An Improvement in Analytical and other Delicate Balances, also applicable to other Beam Weighing Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Analytical and other Delicate Balances, also
applicable to other Beam Weighing Machines.
I, GEORGE PARKER BIDDER, Q.C. of Palace Chambers, Bridge Street,
Westminster, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:―
My invention has more particularly for its object to supersede the use of "riders"
or small weights which require to be shifted along the beam of analytical and other
delicate balances, for effecting the final adjustments in weighing, and to substitute
for the same a readier and at the same time more delicate means of adjustment. It
consists in employing as such means of adjustment a flexible filament or thread or
light chain, which must be as nearly as possible of uniform section throughout,
one end of such filament or chain being fixed to and suspended from one arm of
the balance, preferably at a point conveniently near the fulcrum, from which point
the filament or chain hangs in the form of a catenary, the other end being led up
through an aperture at the top of the case containing the balance and then attached
to an appliance whereby it can be readily lengthened and shortened or raised and
lowered, such as an axle or cylinder round which it is wound and which has attached
to it a milled head for turning it by hand, and a graduated circle moving past a
fixed index. Or the axle may have a worm wheel gearing with a worm turned by
hand, for very delicate adjustment. Thus on turning the milled head in one
direction or the other the length of the catenary is increased or diminished, and
one half of the weight of such increase or decrease in length will be added to or
taken from the load of the balance arm, the weight corresponding to such increase
or decrease being read off from the graduated disc and index.
Or the upper end of the catenary may be attached to a vertically sliding bar
marked with a scale, and raised or lowered by a toothed rack and pinion or by
other means.
When applying the said invention to ordinary beam weighing machines the
catenary may either be used for final adjustment as above described, or it may be
made of a heavy chain and constitute either the entire weight or a substantial
portion thereof, in which case its one end may be attached near the end of the beam
instead of near the fulcrum.
The attachment of the catenary to the beam may also be made adjustable along
the beam, for adapting the balance for weighing heavier or lighter objects.
The above described invention will also have the advantage of lessening the
oscillations of the beam in weighing, as, when the arm of the beam rises or falls in
oscillating, an increase or decrease in the weight of the portion of the catenary
suspended therefrom will result, tending to bring the beam back to the middle
position.
Dated this 4th day of December 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Analytical and other Delicate Balances, also
applicable to other Beam Weighing Machines.
I, GEORGE PARKER BIDDER, Q.C. of Palace Chambers, Bridge Street,
Westminster, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
[P'nice 8d.]

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
My invention has more particularly for its object to supersede the use of" riders"
or small weights which require to be shifted along the beam of analytical and other
delicate balances, for effecting the final adjustments in weighing, and to substitute
for the same a readier and at the same time more delicate means of adjustment. It
consists as shewn by the accompanying drawing in employing as such means of
adjustment a flexible. filament or thread or light chain C which must be as nearly
as possible of uniform section throughout, one end of such filament or chain being
fixed to and suspended from one arm of the balance, preferably at a point
conveniently near the fulcrum, from which point the filament or chain hangs in the
form of a catenary, the other end being led up through an aperture at the top of
the case containing the balance and then attached to an appliance A whereby it
can be readily lengthened and shortened or raised and lowered, such as an axle or
cylinder round which it is wound and which has attached to it a milled head for
turning it by hand, and a graduated circle moving past a fixed index. Or the
axle may have a worm wheel gearing with a worm turned by hand for very delicate
adjustment. Thus on turning the milled head in one direction or the other the
length of the catenary is increased or diminished and one half of the weight of such
increase or decrease in length will be added to or taken from the load of the
balance arm, the weight corresponding to such increase or decrease being read off
from the graduated disc aud index.
Or the upper end of the catenary may be attached to a vertically sliding bar
marked with a scale, and raised or lowered by a toothed rack and pinion or by
other means.
When applying the said invention to ordinary beam weighing machines the
catenary may either be used for final adjustment as above described, or it may be
made of a heavy chain and constitute either the entire weight or a substantial
portion thereof, in which case its one end may be attached near the end of the
beam instead of near the fulcrum.
The attachment of the catenary to the beam may also be made adjustable along
the beat, for adapting the balance for weighing heavier or lighter objects.
The above described invention will also have the advantage of lessening the
oscillations of the beam in weighing, as, when the arm of the beam rises or falls in
oscillating, an increase or decrease in the weight of the portion of the catenary
suspended therefrom will result, tending to bring the beam back to the middle
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The use in combination with balances and beam weighing machines of a flexible
filament, thread, cord or chain, one end of which is connected to one arm of the
balance or beam, so as to be suspended therefrom in the form of a catenary, its
other end being connected to adjusting and indicating mechanism whereby the
catenary can be lengthened or shortened, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 24th day of August 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.