Indicating Postal Scale.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Indicating Postal Scale.
I, ISAAC SEAMAN MCGIEHAN of 26, Cortlandt Street, in the City of New
York, County of New York, and State of New York, United States of America,
Lawyer, 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 postal scales, its object being to provide an internally
moving chart inside of a slotted face piece, which exposes through the slots of the
face piece, the weight of the article resting upon the scale and the amount of
postage necessary to carry it in its proper class, also suitable mechanism for operating
the same, ell of which will be hereinafter explained.
I have illustrated my invention in several figures in the acompanying drawing
which forms a part of this Specification with similar letters of reference to indicate
corresponding parts, as follows:
Fig. 1, represents a face view of the scale box showing various slots a, b, c, d, e,
and f, &c. through which the figures of the internal chart are exposed.
Fig. 2, represents the face developed into the flat of the internal chart above
referred to and which contains in its first column the figures which represent
ounces and in its second column the figures which represent first class postage,
its third column contains the figures which represent second class postage and
80 OD.
Fig. 3, represents a side elevation of the internal mechanism which operates the
internal chart designated by the letter D, Figs. 3 and 4, and
Fig. 4, represents a rear view of the internal mechanism.
To describe the construction and operation of the mechanism I would state that
the vertical pieces A. A., Figs. 3 and 4 constitute the supporting frame within which
the operating mechanism is carried, the frame A being bolted or otherwise secured
to the top and bottom of the box piece S.
At the top of the supporting frame as shown at N is a lever provided with
a knife pointed trunion as N', Figs. 3 and 4, the knife points of which rest in
bearings provided in frames A as shown at N", Figs. 3 and 4, and have
their knife points bearing downward. In the upper end of the lever is a small
knife pointed trunion as o, Fig. 3, upon which the slotted spindle bar B rests,
its lower end being toggled to the frame A as shown at B' to keep it in a
vertical position.
On the lower end. of the lever, N, is another knife pointed trunion M upon which
the bearing pieces provided in the upper ends of the connecting rod E, rest as
shown at M, Figs. 3 and 4.
The lower end of the connecting rod E, is provided with bearing pieces which
receive another knife pointed trunion secured to the weight arm G, as shown at M',
Fig. 3.
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 there is another knife pointed trunion as R which has
its knife pointed ends engaged with the frame pieces A, as shown at P, having their
bearing in an upward direction.
Extending forwardly from this trunion on either side are four arms, as F, which
carry the chart D.-and suspended from the centre of the trunion R is the weight
arm G which carries the counter weight or pendulum H, the latter being so
adjusted that when it hangs at a dead centre, the weight column of the chart D,
exposes its zero mark opposite the pointers in the space a in the face piece.
Thus when any weight is placed upon the scale platform K it causes the upper
end of the lever N to move downward, this action causes the rear end to rise and

page_text: by means of the connecting rod E to lift the forward side of the weight arm G
which carries with it the arms F and chart D, the counter weight or pendulum H
is by this action drawn forward out of its dead centre, and its continued rise in
that direction is in proportion to the amount of weight applied to the platform K
as follows: When one ounce is applied it moves forward until the chart face D
has moved upward sufficiently to expose the fig. 1 in its weight column opposite
the pointers in the first space of the scale face Fig. 1; when two ounces are
applied it moves forward sufficiently to allow the fig. 2 to be exposed in a like
manner and so on until the weighing limit is reached. In this operation it will be
noticed that the trunion N' and R which are the only ones having their bearings
in the frame A take their fulcrum or thrust in opposite directions which reduces
the friction and gives a more perfect balance movement.
The slots in the scale face may be as many in number as are desired to properly
illustrate the postage of various classes of mail, but the chart D should be made
to correspond therewith and contain a column of figures representing the postage to
be paid in each class, as illustrated.
The box of the scale is constructed by bending the piece S as indicated in
Fig. 3, to form the top, bottom, back and a short piece of the front above and
below the face piece A-the side pieces C Figs. 1 and 4 are formed with a lip
which encircles the piece S. The two sides being bolted together by four screws,
complete the construction as illustrated. The slotted face piece A¹ Figs. 1 and 3
is adjustably bolted to the upper and lower front ends of the box piece S as shown
at U Figs. 1 and 3. Thus in adjusting the scale the mechanism is simply placed
in an upright position and a face piece A' is moved either up or down until the
pointer in the first slot is on the zero line of the chart D, and then secured
permanently in that position.
The pendulum H is curved as shown in Fig. 3 in order to create a more
sensitive and uniform movement so that the spaces on the scale chart D will be
uniform.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
Claim I. The platform carrying spindle B resting upon the lever N and having
its lower end toggled to the frame A so that when weight is applied to the
platform K the said spindle will remain in a vertical position, in combination with
suitable mechanism for operating the chart D, substantially as described.
Claim II. In a weighing scale, the lever N, its knife pointed trunion bearing
downward in the frame A, the knife pointed trunion R taking its bearing upward
in the frame A supporting the pendulum H in combination with the connecting
rod E and suitable spindle as B substantially as set forth.
Claim III. The lever N having its knife pointed trunion bearing downward in
the frame A and the trunion R, carrying the chart D and weight arm G to which
is suspended the pendulum H and having its knife point bearing in an upward
direction in combination with the connecting rod E and toggled spindle bar Bas
described and specified.
Claim IV. The slotted face piece A¹ adjustably secured to the scale box as
described to permit of its being moved to regulate the position of the slots and
pointers in juxta-position with the chart D as described and specified.
Claim V. The curved pendulum or counter weight H suspended from the knife
pointed trunion R in combination with the arms F chart D, and suitable mechanism
for operating the same, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of April 1894.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.