NEW INVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF AN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING IN A MANNER LESS LIABLE TO ERROR, AND WITH GREATER EXPEDITION, THAN BY ANY OF THE MODES OF WEIGHING HITHERTO USED
Year: 1800

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, DAVID HARDIE,
of the Parish of Saint James, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, sends greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Nineteenth day of March, in the fortieth year of His reign,
did give and grant unto the said David Hardie, his exors, adñiors, and assigns,
His special licence, full power, sole priviledge and authority, that he, the said
David Hardie, his exors, adñors, and assigns, should and lawfully might,
during the term of fourteen years therein expressed, make, use, exercise, and
vend, throughout that part of His Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain called
England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, his
"NEW INVENTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF AN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING IN A
MANNER LESS LIABLE TO ERROR, AND WITH GREATER EXPEDITION, THAN BY ANY OF
THE MODES OF WEIGHING HITHERTO USED;" in which said recited Letters Patent
is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said David Hardie, to cause a par-
ticular description of the nature of his said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal,..
to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar
month next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent,
and the Statute in that behalf made.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Hardie, in compliance with the
said proviso, do thus particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed.

page_text: Fig. 1 shews the manner of delineating certain scales on the scale board
appropriated for the weights, for the purpose of pointing out on mere inspec-
tion the total gravity of the weights placed upon these scales by means of
mensuration. The larger scale A, B, shews the total gravity of the weights
placed on it, stated in hundreds and quarters, and the smaller scale C, D,
shews the total gravity of the weights placed on it, stated in pounds. The
weights belonging to the larger scale to be the larger kind of weights, con-
sisting of half hundredweights and quarter hundredweights. The weights
belonging to the smaller scale to be the smaller kind of weights, consisting of a
fourteen pounds weight, a seven pound weight, a four pound weight, a two
pound weight, and a one pound weight. The larger scale to be divided
into spaces equal in number with the quarters of hundredweights contained
in the whole of the weights required to cover it, and these spaces to be of a
like form and of a size to admit of a quarter hundredweight to stand on it in
a firm manner. The smaller scale to be divided into twenty-eight equal
spaces, of a like forii, and of a size to admit of a pound weight to stand on it
in a firm manner, taking care that the weights be so formed as not to require
a scale board much above the size of those now in use. The bottom of each
half hundredweight to form a square equal to two spaces of the larger scale,
and the bottom of each quarter lundredweight to form a size and shape of
one of the spaces of that scale. The bottom of the fourteen pound weight to
cover half the length of the lesser scale, that of the seven pound weight one-
fourth part, that of the four pound weight one-seventh part that of the two
pound weight one-fourteenth part, and that of the one pound weight one
twenty-eighth part. The sides of all the weights to be perpendicular, and the
amount to be stated on the scale in progressive numbers close to the places
the weights stand on, when any number of the larger weights are placed in
close succession on the larger scale at the beginning thereof, and in the direc-
tion from A to B, each taking up its due space; the numbers visible next to
the last weight are the total gravity of these weights stated in hundreds and
quarters, the first number being the hundreds and the second number the
quarters, and when any number of the smaller weights are placed in close
succession on the smaller scale at the beginning thereof, and in the direction
of C to D, each occupying.its due space, tlie mumber visible next to the last
weight is the total gravity of these weights stated in pounds. For instance,
if five half hundredweights, a quarter hundredweight, a fourteen-pound
weight, a seven pound weight, and a one pound weight, be thus placed on
their proper scales, the total gravity will appear; on mere inspection, to be two
Lundredweight, three quarters of an hundredweight, and twenty-two pounds,

page_text: the hundreds and quarters being seen on the larger scale, and the pounds-on
the smaller scale. On the same principle the scale or scales on the scale board
appropriated for the weights might be constructed various other ways. The
remaining Figures shew certain apparatus to prevent the necessity of removing
the greater number of weights from the scale board on each operation, varied
to suit the different situations for weighing, the different quantities weighed at
each operation, and the different sizes of the goods. Fig. 2, an elevation of
the scale board for the weights when fixed to the ground by means of a bolt,
placed a little below the level of the floor, and running through a staple in the
center of the bottom of the scale board A, the staple of the scale board B, the
bolt to be pushed backwards and forwards the lever C, by means of a rack
at the end of the bolt, and corresponding teeth at the end of the lever D, a
staple to guide the bolt and resist its pressure upwards. Fig. 3, a perspective
view of the apparatus without the scale board. Fig. 4, the scale board for
the goods, when fixed to the ground by two united claws placed a little below
the level of the floor and holding two projecting pieces attached to the two of
the sides of the board; A, A, the two projecting pieces; B, B, the two united
claws; C, C, staples, in which the claws turn to open and shut; D, staple and
pin, to assist the other staples, to prevent the pressure upwards. Fig. 5, the
scale board for the goods, with the two projecting pieces. Fig. 6, the united
claws, with their staples and pin. Fig. 7, an apparatus fixed to the ceiling.
When the weight E, suspended by a rope passing over the pullies C, C, is
raised up, the bolt A, by its own weight, drops on the arm of the beam which
supports the goods, the click B catching one of the ratchet teeth at the.
upper end of the bolt, prevents the bolt from being forced upwards, and the
claw at the lower end prevents the arm from escaping at either side. On
pulling the rope F that passes over the pullies D, D, the click is disengaged
and the weight E raises the bolt. Fig. 8, section of the principal parts of the
apparatus to support the scale board and weights, and to raise them still higher
should occasion require. The pinion C, turned by the raising apparatus of my
Patent crane; a lever or a winch acting on the rack B raises the board A to
receive the scale board and weights, and to support them or raise them higher;
a ratchet wheel and click prevent the board A from dropping down, by the
pressure of the scale board and weights. Fig. 9, an apparatus for raising and
lowering the whole beam with scale boards, goods, and weights, or for sup-
porting or raising the scale board with the weights only; A, a lever which
admits of being lengthened occasionally, by drawing out of it the piece B;
C, a rope to move the lever; D, a catch, to keep down the lever; E, a rope
over the pullies F, F, to disengage the catch. Fig. 10, section of the like

page_text: apparatus with Fig. 9, assisted with a wheel and pinion. By pulling the rope D
attached to and coiling round the circumference of the wheel C, the pinion B
turns round and acts on the teeth at the end of the lever A; the lever is
kept stationary by the ratchet wheel E and click F, which is disengaged by the
rope H passing over the pulley G.
In witness whereof, the said David Hardie hath hereunto set his hand
and seal, the Eighteenth day of April, in the year One thousand eight
hundred.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1800, the aforesaid David Hardie came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the tenor of the
Statutes made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred.