CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS POR WEIGHING VARIOUS KINDS OF ARTICLES OR GOODS
Year: 1842

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HERBERT
GEORGE JAMES, of Great Tower Street, in the City of London, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of September, in the sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Herbert George James, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Herbert George
James, my exors and assigns, and such others as I, the said Herbert George
James, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within that part of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plan-
tations abroad, an Invention communicated to me by a Foreigner residing
abroad, of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS POR WEIGHING
VARIOUS KINDS OF ARTICLES OR GOODS;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso that I, the said Herbert George James, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, under my hand and seal, to be inrolled
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months

page_text: D, by the means shewn in the Drawings, and presently to be described. It is of
an L shape (with the exception that the horizontal arms are longer than the
vertical), and is formed by connecting timbers together in the manner shewn
in the separate skeleton views Figures 6, 7, and 8 (Sheet B), and then
planking the whole over, and securing the planks by transverse strips of iron,
as shewn in Figures 2 and 12, where f, f, represent the planks, and 9, 9, 9,
the strips of iron. During the oscillation of the scale board the horizontal
arms of the framework move freely up and down within the open area of
the foundation frame A, A, which when the machine is struck, as afterwards
explained, supports the platform of the scale board, the planks of which do
not enter the foundation framework A, A, but rest upon its edges. To
the back of the vertical arm of this scale board there are fixed two iron
holdfasts G, G (one of which only is seen in the side elevation Figure 1),
one at each side, for the purpose of receiving the lower ends of two con-
necting rods H, H, by which the scale board is suspended from the short
arms of the lever.
A separate view of one of these holdfasts is given in
Figure 9, Sheet A.
I, I, are short flat iron bars, with slots in the middle,
which hang from the short ends of the beam, having at the top of the slots
grooved steel pieces inserted (similar to c, c,) by means of which they ride
on triangular steel bits or pivots h, h, fixed on the upper surface of the short
end of the beam, and pointing upwards (see Figure 3), the suspending rods
being hooked at their lower ends into the holdfasts G, G, and at the upper
ends into the bars I, I. The connection between the scale board and beam
is completed; but as it is obvious that if the long arm of the beam were
depressed by any sufficient weight, the scale board F could not, if connected
only as before described, maintain its horizontal position, but must be tilted
upwards. In order to prevent this, and keep the scale board perfectly level,
it is further connected to the uprights B, B, by four parallel motion pieces,
two at top, G, G¹, represented separately in Figure 10 (Sheet A), and two
at bottom J2, J2, which are joined together by a cross piece, as represented
separately in Figure 11 (Sheet B), which parallel motion pieces are linked
to eight holdfasts K', K, K¹, K, and K, K³, K³, K2, four fixed on the
uprights B, B, and four fixed to the vertical arm of the scale board. Each
parallel motion piece rides on knife edges in the holdfasts, as shewn at i,
Figure 9; but in the case of the upper parallel motion pieces, the knife edges
point outwards and the parallel motion pieces pull against them; while in the
case of the lower, the knife edges point inwards, and the parallel motion
pieces are thrust against them, as particularly shewn in the plan, Figure 12
(Sheet B). L is the smaller scale board for holding the weights. It is

page_text: suspended from the long end of the beam by four chains, which are connected
at top to one common hook, which takes into a flat iron bar M, with a slot in
the middle precisely similar to the bars I, I, employed in the case of the
goods scale board, and riding like them on an upright triangular steel bit or
pivot (, Figure 3). The long arm of the beam is prevented having more
play than would be proper or convenient by the stop N, which consists of a
flat piece of iron with a slot in the middle, through which slot the long arm of
the beam is passed, so that the range of action of the long arm is limited to
the vertical length of that slot. To keep the stop piece in its place, it is
connected by a horizontal stay m to the cross piece C, which unites the two
uprights B, B, and by an angular prop n to the foundation frame A, A.
O, Figure 1, is a short upright attached to the long arm of the beam in front
of the stop N, with a small pointer or indicator o¹ at top; and when this
pointer is exactly opposite a similar pointer o³, which projects from the top of
the stop N, the weights are in perfect equipoise. P is what is called a strike,
consisting of a small roller p with a handle q, which roller is connected to a
cross pins passed through the cheeks of a stud t, secured to the top of the
horizontal stay m; the manner of connecting the parts being such, that
though the roller itself turns freely on its axis, the entire instrument when
moved by the handle q shall turn only on the cross pin s. When it is desired
to strike the weights, the handle of the strike is moved round till the roller
pressing against the beam raises it to the top of the stop and there fixes it.
The slot in the stop N should be of such length as to allow the pointer o¹ to
rise a little above as well as fall below the pointer o%. When the two pointers
o¹ and o² are exactly opposite each other, then will all the parts of the machine
be in perfect parallelism, namely, the beam, the scale boards, and the parallel
motion pieces. Instead of the holdfasts being of the form before described,
they may be of the form represented in the sectional elevation, Figure 13.
In every case the parallel motion pieces must be of exactly equal lengths
between their points of action. Figure 14 (Sheet A) is an elevation of a
machine similar to that before described, except in three particulars. First,
the uprights B, B (of one of which an end view is given in Figure 15), and
the framework C of the goods scale board, are made of iron instead of wood;
.second, the parallel motion pieces G, G³, and J, J, differ so far from those
of the machine first before described, that they oscillate on steel bits let into
notches in the uprights B, B, and in the vertical arms of the framework of the
scale board, as shewn in Figure 14, and also in the separate views of those
parallel motion pieces shewn in Figures 16 and 17, Sheet A; and third, the
two ends of the cross bar of the beam are knife edged, as shewn at Figure 18;

