Year: 1898

page_text: A communication from DANIEL MYERS, of 69, Clinton Street, Cleveland, Cuyahoga
County, Ohio, United States of America, Wholesale Druggist.
I. ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The spring balance scale of which the present invention may be regarded as
an improvement is a scale of common form;-that is to say, a scale having a
suitable and preferably cylindrical scale case adapted to be suspended by a ring;
a runner which is suspended from the lower ends of two springs which lie in the
scale case and are fastened at their upper ends to said case; a horizontal spindle
which is mounted in suitable bearings at the center of the scale case across which
it extends; a pinion which is fixed to the spindle; and a rack which is fast to
the runner engages with this pinion; and one or more movable indicator devices
which are secured to this spindle.
The runner projects out through the case at a point diametrically opposite a
suspended ring, and the weight supporting device which is usually a scale pan,
is suspended from the lower end of this runner. Any weight placed upon the
scale pan may cause a downward movement of the runner proportionate to the
weight of such article, and this movement of the runner will, through the rack
and pinion, cause a corresponding rotation of the spindle.
One part of the invention relates to the means by which the upper ends of the
runner-supporting springs are adjustably secured to the scale frame. The scale
frame consists of a cylindrical rim and two parallel vertical bars which form
chords of said rim and lie on opposite sides of the scale center. These two vertical
bars are provided each with a horizontal bracket arm which extends toward a
vertical line passing through the scale center. A threaded eye bolt passes through
a vertical perforation in the end of each of these bracket arms, and each is made
fast to its said bracket arm by two nuts, one of which lies above and one below
the bracket arm. The springs which support the runner are hooked into the
lower ends of these eyes.
This construction affords means for adjusting the position of the upper ends of
the runner-supporting springs.
Two face plates are secured to opposite sides of the scale frame. Two dials are
secured to the scale spindle close behind these two face plates. One of the dials
is divided into concentric rows, which are graduated to represent values at different
rates in a well known manner. The outer edge of the dial has also one row of
graduations indicating weights. These graduations may be seen by the observer
through an arc-shaped opening in the face plate adjacent to said dial, while the
value graduations on said dial may be seen through two horizontal slots or sight
openings in said face plate. The other dial is merely graduated to represent
weights, and the graduations are seen through an arc-shaped opening in the face

page_text: plate in front of said dial. One feature of the invention consists, therefore, of
two rotatable dials which are made fast to the scale spindle, one dial being
graduated to represent values at different rates, which graduations are readable
through horizontal sight openings in the adjacent face plate, and the other dial
being graduated to represent weights and being readable through an arc-shaped
opening in the face plate adjacent to it.
Each of the face plates may consist of a horizontal bridge bar, which extends
from one side to the other of the scale frame to which it is fastened, (one end of
the scale spindle being journalled in this bar) and two nearly semi-circular plates
whose straight edges enter grooves in the horizontal edges of said bridge bar.
The semi-circular plates may be fastened by screws, or other means, to the scale
frame. The back wall of the grooves in the edges of the bridge bar may be
formed by plates of metal fastened to the rear side of said bridge bar. The metal
plates which are secured to the bridge bar forming a part of the face plate over
the value dial serve to hold in proper position magnifying glasses which are
secured behind the horizontal openings in said bridge bar. One feature of the
invention is found in the construction of these face plates, which construction
admits of accurate mounting of the spindle in the bridge bars, and further admits
of the adjusting of the scale mechanism when one of the semi-circular plate
sections are removed, so that the workman may observe the operation of the
interior of the scale mechanism and correct any defects therein while the spindle
is in permanent bearings. After this the face plate sections may be secured in
place without danger that the correct operation of the parts will be affected thereby.
In order to prevent any sudden movement of the scale mechanism due to
suddenly loading or unloading the scale, and to prevent any injury of the delicate
working parts of the scale, which might otherwise result from such sudden move-
ment, a dash pot is employed. The cylinder of this dash pot, which is closed at
one end, preferably its upper end, and open at its lower end, is made fast to the
scale frame, in such position that the axis of the dash pot is in the line of draft
of the runner,--that is to say, vertical.
