IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDROSTATIC WEIGHING AND LIFTING MACHINES FOR ADJUSTING THE WEIGHT ON SPRINGS. OR LOCOMOTIVES WAGONS. AND CARRIAGES AND FOR
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry David Furness, of Whickham; in the
County of Durham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HYDROSTATIC WEIGHING AND LIFTING MACHINES FOR ADJUSTING THE
WEIGHT ON SPRINGS. OR LOCOMOTIVES WAGONS. AND CARRIAGES AND FOR
Sealed the 27th December 1872, and dated the 3rd July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry David Furness
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd July 1872.
I, HENRY DAVID FURNESS, of Whickham, in the County of Durham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN HYDROSTATIC WEIGHING AND LIFTING MACHINES FOR ADJUSTING
THE WEIGHT ON SPRINGS OF LOCOMOTIVES, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in hydrostatic weighing and
lifting machines, which are so arranged that the weight borne by each
wheel or pressure of the load carried by each of the springs of a

page_text: ཅས
It is also applicable for adjusting the springs, so that the load may be
properly distributed over a series of springs; by such proper distribution
of the load steadiness and stability of vehicle is obtained, thus effecting
a great saving in wear and tear, as well as greater security, particularly
when running at high velocities.
The differential pressure gauge used in combination with this machine
is arranged according to my improvements in such manner that although
a great pressure per square inch may be applied, small and sensitive
spiral or other springs are used, whereby slight variations in the
load can be indicated accurately, although the total pressure may be
considerable.
The apparatus consists of a hydraulic lifting jack, so constructed that
the base or foot in the form of a claw rests on the foot or under head of
the rail, or other suitable bearing; the outer casing of the jack or lift is
furnished with a second claw that grips or supports the under side of the
wheel tyre. To obtain a parallel lift the weight to be raised is counter-
balanced by means of a small piston attached by a piston rod to base of
jack opposite the lifting claw, and the pressure of fluid coming into a
small cylinder between the piston and the outer casing of the jack has a
tendency to force down the casing of the jack opposite the claw with
a force equal to the area of the piston multiplied by the pressure per
square inch. The centres and forces are so arranged that the distance
from the centre of the large cylinder of the jack to the centre of the
lifting claw, multiplied by the weight lifted, exactly equals the distance
from the centre of the large cylinder to the centre of the small cylinder,
multiplied by the pressure per square inch given out by the small pump
and by the area of the counterbalancing cylinder. The area of the large
or lifting cylinder is made so that the pressure per square inch multiplied
by the area exactly equals the weight to be lifted plus the total pressure
on the counterbalancing piston before mentioned.
The differential pressure gauge consists of a cylinder of two unequal
diameters, the pistons of which are fixed upon one rod at a convenient
distance apart, the pressure of fluid being applied between such unequal
diameter pistons; motion will take place towards the larger end of the
cylinder on account of such difference in diameter. The piston or
plunger rod is continued and connected by a cross head or other

page_text: suitable means to spiral or other springs, the pressure applied or
weight lifted being indicated upon a dial or its equivalent, either in
pressure per square inch or total weight lifted in tons and hundred-
weights, as may be desired.
suitable means to spiral or other springs, the pressure applied or
weight lifted being indicated upon a dial or its equivalent, either in
pressure per square inch or total weight lifted in tons and hundred-
weights, as may be desired.
The jack weighing machine or lift can be used independently of the
gauge or together, as may be required. The weighing apparatus or
jack can be used with any other suitable description of gauge, and the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry David Furness in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
DAVID FURNESS, of Whickham, in the County of Durham, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry David Furness, Her special
license that I, the said Henry David Furness, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry David
Furness, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN HYDROSTATIC WEIGHING AND LIFTING MACHINES FOR ADJUSTING
THE WEIGHT ON SPRINGS OF LOCOMOTIVES, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
David Furness, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next, and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry David Furness, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in hydrostatic weighing and
lifting machines, which are so arranged that the weight borne by each
wheel or pressure of the load carried by each of the springs of a
locomotive, carriage, or wagon can be obtained with ease and accuracy.
It is also applicable for adjusting the springs, so that the load may be
properly distributed over a series of springs by such proper distribution
of the load that steadiness and stability of vehicle is obtained, thus
effecting a great saving in wear and tear, as well as greater security,
particularly when running at high velocities.
The differential pressure gauge used in combination with this machine.
is arranged according to my improvements in such manner that although
a great pressure per square inch may be applied, small and sensitive
spiral or other springs are used, whereby slight variations in the
load can be indicated accurately, although the total pressure may be
considerable.
The apparatus consists of a hydraulic lifting jack, so constructed that
the base or foot in the form of a claw rests on the foot or under head of
the rail, or other suitable bearing; the outer casing of the jack or lift is
furnished with a second claw that grips or supports the under side of the
wheel tyre. To obtain a parallel lift the weight to be raised is counter-
balanced by means of a small piston attached by a piston rod to base of
jack opposite the lifting claw, and the pressure of fluid coming into a
small cylinder between the piston and the outer casing of the jack has a
tendency to force down the casing of the jack opposite the claw with
a force equal to the area of the piston multiplied by the pressure per
square inch. The centres and forces are so arranged that the distance
from the centre of the large cylinder of the jack to the centre of the
lifting claw multiplied by the weight lifted exactly equals the distance
from the centre of the large cylinder to the centre of the small or
balancing cylinder multiplied by the pressure per square inch given out
by the small pump multiplied by the area of the counterbalancing
cylinder. The area of the large or lifting cylinder is made so that the
pressure per square inch multiplied by the area exactly equals the

