Improvements in Railroad Scales.
Year: 1890

page_text: COME LEIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railroad Scales.
We, JAMES WILLIAM BALLARD and HARVEY LAYBOURN FISHER, of Toledo,
County of Tama and State of Iowa, United States of America, Gentlemen, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in scales, and has especial reference to devices
for raising and lowering the track rails of railroad scales, so that they will be sup--
ported rigidly when not in use and can be quickly shifted onto their pivots when it is
desired to weigh the cars.
Our invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side view of a scale having our improved device applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of a portion of the scales
showing the scales lowered into position for weighing.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line - of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the hinged supporting levers.
Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the adjustable upper bearing for said lever.
Fig. 6 is a side view with a part broken away of the scale, showing a modified
arrangement of means for operating the rock shafts.
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the same on line x-x of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the rack bars and their connections.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the brake showing the manner of operating the
same.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 of the annexed drawings, A, A, designate
the parallel longitudinal base beams of the frame of the scales.
B designates the platform, and C the hangers for the same, all of the usual con-
struction.
At various points along the frame we secure the cross bars D, and on
these cross bars we secure the bearings E, in which are journaled the rock shafts F,
having on their outer ends the crank armis G extending in opposite directions from
said shaft. The ends of these crank arms are connected by the longitudinal links or
connecting rods H, as shown At about the centre of the scale we mount the
transverse rock shaft I, having rigidly secured to its outer end the three-armed
lever J. Two of the arms of this lever extend from the shaft in a diametrically
opposite direction, while the third arm K, extends from the shaft at an angle to the
said two arms.
The ends of the aligned arms are connected by the links L with the
ends of the adjacent crank arms G, and the links L extending between the two arms
of the lever J, and the adjacent crank arms on one side are crossed, as shown, so that
the said crank arins at both ends of the scales will be simultaneously operated to
rotate the rock shafts F in the proper direction to throw the upper portions of the
hinged levers out of engagement with the upper bearing. The end of the arm K has
the lower end of a link, M, pivoted thereto, the upper end of said link being pivoted to
the sborter arm of the bent operating lever N, which is fulcrumed on the track rails
of the scale and is adapted to engage a hook O secured thereto so as to lock the scale
firmly in its raised position.
PP designate a series of hinged levers which have their lower members S secured
rigidly on the rock shafts F and projected upward therefrom. The upper members Q
of the levers P have their lower ends hinged to the lower members S and their upper
ends resting in bearings R secured to the underside of the track rail of the platform.
The lower member S of the lever P is provided at its upper end with a transverse
groove T which is nearly circular in cross section and projecting from one side of the
nember S is an oblique arm .U. The upper member of the lever is provided at its

page_text: opposite ends with the cylindrical journals V, V. The lower journal V engages the
groove T of the lower member of the hinge and the upper journal engages the
bearing R, as shown. From one side of the member Q projects a pin W, which
extends through a perforation in the upper end of the arm U and is provided
at its extremity with a nut X. The pin W is hinged to the member of the lever so
as to allow the proper movement of the members upon each other. This construction,
however, is not essential, as the said pins may be secured rigidly to the upper
member or formed integral therewith and curved outward and downward therefrom
on the are of the circle of which the lower bearing V is the centre. A spring i
is coiled around the pin. W beween the nut X and the arm U for a purpose
presently set forth.
The bearing R comprises a base plate Y, the bearing plate Z and a wedge a. The
base plate Y is secured to the underside of the track rail of the platform and is
provided at one end with the depending lug b. A bearing plate Z is secured beneath
the base plate Y by means of bolts cc, extended vertically through the base plate and
the bearing plate, as shown. The bearing plate is provided on its upper side with an
inclined groove d, in which the wedge, a, rests, and said wedge is provided at its
smaller end with a threaded cylindrical extension e, which projects through the lug
and is provided with a securing nut, f, turning up against said lug. By this means
the wedge can be readily drawn inward or loosened to be pushed outward so that the
bearing plate will be secured at the proper height for the successful operation of the
hinged levers. On its under side, the bearing plate Z is provided with the depending
ribs or flanges g, h, having a concave surface between them. The flange is some-
what longer than the flange g and is arranged at the proper side of the bearing plate
to limit the movement of the upper end of the hinged levers P.
