Improvements in Weighing Scales.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing Scales.
I, HEWITT BOICE, of 194 Fair Street, Kingston, in the County of Ulster, and
State of New York, United States of America, Merchant, 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 object of this invention is to provide an attachment for scales whereby the
value of any fraction of a given unit of weight at any price per unit from one to
one hundred will be indicated; and to this end the invention consists of two indicators,
preferably cone-shaped, that are divided into sections by lines that run at right angles
to the axes of the cones each section being in turn divided by lines that are substan-
tially parallel with the axis of the cone, strips arranged in connection with the cone,
the strips being divided into sections corresponding in width to the cone section, said
strip sections being numbered from "2" upward, upon one strip, all the even numbers
appearing upon said strip while the sections of the other strip are numbered from "1"
upward, all of the odd numbers appearing upon this strip. To facilitate the reading of
the cones I provide wires which run in close proximity to the surfaces of the cones
and directly above and parallel with the axes of the cones and in connection with the
cones I provide a mechanism whereby the cones are each rotated by the movement
of the balancing plate, the movement of the cones being in proportion to the
distance traversed by the weight upon its supporting beam.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this speci-
fication in which figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a counter-scale representing
the same as it appears when provided with my price indicating attachment. Figure 2
is a side view of the scale. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 figure 1,
and figure 4 is a plan view of the cone arranged in connection with the bar or
strip upon which the numbers appear, the views 3 and 4 being on an enlarged
scale. Similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the views.
In the drawings 10 represents the standard, 11 the beam, 12 the scale pan,
and 12ª the plate or weight support of an ordinary counter-scale.
In applying my attachment, I journal cylinders or cones 14 and 15 between the
longitudinal sections 6 of the beam 11, the journals extending through the forward
section b, as shewn at c, and to these extending journal ends I secure pulleys 17
(figures 1 and 4) which carry a metallic belt 18. Between the parallel lengths of
the belt 18 I attach an auxiliary beam 20, said auxiliary beam being carried by
the forward section (figure 2) of the main beam 11. Upon the beam 20 I mount
a slide 23, best shewn in figures 2 and 3, having a threaded shank d which passes
downward through an aperture formed in the lower length of the belt 18 the lower
end of the shank being engaged by a nut e by means of which the tension of the
belt may be regulated, the nut being turned upward when it is desired to tighten
the belt. From the slide 23 I suspend a weight 21 by means of a double hook 22
which engages projections f¹ (figure 3) that extend outward from the sides of the
slide. The cones (or cylinders, as the case may be) are superficially divided and
graduated as follows:-The length of the cone-14 for example is divided into 50 rows
or sections e¹ and these rows or sections are divided circumferentially into as many
parts or subdivisions as-there are units in its denominating number on the adjacent
scale strip 25, that is to say, the section nearest the base of the cone (or the far side
of the cylinder, as the case may be) is divided into ninety-nine subdivisions, which
are grouped into periods of five, numbered from zero up to 95, the last period being
divided into four spaces. Similarly the eleventh section from the base of the cone,
(or the back of the cylinder), is divided into seventy-nine subdivisions, the periods

page_text: being numbered from zero up to seventy-five and the last period being divided into
four spaces to complete the seventy-nine subdivisions of this particular section and so
on for the intermediate and remaining sections of the cone or cylinder a corresponding
plan being followed in the division of the cone 15. The divisions are preferably made
by dots and elongated marks, as shewn in the drawings, the numbering of all spaces
starting upon a line that is exactly parallel with the axis of the cylinder or cone, as
will be readily understood. Each of the spaces, supposing the unit of value to be one
dollar will represent one cent.
Above the cone 14 there is mounted a strip 25 that is divided into fifty spaces
numbered with all the odd numbers from 1 to 99 while above the cone 15 there is
mounted a strip 26 divided into fifty spaces that are numbered with all the even
numbers from 2 to 100 the spaces of the strips registering with the circumferential
rows of graduations of the cones. These strips are secured to the beam in any proper
manner, but preferably by screws, as shewn best at w in figure 3 the strips being bent
so as to lie closely adjacent to the cylinder or cone surfaces.
