AN IMPROVED WEIGHING MACHINE
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHRISTOPHER
EDWARD DAMPIER, of Ware, in the County of Hertford, Attorney-at-Law, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent
under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the
Fourteenth day of January, in the third year of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Christopher
Edward Dampier, Her especial licence, that I, the said Christopher Edward
Dampier, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Chris-
topher Edward Dampier, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, and also in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my
Invention of "AN IMPROVED WEIGHING MACHINE;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Christopher Edward
Dampier, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in
Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within four calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as by
the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Christopher Edward Dampier, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention to consist in a circular plate or disc, acting at the same time as a
crank or bent lever and an equipoised balance beam, to which the substances
required to be weighed and one given weight are attached, and as a geometric
graduated scale of parts or subdivisions of such given weight for indicating
the weight of matter applied thereto when compared or balanced with or
against the said given weight; and in the application to such circular plate,
disc or bent lever of the simple lever or steelyard in combination with such
bent lever and graduated scale for extending the power and operation of the
same beyond such weights, as should be indicated on the disc; and in further
compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Christopher Edward Dampier, do
hereby describe the manner in which my said Invention is to be performed,
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a front view of one of my improved weighing machines.
A is a suspended frame to support the disc or circular plate B, which disc
turns upon an axis or centre at C, resting on the frame A in bearings for the
purpose; D is the weighing scale suspended at a point a on the disc to receive
the substance or matter to be weighed; E is a balance weight or hook hung
on the opposite side of the disc at a point e to counterpoise the weighing
scale; F, F, is a perpendicular line marked on the disc from the point H
through the centre; and G, G, is a line likewise marked on the disc from
the point a to the point e, likewise through the centre, such line being in this
Figure a horizontal line. At II is hung the weight X before referred to,
which I call the resisting multiple weight; and care must be taken that the
disc be equipoised on its axis, and that the points a, e, and H are all equi
distant from the centre of the disc. From L to I is the geometric scale
before mentioned applicable to the matter, if applied to the weighing
scale; and from L to J is the geometric scale applicable to the matter, if
applied to the hook E, both such geometric scales being marked on the
dise; and K is an index fixed to the suspended frame A to mark the weights
sought as the disc revolves, and as the zero (to which the index is in the first
instance to be set) of the scale is propelled from its original position by the
weight of matter placed in the weighing scale or on the hook, as herein-before
mentioned.
Figure 2 is the geometric figure by which the scale should be found when, as

page_text: in Figure 1, the angle of the bent lever described by lines drawn from the centre
to the points a and H respectively is a right angle; and such points equidis-
tant from the centre describe a circle, as in this Figure, and from the point
H (corresponding with that point or extremity of the bent level in Figure
1, at which the resisting multiple weight suspended) draw through the
centre C the perpendicular line H, C, L, (corresponding with the perpen-
dicular line described in Figure 1); through the centre also, and from the
point d to the point e (corresponding with the points in Figure 1, at which
the weighing scale and hook are suspended) draw the horizontal line
G, G, produce the radius C, L, and set off from the centre C, upon such
radius or line, as many equal parts as the given resisting multiple weight is
commonly held to contain of sub-divisions, which it is intended should be
indicated by graduation on the scale, and at the extremity P of such line
and parts so set off draw the horizontal line Q, P, Q, and set off on that
line from the point P. in each direction the same number of like equal parts
which are set off from the centre upon the line C, P, as before mentioned.
Draw line from each such point of division to the centre, and the two several
axes L, M, and L, N, (which correspond with the ares L, M, and L, N,
respectively of the disc in Figure 1,) will be thereby respectively divided into
as many parts as the given resisting multiple weight contains of such required
subdivisions as aforesaid, and such several divisions or graduated distances
will correspond with the several required parts or subdivisions of the given
resisting multiple weight; and being carefully transferred to the disc, and
successively enumerated, as from L, the zero of the scales, (to which the index
must previously be set,) they will severally denote the weight of any matter
applied to the weighing scale or hook, as exhibited to the index, when such
substances is balanced against the resisting multiple weight by the operation
of this machine. The lines P'; Q, P, Q, being produced, and other similar
parts at like équal distances being further set off thereon, and lines drawn in
like manner from each of the points so found to the centre, the ares M, 1,
and M, J, will be in like manner intersected by a second series of lines of
graduation, which being also transferred to the disc will indicate in like
manner such various further parts successively multiple of the original unit or
subdivisional part of the given or resisting multiple weight, as required.
Figure 3 is the geometric figure by which the scale should be found when
the angle of the bent lever described by lines drawn from the centre to the
points corresponding with the extremities of the bent lever or points of
suspension herein-before mentioned is other than a right angle, or are not
equidistant from the centre, as in the last Figure. Describe a circle as in this