The upper
hearing V of the hinged lever rests in the concave recess between the flanges g, h.
In practice the normal position of the parts is that shown in Fig. 1 with the
members of the hinged members aligned and having their upper ends engaging the
bearings R. In this position the platform of the scale will be held off the hangers CC
so that the train can run over the scale without operating the same and thereby
causing wear of the parts. When it is desired to weigh a car the lever N is dis-
engaged from the hook O and thrown upward as shown in Fig. 2 and the motion of
the lever is communicated through the several links and the three-armed lever J to
the rock shafts F, thereby rotating said shafts and operating the hinged levers.
As the shafts F are rotated the lower members S of the hinged levers will be thrown
over towards the beams A, as shown in Fig. 2, of the frame of the scale thereby
lowering the lower bearing V of the upper member of the lever. At the same time
the arm U will compress the springs on the pins W between said arm and the
nut X so that said springs will exert a tension against said nut to prevent the upper
member of the lever being carried outward by the motion of the lower member. The
said upper member of the lever is thus caused to move outward at its lower end and
downward at its upper end. When the upper end of the member Q has been lowered
sufficiently to clear the flange g the tension of the spring will be overcome and the
said lever will then be thrown outward into the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the
track rails of the scale platform will be supported by the hanger C so that the car
may be weighed.
In Figs. 6 to 9 we have shown a modifiéd arrangement of means for operating the
rock shafts whereby the platform or track rails of the scale may be more easily and
positively railed and lowered and we also show an automatic brake whereby the
liability of the platform rising before the cars have been weighed is avoided. In said
figures the lower members of the hinged levers are made somewhat heavier and
wider than those shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and have the inclined shoulders D' which are
adapted to engage the upper edges of the bearings E' in which the rock shafts B' are
journaled, so as to prevent the rock shafts being carried too far to one side or the
other and also to furnish a firm and strong support for the upper member of the lever.
The rock shafts are provided near one end with crank arms F1 which project upward
from said shafts, the lower crank arms shown in our other arrangement being

page_text: dispensed with. The upper ends of the crank arms are connected by pitmen G¹ pivoted
thereto, as in our other arrangement, and if the crank arms should be of such a
number as to require it intermediate points of the pitmen may be pivoted thereto.
The innermost crank arms F' have the sliding bars H pivoted to the upper ends and
said bars have their inner ends extended past each other and provided on their
opposing faces with rack teeth 1'. Below the platform at the centre of the scales,
we erect the standards J' in which a shaft K¹ is journaled and between which the
ends of the bars H₁ are inserted. A pinion L' is secured on the shaft K' between the
standards J and this pinion is engaged by the rack teeth I' on the ends of the
bars H' so that when said shaft K' is rotated the bars will be simultaneously moved
longitudinally and the rock shafts operated to raise or lower the platform.
Rollers Mare arranged between the standards J¹ above and below the bars H' and
bear on said bars so as to hold them to the pinion and at the same time reduce the.
wear of the parts to a minimum.
A transverse shaft N' is arranged below the platform parallel with the shaft K' and
is geared to said shaft by means of a sprocket pinion O' on shaft N', a sprocket .
wheel P¹ on the end of shaft K¹ and a sprocket chain Q₁ connecting said wheel and
pinion. The end of the shaft N' projects beyond the side of the platform and under
the casing for the scale beam, and a pinion R' is secured thereon. A shaft S' is
mounted transversely in the casing for the scale beam and is connected with the
pinion R' by a chain T¹ passing over said pinion and suitable pinion on the shaft S¹.
The end of the shaft, S¹, projects beyond the side of the casing and the operating
wheel U is secured on the said end of the shaft. A brake-lever, V₁ is pivotally
mounted below the said driving wheel and it is provided at one end with a shoe, W₁,
adapted to bear against the said wheel and its outer end is connected with the sliding
bars, H, by a chain, X'.
