Improvements in Steelyards.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steelyards.
1, HENRY ALLCHIN, of 278, Mile End Road, London E. Scale-maker, 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 machines and more especially to the class
known as steelyards and refers solely to that part of the machine called the sliding
weight.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and more efficient means of
locking the weight upon the arm of the steelyard, without the use of the notch,
and to do so more readily than can be done by any method known at the present
time.
For this purpose the arm of the steelyard is made of smooth metal save where the
figuring of the weight is indicated, instead of being supplied with notches as is the
case in most machines now used.
Upon this arm is fitted a sliding sheath, carrier, or other suitable arrangement,
carrying a short lever-shaped cam or other tightening device, which is fitted to the
sheath or carrier by means of a pin, bolt and uut, or other suitable joint.
This joint is preferably made near one end of the tightening device, and in such
a way that same is free to work upon it so that this end of the tightening device
comes in touch with the arm of the machine upon which it slides. The other end
of the tightening device is preferably much longer than that portion which comes
in contact with the arm of the machine. The longer end of the tightening device
is provided with a weight which may be either hung to it or otherwise attached.
This end of the tightening device may be sufficiently heavy in itself to act as the
weight attached to it. A finger piece is preferably fitted to the long weighted end
of the device, so as to facilitate the working of it.
The tightening device can be arranged above or below the arm or may be box
shaped so as to encircle the arm as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
Any portion of the device or the sliding sheath, may serve as a finger or indicator
to point to the weight on the arm.
In use the article to be weighed is hung upon the machine in the usual way, this
raises the arm of the machine, and the sheath or carrier with the tightening device
and the weight is caused to slide along the arm by the operator, to the mark on same
indicating the weight of the article. The weighted end of the device causes the
short end of same to jamb against the arm, this end being shaped to jamb so tightly
that its position cannot be altered without raising the weighted end."
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which :-
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of one form of my self-tightening weight carriage,
in which the tightening lever arm, or cam lever, is made of the special V section,
so that it will embrace on the underside nearly half of the square-steelyard as shown
in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 shows an end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a second form of non-slipping weight, in which
the arm of the steelyard is passed through the weight.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 3 shewing the carrier fixed inside.
line
of the previous figure.

page_text: Fig. 6 shows a third application of the principle of my invention, in which
the cam-lever is arranged to jamb against the upper edge of the steelyard arm.
Fig. 7 shows an end view of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 shows the device in another form with the steelyard arm tilted.
a is the arm of the steelyard, and 6 the weight.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 :-
The arm is made square and placed on edge c is a sheath or carrier passing
over the two upper sides of arm a, provided with two ears c which supports on
pivot d, the tightening lever e. The weight depends at f from lever e, and e is
finished off with a thumb piece to release the carriage when necessary to shift
weight.
Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the weight in this case consists of a hollow sleeve
of metal which is placed upon or around the arm a. In one end of this sleeve a
little more than sufficient space (at the top and bottom) is left to receive the arm a,
the other end being still more open to admit of raising the weight for sliding
purposes; y is a pivot pin passing through the sleeve, and under the arm a, and
acting by means of loop gl (hereafter described) as carrier to the weight. The
weight is hung on pivot 9 near the narrower end of the sleeve thus leaving the
rest of the weight to act by leverage, to jamb at g³, against the under side of
arm a, there being sufficient space at 92 to allow this. Also causing the carrier gl
to grip the top of arm a.
This carrier is made of metal and embraces three sides of the arm, being secured
on each side by pivot g. The sleeve weight bis free to turn at pivot g.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, is the weight carriage provided with a pointer h¹
the top of the carriage also forms the bearing for the pivot i, upon which the
tightening lever j, provided with projection, is centred. The weight 6 depends
from lever j by means of the strap which passes down on either side or around
It will be understood that the lever will jamb against the upper side of
arm a at the projection j¹.
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. In a weighing machine known as a steelyard, the use of a sliding weight-
carriage combined with a tightening device adapted to slide upon the arm of the
machine, and constructed so as to jamb upon the arm, as herein described and set
forth.
2. In a weighing machine the combination of a lever or other shaped cam or
tightening device in conjunction with a weight and a sheath or carrier to slide upon
the arm of a steelyard weighing machine, as herein described and set forth.
3. In a weighing machine steelyard, the employment of a lever-cam or other
tightening device, adapted to jamb upon the upper or lower surfaces of the arm of
the steelyard, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 8th day of September 1896.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.