AN IMPROVED PORTABLE MACHINE FOR WEIGHING RAILWAY TRUCKS, AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emile Faugère, of Bordeaux, in the Department
of the Gironde and Republic of France, Engineer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE MACHINE FOR WEIGHING RAILWAY TRUCKS,
AND OTHER VEHICLES."
Sealed the 6th December 1875, and dated the 11th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emile Faugère at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th June 1875.
I, EMILE FAUGÈRE, of Bordeaux, in the Department of the Gironde
and Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE MACHINE FOR WEIGHING RAILWAY
TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES," to be as follows:
-
The weighing apparatus, the subject of this Invention, is a novel
application of the hydraulic press and of the metal tubular manometer,
of "Bourdon's system."
As shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing this apparatus is

page_text: pieces C, C, fixed by angle irons or otherwise to two parallel cross
pieces D, D, which join them together in the middle; the ends of the
handles C, C, rest loosely upon the rails E, E, in front of and behind
the wheels of the axle which it is desired to weigh; they are set at a
distance apart calculated to permit the disengagement of the wheels
when the apparatus is displaced, and are pierced at their ends with
holes in the form of handles to facilitate carriage of the apparatus.
The cross pieces are at such distance apart as will permit a hydraulic
press to be placed between them and fixed by bolts in their centre.
The press is composed of a cast-iron body G formed of a vertical
cylinder, open at its upper part, and communicating at its lower part with
a second cylinder of smaller diameter, parallel with the cross picce
slightly inclined from the horizontal, and open at its uppermost end.
The vertical cylinder is traversed by a hollow iron piston H, screw-
threaded on the outside and provided with a nut I, cylindrical at its
lower part, and with 6 or 8 sides at its upper part to facilitate its movo-
ment by hand; the upper face of the nut is steeled and fluted or
roughened to prevent sliding by contact with the axle at the base of
its screw-threaded part; the piston has a projecting collar J, forming
support, and a stud K sliding vertically between two guides L, L, the
object of which is to prevent the rotation of the piston when the nut
is turned. The inclined cylinder is traversed by an iron piston M ending
on the outside in a slide N guided between two slide bars O, O; the
piston is moved by the aid of a screw P attached to the slide, in which
its end turns freely; the screw operated by the crank R passes through
a nut Q fixed to one of the handles C. Nuts or washers surround the
two pistons at their entrance into the body of the press in order to
prevent escape of the liquid under pressure.
The liquid contained in the body G of the press is put in communi-
cation with the tube of the manometer S by a copper tube T fixed by
two screw union joints U, V, and provided at its culminating point with
a screw stopper X, intended to secure the filling when liquid is poured
into the apparatus, and also to permit escape of any air which it may
contain.
The manometer or pressure guage applied to the apparatus is on
"Bourdon's" system, and is composed as usual of a metal tube of
elliptical section bent circularly. The manometric tube is closed-at-

page_text: to a toothed pinion fixed on the pivot of the index. The index thus
actuated indicates the pressure upon a dial graduated in tons of a
thousand kilogrammes, and in subdivisions representing hundreds of
kilogrammies, or as may be required. The graduation of the manometer
is obtained by the application of known weights directly upon the
vertical piston of the press; to preserve the glass of the dial the mano-
meter is protected by a copper cover, leaving only the graduated part
visible.
This improved apparatus is intended for weighing railway trucks fully
laden, the weighing being effected upon the actual spot where the
loading or unloading takes place without displacing the vehicle. For
this purpose after having entirely filled the body of the press with water
or any other liquid, taking care to put the apparatus ready for action,
that is to say, lowering to the end of its stroke the vertical piston and
its nut, and drawing from the body of the press, also to the ends of its
stroke, the inclined piston. The apparatus is placed under one of the
axles of the truck to be weighed, and the nut of the vertical piston
brought into contact with the axle, the inclined piston is then intro-
duced into the press by turning the crank, and the liquid displaced
drives the vertical piston, which uplifts the axle. Directly the wheels
of the truck have left the rails the turning of the crank is stopped; and
there may be read upon the manometer the pressure indicated by the
index, which represents the weight supported by one of the axles of the
truck. By then turning the crank in the opposite direction to the end
of its traverse the truck wheels are replaced on the rails, the nut of the
vertical piston is then lowered, and the apparatus is removed to repeat
the same operation upon the second axle of the same truck. The two
weights given by the manometer are then added together and the total
weight of the truck is obtained very approximatively, the slight displace-
ment of the centre of gravity of the load which is produced at each
operation being practically unimportant. The relation existing between
the length of the crank and the diameters of the two pistons and of the
adjusting screw are such that a man of average strength working the
crank may easily uplift an axle weighted with 10,000 kilogrammes (say
20 tons), which is the maximum power of the weighing machine
represented on the annexed Sheet of Drawing.