The dash pot plunger must be movable in the cylinder with as little friction as
possible. It may be formed of a hollow cylinder of fibre graphite or plumbago, or
some other similar material, which cylinder has an internal annular Hange. Two
metal plates are inserted in this cylinder on opposite sides of this flange. Rubber
washers are placed between these plates and said flange, and the plates are drawn
toward each other to grasp the flange between them by a threaded rod which passes
centrally through one plate and screws centrally into the other, said rod being
provided with a flange which bears against the outside of the plate through which
the rod passes. This rod projects a short distance below the plunger, forming
what may be called a plunger stem. A plunger rod is flexibly connected at its
upper end with the plunger and with the runner, said connection being such
that said plunger rod may have a slight universal movement at both points of
connection. The lower end of the plunger rod may be turned into horizontal
position and passed loosely through a hole in the runner, whereby the rod may
have the slight universal movement referred to. The flexible connection with
the upper end of the plunger rod may be made by means of a wire link which
In order
passes loosely through holes in the plunger rod and the plunger stem.
to keep the plunger rod and stem in proper relation to each other at all times, the
upper end of the plunger rod may be made of conical form, and it may enter
the cup-shaped end of the stem, the link preventing the withdrawal of the
conical end of the plunger rod from said cup.
In the use of spring balance scales, it is desirable that the load shall be placed
centrally upon the scale pan, but in practice this is rarely done. The load is
thrown to one side or the other, with the result that the runner is forced to one
side or the other, or backward or forward, out of the true vertical line. Because of
this fact that in practice the runner is frequently drawn out of the vertical position,
it is necessary that the plunger rod shall have the flexible connection at its ends

page_text: with the runner and with the plunger, or otherwise the plunger would bind in
the dash pot cylinder and the device would become practically inoperative. In
fact if the plunger rod were rigidly fastened to either the plunger or to the runner,
the scale would be practically valueless.
A screw screws through both of the metal plates forming part of the plunger
and in this screw a longitudinal groove is cut, which, at the point of the screw,
is deep and wide, while it diminishes gradually in both width and depth until it
fades to nothing at its other end. By screwing this screw in one direction or
the other, the size of the opening through which air must pass to or from the
closed end of the cylinder, may be very nicely and very quickly regulated.
A scale constructed substantially as described, may be suddenly loaded or
unloaded without causing any violent movement of the runner, and consequently
without causing any violent movement of any other part of the scale. The dash
pot piston moves slowly in and out, and the scale parts move slowly to their proper
position and come to rest without any shock whatever and consequently without
any injury to the scale mechanism.
This shock arresting mechanism, as it may be called, which is an important
feature of this invention, may be used with any spring balance scale,--although it
will be most useful with a spring balance scale wherein the indicating mechanism
consists of one or more dials as herein described, because such indicating
mechanism will have considerable inertia, which might cause injury to the scale
mechanism if it were attempted to suddenly start or stop said indicators.
Dated this 19th day of Anril 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
A communication from DANIEL MYERS, of 69, Clinton Street, Cleveland, Cuyahoga
County, Ohio, United States of America, Wholesale Druggist.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in spring balance computing scales,-
that is, to spring balance scales which have indicating devices not only to show
the weight, but also the money value, at various rates per unit, of articles on
the scale pan.
The objects sought are to reduce to a minimum the chances that the scale will
be injured in use; to render the scale more accurate and durable; and to provide
means whereby the adjustment of the scale may be effected with greater ease
and certainty.
In the drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of a scale containing the several
improvements included in the invention; Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof,
Figure 3 is a front view with the face plate removed, Figure 4 is a central
vertical sectional view, and Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of one
of the bridge bars.
The spring balance scale of which the present invention may be regarded as
an improvement, is a scale of common form:-that is to say, a scale having a
suitable and preferably cylindrical scale case a¹ adapted to be suspended by a

page_text: ring a; a runner B which is suspended from the lower ends of two springs CC
which lie in the scale case and are fastened at their upper ends to said case; a
horizontal spindle D which is mounted in suitable bearings at the center of the
scale case, across which it extends; a pinion d which is fixed to the spindle; a
rack F which is fastened to the runner and engages with this pinion; and one
or more movable indicator devices which are secured to this spindle.
The runner projects out through the case at a point diametrically opposite the
suspending ring; and the weight supporting device, which is usually a scale
pan, (but is not shown) is suspended from the lower end of this runner. Any
weight placed upon the scale pan will cause a downward movement of the runner
proportionate to the weight of such article, and this movement of the runner will,
through the rack and pinion, cause a corresponding rotation of the spindle.
