Year: 1886

page_text: I, CHARLES FREDERICK CLARK, of the firm of T. and C. Clark and Company, of
Shakespeare Foundry, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Ironfounders,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
The object of this invention is to adjust weights for weighing in such a manner
as to leave the weights neater in appearance than in the ordinary method of
adjusting, and specially to lessen the opportunities of tampering with the weights.
According to this invention the weight is originally made light with a cavity
therein for the reception of iron filings or other cheap heavy material in a finely
divided condition, and after sufficient of such material has been poured into the.
cavity the mouth of such cavity is closed in with a suitable plug, and it is
unnecessary to form the usual drill hole which is not only a disfigurement to the
weight but affords opportunity for tampering. The cavity is formed (in the process
of casting in the case of a cast metal weight, and in the process of moulding up in
the case of a porcelain weight) with a ledge running around the interior thereof
near the top or outer end of the cavity.. The circumference of the cavity between
such ledge and the outer face of the casting (or body) is formed undercut or
hollowed in transverse section, and the diameter of the cavity at the face of the
casting is greater than the diameter of the inner periphery of the ledge. The
adjustment is effected by pouring into the cavity the iron filinga or other finely-
divided material, as aforesaid, and then closing in the lower part of the cavity by
means of a sheet metal disc placed upon the ledge aforesaid, and afterwards sealing
the mouth of the cavity by means of a saucer-shaped plug of lead or copper of a
diameter to pass easily through the mouth of the cavity so as to rest upon the disc,
such plug being placed with its concave face towards the disc and then hammered
or pressed down flat upon the disc so as to expand the periphery of the plug into
the undercut or hollowed circumference immediately below the mouth of the cavity,
and thus securely fix it in place.
To admit of the above adjustment the casting or body of the weight is of course
formed light as to weight. It is placed into the scale or pan of the balance together
with the disc and plug, and the filings are poured into the cavity until the balance
is in equilibrium.

page_text: This method of adjustment is very neat, and is a great safeguard against fraud,
as any attempt to add weight would involve the removal of the plug and with
it the inspector's stamp, and any attempt to drill away part of the casting in the
case of a metal weight would be easily detected as the usual drilled recess is
dispensed with.
Instead of inserting a lead plug as described the mouth of the cavity above the
disc may be run in with molten lead.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
:
Improvements in and relating to Adjusting Weights for
Weighing.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK CLARK, of the firm of T. and C. Clark and Company, of 1
Shakespeare Foundry, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Ironfounders,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of
reference marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this invention is to adjust weights for weighing in such a manner
as to leave the weights neater in appearance than in the ordinary method of
adjusting, and specially to lessen the opportunities of tampering with the weights.
According to this invention, the weight is originally made light, with a cavity
therein for the reception of iron filings or other cheap heavy material in a finely
divided condition, and after sufficient of such material has been poured into the
cavity the mouth of such cavity is closed in with a suitable plug, and it is
unnecessary to form the usual drilled holes which are not only a disfigurement to
the weight but afford opportunity for tampering. The cavity is formed (in the
process of casting in the case of a cast metal weight, and in the process of
moulding up in the case of a porcelain weight) with a ledge running around
the interior thereof near the top or outer end of the cavity. The circumference of
the cavity between such ledge and the outer face of the casting (or body) is formed
undercut or hollowed in transverse section, and the diameter of the cavity at the
face of the casting is somewhat greater than the diameter of the inner periphery
of the ledge. The adjustment is effected by pouring into the cavity the iron
filings or other finely divided material, as aforesaid, and then closing in the lower
part of the cavity by means of a sheet metal disc placed upon the ledge, aforesaid,

