Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 19th Apr., 1887.
I HENRY POOLEY of The Albion Foundry, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in weighing machines more particularly to
the type of weighing machines used for weighing passengers luggage and parcels and
where the floor, or other space for the positioning of such machine is limited, or where
it is desirable that the machine should offer no obstacle when not in use, on the floor,
or other place where it may be positioned.
The weighing machine according to my Invention is applicable to various weighing
purposes other than those above stated, for example for use in shops, warehouses and
under other conditions where the space is limited, or where it may be desirable that at
times the machine shall offer no obstacle to other uses of the space on which it is
installed.
To the above end my Invention consists in so constructing the weight indicating
mechanism and its carrying pillar, or frame that when not in use it can be caused to
disappear below the surface of the floor, or other place on which it may be installed, a
part of the frame, or pillar then forming part of such floor and no obstacle being
offered to the free use of such floor for other purposes than weighing,
That my Invention and a weighing machine constructed in accordance therewith
may be understood, I will describe a weighing machine according to my Invention for
weighing passengers luggage in Railway Stations where the floor space is limited and
where at times it is desirable that the machine should offer no obstacle to the use of
such floor for other purposes and the indicating parts of the machine can be stowed
away and locked up.
A machine under my Invention is constructed essentially as follows. Of a pillar
(which carries the weight indicating parts) hinged, or pivotted at its base to a carrying,
or supporting plate, or frame, or box, the face of which is on the same plane as,
or forms part of the floor, or gangway. The carrying plate is provided with an
opening, or aperture corresponding in length to the length of the pillar and of width
corresponding to the width of the back of the pillar, so that the pillar may be turned

page_text: down and the indicating parts which it carries made to disappear below the surface of
the platform, the back of the pillar then filling in the aperture in the carrying plate
and forming part of the tread of the floor. The weighing table of the machine is of
ordinary construction supported on levers, its face being on a level with the platform
and its weighing levers being connected to the weight indicating parts of the pillar.
These indicating parts consist of a steelyard (the short arm of which is connected by a
rod to the weighing levers) carried on suitable knife edges from a bracket from the
pillar and provided with a moveable counterpoise for the minor divisions of weight
and a counter balancing weight carrier, for the major divisions of weight. The weight
carrier is arranged to swing up under the steelyard when not in use and be secured
to a bracket from the pillar. The pillar is provided with a hinged arm carrying the
proportional weights to be used with the machine. When turned down this arm
forms a projecting bracket from the pillar from which the weights can be readily
taken and placed as required on the counter balance, or weight carrier.. When turned
up the projecting arm is secured to the pillar by a link and the weights are locked
against the pillar. The base of the piller is provided with a locking pawl, or like
device and preferably with a counterpoise to enable the pillar to be more readily
raised. To fill up the aperture exposed by the raising of the pillar I preferably provide
a plate hinged under the carrying plate and so connected by levers and rods to the
pillar that as the pillar is raised the hinged plate is caused to close the aperture.
Dated this 17th day of June 1886.

page_text: floor, or gangway and its weighing levers being connected by the hook e and chain
and rod to the weight indicating parts of the pillar. These indicating parts consist
of a steelyard g (the short arm of which is connected by the rod f to the weighing
levers) carried on suitable knife edges from a bracket i from the pillar a and
provided with a moveable counterpoise j for the minor divisions of weight, and a
weight carrier k for the major divisions of weight. The weight carrier kis
arranged to swing up under the steelyard gas shown when not in use and can be
secured by a pin to a bracket from the pillar a. The pillar a is provided with a
hinged arm m carrying the proportional weights n to be used with the machine.
When turned down (as shown in Figure 1) this arm m projects from the pillar so that
the weights can be readily taken and placed as required on the weight carrier k.
When turned up the projecting arm is secured to the pillar by a link p and the
weights n are locked against the pillar a. The base of the pillar a is provided with a
locking pawls, or like device and preferably with a counterweight t to enable the
pillar a to be more readily raised.
To fill up the aperture exposed by the raising of the pillar a there may be provided
a plate hinged under the carrying plate and arranged so that as the pillar is raised
the hinged plate can be used to close the aperture c.
By constructing a weighing machine as above described I provide a machine in
which when not in use the pillar and weight indicating mechanism can be lowered,
thus offering no obstacle on the floor, or surface in which it is set, and providing a
safe lock up arrangement for the stowing of the weight indicating parts. Such
a machine is particularly useful when space is limited.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the particular construction
and arrangement of apparatus herein shown, as the construction and arrangement of
parts of such machines may vary without departing from my Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is :-
:-
First. A weighing machine in which the platform is flush with the surrounding
surface, having its pillar and weight indicating mechanism arranged and constructed
so that they can be raised, for use, or lowered out of the way, when not in use,-
as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. In a weighing machine of the type claimed in the above claiming clause
securing the weight carrier (/) when the pillar is lowered out of the way substantially
as set forth whereby the carrier is stowed and rendered safe from injury.
Third. In a weighing machine of the type claimed in the above first claiming clause
securing the proportional weights (when the pillar is to be lowered out of the way)
substantially as set forth whereby the weights are stowed and prevented from falling
off their bearer m.
Fourth. The combination with a raising and lowering pillar of a weighing machine
of the type herein described of a counter weight (such as t) for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. In a weighing machine of the type herein described a pillar arranged to
lower into the frame of such machine and presenting an even, or flush surface with
such frame substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The pillar a and weight indicating mechanism arranged, constructed and
operating in combination with the frame & substantially as set forth with reference to
the Drawings.