One part of the invention relates to the means by which the upper ends of the
runner-supporting springs are adjustably secured to the scale frame. The scale
frame consists of a cylindrical rim a¹ and two parallel vertical bars a² a², which
form chords of said rim, and lie on opposite sides of the scale center. These two
vertical bars are provided each with a horizontal bracket arm a which extends
toward a vertical line passing through the scale center. A threaded eye bolt c
passes through a vertical perforation in the end of each of these bracket arms,
and each is made fast to its said bracket arm by two nuts c¹²,--one of which lies
above and one below the bracket arm. The springs C which support the runner
are hooked into the lower ends of these eyes. This construction affords means for
adjusting the position of the upper ends of the runner-supporting springs.
Two face plates are secured to opposite sides of the scale frame. Two dials P P
are secured to the scale spindle close behind these two face plates. One of the
dials P is divided into concentric rows 2, which are graduated to represent values
at different rates in a well known manner. The outer edge of the dial has also
one row of graduations indicating weights. These weight graduations may be
seen by the observer through an arc-shaped opening m³ in the face plate adjacent
to said dial, while the value graduations on said dial may be seen through two
horizontal slots or sight openings m¹ m² in said face plate. The other dial is
merely graduated to represent weights, and the graduations are seen through an
arc-shaped opening n in the face plate in front of said dial, which face plate carries
an adjustable pointer a. One feature of the invention consists, therefore, of two
rotatable dials which are made fast to the scale spindle,-one dial being graduated
to represent values at different rates, which graduations are readable through
horizontal sight openings in the adjacent face plate, and the other dial being
graduated to represent weights and being readable through an arc-shaped opening
in the face plate adjacent to it.
Each of the face plates may consist of a horizontal bridge bar J, which extends
from one side to the other of the scale frame to which is is fastened, (one end of
the scale spindle being journalled in this bar) and two nearly semi-circular
plates whose straight edges enter grooves 2 (Fig. 5) in the horizontal edges
of said bridge bar. The semi-circular plates may be fastened by screws, or other
means, to the scale frame. The back wall of the grooves in the edges of the bridge
bar may be formed by plates 3 of metal fastened to the rear side of said bridge bar.
The metal plates which are secured to the bridge bar serves also to hold in proper
position magnifying glasses S which are secured behind the horizontal open-
ings m¹ m³ in said bridge bar. One feature of the invention is found in the
construction of these face plates, which construction admits of accurate mounting
of the spindle in the bridge bars, and further admits of the adjusting of the scale
mechanism when one or more of the semi-circular plate sections are removed, so
that the workman may observe the operation of the interior of the scale mechanism
and correct any defects therein while the spindle is in permanent bearings. After
this the face plate sections may be secured in place without danger that the correct
operation of the parts will be affected thereby.
In order to prevent any sudden movement of the scale mechanism due to

page_text: suddenly loading or unloading the scale, and to prevent any injury of the delicate
working parts of the scale, which might otherwise result from such sudden move-
ment, a dash pot is employed. The cylinder E of this dash pot, which is closed
at one end, preferably its upper end, and open at its lower end, is made fast to the
scale frame, in such position that the axis of the dash pot is preferably in the line
of draft of the runner, that is to say, vertically over the axis of the spindle.
The dash pot plunger H must be movable in the cylinder with as little friction
as possible, and may be formed of any suitable material. It is provided with a
centrally placed stem h which projects a short distance below the plunger. A
plunger rod K is flexibly connected at its ends with the plunger and the runner
respectively, said connection being such that said plunger rod may have a slight
universal movement at both points of connection. The lower end of the plunger
rod may be turned into horizontal position and passed loosely through a hole in
the runner, whereby the rod may have the slight universal movement referred to.
The upper end of the plunger rod may be flattened, and fit very loosely in a vertical
slot in the stem ; and may be secured to the stem by a pivot pin which fits
loosely holes in the plunger rod on the plunger stem, whereby a slight universal
movement of the rod relative to the stem is permitted.
In the use of spring balance scales, it is desirable that the load shall be placed
centrally upon the scale pan, but in practice this is rarely done. The load is
thrown on to one side or the other of the pan, with the result that the runner is
forced to one side or the other, or backward or forward, out of the true vertical
line. Because of this fact that, in practice, the runner is frequently drawn out of
the vertical position, it is necessary that the plunger rod shall have the flexible
or universal connections between its ends and the runner and the plunger respec-
tively, or otherwise the plunger would bind in the dash pot cylinder and the
device would become practically inoperative. In fact, if the plunger rod were
rigidly fastened to either of said parts, the scale would be practically valueless.
