Improvements in Weighing and Dumping Vehioles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing and Dumping Vehioles.
I, GEORGE HENRY FLETCHER, Carpenter and Builder, of 56 East 104th
Street, New York City, in the County and State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 wheeled vehicles designed for weighing the article that.
may be placed therein, and also having means for dumping the material or article
from the body of the vehicle. The object is to provide a vehicle, such for instance
as a wagon or cart, with means by which the purchaser of a commodity, such for
instance as coal, may, if desired, ascertain the correct weight thereof, it of course
being useful also to the seller of the commodity, as the same may be weighed as
it is placed in the vehicle. A further object is to provide a simple means by which
the body portion may be raised and inclined, to dump the material either laterally
or through the rear end of the vehicle body.
I will describe a weighing and dumping vehicle embodying my invention, and
then point out the novel features in the appended claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a vertical section in partial clevation of a weighing and dumping
vehicle embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the weighing device thereof and also showing the
dumping means;
Figure 3 is an elevation showing a modified construction of the dumping means;
and
Figure 4 is a modification showing the invention as applied to a two-wheeled cart,
and also showing a modified construction of the weighing device.
Referring first to the example of my improvement shown in Figures 1 and 2,
1 designates a framework of any suitable material, such for instance as angle iron,
open at its top and bottom and rear end. This framowork rests upon the axlo
supported by the wheels 2 and 3 of the body portion of a four-wheeled vehicle,
in the usual manner.
Arranged within the framework 1 is a box or body portion 4, designed to
receive the material to be weighed. This body portion 4 is closed at its sides,
ends and bottom; its rear end may, however, be made in the form of a swinging
gate. At its forward end the body portion 4 has laterally extended lugs 5,
designed normally to rest in U-shaped blocks 6 secured to the inner sides of the
framework 1, and the rear end of said body portion is mounted to swing on a
shaft 7, the ends of which project into vertical slots 8, formed in the sides at the
rear portion of the framework 1. When in its normal position the bottom of the
body portion will extend on the dotted line 9 shown in Figure 1, and somewhat
above the bottom of the framework 1. Of course at this time the lugs 5 will
engage in the U-shaped blocks 6, and the ends of the shaft 7 will rest in the lower
ends of the slots 8.
I will now describe the means shown in Figures 1 and 2 for weighing the body
portion 4 and the contents thereof. Arranged in the bottom portion of the frame-
work 1, and at each corner thereof, is a track plate 10. Each track plate 10 has
its inner end inclined toward the centre of the framework, and from each end of

page_text: the track plates 10, toggle links 11 extend downward to a connection with shafts 12,
and from these shafts 12, toggle links 13 extond downward to a pivotal connection
on lugs extended from hangers 14 depending from the bottom portion of the
framework 1.
A shaft 15 extends transversely of the framework 1 at its rear end, and has
bearings in lugs depending from said framework, and at its ends outside the frame-
work this shaft 15 is provided with operating levers 160. A similar shaft 15 is
arranged at the forward end of the framework 1, to oporate the opposite track
plates thereof. Arms 16 extend upward from the shafts 15, and from these arms 16
links 17 extend to pivotal connections with the rear shafts 12 of a track plate, und
from the shafts 15 arms 18 extend downward and have connection, by means of
links 19; with the forward shafts 12 of said track plates. Obviously by rotating
the shaft 15, by manipulating either one of the lovora 160, the togglo links 11
and 13 may be operated to raise the track plates 10. It will be seen that the
arms 18 depending from the shaft 15 are somewhat shorter than the arins 16,
therefore the inner ends of the track plates will have a less vortical motion than
the opposite ends, tho purpose of which will hereinafter more fully appear. Each
track plate 10 may be guided vertically by means of posts 20 oxtended upward
from the bottom of the framework 1 and engaging in notches formed in the side
edges of the track plates.
Arranged centrally of the framework 1 and below the body portion 4, is a weighing
deviço comprising a platform 21, from the corners of which rods 22 extend to a
connection with springs 23, the opposite ends of said springs 23 being connected
to eyes or similar devices 24 at the outer ends of the track plates 10. Preferably
each rod 22 will be provided at its end eugaging with the spring 23, with anti-
friction rollers 25, adapted to bear and run upon the upper surface of the track
plate. Of course the rods 22 will have pivotal connection at the corners of the
scale plate 21.
Arranged above the scale plate 21, and adjustable vertically with relation thereto
is a top or supporting plate 26. At each corner the plates 21 and 26 are connected
together by toggle links 27 and 28. Mounted in bearings 29 supported on opposite
sides of tho plate 21 is a shaft 30. On one end of this shaft 30 are rigidly secured
oppositely-extended arms 31, 32, and similar arms 31, 32 are extended in opposite
directions from the other end of said shaft. From the arms 31, links 33 extend to
a connection with the joint between the rear toggle links 27 and 28, and from the
arms 32 links 34 extend to a connection with the joint between the forward toggle
links 27 and 28.
