this Patent to the exact construction of the various parts and
details as herein described, as thoy may be modified to suit different conditions or
requirements without departing from the invention, and I declare that what I claim
in respect of the herein described invention is :-
1. A compound lever weighing machine for weighing cattle, sheep, and the like,
having a pen constructed mainly of metal end bars or posts such as C, and wooden
side rails, such as D, said side rails being attached to the end bars or posts and said
bars or posts being secured to the platform of the machine; substantially as set
forth.
2. A pen of a compound lever weighing machine for weighing cattle, sheep, and
the like, arranged and constructed as set forth with reference to the drawings.
3. The arrangement and construction of platform frame B and flooring B¹,
substantially as set forth with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.
4. An indicating weight for a steelyard of a compound lever weighing machine,
having in or upon it a secondary or minor weight adapted to operate in the manner
substantially as herein described; and also the combined weights constructed as set
forth with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.
5. A "secret counterpoise" device for the steelyards of compound lever weighing
machines, consisting of a weight adapted to move in said steelyard, by means of a
screwed bar ór rod, or equivalent means operated by a key constructed as described;
substantially as set forth with reference to the drawings.
6. Means for holding or disengaging the lever by which a compound lever weighing
machine is put in and out of operation or gear, operating in the manner substantially
as herein described and also as set forth with reference to the drawings.
7. A catch for holding or disengaging the operating or gearing lover of a compound
lever weighing machine in which when it (the lever) is disengaged from its catch
said lover resets it ready for re-engagement.
Dated
Santamba
נה-נ-----ב- HVI-- --
HENRY POOLEY.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street Liverpool, Patent Agents.