Improvements in Steelyards.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steelyards.
WALTER YATES Builder 56 Kirkmanshulme Lane Longsight near Manchester in
the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is intended to accomplish weighing as accurately as if performed on
the ordinary beam scales, and to dispense with use of loose weights to obviate the
trouble of frequently changing them, and is constructed so as to plainly indicate with
pointers on two dials facing contrary ways, the weight to be weighed, or being
weighed.
The invention by which I attain this object consists principally in the following
construction, viz.-On two sides of a vertical standard, I fix two brackets opposite to
each other, so as at the top to extend across in a straight line on each side of the
standard. On these brackets is formed a rest or cradle for a weigh beam, which is
graduated to weigh in the following manner. The beam with its attachments for
weighing and balancing is made an equal weight, say for one illustration; it is eight
pounds weight, four pounds being on each side a centre fulcrum. On a beam
sixteen inches long it would give a length of eight inches, each side of the centre
fulcrum on moving the fulcrum four inches along the beam, it takes weight from one
side of the fulcrum and increases weight, at the other end of the beam making a
difference in proportion of leverage, of three as against one, with the fulcrum at this
point, and thus creating a want of six pounds weight to balance the beam, which
represents on this calculation only, the full weighing capacity.
To ascertain different weights, graduated weighing points are made, between the
two points to suit convenience.
Along the bracket before mentioned is also a fixed groove for a movable fulcrum to
slide along in, underneath the weigh beam, between the points for weighing.
I do not confine myself to one particular method of moving and adjusting the
fulcrum, as this may be varied without departing from the distinctive feature of my
invention; but the following is an illustration of one form that I purpose to use. A
knife edge fulcrum is fixed in a small carriage which fits in and is made to slide along
the groove before mentioned.
At one end of the groove is fixed a tube containing a spiral spring, which is con-
nected to one end of the small carriage in the groove, for the purpose of pulling back
the fulcrum to the equal balance or starting point when released froin a ratchet
hereafter mentioned.
The other end of the carriage is attached to a cord or small chain which is
extended along between the groove and round a pulley fixed at the end of the
groove and is then fastened to a spring ratchet catch which attached to a small
lever to keep it in position to slide round the segment of a circle, which is
knatched at distances to suit the divisions on the weigh beam as set out for
weighing.
To adjust the fulcrum for weighing any given weight, the lever is moved along
the ratchet until the weight required is indicated by the pointers on the dials; then
the ratchet catch is allowed to rest in the knatch corresponding to or opposite to the
catch at the time when the weight wanted is indicated on the dials. To accomplish
this indication simultaneous with the movement of the ratchet lever I fix on the top
of the standard in the centre and over the weigh beam, an encased indicator with two
dials facing in opposite directions.
The internal construction of the indicator is formed by a round barrel, on the axles
of which are fixed the pointers ontside at the front of the dials: to the axle of the

page_text: barrel is fixed one end of a coil spring, the other end of the spring being fastened as
most convenient, for the purpose of returning the pointers to zero simultaneous with
the return of the fulcrum to the centre or starting point. The circumference of the
barrel is adjusted to suit the length required for the fulcrum to travel, and the dial
faces are divided and marked accordingly. Round the barrel a band is wound and
fastened at one end to the barrel, the other end being brought through an opening in
the bottom of the case of the indicator, passed round a pulley, and fastened taught to
the end of the fulcrum carriage; thus when the fulcrum is moved along it causes the
barrel to rovolve and turn the pointers round the dials simultaneously with the
moving of the fulcrum, and always indicates any alteration in the weighing point; so
that it can plainly be read on the dials, the weight the beam will weigh without the
use of loose weights.
Dated this the Eighteenth day of October 1880
WALTER YATES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steelyards.
I, WALTER YATES Builder 56 Kirkmanshulme Lane Longsight near Manchester in
the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:
--
The object of this invention is to provide steelyards similar in form of con-
struction to the ordinary beam scales. The balancing capacity of which may easily
be altered without the use of loose weights, and simultaneously with any alteration
made in the balance or weight to be weighed, to indicate the same with pointers on
two dials which face contrary ways, thus shewing plainly on two sides the weight to
be or being weighed.
In order to enable the same to be clearly understood I have annexed hereto sheets
of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. in the annexed Drawing shows the complete form of construction (which
may be varied to suit convenience without departing from the distinctive feature of
my invention) with the indicating dials applied thereto.