page_text: The whole of the apparatus is so arranged that none of its parts
descends beneath the level of the top of the rails or rises above the level
of the lowest part of the ordinary axles of railway trucks and of the
cross rods of the brake, the apparatus may therefore be easily worked
beneath the trucks, and when the wheels are released pass from one 5
axle to the other by sliding on the rails.
If a paved or a macadamised road or way comes up to the level of
the rails the bearings of the apparatus instead of being on the rails may
be on the way; in this case the side pieces or handles of the apparatus
may be much shorter, permitting the vehicles to be rolled over the
apparatus instead of shifting this latter, the apparatus thus modified.
will be found particularly adapted for the ways of landing stages or
quays.
or less
Although more especially intended for ordinary railway vehicles
running on the usual guage this portable hydraulic weighing machine
may be constructed for weighing vehicles with axles, more
high, circulating upon broader or narrower ways, and is generally
applicable to ordinary four wheeled vehicles circulating upon ordinary
roads.
In these various cases it is only requisite to increase or diminish
the power of the apparatus and to modify the dimensions of its parts.
This portable carriage weighing machine is intended to replace in
many instances the weigh bridges in ordinary use in railway stations,
because it has the advantage of permitting a rapid weighing on the spot
instead of the long and costly manoeuvers made at present through a
series of turntables.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me,. the said Emile Faugère, Her special
licence, that I, the said Emile Faugère, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Emile Faugère, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED PORTABLE MACHINE FOR WEIGHING RAILWAY TRUCKS AND OTHER
VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Emile
Faugère, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Emile Faugère, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:—
The weighing apparatus, the subject of this Invention, is a novel
application of the hydraulic press and of the metal tubular manometer
or pressure guage of "Boundon's" system.
As shewn, (Sheet 1) of the accompanying 3 Sheets of Drawing, this
apparatus is composed of an iron frame formed of two parallel handles or
bearing pieces C, C, fixed by angle irons or otherwise to two parallel cross
pieces D, D, which join them together in the middle; the ends of the
handles C, C, rest loosely upon the rails E, E, in front of and behind
the wheels of the axle of the vehicle which it is desired to weigh; they
are set at a distance apart calculated to permit the disengagement of
the wheels when the apparatus is displaced, and are pierced at their
ends with holes in form of handles to facilitate carriage of the apparatus.
The cross pieces are at such distance apart as will permit a hydraulic
press to be placed between them and fixed by bolts in their centre,..

page_text: The press is composed of a cast-iron body G formed of a vertical
cylinder open at its upper part, and communicating at its lower part
with a second cylinder of smaller diameter, parallel with the cross
pieces, slightly inclined from the horizontal, and open at its uppermost
end. The vertical cylinder is traversed by a hollow iron piston H, screw
threaded on the outside, and provided with a nut I cylindrical at its
lower part, and with 6 or 8 sides at its upper part to facilitate its move-
ment by hand. The upper face of the nut is steeled and fluted or
roughened to prevent sliding by contact with the axle. At the base of
its screw-threaded part the piston has a projecting collar J forming
support, and a stud K sliding vertically between two guides L, L, the
object of which is to prevent the rotation of the piston when the nut is
turned. The inclined cylinder is traversed by a piston M ending on the
outside in a slide N guided between two slide bars O, O. The piston is
moved by the aid of a screw P attached to the slide in which its end
turns freely. The screw operated by the crank R passes through a
nut Q fixed to one of the handles C. Recessed nuts or washers surround
the two pistons at their entrance into the body of the press, in order to
prevent escape of the liquid under pressure.
The liquid contained in the body or chamber G of the press is put in
communication with the tube of the manometer S by a copper tube T
fixed by two screw union joints u, v, and provided at its culminating
point with a screw stopper X intended to secure the filling when liquid
is poured into the apparatus, and also to permit escape of any air which
it may contain.
The manometer or pressure guage applied to the apparatus is on
"Bourdon's" system, and is composed as usual of a metal tube of elliptical
section bent circularly. The manometric tube is closed at one of its
ends connected by a lever with a toothed sector, which transmits the
elastic movement of the tube under the pressure of the liquid to a
toothed pinion fixed on the pivot of the index. The index thus actuated
indicates the pressure upon a dial graduated in tons of a thousand
kilogrammes, and in subdivisions representing hundreds of kilogrammes,
or as may be required. The graduation of the manometer is obtained by
the application of known weights directly upon the vertical piston of the
press to preserve the glass of the dial; the manometer is protected by a
copper cover leaving only the graduated part visible.