page_text: and rest in steel sockets let into the openings in the tops of the uprights.
Figure 14 (Sheet C) is a side elevation, and Figure 15 a plan, of a machine
of the same class as the preceeding, and constructed on the same principle,
but differing considerably in the details. The uprights or standards B, B, are
of iron instead of wood. The scale boards F and L are both of the same
weight, so as to balance each other exactly, and made on the same plan as the
goods scale board in the machine first before described, with the exception
that their frames are of iron covered over with wooden planks secured by.
transverse slips of iron. The scale boards are kept level by means of parallel
motion pieces similar to those before described, which move upon triangular
bits of steel fixed in iron bars, which serve as substitutes for the holdfasts.
employed in the machine first before described. The middle bars u, a, have.
four knife edges each, and the four others t, v, tv, y, have two each. A separate
view of one of the midddle bars is given in Figure 17. The bars u, x, serve
also to connect the two uprights transversely, as do likewise the bars t, v, w, y,
to connect the vertical arms of the scale boards, where they are marked t, u, v,
and w, x, y.
Instead of one beam there are two beams with equal arms,
one at each side of the machine, connected by a cross bar Q, as shewn
separately in Figure 18. The cross bar Q has its bearings in the uprights.
B, B, and is furnished on its under surface with two knife edges z, z,
(one of which only is shewn in Figure 14), one at each end, which play
in steel grooves let into openings in the top of the uprights. The scale boards
are suspended from the beams in precisely the same way as the goods scale
beam of the machine first before described. U is a strike consisting of a roller
which turns in bearings in the foundation frame under one of the scale boards,
and by moving which that scale board can be raised and fixed. The side
elevation (Sheet D) represents a machine of the same plan as that last before
described, with the exception that instead of the parallel motion pieces
working upon iron bars, those at top work in notches in the uprights in the
vertical arms of the scale boards, and those below in openings made in the
same parts, steel bits being let into these notches and openings in the same
way as before explained. In the elevation, Figure 19, Sheet C, is represented
a machine on the same plan as the two machines last before described, with
the exception following:-In place of parallel motion pieces such as before
described, four truly turned iron rollers (of the form shewn separately at V)
are made use of to serve the same purpose. The ends of the rollers at top
and bottom are inserted between the uprights and vertical arms of the scale
boards, the vertical arms being turned over at top in the manner shewn
in the Drawing, to catch hold of the top rollers, and the thrust and pull of the

