Improvements in Weighing Scales.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1893-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing Scales.
I, JOHN PYLE FIRTH of 189, East Maine Street, Titusville, in the County of
Crawford, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Grocer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to weighing scales in which a scale pan or scoop is used on
a platform for weighing articles and it has for its object to provide means whereby
the scale is automatically adjusted when the scale pan or scoop is placed on the
platform or removed therefrom, so that in either case the scale is properly balanced.
The weighing scale, which may be of any approved construction, is provided
with the usual base and the platform connected with the scale beam fulcrumed on
an arm projecting from the pillar erected on the base. The scale pan or scoop to
be set on the platform is provided on its bottom with a downwardly-extending pin
adapted to pass freely through an opening or openings formed in the platform in its
longitudinal centre. The lower end of this pin is adapted to bear upon a lever
extending longitudinally in the base and fulcrumed on the platform at any suitable
point thereon, the rear end of said lever being weighted so as to hold the lever
normally in an uppermost position, that is at the time the pin is out of engagement
with the lever. By means of the openings provided in the platform, the pin may
be made to act on the lever at any required point in its length. The forward end
of the lever is pivotally connected with a rod which extends up through the pillar
and is provided at its upper end with two arms or lugs adapted to alternately
engage a pin formed at one end of a beam fulcrumed upon the rear end of the scale
beam. On this beam is arranged a running weight, preferably made in the shape
of a ball travelling on a suitable track formed in the top of the beam but instead of
the said ball a fluid liquid or other substance may be used to accomplish the same
purpose that is to travel from one end of the beam to the other when the latter is
inclined.
The operation is as follows:-1
-When the scale pan or scoop is removed from the
platform the weighted end of the lever fulcrumed thereon throws the forward end
of the latter upward so that the rod passing up the pillar engages the pin on the
beam fulcrumed on the scale beam and tilts it so as to cause the weight to run to
the outer lower end of the said beam. The scale beam is now counterbalanced
for weighing articles directly on the platform. When it is desired to use the scale
pan or scoop for weighing articles the scale pan or scoop is placed on the platform
with the pin passing through the opening therein to engage and press the lever into
its lowerinost position whereby the rod is moved downward and the beam tilted in
the opposite direction thus causing the running weight to pass to the lower end of
the said beam, that is nearer to the fulcrum of the scale beam so as to counter-
balance the latter by compensating for the additional weight of the scale pan or
scoop. The moment the scale pan or scoop is removed from the platform the lever
swings back to its normal position by the action of the weighted end as above
described.
By this device the scale beam is always counterbalanced whether the scale pan
or scoop is placed on the platform or removed therefrom.
Dated this 27th day of December 1892.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing Scales.
I JOHN PYLE FIRTH, of 189 East Maine Street, Titusville in the County of
Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Grocer 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:-
.
This invention relates to weighing scales in which a scale pan or scoop is used on
a platform for weighing articles and it has for its object to provide means whereby
the scale is automatically adjusted when the scale pan or scoop is placed on the
platform or removed therefrom, so that in either case the scale is properly balanced.
The invention consists of a beam journaled on the scale beam and provided with
a running weight, and a weighted lever adapted to be actuated by the scale pan or
scoop and connected with the said beam.
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement; and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the scale pan or scoop.
The weighing scale which may be of any approved construction is provided with
the usual base A and the platform B, connected with the scale beam C, fulcrumed
on an arm D, projecting from the pillar E, erected on the base A. The scale pan
or scoop F, to be set on the platform B is provided on its bottom with a
downwardly-extending pin F, adapted to pass freely through an opening or
openings formed in the platform B, in its longitudinal center, as shown in Figure 1.
The lower end of this pin F1 is adapted to bear upon a lever G, extending longi-
tudinally in the base A and fulcrumed on the platform at G, or at any other
preferred point thereon, the rear end G2 of the lever being weighted so as to hold
the lever normally in an uppermost position, that is at the time the pin F¹ on the
scale pan or scoop F does not engage the said lever. By the provision of the
openings in the platform B, the pin Fi on the scale pan or scoop may have contact
with the lever G at any required point in its length.
The forward end of the lever G is pivotally connected with a rod H, which
extends through the pillar E and is provided at its upper end with two arms or
lugs Hand H, adapted to alternately engage a pin 1', formed at one end of a
beam I, fulcrumed at 1 to the rear end of the scale beam C. On this beam I is
arranged a running weight J, preferably made in the shape of a ball travelling on
a suitable track formed in the top of the beam; but instead of the said ball a fluid,
liquid or other substance may be used to accomplish the same purpose, that is, to
travel from one end of the beam to the other when the latter is inclined.
The operation is as follows: When the scale pan or scoop F is removed from
the platform B the weighted end G' of the lever G throws the forward end of the
latter upward so that the rod H by its pin H' engages the pin I', and lifts the
latter, thus swinging the beam I into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,
the weight J then running to the outer lower end of the said beam. The scale
beam C is now counterbalanced for weighing articles directly on the platform B.
When it is desired to use the scale pan or scoop F for weighing articles, the
scale pan or scoop is placed on the platform with the pin passing through the
opening therein to engage and press the lever G into its lowermost position as
shown in full lines in Figure 1, whereby the rod H is caused to move downward,
thus tilting the beam I to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 and causing
the running weight J to pass to the lower end of the said beam, that is near to the

page_text: fulcrum of the scale beam C to counterbalance the latter by compensating for the
additional weight of the scale pan or scoop.
It is thus understood that moving the running weight J nearer to the fulcrum of
the scale beam C compensates for the additional weight of the scale pan or scoop.
The moment the scale pan or scoop is removed from the platform B, the lever G
swings back to its normal position, owing to the action of the weighted end G³, as
above described.
It will be seen that by this device the scale beam is always counterbalanced
whether the scale pan or scoop is placed on the platform or removed therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the, same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An attachment for weighing scales arranged to automatically balance the scale
when the scale pan or scoop is placed on the platform or removed therefrom, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
2. An attachment for weighing scales, comprising a weighted lever adapted to be
actuated by the scale pan or scoop, a rod pivotally connected with the said lever
and provided with lugs, and a beam journaled on the scale beam and provided with
running weight, the said beam being actuated by the lugs on the said rod,
substantially as shown and described.
3. In an attachment for weighing scales, the combination with a scale pan or
scoop provided with a pin, of a lever adapted to be engaged by the said pin, and a
beam journaled on the scale beam and provided with a running weight, the said
beam being actuated from the said lever, substantially as shown and described.
4. In an attachment for weighing scales, the combination with a scale pau or
scoop provided with a pin, of a lever adapted to be engaged by the said pin, a
beam journaled on the scale beam and provided with a running weight, the said
beam being actuated from the said lever, and intermediate connection between the
said lever and the said beam, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination, with a pivoted scale beam, of a second beam pivoted upon
and carried by the scale beam and having a running or travelling weight, and a
lever adapted to be actuated by the placing of a scale pan or scoop on the weighing
platform and connected with said second beam, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of July 1895.
4533EY OI
KONA
J. P. FIRTH,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.