To facilitate the reading of the cones I arrange wires 27 which run in close proximity
to the cone surfaces exactly above and parallel with the axes of the cones, one of these
wires being employed for each cone and when the scale is at rest and the beam
balanced, the zero line upon each cone or cylinder will be just to one side of these
wires.
Let it be supposed that the scale in connection with which my attachment is
arranged is designed to weigh pounds and that the unit of value is one dollar; then,
in adjusting the attachment the beam 20 and the weight 21 should be so proportioned
that if the weight be moved from the position in which it is shewn in figure 2, to the
opposite end of its beam it would counterbalance one pound placed in the pan 12.
Suppose it is desired by means of my attachment to ascertain the value of a quantity
of merchandise worth forty cents a pound. The merchandise is placed in the scale
pan 12 and pound counterbalancing weights are placed upon the scale plate or weight
support 12ª until it is ascertained that the merchandise weighs we will say between
five and six pounds; then after this approximate weight is ascertained the weight 21
is moved along the beam 20 in the direction of the arrow shewn in figure 2 and in so
moving it will carry the belt 18 in the direction of its arrow, and as the belt moves as
indicated the cones or cylinders 14 and 15 will be rotated, a full rotation of the cones
being brought about by moving the slide 23 from one end of its beam to the other as
has been hereinbefore explained. But as the slide is moved as just described it will
be brought to a point at which the weight 21 in connection with the weights on the
scale pan or weight support 12ª will exactly counterbalance the merchandise in the
scale pan 12 then, if we glance at the cone 15 and read the number beneath
the wire 27 that appears opposite the division numbered 40 on the strip 26, we will
find the value of the fractional portion of a pound of the material contained in the
scale pan 12. Let us suppose that this fractional part is one balf of a pound; in that
case the slide 23 and with it the weight 21 would have moved one half of the distance
toward the right hand end of its beam and consequently a one-half turn would have
been imparted to the cone, thus bringing the mark 20 beneath the wire 27; and
supposing that there were five pound counterbalancing weights placed in the scale
plate 12 we would know that the value of the goods would be two dollars and twenty
cents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. In a price-indicating attachment, the combination, with an indicator divided
longitudinally into a number of sections said sections being proportionately divided,
of a strip divided into numbered sections, a counterbalancing weight, and a connec-
tion between said indicator and weight.
2. The combination, with indicators divided substantially as described of numbered
strips arranged in connection with said indicators, pulleys carried by the indicator

page_text: journals, a belt carried by the pulleys, a weight, and a beam, the weight being con-
nected to one length of the belt, substantially as shewn and described.
3. In a price-indicating attachment, the combination, with a revolvable indicator
divided longitudinally into a number of sections, said sections being proportionately
divided, of a strip divided into numbered sections, a counterbalancing weight, and
connections, substantially as described, between the indicator and weight, whereby
when the weight is moved the indicator will be turned, as and for the purpose
stated.
4. In a price-indicating attachment, the combination, with indicators 14 and 15, of
strips 25 and 26, wires 27, pulleys 17, carried by the indicator journals, a belt 18,
arranged in connection with the pulleys, a beam 20, a weight suspended from said
beam, and connections between one length of the belt and the weight, substantially
as described.
5. In a price-indicating attachment, the combination, with indicators divided
longitudinally into sections, the sections of one indicator being divided proportionately
from 1 to 99 and the sections of the other indicator being divided proportionately
from 2 to 100, strips divided into sections which correspond with the indicator sections,
the sections of one of the strips being numbered from 1 to 99 and the sections of
the other strip from 2 to 100, pulleys carried by the indicator journals, a belt carried
by the pulleys, and a weight connected with the belt and suspended from the
beam.
IMTAR 1019 AFⱭ AAV AT Sanromno. LAAM
■ IR STA ARVO Monromner LAAM
H. BOICE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.