page_text: two sets of rollers are in opposite directions. The rollers ride up and down as
the scale boards rise and fall, and ledges, to prevent the top ones falling out by
accident, are placed at a and z.
Figure 1 (Sheet E) is a side elevation; Figure 2, a back view; and
Figure 3, a plan of a machine for weighing carriages and other bulky articles.
A is a foundation frame of wood, the floor of which is laid at the bottom of a
pit of suitable dimensions on an under foundation of brick, stone, or concrete.
Two strong uprights of iron, B, B, of the form shewn in Figure 1, and firmly
secured to the floor of the foundation frame A, one at each side. The scale
platform or bridge C is formed of wooden planks laid crosswise and bound
together by two planks of wood a, a, and two plates of iron b, b, laid longi-
tudinally upon and secured to them. The iron plates b, b, are placed at such.
a distance from each other as to correspond with the usual distance between
the wheels of carriages. To the scale platform there are fixed beneath three
or more triangular-iron supports D, D, D, which are connected and strengthened
by cross bars E, E, E, but are kept clear at the heel (c) of the floor of the
foundation frame. The scale platform, with its supports, is kept horizontal
by four parallel pieces (F, F,) two at each side, similar to those before
described, which work in steel notches in the iron uprights B, B, and the
outside iron supports D, D. G is a compound lever of the second order,.
each fork of which passes through the upper link of a double link H, and
rests in the cleft of an iron stud I, secured to the top of a wooden support K,.
the fork being knife edged at the point of bearing, and playing in a steel
socket let into the bottom of the cleft of the stud.. The double link H is
represented in the detached view Figure 4. The upper links, through which
the forks of the lever pass, are of an oblong form, and the lower of a rounded
oblong form. The upper ones have steel grooves at the top (d, d,) and the
lower ones are steeled all round their inner to resist the action of the cross
bar which passes through them, and which cross bar is knife edged at the
points of contact with the lower links. The long end G² of the lever being.
connected to the beam of the machine, in the manner shewn in the Drawings,
and to be next herein-after explained, it follows that as the double link H and
lever G are depressed by any weight placed upon the scale platform, they
will communicate a corresponding movement to the beam. L is one of the
pillars of the foundation frame A, which is prolonged upwards, in order to
serve as a support for the beam M, which turns on an axis having its bearings
in two iron cheeks (e) screwed to the top of the pillar. The suspension rod,

page_text: by which the short end of the beam is connected with the side platform,
consists of two parts, N₁ and N2. The part N¹ is at the top of the same
construction as the bar I in the machine first before described, but assumes
below the frame shape, separately represented in Figure 5. The top of the
lower part of the rod N2 is of a square form, and moves freely through the
cross piece or guide f of N¹. The middle part is wound round and screw
threaded, and works into a female screw in the centre of a bevelled spur wheel
(g), but passes freely through a plain hole in the socket, which receives the
hub of the wheel, but without touching the sides, and the lower part is round
till it terminates in the opening i, for the reception of the long end G* of the
lever G. A second bevilled wheel k, the axis of which has its bearings in
the frame part of N¹, takes into the spur wheel g, and to the axis of this
second wheel there is attached a handle 1, by which the wheels are put in
motion; according as this handle is moved, either to the right or left, the
part N of the rod is through the action on the screw portion of it, of the.
wheel g, either raised or lowered, and so also is the scale platform C, with
its supports, either raised or lowered. The object of this arrangement is to
enable the machine to be more readily adjusted to its proper bearings before.
weighing with it, for though there is a strike (O) attached to the long arm-
of the beam, similar to that made use of in the machine first before described,
the weight of the parts makes this auxiliary arrangement of considerable
convenience. The machine is in a state of perfect equipoise when the two
indicators m and n are exactly opposite each other. The small weights scale
is suspended from the end of the long arm of the lever in the same way as
the similar scale of the machine first before described..

page_text: play upon steel grooves let into the openings a, a,. in the upright supports
D, D, as shewn in Figure 1, and on a larger scale in Figure 5.
The long
arm of the lever is weighted at its extremity with a leaden ball. Each short
arm of the lever (see Figure 3) is furnished with a strong roller or pin G.
From these pins, which are made with flanges upon them, are suspended the
rods H, H, one of which is seen in Figure 1. These two rods may remain
separate as in Figure 1, or be united as shewn in Figure 2; they are hooked
by their lower extremities to two holdfasts in the vertical arms of the scale'
board C, and have large openings at top of a triangular form, with the base
uppermost, and that base a little curved (as shewn in the detached view,
Figure 6), so that the pin G may have room to move to and fro to the extent
required. The proper curve to be given to the top of the openings last men-
tioned is a segment, which has for its radius a line drawn from the centre of
the orifice at the bearing points of the suspension rods where they are attached
to the vertical arms of the scale boards. From the description which has been
so far given of this machine, it will be readily understood, that as the scale
board is raised or depressed by the placing of weights upon it or removing
them from it, the weighted lever E will also be proportionally raised or
lowered, for as the scale board is depressed it brings down the suspension rods
H, H, which in their turn bring down the short arms of the lever, which throw
up the weighted long arm of the lever, and vice versâ: When the scale board
is not loaded, the round axis F and the pins G, the segments I, I, and the
triangular opening in the suspension rods H, H, take the relative positions
shewn in Figure 4. Supposing weights to be laid on sufficient to move the
lever E through half its course, the parts then assume the position shewn in
Figure 5, with the round axis F and the pins G exactly in the centre of the
surfaces on which they respectively revolve. Supposing the scale board to be
fully charged, the parts will then assume the positions indicated by the dotted
lines in Figure 4. To maintain the weighted lever in its proper position, a
small pin is fixed into each extremity of the axis F; these pins pass through
slots in the frame D, D, as particularly shewn in Figure 5, the centres of
which slots should be in a line with the knife edges on which the segments I, I,
turn, as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 5. It now remains to shew
how these indications are to be transferred to a numerical indicator or register.
K is a properly graduated dial plate, which turns upon the pin r passed through
its centre, and afterwards fixed in the separate support or standard s, Fig. 1.
This pin has a hole drilled through its centre, in which one end of the axis t
of the needle plays, the other end playing in a similar hole drilled through the

