IMPROVED PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR VERIFYING THE WEIGHT OF GOODS ON DELIVERY
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM BEILBY AVERY of 12 Digbeth, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVED PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR VERIFYING THE WEIGHT OF GOODS ON
DELIVERY, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
J
The object of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient means for
ascertaining the actual weight of goods delivered by tradesmen in parcels or batches
of given nominal weight such for instance as butter or tea, and especially for
checking the weight of quartern and half quartern loaves on delivery.
For such a purpose it is desirable that the apparatus should be simple, strong,
light and easily carried with no loose parts or weights liable to be mislaid or lost,
and also that its construction shall be such as to render its indications very.
palpable and prevent as far as possible mistakes or fraud on the part of the user.
To these ends my invention consists in a portable steel yard or weigh beam
provided with a non-detachable but easily shifted weight, whose adjustment is
limited to certain defined positions on the said beam, and with a receptacle or other
support for the goods to be weighed occupying but little space and adapted to be
easily carried by the tradesman on his daily rounds, or to be used by the servant
receiving goods made up in parcels of a certain reputed weight.
In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my improved portable apparatus
as constructed for use in verifying the weight of bags of flour or loaves of bread
on delivery, Fig. 1 being a side elevation and Fig 2 an end view thereof.
A is a steel yard or beam provided with knife edges which rest on steel bushes
or bearing blocks carried by or fitted in a shackle or link B to which is attached
a hook or ring C adapted to be held by the hand or to be suspended on a hook or
nail; and D is a smaller shackle or link bung upon knife edges towards one end
of the steel yard or beam and serving to support a canvas bag or other suitable
receptacle or support, E, for the goods whose reputed weight, is to be checked.
Towards the other end of the steelyard or beam A a weight F, is so mounted and
secured that it cannot be detached from the beam but is capable of being instantly
so shifted in position as to balance a load in the receptacle or support, E, of, say,
2 lbs, or one of 4 lbs as may be desired.

page_text: The weight F is preferably pear shaped in longitudinal section, and pivotted as
at to the beam A; it is also preferably deeply grooved to embrace a portion of
the beam in either of its extreme positions. This arrangement tends to prevent
wrenching strain on the pivot pin fand to keep the parts snug when in transit.
In the case of apparatus for weighing bread made up in quartern and half
quartern loaves of 2 lb and 4lb nominal weight, the beam is preferably distinctly
marked with figures indicating these weights at the two extreme positions
respectively of the said weight, and on both sides of the beam.
The loops or eyes in the ends of the shackles or links B and D, are preferably
fitted with cylindrical steel brushes as b and d, having closed ends: An easily
fitted and renewable bearing surface for the knife edges is thereby provided and
dirt is excluded therefrom; but other forms of bearing surfaces for the knife edges
to rest on, may be used.
It will be understood that the weights which the apparatus is constructed to
indicate will vary according to the nature of the articles whose nominal weight is
to be tested thereby, and the weight of the parcels in which it is customary to offer
such article for sale. Thus for tea and butter the steel yard or weigh beam may
be conveniently fitted with a weight indicating 1, and 2 lbs in its two extreme
positions.
A metal scale pan or light basket might take the place of the canvas bag shown
in the drawing, or a simple hook might be used to support the package of tea or
other goods when contained in a wrapper and tied by string.
By mounting the weight in the manner indicated in the drawing little if any
opportunity for misuse is afforded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved construction of portable weighing apparatus described with
reference to the accompanying drawing for the purpose of enabling the reputed
weight of goods to be rapidly verified on delivery.
2. In a portable hand weighing apparatus the combination with a steel yard or
weigh beam, of a non-detachable weight whose adjustment is limited to certain
defined positions thereon, for the purpose above set forth.
Dated this 96 day of Fehmua TOOK