page_text: and afterwards sealing the mouth of the cavity by means of a saucer-shaped plug,
of lead or copper, or other soft metal or metallic alloy, of a diameter to pass easily
through the mouth of the cavity so as to rest upon the disc, such plug being
placed with its concave face towards the disc and then hammered or pressed down
upon the disc so as to expand the periphery of the plug into the undercut or
hollowed circumference immediately below the mouth of the cavity, and thus
securely fix it in place.
To admit of the above adjustment, the casting or body of the weight is, of
course, formed light as to weight, as before stated. It is placed into the scale or
pan of the balance, together with the disc and plug, and the filings (or other finely
divided material) are poured into the cavity until the balance is in equilibrium.
The invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which each of the figures represents, in transverse section, a cast-iron
weight of the ordinary type constructed to "nest" with other weights. Figure 1
represents such weight previously to adjustment, figure 2 after adjustment has
taken place, but before the plug is fixed in the outer end of the cavity, and figure 3
after the plug is so fixed. A'A is the body of the weight, ab is a cavity (prefer-
ably circular on plan) formed within the casting A A, the part b being open to the
top of the casting. The diameter at the bottom of the part b, that is at its junction
with the part a, is less than the diameter of its top or the open end of the cavity,
and the wall or circumference of the part b is formed undercut or hollowed so as
to leave a ledge cc. After the iron filings or other finely divided material, as
aforesaid, have been poured into the part a of the cavity, a sheet metal disc d, of a
diameter to just pass through the open top of the cavity, is placed within. the
part b so as to rest upon the ledge c c. A leaden plug e, of the domed or saucer
shape shewn in section by figure 2, and of a diameter to just pass through the
open end of the cavity, is next placed in position upon the disc d, and is then
hammered or pressed down upon such disc, and consequently expands into the
hollowed circumference of the part b and securely closes the cavity, as shown by
figure 3.
Two or more thin metal discs may be employed, if preferred, for extra strength,
as it is easier to cut such discs out of thin than out of thick sheet metal.
It is not essential to employ a disc at all, as if the opening at the bottom of the
part 6 of the cavity is very much restricted in diameter, so as to give a very broad
ledge upon which to rêst the plug e, the plug may be flattened out and forced
sufficiently into the hollowed circumference of the part 6 to securely close in the
cavity. It is, however, preferred to employ the disc d, as this enables a larger
opening to be formed in the cavity through which the iron filings, or other material
in a finely divided state, can be more conveniently poured, than through a smaller
opening, and avoids also any risk of the plug being driven down into the lower
part of the cavity instead of being properly expanded into the hollowed circum-
ference of the part b.
Instead of inserting a leaden plug, as described, the mouth of the cavity above.
the disc may, if desired, be run in with molten lead, or other metal, or metallic
alloy.
One form of weight only has been illustrated, and in this the cavity is shewn as
being formed open at the top, but it will be obvious, without need for further
illustration, that this invention is applicable to weights of any shape, and that the
opening of the cavity may be formed at any desired part of the weight.
The leaden plug may be formed of any desired thickness. In the lighter
description of porcelain weights it is desirable to form the plug as thin as will
conveniently answer the purpose, in order' that light blows from a hammer, or a
light pressure, may be sufficient to flatten or force it down and expand it as
required, and thus the risk of fracturing the weight be obviated.
The above-described method of adjustment is very neat, and is a great safeguard
against fraud, as any attempt to add weight would involve the removal of the
plug, and with it the inspector's stamp, and any attempt to drill away part of the

page_text: casting, in the case of a metal weight, would be easily detected as, according to
this invention, the usual drilled holes are dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Adjusting a weight for weighing, by pouring iron filings, or other finely
divided material, into a cavity formed in the body of such weight, and closing in
such cavity by means of a plug formed of a suitable material capable of receiving
the impression of the inspector's stamp, substantially as set forth.
2. An open-ended cavity within the body of a weight, having a ledge near the
outer end of such cavity, and an undercut or hollowed part adjacent to the mouth
of such cavity, in combination with a plug of lead or copper, or other soft metal
or metallic alloy, formed originally of a domed or saucer shape and employed
with or without a disc resting upon the ledge and pressed or hammered so as to
spread into the undercut, or in combination with a metal plug run in a molten
state on to a disc resting upon the ledge, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. For the purpose of receiving iron filings, or other material in a finely divided
state, and to allow also for being properly closed in to retain such material, forming
an open-ended cavity within the body of a weight, with a ledge near the top or
open end of such cavity, and with an undercut or hollowed part adjacent to the
mouth of such cavity, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The employment of a domed or saucer-shaped plug of lead or copper, or other
soft metal or metallic alloy, in combination with a ledged cavity having an under-
cut or hollowed part around an open mouth, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
5. The improvements in and relating to adjusting weights for weighing, substan
tially as described with reference to the drawings herewith.