page_text: This improved apparatus is intended for weighing railway trucks fully
laden, the weighing being effected upon the actual spot where the
loading or unloading takes place without displacing the vehicle. For
this purpose, after having entirely filled the body or chamber of the
press with water or any other liquid, taking care to put the apparatus
ready for action, that is to say, lowering to the end of its stroke the
vertical piston and its nut, and drawing from the body of the press, also
to the end of its stroke the inclined piston. The apparatus is placed
under one of the axles of the truck to be weighed, and the nut of the
vertical piston brought into contact with the axle; the inclined piston
is then introduced into the press by turning the crank, and the liquid
displaced drives the vertical piston, which uplifts the axle. Directly
the wheels of the truck have left the rails the turning of the crank is
stopped, and there may be read on the manometer the pressure indi-
cated by the index, which represents the weight supported by one of
the axles of the truck. By then turning the crank in the opposite
direction to the end of its traverse the truck wheels are replaced on the
rails; the nut of the vertical piston is then lowered, and the apparatus
is removed to repeat the same operation upon the second axle of the
same truck. The two weights given by the manometer are then added
together, and the total weight of the truck is obtained very approxi-
matively, the slight displacement of the centre of gravity of the load
which is produced at each operation being practically unimportant.
The relations existing between the length of the crank and the diameters
of the two pistons and of the adjusting screw are such that a man of
average strength working the crank may easily uplift an axle weighted
with 10,000 kilogrammes (say 12 tons), which is the maximum power
of the weighing machine represented in the annexed Sheets of
Drawing.
The whole of the apparatus is so arranged that none of its parts
descends beneath the level of the top of the rails or rises above the level
of the lowest part of the ordinary axles of railway trucks and of the
cross rods of the brakes; the apparatus may therefore be easily worked
beneath the trucks, and when the wheels are released pass from one
axle to the other by sliding on the rails.
If a paved or a macadamized road or way comes up to the level of
the rails the bearings of the apparatus instead of being on the rails may
be on the way. In this case the side pieces or handles of the apparatus

page_text: may be much shorter, permitting the vehicles to be rolled over the
apparatus. Instead of shifting this latter the apparatus thus modified
will be found particularly adapted for the ways of landing stages or
quays.
Although more especially intended for ordinary railway vehicles
running on the usual guage this portable hydraulic weighing machine
may be constructed for weighing vehicles with axles more or less high
circulating upon broader or narrower ways, and is generally applicable
to ordinary four wheeled vehicles circulating upon ordinary roads.
In these various cases it is only requisite to increase or diminish the
power of the apparatus and to modify the dimensions of its parts.
This portable carriage-weighing machine is intended to replace in
` many instances the weighbridges in ordinary use at railway stations,
because it has the advantage of permitting a rapid weighing on the spot
instead of the long and costly manoeuvers made at present through a 1
series of turntables.
↑
I may modify my improved portable hydraulic weighing machine
as above described with the object of lessening the accidental working
of the axle during the operation of weighing by the substitution at the
sole fulcrum of the vertical piston of two symmetrical fulcrums near a
the length of the key bed of the wheels. Two means may be used to
obtain this result.
First Means. By the addition of an oscillating support with two
fulcrums (see Sheet II.) of the accompanying Drawings). This support
is intended to be adapted to the weighing machine as previously above 2
described and shewn, Sheet I.; in this case the vertical piston (a) is
solid, which permits the reduction of the diameter of the screw (b);
the corresponding nut (c) is cylindrical, and not so high as in the
original machine; on the upper plane of this nut, following the same
diameter, are placed two steel knife edges (d, d,) intended to receive the a
oscillating support (e). The oscillating support is composed of two
arms, the projecting ends of which (f,f,) are slightly. hollowed, following
the shape of the axle which they are to receive. The centre of the
support is strengthened, and has a cylindrical vertical recess broader at
the base and enclosing the nut like a coupling box. The support rests a
on the knife edges (d, d,) of the nut by means of two blocks of steel