page_text: support. M and M² are two drums fixed on the axis of the needle or hand.
N is a pulley which is fixed to, but does not turn on the centre of the axis F, of
the lever (Figure 3).
The drums M and M2 are of the same diameter, but
the pulley is five times the diameter of the drums. Having fastened one end of
a cord or chain to the drum Mit is to be wound several times round that
drum, and then wound twice or thrice round the pulley N, after which it is to
be carried several times round the drum M³, but in a direction the opposite to
that in which it was wound round the drum M', and this being done the free
end is to be fixed to the drum M. As the cord or chain thus fixed cannot
slip, it follows that each movement of the axis of the lever will produce,
through the medium of the cord or chain, a corresponding movement of the
axis of the needle or hand, but in a proportion differing according to the
difference between the diameters of the pulley N and drums M' and M², that
is as five to one, or, in other words, for every fifth of a revolution made by the
pulley N, the drums M¹ and M³, and consequently the needle or hand, will
perform one entire revolution. The dial plate can, by loosening the binding
screw L, be turned independently of the pointer or index hand, and this
furnishes a convenient means at all times of adjusting it exactly previous to
using the machine. The binding screw L is passed through a segmental slot
in the dial plate made of length sufficient to allow of the plate being turned
to any extent likely to be required in practice, and then takes into a female
screw in the support s. For this purpose it is only necessary to allow the
index hand to come to a state of rest, and then loosening the dial plate to turn
it round till the zero point is directly opposite the index hand, and fixing it in
that position by means of the binding screw L.

page_text: friction wheels, on which the whole machine turns round the iron pillar A.
G is the beam, which oscillates in steel bearings in openings in the uprights
D, D. H, H, are suspension rods, which hang from the short ends of the
beam, and hook on to holdfasts in the back of the crane (one only of each
set of parts D, D, and H, H, are seen in Figure 1). The weights scale is
suspended from the long arm of the beam; and by placing weights therein to
counterpoise the goods hoisted by the crane, the weight of the latter can
always be exactly ascertained. The heels of the two arms of the crane are
provided with steel sockets, which fit upon steel bits fixed to the foundation
plate of the uprights D, D, which serve to steady the machine while in the
act of hoisting the goods.
And having now described the four classes of weighing machines to which
the said improvements are more particularly applicable, I declare that what
I claim in the said machine as improvements which distinguish them from
all others, are,―
First, the combination of means before described, by which, in every case
(with the exception of Class Fourth) the scale boards or platforms, instead of
resting on or being placed above the beam, as is usual in weighing machines
(meaning by that term what are known in business as machines, in contra-
distinction to common scales) are suspended from or placed under the beam
or other equivalent agent.
Second, the combination of means before described, by which the parallelism
of all the parts of each machine is preserved.
Third, the combination of means by which in the Third Class of machines
before described the use of shifting weights is dispensed with. And,
Fourth, the compound machine, constructed and operating in the manner
last before described, by which the goods to be weighed are also hoisted at
the same time.
And I declare, that though I have described four Classes of machines, to
which the said specified improvements are more particularly applicable, I
do not limit myself to their application thereto. But I claim an exclusive
right to apply them to all other weighing purposes, to which they can be
usefully applied.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Bicht den of March One thousand ich indus
HERBERT GEORGE (L.s.) JAMES.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighth day of March, in
the year of our Lord 1843, the aforesaid Herbert George James came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Eurolled the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord. One thousand
eight hundred and forty-three.