Fig. 2. is a sectional view on horizontal line C-D in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. is a sectional view on vertical line A-B Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detached sectional views.
In a slot on the top of the standard a Fig. 1. and on brackets bb Fig. 2. is fixed a
groved crosshead cc to form a cradle or rest for the support of the steelyard or
beam dd with its weighing and balance attachments. In the groove of this cradle is
fitted a small carriage e Fig. 2. to which is fixed a knife edge fulcrum, this carriage is
made to slide along the groove underneath the steelyard or beam dd to any graduated
point as required to alter the balance for weighing. To regulate the movements of
this carriage a small chain g Fig. 2. is attached to one end of it, and extended along
the groove round a small pulley / Fig. 2. then connected to a ratchet catch i Fig. 2
which is fastened to a small lever j Fig. 2. to keep it in position to slide round the
segment of a circle & Fig. 2. which is notched at distances to suit the graduated points
on the steelyard d d as set out for weighing.
To the other end of the fulcrum carriage a small chain is also attached and
extended along the groove in the cradle and round a pulley / Fig. 2. on to the end of
this chaiu a weight m Fig. 2. is suspended for the purpose of drawing back the
fulcrum carriage to zero or the equal balancing point of the beam when required. The
lever n Fig. 1. is provided and arranged so that when passed down it will lift up the
beam or steelyard so as to free and clear the fulcrum whilst being moved from one
point to another.
To clearly denote when the beam is at the exact balance of the weight indicated on

page_text: the dials I fix on one end of the cradle c c a pair of gauge plates one on each side of
the cradle.
To the top of these plates is attached small needles & free at one end to rise and fall
with the beam, they are then allowed to rest loosely over the top of the beam from
each side in the form of an X cross; on the beam descending the needles being
confined at the bottom end fall to a horizontal level (see Fig. 4) when the. beam
has arrived at the true balance of the weight as indicated by the pointers on the
dials.
To accomplish the indication on the dials simultaneously with the movement of the
ratchet and the fulcrum, I fix on the top of the standard a Fig. 1. and over the
steelyard or weigh beam an encased indicator (o Fig. 1.) with two dials which face in
opposite directions.
The internal construction of the indicator is formed by a template or cam p Fig. 2
being fixed on axles which are extended through the two faces of the dials and the
pointers being fixed thereon.
The pointers are encased under glass to prevent being tampered with at the front
of the dials.
Round the axle of the template p, there is fixed a coil spring 9 one end being
fastened to the axle the other end being fixed to the frame as most convenient; for
the purpose of returning the pointers to zero simultaneously with the return of the
fulcrum to the equal balance or starting point.
The template or camp is adjusted to suit the length required for the fulcrum to
travel as graduated on the steelyard or beam d d and the dial faces are divided and
marked accordingly.
Round the template or camp a chain is wound and fastened at one end, the other
end of the chain being brought through an opening in the bottom of the case of the
indicator, passed round a pulley s fixed on the standard a and then fastened taut to
the end of the fulcrum carriage; thus when the fulcrum is moved, it causes the
template or cam p to revolve and move the pointer round the dials simultaneously
with the moving of the fulcrum and so to indicate any alteration in the weighing
point which can plainly be read on the dials, the weight the beam will balance without
the use of loose weights.
The operation of weighing is performed by pulling down the lever n to relieve the
fulcrum, and then the lever j is moved along the ratchet until the weight required is
indicated by the pointers on the dials, the ratchet catch is then allowed to rest in the
notch coresponding or opposite the catch at the time when the weight wanted is
indicated on the dials, the lever n is then lifted to and placed in its resting position,
the steelyard or beam d d has then lowered on to the fulcrum, at the weighing point
as indicated by the pointers on the dials.
The weigh plate or end, is then loaded until the beam decends enough to allow the
needles & leaning over the beam to full level across the top of the beam, that being the
exact balance of the weight as indicated on the dials.
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.
1st. The application of a sliding fulcrum simultaneously acting in connection with
pointers on the face of dials divided and figured to suit the different weighing points
or centres on the steelyard or beam, so as to facilitate weighing quickly and accurately
on the steelyard principle without the aid of loose weights.
2nd. The construction and combination of the grooved cradle, sliding fulcrum,
ratchet lever, moving needles over the beam, lever, chains, pullies and weight, for the
purpose of manipulating and regulating the movements for weighing.
Dated this 4th day of Inno 1800
WALTER YATES.