page_text: (9, 9.) placed on the upper part of the coupling box, and in a direction
perpendicular to that of the arms of the support. The upper cylindrical
recess of the support is such that when the nut has lowered to the end
of its journey the screw of the piston passes through the coupling box
of the support and reaches the level of the fulcrum (ƒƒ,).
The amplitude of the oscillation of the support is limited by the space
existing between the nut and the box, but whatever may be the
irregularity of the distribution of the load upon the axle this limit is
never reached, owing to the rigidity of the framing and of the guard
plates of the trucks.
The sides of the upper cylindrical recess are sloping in the direction
of the arms of the support to receive two stops (h, h,) screwed vertically
upon the upper face of the nut c. These stops without lessening the
oscillating play of the support are an obstacle to its removal, and keep
it in its normal position, that is to say, the steel blocks resting upon the
knife edges.
The working of my improved weighing machine with the addition of
the oscillating support is the same as described in reference to the
original machine (Sheet I.), but the application of the support besides
the advantage of offering two fulcrums or bearing surfaces to the axle,
has, owing to the combined action resulting from the rigidity of the
truck or other vehicle, and the use of the knife edges, the further
advantage of bringing the pressure of the load upon the axis of the
vertical piston, and of thereby affording the causes of friction detrimental
to the exactness of the weighing.
Second Means.-By the modification of the original machine and
the use of two hydraulic presses offering two fulcrums to the axle in
close vicinity with the length of key bed of the wheels (see Drawing,
Sheet III.). This modified apparatus is composed of an iron frame
formed by two parallel iron girders or flanged beams (c, c,) united at
the ends by two pair of parallel cross pieces (d, d, d, d,); the four
angles of the frame rest, aided by four wedges (b, b, b, b), no longer
on the rails (e, e), as in the original machine, but on two counter rails
(a, a,) placed for that purpose in the ordinary position of counter rails.
This arrangement permits the rolling of the trucks over the apparatus
without the necessity of displacing it after the weighing of each axle.
Two hydraulic presses are placed symmetrically between the coupled

page_text: cross pieces, being fixed thereto by bolts; these presses differ from those
of the original machine only in the arrangement of the pistons; thus,
each of them is composed of a cast-iron body or chamber (9, 9,) formed
by a vertical cylinder open at the top, and in communication by its
lower end with a second horizontal cylinder of smaller diameter. The
two horizontal cylinders have their axis in a same straight line per-
pendicular to the way; the open ends of these cylinders come opposite
each other. The vertical cylinder is traversed by an iron piston (h)
screw-threaded on the outside, and provided with a nut (i) cylindrical
at its lower part and square at the upper to facilitate turning by hand;
the upper face of the nut is formed by two inclined planes having their
intersecting line on the diagonal of the square. This arrangement
has the advantage of giving a bearing to the axle upon two points
symmetrical in relation to the centre of the nut, and thereby bringing
the pressure of the load on the axis of the piston, and reducing the
causes of friction to a minimum. At the base of its screw-threaded
part the piston has a projecting collar (j) forming support, and a
moveable pin or spindle (k) passing through the piston at the height
of the collar, and serving at will to keep the piston fixed during the
rotation of the nut, or to cause the piston to turn independently of the
nut. The horizontal cylinder is traversed by a hollow iron piston (m)
screw-threaded at its outer end, which carries a slide block (n) guided
by two slide bars (o, o,). The horizontal pistons of the two presses are
moved simultaneously by the same screw (p), the ends of which screw-
threaded in contrary directions penetrate into the interior of the two
pistons; the working screw is actuated by a four-armed crank (7) fixed
on the screw shaft, the pins of which are carried by two castings (q, q,)
parallel with the cross pieces, and tied at their ends to the two longi-
tudinal girders of the frame.