In this construction when it is desired to weigh a car, the driving wheel is rotated
so as to impart motion to the transverse shaft N' and the wheel P¹ so that the
pinion, K¹ meshing with the rack teeth I will be rotated and thereby draw the
bars, H' outward, consequently rotating the rock shafts, so that the hinged levers will
be released from their bearings on the underside of the platform so that the platform
will be lowered onto its pivots and the scales operated in the usual manner to weigh
the car.
As the rack bars are drawn inward the chain X¹ will be caused to pull the outer
end of the lever V' downward, thereby throwing the brake shoes, W₁ up against the
wheel, U and causing it to bind on the said wheel so as to prevent movement of the
same and consequently hold the hinged levers in their bent position to prevent them
accidentally engaging their bearings before the car is weighed as also to prevent
turning the wheel too far either way.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that our improved scales are very
simple and can be easily operated. It will be observed that in the latter construction,
we are enabled to dispense with the lower crank arms and connecting rods employed
in the construction first described and are thereby enabled to bring all the parts of
the lifting mechanism above the lower timbers of the scale out of the way of any
water or ice that may accumulate in the bottom of the pit of the scale and tend to
interfere with the successful operation of the scale. By using the gearing shown in
Figs. 6 to 9 we are enabled to raise and lower the platform more easily and positively
than by the use of the means shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and thereby effect a saving of
labor and produce a machine which can be operated with certainty. The brake it
will be observed is automatic in its operation so that there will be no liability of the
platform rising before the car has been weighed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is :-
1. In an attachment for platform scales, the combination of the series of transverse
ock-shafts F, crank arms on the outer ends of said shafts. the links connecting said

page_text: crank arms, the rock shaft, I, the three-armed lever on said shaft, links connecting
said lever with the crank arms, the hinged levers on the rock shafts, F, adapted to
support the platform of the scales, the operating lever mounted on the platform and
the link connecting the same with the three-armed lever, as set forth.
2. The combination of the platform, the bearings, R, secured to the underside
thereof, the transverse rock shafts, arranged below the platform the hinged levers
comprising the lower members secured rigidly on the rock shaft and the upper
members supported by the lower members and adapted to engage the bearings, R,
when the two members are in alignment and be disengaged therefrom when the
members are at an angle to each other, and mechanism for rotating the rock shafts,
as set forth.
3. In an attachment for platform scales, the hinged lever, comprising the lower
member, S, having the transverse groove, T, in its upper end and provided with the
arm, U, and the upper member having its lower end journaled in the groove, T, a
pin projecting from said upper member through the arm, U, and a spring coiled
around said pin beyond the arm, U, and secured on said pin, as set forth.
4. The combination with the platform, of the base-plate, Y, secured thereto, the
bearing-plate Z secured to said base-plate and having the flanges g, h, and the concave
recess between said flanges, the wedge adjustably secured between the base-plate and
the bearing-plate, the hinged levers engaging the concave recess in the bearing-plate
and mechanism for operating said levers, as specified.
5. In a scales, of the character described, the hinged levers having their lower
members provided with the inclined shoulders, D' substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
6. The combination of the rock-shafts having crank-arms at their ends, the pitmen
connecting said crank-arms, the bars pivoted to the innermost crank arins and pro-
vided at their inner ends with rack teeth, the pinion meshing with said rack-teeth and
mechanism for rotating said pinion, as set forth.
7. The combination of the standards, J', the rollers, M', between said standards,
the sliding bars moving on said rollers and provided with rack-teeth in their opposing
sides, the pinion engaging said teeth mechanism for rotating said pinion, the rock-
shafts, and connections between the rock-shafts and the sliding bars, as set forth.
8. The combination of the rock-shafts, the sliding bars connecting therewith, the
transverse shaft, N¹, the pinion, K¹, adapted to operate the sliding bars, gearing
between said pinion and the shaft, N¹, the driving wheel, gearing between said wheel
and the shaft, N¹, and the brake lever arranged below the driving wheel and adapted
to bear thereon and connected with the sliding bars, as set forth.
9. The combination of the rock-shafts, the sliding bars connected therewith, the
operating wheel, U₁, gearing between said wheel and the sliding bars the brake lever
pivoted below the wheel, U₁ and having a shoe at one end and adapted to bear against
the said wheel and the chain connecting the opposite end of the lever with the sliding
bars, as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of January 1890
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.