The shaft 30 is provided at one end with an operating lever 35, and any suitable
locking mechanism may bo provided for securing the shaft as adjusted. The
plate 26 is guided in its vertical movement with relation to the plate 21 by means
of rods 36, secured at the upper end to the plate 26 and movable through guideways
in the side edges of the plate 21. Extended downward and outward from the
lower plate 21 is an arm 37, to the outer eud of which and at the outer side of the
framework 1, is pivotally connected the lower end of a beam 38, provided at its
upper end with a pointer 39, movable over a scale 40 and by means of which the
weight of the material in the body portion 4 may be ascertained.
Before elevating the weighing plate 26 it is necessary to raise the body portion 4,
as indicated in full lines in Figure 1, and I will now describe the mechanism for
this purpose shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Arranged upon each side, at the forward end of the framework 1, is a forwardly-
extended lever 41, these opposite levers being at their opposite ends connected by
a cross bar 42. Each lever 41 is pivoted on a stud extended from the sides of the
framework 1, and this pivotal point has oppositely extended arms 43, 44. From
the arm 43, links 45 extend to a pivotal connection with the joint between toggle
liuks 46 and 47, and from the arm 44 a similar link 48 extends to a pivotal con-
hection with the joint between the toggle links 49 and 50. The toggle links 46
and 49 are pivotally connected at their upper ends by means of a lug 51, which

page_text: extends into a vertical guide slot 52 formed in the side of the framework 1, and
the lower ends of the toggle links 47 and 50 are also pivotally connected together.
Pivoted on the lug 51 is a pawl 52 adapted to engage with teeth formed on one
side of a ratchet or rack bar 53, having pivotal connection at its upper end with
lugs on the upper edge of the bottom portion 4. This pawl 52 is hold.in
yielding engagement with the teeth of the rack bar 53 by means of a spring 54,
extended from the pivotal end of the lever 41 and engaging against a pin extended
from the pawl, and to prevent the pawl from moving too far downward with
relation to the rack bar, I may extend a pin from the pointed end 55 of said pawl
to engage upon the link 49. The opposite side teeth of each rack lever are
engaged by a horizontally movable dog 56 (Figure 2). Each dog 56 has a stem
portion movable through a guideway 57, and a spring 58, engaging at one end
against said guideway and at the opposite end against the dog, serves to hold the
dog yieldingly against the teeth of the rack bar. The engaging end of each dog
is inclined downward and outward. From the pivotal point betweon the links 49
and 50 a fulcrumed arm 59 extends upward between a pin 60 projected laterally
from the dog 56 and a pin 61 projected from the frame 1.
The operation of the device as 30 far described is as follows:
When it is desired to weigh a load, the levers 41 will be rocked up and down,
and this movement of the levers will cause the several toggle links to impart an up
and down motion to the pawls 52*, so that these pawls will alternately engage with
the teeth at one side of the rack bar 53. During an upward movement of the rack
bars the dogs 56 will he moved longitudinally outward by means of the inclined
teeth of the rack bar 53 with which said dogs engage, and then when a reverse
movement is imparted to the levers to force the pawls 52° downward to engago
with the next succeeding teeth of the rack bars, the dogs 56 will move into
engagement with the teeth of the rack bars and hold the said rack bars from
downward movement.
When it is desired to lower the body portion 4, the levers 41 are moved first
upward, and this upward movement of the levers 41 will move the dogs 56 out of
engagement with the teeth of the rack bar by means of the cam surface 62 on the
upper ends of the arms 59 engaging with the pins 61. During this upward move-
ment of the levers 41, it is obvious that the upper and lower ends of the several
toggle links will be caused to move toward each other, carrying the pawls 52*
downward, and as the teeth of the rack bar engage the said pawls, it is obvious
that the rack bars may be moved downward or allowed to lower; then on a
downward movement of the levers it is obvious that the dogs 56 will be moved
iuto engagement with the teeth of the rack bar by means of the springs 58, and at
the same time the pawls 52 will be moved upward for another engagement with
the rack bar.
After the body portion 4 containing the load shall have been moved to
substantially the position shown in Figure 1, by the means just described, or in
fact by any other means, as I do not wish to be confined to the particular means
herein shown and described, the plate 26 must be elevated relatively to the
plate 21. This may be done by rotating the shaft 30. When sufficiently elevated,
the shaft may be locked to retain the plate 26 in its clovated position by any
suitable means. However, it is obvious that this upward movement will throw the
joint connections between the links 27 and 28 outward beyond the vertical
line drawn between the pivotal points of the links with the plates, and such
deflection of the links will serve to support the plate 26 in its vertical position.
