Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
I, WILLIAM EDWARD HIPKINS, Managing Director, W. & T. Avery Limited,
Manufacturers of Weighing Apparatus, Soho Foundry, Birmingham, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements refer particularly to such scales or balances, as are used by
inspectors of weights & measures, for outdoor use, or for any other purpose where
a quick and easy method of disconnecting, and a ready means of reducing the
bulk for the purpose of transport is a desideratum.
In the case of the beam and weighing pans or scales, their removal is easily
accomplished, but my invention applies to the standard from which this class
of beam is usually supported or suspended.
I make this standard preferably of the usual cylindrical shape, terminating
at the base with three or more spreading feet radiating from the pillar, and
which give a stability to the standard when in use for weighing, and upon one
of these spreading feet, I hinge the lever by which the steadying of the scale
pans is accomplished. Near the base of the pillar, each of these spreading feet
are hinged, so that when the scales are not in use, these can be folded up against
the pillar, thus economizing space, and also protecting the spreading feet from
injury during transit, the lever for steadying the scale pans, will also fold up
against the foot to which it is attached.
When the standard is in use, and the spreading feet are turned downwards,
it is imperative that these should be rigidly secured, and to effectually accomplish
this, I bore a small cylindrical hole in each of the spreading feet and near to the
joint upon the base of the standard, and I also affix upon the pillar, and to corre-
spond axially with the small cylindrical hole in each of the feet, a fixed pro-
jecting stud, passing through the centre of this stud, is a small cylindrical bolt,
to which is attached a small peg, which passes through and works along a longi-
tudinal slot in the stud, and projects slightly beyond the periphery of the stud.
Attached to the outside surface of the stud and revolving upon its periphery,
is a small lever through the boss of which is formed a portion of a helical
screw thread, this screw thread embraces the peg upon the cylindrical bolt, and
the action of turning the lever propels the holt forward, and entering the cylin
drical hole in the spreading foot, effectually and rigidly locks and secures it in
position, the reversing movement of this lever, unlocks the bolt, and allows the
spreading feet to be folded back when required.
Another object of my invention is to simplify and improve the bearings
through which the vertical slide works, for the purpose of steadying the scale
pans to do this I form in the vertical slide two oblong slots, one near the top
and one near the bottom, and attached to the standard are two snugs or project-
ing pieces, which pass through the oblong slots in the slide. I then form a
small cross bar with projecting lips top and bottom, these lips pass through the
oblong slot, and clip the projecting piece upon the standard, and is secured by

page_text: a screw, the vertical slide being embraced in the grooves left by the junction of
the projecting pieces and cross bar, forms a neat and easily adjustable bearing
through which the vertical slide will work.
At the extreme lower portion of the vertical slide I also form a slot through
which the fixed joint of the spreading foot passes, a bar is formed across this slot,
and through this is fitted an adjusting screw, the point of which when the slide
is in its lowest position rests upon the spreading foot and forms a ready means
of finely adjusting the height of the scale pans for the purpose of steadying
the pans previous to weighing.
The other portions of the scales or balance are of the form and construction
usually employed, and call for no special description, the improvements being
only those which I have mentioned in this specification.
Dated this 21st dor of Tuli 1900
I, WILLIAM EDWARD HIPKINS, Managing Director, of W. & T. Avery. Limited,
Manufacturers of Weighing Apparatus, Soho Foundry, Birmingham, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention consists of improvements in scales or balances and particularly
to such as are used by inspectors of weights and measures, and for other services
where a quick and easy method of disconnecting and a ready means of reducing
the bulk for the purpose of transport is a desideratum.
The beam and the weighing pans of such scales or balances of any ordinary
construction can be easily removed or detached, but the objects of my invention
are to so construct and arrange the supporting standard and its attachments as
to obtain the advantages herein before referred to, and also to simplify and improve
the bearings of the vertical slide connecting the beam with the operating lever
pivotted at the lower part of the weighing apparatus.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred
to.-
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 a plan of a scale or balance made in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 3 is a side elevation and Figure 4 a sectional end elevation, represent-
ing, to a larger scale, the method of locking the feet or supports to the lower
part of the central standard. Figure 4* is a sectional elevation showing one of
the locking pins in its inner position but with the operating finger piece detached.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, Figure 5 a sectional plan, and Figure 6 a sec-
tional end elevation illustrating the construction and arrangement of the vertical
slide and other parts.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
The central standard A is preferably of the usual circular type, and to its
lower end I pivot feet or supports as A1 A2 A3; the operating lever B is pivotted
upon one of the said feet as A¹. When the apparatus is in use the feet are spread
out as illustrated, and each is secured at such outspread position by means of its
own special locking device, comprised by a bolt or pin as C having a projecting
lug c which enters a helical slot in the boss of an operating finger piece as D.
On turning the finger piece in one direction the bolt or pin C is caused to enter

page_text: the circular aperture formed for its reception in the hinged or pivotted foot or
support which is thus locked to the central standard. But on turning the finger
piece D in the opposite direction the bolt or pin C is withdrawn from engage-
ment with the foot and the latter can then be moved on its pivot E, as indicated
by the dotted lines at Figure 3. By withdrawing the respective locking bolts
when the scales are not in use the whole of the feet or supports can be folded up
against the pillar A, thus economising space and protecting the feet from injury
during transit; the lever B will also fold up against the foot to which it is
attached.
Each sliding bolt or pin C is carried within a hollow and slotted projection as a
from the lever and jaw like ends of the standard A; the operating finger pieces
as D fit freely upon the outside of the projections whilst the interior of each is
threaded to receive a closing and retaining cap as F. The closing and retaining
cap is not shown at Figure 3, whilst at Figure 4* neither finger piece or cap is
shown.
In the vertical slide G, from the upper end of which the ordinary beam (not
shown in the drawings) is suspended, I form rectangular slots, one as g near to
the bottom and the other near the top of the slide, to admit snugs or projections
as H forming guide bearings for the said slide. The front portion of each of the
guide bearings is formed by a separate cross bar or plate such plate being
clamped to the guide H and the latter to the central standard A by a screw as J.
Beneath the lower of the two slots herein before described I form another
slot as G¹ in the slide G to permit of its working over one of the jaw like pro-
jections from the lower end of the standard A as illustrated. A bar or cross-
piece is provided across this slot to form a nut for the adjustable screw K, the
point of which, when the slide is in its lowest position, rests upon the adjacent
joint projection from A as shown at Figures 1 and 6, and forms a ready means
of finely adjusting the height of the scale pans for the purpose of steadying the
same previous to weighing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
1. Scales or balances having parts constructed and arranged for quick and easy
connection for service and disconnection for reduction of bulk and convenient
transit, substantially as described.
2. In scales or balances, the means for readily locking the hinged feet or sup-
ports as A¹ A2 and A3 in position, substantially as described and as illustrated.
3. In scales or balances having a vertical slide as G, the combination with the
said slide of guide bearings substantially as described and as illustrated.
4. A scale or balance for the use of inspectors of weights and measures and
for other services, comprised by the general combination of parts constructed and
arranged substantially as described and as illustrated.
Dated this 14th day of Anril 1800
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.