Improvements in Spring Balances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Balances.
We, EDWARD FREDERIK BERGMAN of the Village of Frankfort, County of
Herkimer, and State of New York, & JOHN RUGGLES SLACK of the Village of Ilion,
County of Herkimer, and State of New York, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to Spring Scales, and has for its object the production of a
simple and effective spring scale which is easily and cheaply manufactured by reason
of the peculiar and simple construction and arrangement of its parts, and which is
pleasing in appearance, very effective, and practically indestructable in use, and very
compact and efficient. To this end our invention consists, essentially, in a spring of
peculiar form and construction, one point being rigidly retained and connected to a
suitable support adapted either for engagement with the hand, or any other desirable
means, another point being connected by pivoted connections to a hook or other
desirable means for engaging or supporting the article to be weighed. It also consists
in a rocking pointer or indicator actuated over a suitable dial, and connected by pivotal
connections or levers to the spring in such a manner, that, when the article to be
weighed is engaged with the mechanism provided for that purpose, and the spring
thereby operated, the indicator finger is moved over the scale correctly registering
the amount of weight, while the peculiar arrangement of the pivotal connections
obviates all cramping of the parts, which would prevent undue registration.
It furthermore consists in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all
as hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.
In specifying our invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming
a part of this specification, in which, like letters indicate corresponding parts in all
the views.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved construction of our new spring scale,
clearly showing the operation and arrangement of the parts.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1,
showing the scale supported by means of a suitable bracket attached to a support.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a form of our invention, slightly different from
that illustrated in Figure 1, in that, but one half of the spring shown in Figure 1 is
used.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the pivoted connections of the indicator
finger to the spring, illustrating the manner of adjusting said finger to precisely any
point desired.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modification of our improved spring scale, the
relative arrangement of the dial, spring and indicator finger being slightly varied from
those illustrated in Figures 1 and 3; and
Figure 6 is also a front elevation of a modification of our improved spring scale,
the relative arrangement of the dial, indicator finger, spring, and pivotal connections
therefrom to the indicator finger and the article to be weighed, being slightly varied
from the relative arrangement shown in the previous Figures.
A-represents the spring of our improved spring scale of any desirable spring
metal preferably formed of a U-shaped piece. It may be formed, as illustrated in
Figure 1, of a narrow or contracted U-shaped piece, or, as shown in Figures 3 and 5,
of a portion or half of such a shaped piece, or, as illustrated in Figure 6, of a piece
of spring metal or material supported at one point and connected at another point or
points by pivotal connections to a suitable means for engaging or supporting the
article to be weighed.

page_text: B-represents a suitable suspension support secured to the spring at any desirable
point thereon, and adapted to be engaged either with the hand or a bracket or any
other suitable means of support. represents the pivotal connection between the
hook or support-D-or other means of engaging the article to be weighed, and a
suitable point on the spring, preferably the extremities-A¹-thereof. These con-
nections or links-C,-as preferably constructed, are hinged to the extremities-A-
of the spring and hinged to the suspension support-D-but when only a portion
of the described or preferable spring is used, the connection or link-C,-as shown
in Figure 3, is hinged to a lever-E,- -one end of which-E-is pivoted to any suit-
able support-E2, and the other end-E³-is provided with means for engaging
the weight supporting device. As shown in Figure 5, the connection-C-may be
pivoted to a suitable point on the spring and pivoted directly to the indicator
finger-F, which is here formed with its extremity elongated and having the hook
or support-D-provided thereon. The preferable construction of the indicator
finger is that shown in Figure 1, in which said finger-F-is hinged at one
extremity Fat the point--to a connection-G-preferably binged or pivoted
to a support-H-secured upon the spring-A-at any desirable point thereon.
The indicator finger-F-is supported at a point between its two extremities in a
support-I-preferably secured to the spring-A-at any suitable point.
It will be seen that when weight is applied to the spring illustrated in Figure 1,
the free extremities-A-of the spring will be approximated together and the
indicator finger by reason of its connections to the opposite sides or legs of the
U-shaped spring, will be rocked on its pivot, and its free end will move along
the dial-K, which dial may be of any desirable forin and construction, and attached
in any suitable manner in proximity to the indicator finger-F.
By shortening the length of the connections-C,-it will be seen that the spring
may be changed to weigh articles of only small weight, or by increasing the length of
these connections--the spring may be adapted to weigh articles of considerable
gravity, because as the connections-Care lengthened, the spring is so constructed
that more of the weight is directly supported by the spring arms or legs themselves
in a direction parallel with their extension, and they do not tend to approximate
towards each other, thus rocking the indicator finger. When the length of the con-
nections--is shortened, a more direct strain is thereby caused upon the spring
arms or legs. Accordingly, we provide two or more sets of connections-C, and by
disconnecting one set or pair and substituting another set of a different length, we
adapt the scale to weigh either light objects with one pair of connections, or to weigh
heavy objects with another pair or set of connections, either by the use of a scale of
ordinary construction, or by one having a double line of weight indications marked
thereon.