After the plate 26 shall have been so elevated the body portion containing the
load will be lowered onto the plate 26, where it will rest as indicated by the dotted
lines 63 in Figure 1, and then of course the springs 23 will yield under the weight
of the load, and the pointer 39 will indicate ou the scale 40 the weight of the lond.
It is to be understood that before weighing the load the rack bars 53 must be
released at their pivotal points from their connection with the body portion 4. It
is obvious that the springs 23 will be suitably gauged to give the exact weight.

page_text: It may be here stated that as the object of this example of my improvement is to
provide a spring balance, the rods 22 may be omitted and the springs 23 extended
directly to an engagement with the plate 21.
When the wheels of the wagou are on a level plane, the track plates 10 may
remain in the position indicated in the front end of Figure 1; but should one end
of the wagon be elevated it is desired to level the weighing plates, and also to level
the body portion 4 resting thereon, therefore the track plates 10 at the lower end
of the wagon should be clevated by the means heretofore described, as indicated at
the rear end of Figure 1.
In the modification shown in Figure 3, I have illustrated a means whereby the
body portion 4 may be elevated so that the same can be tilted sidewise, to discharge
a load at the side of the vehicle, as such construction might be preferable in narrow
or crowded streets. Referring to this Figure 3, 64 designates a lifting bar pivoted
at its upper end to the upper portion of the body 4, and at the end thereof. The
lower end of this rod 64 is pivotally connected to a horizontally movable rack
bar 65 having teeth on its upper and lower edges, and the lower end of this rod 64
is also provided with a roller or rollers 66, which bear upon the track plate 67,
secured to the end portion of the frame 1. Extended also from the upper pivot of
the rod 64 is a similar rod 68, pivotally connected at its lower end to a horizontally
movable rack bar 69, having ratohet teeth on its upper and lower edges, and the
lower end of this bar 68 is also provided with a roller or rollera 70, designed to ruu
on a track plate 71 secured to the framework 1.
Mounted to rock on a stud fixed to the end of the frame portion 1, is a lever 72,
and this lever 72 at its pivotal point is provided with oppositely extended
arms 73, 74. From the arm 73 a link 75 extends to the pivotal connection of
toggle links 76 and 77, and from the arm 74 a link 78 extends to the pivotal
connection between toggle links 79 and 80. Upon the pivotal counection between
the toggle links 76 and 79, is a pawl 81, engaging with the rack teeth on the lower
edge of the rack bar 65, and held in yielding engagement with the teeth on the
upper edge of said rack bar 65 is a vortically-movable dog, 82, and extending from
the pivotal connection between the toggle links 76 and 77 is an arm 83, which
passes over a fixed pin 84 and engages the under side of a pin 85 extended from
the dog 82.
To the pivotal connection between the toggle links 77 and 80'is pivotally
connected a pawl 86, designed for engagement with the upper teeth of the rack
bar 69, and adapted to engage with the lower teeth of this rack bar 69 is a
vertically movable spring-pressed dog 87. The upper side of a pin extended from
the dog 87 is engaged by the outer end of an arm 88 passing under a fixed pin 89
and engaging with a pivotal point between the toggle links 79 and 80. The
pawls 81 and 86 may be held in yielding engagement with their respective rack
bars by means of springs, as described in the first example of my improvement.
. It will be seen in effect, that the mechanism shown in Figure 3 is the same as
that described for elevating the body portion 4 in the first example of my improve-
ment, and it will be understood that a raising device as shown in Figure 3 is
arranged one at each end of the vehicle. In operation it will be seen that by
rocking the lever 72, the toggle links will operate the pawls 81 and 86 to move the
rack bars 65 and 69 in opposite directions, that is, when said rack bars are moved
outward in opposite directions, the lower ends of the rods 64 aud 68 will be moved
toward each other, and consequently the body portion 4 will be elevated and may
then be rocked on its pivotal connections with said bar 68, to dump a load. The
rack bara will be prevented from buckward movement during the elevation of the
body portion by means of the dogs 82 and 87 operating in the manner heretofore
described in connection with Figure 1.
In Figure 4 is shown a two-wheeled cart, comprising a body portion 90, a frame
portion 01 from which the shafts extend in the usual manner, and an axle 92 upon
which the wheels are placed. The body portion 90 in this example of my
improvement is necessarily mounted to tilt downward at its rear end for the

page_text: purpose of dumping a load, and the means for elevating the body portion 90 is
precisely similar to that described in connection with Figure 3, therefore a further
description thereof is not necessary, excepting that the upper ends of the rods 64
and 68 are removably connected to a shaft 93 extended transversely over the top
of the body portion 90, and further that guide rods 94 and 95 extend downward
from the sides of the body portion and engage over squared portions of the axle 92.