page_text: Figure 1 shews a vertical section of apparatus arranged with
differential gauge; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; and Figure 3 is an
elevation of the dial of the differential gauge.
A represents the tyre of a railway wheel in position to be lifted; B
is the rail, which in this instance is flat based, but can be varied at
pleasure; D is a claw formed on the casing of the apparatus; E is a
large or lifting cylinder; F is a continuation of the top of the casing
continued for the purpose of acting as a guide to the small plunger
pump J is a small lever fitting into a socket formed on the top of
O the plunger I; and K is a weigh bar or spindle, from which the
lever J is worked by the lever handle L; M is a passage in com-
munication between large lifting cylinder and small counterbalancing
piston O; N is a piston rod attached to base of apparatus C; P is the
small end of a cylinder of differential gauge; and Q is the large end of
5 the cylinder; R are small spiral springs; and S is a continuation of the
I;

page_text: differential piston; T is a cross head connecting springs R and piston
rod S; U is a dial; V is a regulating screw for adjusting the base of the
apparatus by screwing down disc W to suit irregularities of ground; X
is a small escape valve, which is opened by pressing down the lever
liandle L until the projection Y on the plunger I presses on the end of
the valve.
In order to ascertain the pressure on springs for the purpose of
equalizing the load upon the axles of locomotives one apparatus, such
as has been described, is placed under each wheel in such manner that
the claw of the base plate C rests upon the flange of the rail B; the
claw D of outer casing of apparatus grips the under side of the wheel
tyre A. The small pump is then set in motion, and oil or other fluid is
pumped from reservoir H into lifting cylinder F at the same time oil or
other fluid passes through the passages M to small counterbalancing
cylinder, acting on the piston O and bottom of cylinder with such a force
that the weight to be lifted at claw D is effectually balanced, causing
the casing C to lift parallel with centre line of the two cylinders.
The pressure per square inch, or the absolute weight lifted, can be
obtained from dial of differential gauge according to the manner in
which it is graduated, or the same can be obtained by attaching a
hydraulic gauge of any construction to the top of the casing instead of
the screw Z, or to any other suitable position.
In the Drawing the distance from the centre of the claw D to the
centre of the lifting cylinder is 3.875, and from centre of lifting cylinder
to centre of balancing cylinder, 5.871; arca of lifting cylinder, 16.6;
diameter 46; area of balancing cylinder, 6-6 plus area of piston
rod 2.405 9,000 total area or 3.385 full diameter; diameter of
piston rod, 1.314. With these proportions 224 lbs. per square inch
lifts 1 ton at claw.
The size and dimensions of the apparatus can be varied according to
the particular purpose for which it is required.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and explained the
manner of performing or carrying out the same in practice, I would
have it understood that what I claim is,
First. The arrangement of apparatus above described, whereby I am a
enabled to adjust the weight by means of a series of springs with accuracy,
and thus obtain exactly the weight on rail at cach wheel.

page_text: I also claim the method of obtaining a direct motion with a hydraulic
apparatus taking a side lift in such manner that all side or twisting
strain is obviated, and the total strain concentrated direct upon the
centre line of the lifting cylinder.
Lastly. I claim the general arrangement and construction of
differential pressure gauges, substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry David Furness, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.
H. D. FURNESS. (L.S.)