A scale constructed substantially as described, may be suddenly loaded or un-
loaded without causing any violent movement of the runner, and consequently
without causing any violent movement of any other part of the scale. The dash
pot piston moves slowly in and out, (the air passing out of or into the upper end
of the cylinder by passing around the sides of the plunger, or through a hole in
the plunger or in the cylinder above the plunger), and the scale parts move slowly
to their proper position and come to rest without any shock whatever and con-
sequently without any injury to the scale mechanism.
This shock arresting mechanism, as it may be called, which is an important
feature of this invention, may be used with any spring balance scale, although
it will be most useful with a spring balance scale wherein the indicating mechanism
consists of one or more dials as herein described, because such indicating
mechanism will have considerable inertia, wherefore the scale mechanism might
be injured if the runner were suddenly started or stopped.
The cylinder is, as described, vertically over the scale spindle, and it is of such
diameter that the rack enters the cylinder and moves therein without touching
the cylinder. The plunger rod is bent laterally between its ends so as to pass
the spindle, on the opposite side of the spindle to that on which the rack lies,
the axis of the spindle being normally in the same line with the ends of the rod.
The described construction and relative arrangement of the cylinder, together
with the shape of the plunger rod, permit the introduction of the dash pot, and
the securing of the advantages which follow its use, without any reorganization
of the old parts of the scale, or any change in the sizes and relative positions of
the parts thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a spring balance scale, the combination of the scale frame, and the verti-

page_text: cally movable spring suspended runner, with a pneumatic cylinder fixed to the
scale frame, and having one closed and one open end, a plunger movable freely
in said cylinder, and a plunger rod which is connected, by universal joint con-
nections, at both ends with the plunger and runner respectively, substantially as
specified.
2. In a spring balance scale, the combination with the spring-suspended runner
thereof, and a pneumatic cylinder secured in a vertical position to the scale frame
above the scale spindle, with a plunger freely movable in said cylinder, and a
plunger rod, the ends of which are connected by universal joint connections to
the runner and to the plunger respectively, said rod between its ends being
deflected out of a straight line whereby it may pass the scale spindle, substantially
as specified.
3. In a spring balance scale, the combination of a scale case, a horizontal scale
spindle, a pinion and an indicator both connected to said spindle, and a spring
suspended runner below said spindle, with a dash pot cylinder closed at its upper
end and open at its lower end, which cylinder is secured to the scale frame in a
vertical position above the scale spindle, a rack connected with the runner and
extending upward therefrom into the cylinder, and engaging with the pinion on
one side of the spindle, a plunger working loosely in said cylinder, and a rod
connected at its ends by universal joint connections with the plunger and runner
respectively, said rod between its ends being bent laterally away from the rack
whereby it passes the spindle on the opposite side to that on which the rack lies,
substantially as specified.
4. In a spring balance scale, a face plate consisting of a horizontal bridge bar
adapted to be secured to the scale frame and to furnish a bearing for one end of
the scale spindle, and two approximately semi-circular plates whose straight edges
overlap the upper and lower edges of the bridge bar, and preferably fit in grooves
in said upper and lower edges, which face plate has a suitable sight opening
through which one may read the graduations on a dial behind it, substantially as
specified.
5. In a spring balance computing scale, the combination of a scale frame, a
rotatable spindle, a spring suspended runner, and mechanism whereby the move-
ment of the runner proportionately rotates the spindle, a dial secured to the
spindle near one end thereof and having annular rows of value indicating figures,
and a second dial secured to the spindle near its other end, and having an annular
row of weight indicating graduations, and two face plates secured to the frame
over said dials respectively, one of said face plates having an arc-shaped opening
through which the weight indicating graduations on the last named dial may be
read, and the other face plate having an arc-shaped opening through which the
weight indicating graduations on the first named dial may be read, and also a
radial opening through which the value indicating figures on said dial may be
read, substantially as specified.
6. A face plate for a scale having an arc-shaped sight opening, and a pointer
adjustably secured to the face plate and projecting into said opening, substantially
as specified.
7. In a spring balance scale, a scale frame having a circular rim a, vertical
bars a², and horizontal bracket arms a³ and eye bolts e which pass through said
bracket arms and are attached thereto by nuts the scale springs being
suspended from these eye bolts, substantially as specified.
Dated this 7th day of January 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.