In this modification I employ a scale beam and weight instead of the platform or
spring scale heretofore described for weighing the load.
Extended upward from the axle 92 at each side of the cart is a support rod 96,
and from these support rods 96 brace rods 97 extend downward to a connection
with the sides of the frame portion 91. The connection between the support
roda 96 and the axle 92 should be such that the said axle may rotate relatively to
the support rods. The upper ends of these support rods above the body portion 90
are connected by a transverse bar 98, upon which a scale beam 99 is fulcrumed.
This scale beau 99 will of course be properly graduated and provided with an
adjustable weight 100. From the shorter arm of the scale beam 99, a link 101
depends and is provided at its lower end with a hook or other suitable fastening
device to be removably engaged with the transverse shaft 93.
In operation, after the load shall havo been placed in the body portion 90, the
said body portion will be elevated by the means described, and the link 101 must
then be engaged with the shaft 93 and the rods 64 and 68 disengaged from said
shaft; then the weighing may proceed by shifting the weight 100 in the usual manner.
After weighing the loud the rods 64 and 68 are to be again engaged with the
shaft 93, and the body portion 90 lowered to a position between the side pieces of
the frame 91, and at this time the rods 64 and 68 must be again disengaged from
the shaft 93; then the body portion 90 may be tilted endwise as the axlo 92 will
rotate relatively to the supporting bars 96 and also relatively to the frame 91 and
to the wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is,-
1. A weighing vehicle, comprising running gear, a body portion, and a weighing
device supported by the running gear and adapted to support the body portion, to
weigh the contents thereof, substantially as specified.
2. A vehicle, comprising a running gear, a frame supported on said running gear,
a weighing device supported on the frame, a body portion movable relatively to
the frame, in a vertical direction, whereby it may be engaged by the weighing
device, and means for elevating said body portion, substantially as specified.
3. A vehicle comprising a running gear, a frame supported thereon, a weighing
platform, spring balance devices extended from said weighing platform to
connections with parts supported on the frame, and a body portion movable in the
frame and adapted to rest on the weighing platform, substantially as specified.
4. A weighing and dumping vehicle, comprising a running gear, a frame supported
thereon, a weighing platform comprising an upper and lower plate, means for
elevating the upper plate relatively to the lower plate, track plates supported in
the frame, means for elevating said track plates relatively to the frame, rods
extended from the lower plate of the weighing platform, springs connected to the
outer ends of said rods and to the track plates, and means for elevating the body
portion to a position to be engaged by the weighing platform, substantially as
specified.
5. A weighing and dumping wagon, comprising a running gear, a frame supported
thereon, track plates arranged at the ends of the frame, rotary shafts having
bearings in portions of the frame, toggle links connected at one end to the track
plates and at the other end to fixed portions of the frame, links extended between
Baid toggle links and arms on the shaft, a weighing platform, rods extended from
the corners of said weighing platform, rollers on said rods for engagement with the

page_text: track plates, springs having connection at one end with the rods and at the other
end with the truck plates, and a body portion movable relatively to the frame and
adapted to rest upon the weighing platform, substantially as specified.
6. A weighing mechanism for a vehicle, comprising a lower plate having
connection with spring balances supported in the vehicle, an upper plate, toggle
link connections between said lower and upper plates, a rotary shaft having hearings
on the lower plate, arms extended in opposite directions from said shaft, links
extended from said arms to the pivotal points of the toggles, and a pointer carried
by the lower plate, substantially as specified.
7. A vehicle comprising a running gear, a frame supported thereon, a body
portion vertically movable in the frame, and means for moving said body portion
vertically, comprising fulcrumed levers, toggle links having connection at their.
pivotal points with arms extended from the levers, spring-pressed pawls pivotally
connected to the toggle links, rack bars engaged by said pawls, and spring-yielding
dogs also engaging with said rack bars, substantially as specified.
8. A dumping wagon, comprising a running gear, a frame mounted thereon,
a body portion having swinging connection relatively to the frame, toggle links ou
the opposite sides of the frame, levers for moving said toggle links of a side toward
and from each other, spring-pressed pawls carried by the togglo links, rack bars
adapted for pivotal connection with the body portion and for engagement with the
pawls, spring yielding dogs adapted also for engagement with said rack bars, arms
having pivotal connection with the toggle links and each arm having cam-shaped
upper ends, pins extended from the dogs and adapted to engage apon one side of
said arms, and pins extended from the frame and adapted to engage the opposite
sides of said arms and also with the cam portions of said arins, substantially as
Bpecified.
Dated this 17th day of November 1906
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.