page_text: When the apparatus is under pressure the spiral springs yield and the
frame rests directly on the counter rails.
The liquid held in the chamber of the press (9) is placed in communi-
cation with the tube of the pressure guage (8) by a copper pipe (t) fixed
by two screw joints (u, u,); the communication between the two
presses and the pressure guage is alternate and not simultaneous; it
is established by the aid of a two-way cock (v) having a working
handle (y); this cock is connected with the pressure guage by a screw
joint, and is bolted on one of the longitudinal pieces of the frame. The
horizontal cylinder is pierced at its upper part by an orifice provided
with a screw stopper (x) intended to secure the filling when the liquid
is poured into the apparatus, and to prevent the escape of the air which
it might contain. The pressure guage applied to this operation is
on "Bourdon's" system, and similar to that above described for the
original machine.
Like the original machine (Sheet 1) the modified apparatus (Sheet III.)
is intended for weighing railway trucks. The weighing takes place on
the actual spot where the loading or the unloading of the truck takes
place, counter rails having previously been placed at the part of the
way where these operations are habitual.
•
The weighing of a truck using the modified hydraulic truck weighing
machine is effected as with the original machine. After having entirely
fitted the one after the other the two chambers of the press with water
or any other liquid, taking care firstly to set 'the machine ready for
working (which is done by lowering the two vertical pistons and their
nuts to the bottom of their stroke and by drawing the two horizontal
pistons from the chambers of the press also to the full extent of their.
stroke), the apparatus is laid on the counter rails laid for the purpose,
and by the aid of the carrying rollers is brought immediately into
position under one of the axles of the truck to be weighed; the nuts of the
vertical pistons are then brought the one after the other into contact
with the axle (for this purpose the nut is first made to turn until it
strikes against the axle, then keeping the nut fixed in such a position
that the line of the bearing surface or fulcrum is normal with that of
the axle; the piston is made to turn on its collar by the aid of the
working spindle until the axle is in contact with the two bearing surfaces
of each nut), then the two horizontal pistons are introduced simulta-

page_text: neously into the chambers of the press by turning the crank, and the
displaced liquid drives the two vertical pistons which uplift the axle.
Directly the wheels of the axle have left the rails the crank is no longer
turned, and by moving the handle of the two-way cock the liquid in
each press is successively put in communication with the manometrical
tube; after each movement of the cock the pressure indicated by the
index which represents the weight supported by each press is read off;
the two readings are then added together and the weight of the axle of
the truck is thereby ascertained. By turning the crank in the contrary
direction to the end of the stroke or traverse of the horizontal pistons
the wheels of the truck are replaced on the rails, the nuts of the vertical
pistons are brought down, and by the aid of the carrying rollers the
apparatus is rolled under the second axle of the same truck for the
repetition of the same operation.
Finally, the two weighings are added together and the total weight of
the truck is obtained very approximatively; the slight displacement of
the centre of gravity of the load which takes place at each operation
may in practice be neglected. As in the original apparatus the relations
existing between the length of the crank and the diameter of the pistons
and of the adjusting screw are such that a man of average strength
working the crank may easily uplift an axle weighted with about 12
tons (10,000 kilogrammes), the maximum power of the two presses of the
typical modified truck weighing machine shewn Sheet III. of the
accompanying Drawings.
The modified apparatus is like the original one so arranged that not
one of its parts descends lower than the level of the top of the rails or
passes above the lower level of the ordinary axles of the trucks and the
cross rods of the brakes, consequently the apparatus may be easily
worked under the trucks and roll from one axle to the other on the
counter rails.
•
The applications of my modified truck weighing machine are the same
as those above specified for original machine.
The single crank for working the two presses simultaneously may be
replaced by two cranks acting independently, upon each press two
pressure guages being used instead of only one.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it

page_text: understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details above set
forth and shown on the accompanying Sheets of Drawing, as such may be
varied while retaining the essential characteristics of my Invention, and
that I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent the use of a portable or travelling weighing machine or apparatus
operating by hydraulic pressure substantially as and for the purposes
above specified
EMILE FḍUGÈRE. (L.§.)