It will be observed upon reference to Figure 1, that in order to prevent all cramping
of the spring and the interposed or attached indicator finger, it is preferred to pivot
one of its connections-G-to a support or lug-H-secured upon the spring, and it
is preferred to provide the other connection--with a take-up nut--and lock-
nut 12-swiveled or otherwise connected to a like support or lug secured upon the
opposite leg of the spring. This construction allows the indicator finger to be adjusted
upon its dial or scale and insures the perfect setting of the same and registration of
the weight, and is especially valuable when changing the capacity of the weighing
scale as previously described.
All the parts of this scale are very easily constructed and cheaply manufactured,
and with the exception of the pivots, bolts and nuts, all the parts may be, if desired,
stamped out of metal or drop-forged when larger sized scales are used, thus producing
a scale at a minimum cost of production.
The spring-A-is preferably formed tapering at its extremities and heavy at its
point of attachment to its support, and by reason of the pull or weight being exerted
indirectly upon said extremities, there is no liability of the spring to permanently.set
and become useless and destroyed.

page_text: The indirect pull upon the spring is occasioned by extending the extremities thereof
outwardly from the suspension support, and attaching the connection or link to the
said extremities at a point on either side of a perpendicular to the point of suspension
of the spring. This arrangement causes the spring to be tensioned or strained
towards said perpendicular and greatly reduces the strain upon the spring, caused by
the weighing of objects secured to the weight support. But if from some unforseen
cause or ill usage in the hands of a careless operator, the spring should be strained
so as to vary somewhat from the original arrangement of its parts, the finger, by
means of the adjusting screw-1,-may be readily brought to the desired point on the
dial upon which the operation will be the same as before and the registration
perfect.
At Figure 5 we have shown a construction of our spring, in which the arrangement
of the scale is somewhat changed, and in which the indicator finger is provided with its
extremity--hinged to the extremity-A-by the usual connection-C,--and
provided with the book or other device D-adapted to receive or to be connected to
the weight. It is often desirable, especially in this construction, to provide one or
more means -D-for engaging the weight arranged at suitable distances from the
fulcrum of the indicator finger, thus allowing the scale to be used with ounces, pounds
or other given amounts as the unit of weight. In this Figure we have also shown a
stop L to prevent the spring being strained beyond a certain point.
At Figure 6 we have shown another form of the relative construction and arrange-
ment of the parts of our spring scale, the shape of the spring being somewhat different
from that illustrated in Figure 1, the pull being more direct upon the extremities of the
spring, and the connection-G-between the indicator finger and the spring being
pivoted to one extremity-A¹- of the spring-A,-and pivoted at--to the
extremity F-of the indicator finger-F.
It will be understood that the suspension support-B-and spring-A-may be
stamped, dropforged, or otherwise formed of one piece of material. There are other
forms of construction and other relative arrangements of the parts of our spring scale,
but it is unnecessary to illustrate the same, since it is apparent that considerable change
may be made in the relative construction and arrangement of the parts, without
departing from the spirit of our invention.
The operation of our spring scale will be readily understood from the foregoing,
and it will be particularly noticed that by reason of the peculiar construction and
arrangement of the various parts, the operation of our scale is always the same,
and said perfect operation is still further insured by the adjustment of the
finger.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1-The combination with the suspension support, the spring projecting outwardly
from said support, the weight support, and a connection or link connecting the weight
support to a point of the spring on one side of a perpendicular to the point of
suspension of the spring, a stationary scale, an oscillating indicator finger rocked over said
scale, and a connection pivoted to the indicator finger and to the spring, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
2-The combination with a weight support, a spring having opposite legs suitably
connected to the weight support; of separate supports secured to the opposite legs of
said spring, and an indicator finger pivoted to one support and connected to the other
support by a link pivoted to said support, and pivoted to the indicator finger at a
leverage with its point of support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3-The combination of a suspension support, a spring, a weight support connected
to the spring, a scale or dial, an oscillating indicator finger, and an adjustable
connection to said indicator finger for rocking the same and indicating the weight
applied to the weight support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 4 The combination of a U-shaped spring a weight support, connections or links
connecting the weight support to the opposite legs or extremities of the spring; with
a scale, an indicator finger rocked over said scale, and lugs or supports secured to
opposite legs of said spring, and pivoted to separate points on the indicator finger, one
of which lugs or supports is adjustable, for adjusting the indicator finger, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
5-In a spring scale, the combination of a weight support, a spring having opposite
legs suitably connected to the weight support; of an indicator finger, an adjustable
support secured to one leg of said spring and to the indicator finger, and a link
pivotally supported upon the opposite leg of the spring, and pivoted to the indicator
finger, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 13th day of Juno 1080
EDWARD FREDERIK BERGMAN.
JOHN RUGGLES SLACK.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.