page_text: Figure. From the centre C let fall the perpendicular line C, H, (the point H
corresponding with that in Figure 1, at which the resisting multiple weight is
suspended). Let the point a correspond with the point in Figure 1, at which
the weighing scale is suspended, and the angle a, C, H, with the angle of the
proposed bent lever. Describe the angle H, C, a, equal to the angle H, C, a,
and let the lines H, C, and C, a, be equal to the lines H, C, and C, a, respec-
tively. Draw line from x to H, which line divide into two equal parts, and
from the centre C through such point of division or bisection draw the line
C, b, c. From the point a, parallel with the line H, C, let fall the perpen-
dicular line x, y, intersecting the line C, c, at the point d. Divide the line x, d,
into as many equal parts as the given or resisting multiple weight contains of
parts, as before mentioned. Draw lines from the centre to the circumference
of the circle through every such point of division, and the are æ, c, will be
thereby divided into as many parts as the given resisting multiple weight
contains of subdivision which it is intended to indicate in the scale, as afore-
said; and the various graduated distances so ascertained will correspond with
the various subdivided parts of the given resisting multiple weight, and being
carefully transferred to the disc, and successively enumerated from x, the zero
of such graduated scale (to which the index must previously be set), they will
severally denote the weight of any matter applied to the weighing scale
suspended at the point a, as they are severally exhibited to the index when
such matter is balanced against the said resisting multiple weight. In order
to extend this graduated scale, set off from the point d on the line d, y, as
many further parts likewise equal to those into which the line a, d, is divided
as it is desired further to graduate on the disc, and draw lines from the centre
to the are c; f, of the circle through or to every such further point of division,
and the arc so intersected will be thereby divided into such further parts or gra-
duations as required; and such further scale being in like manner transferred to
the disc, will by exhibition to the index, when the matter is balanced against
the given or resisting multiple weight, denote such further weights as desired.
The machine herein described may be used for ascertaining greater or less
weights than those marked on the disc by removing and replacing the given
resisting or multiple weight with or by another of proportionate greater or less
gravity, in the former of which cases the weight denoted by the scale and
index when the matter is balanced must in like manner and in like proportion
be multiplied, and in the latter case in like manner and in like proportion
divided, in order to denote the actual weight of the matter proposed to be
weighed by such means. The machine may also be used for ascertaining
greater weights than those graduated on the disc by suspending at the counter-

page_text: poise hook or scale other weights to any extent which may be required to
balance such matter, and which weights so suspended must in that case be
added to the weight shewn by the graduated scale in order to denote the true
and actual weight of the matter so weighed.
Figure 4 is another of my improved weighing machines, with the angle of
the bent lever obtuse, as in Figure 3, constructed on the principle above
mentioned, acting in combination with the simple lever or steelyard, which
simple lever or steelyard a, a, as described in this Figure, is a fixed or
temporary straight steel or other beam, consisting of two parts affixed to the
disc, such two parts being of equal length, substance, and gravity, equally
counterpoising each other, and working upon the same centre as that on which
the disc revolves, such centre being or acting as the fulcrum of its movement,
and which said steel beam is graduated from the centre into equal distances,
such several distances or parts being successively multiple of the distance or
part of the disc between the centre and the point at which the weighing scale
or book is suspended; the purpose of which steel beam is to add to the
operation of the dise or bent lever any proposed further weight than is marked
or graduated upon the disc, in the way of balance upon such steelyard, which
addititional weight, or the multiple thereof, according to its position upon the
steelyard, being added to that shewn upon the dise or bent lever by the index,
will give the true weight of the matter balanced.
Now whereas I claim as my Invention the application of a geometric scale
formed on the principle of the rules berein-before given to a circular plate or
disc, such plate or disc acting at the same time as a bent lever, and an equi-
poised balance beam for weighing matter, in manner herein-before described,
and as an index of the weight so ascertained, as shown by the Figures in the
Drawings annexed.
And I claim also as my Invention the combination in operation of the
aforesaid disc acting as a bent lever and the simple lever or steelyard, as
herein-before described, for ascertaining the weight of substances applied
thereto by means of graduated scales, as herein-before mentioned, extending
the operation of the disc acting as a bent lever to greater weights than
marked upon the disc by means of the simple lever or common steelyard.
And such my Inventions being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new and never before used within that part of Her Majesty's United.
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, or Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, or in Her Majesty's Colonies or
Plantations abroad, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the
same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specification doth comply in

page_text: all respects fully and without reserve or disguise with the proviso in the said
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained, wherefore I do hereby
claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Inventions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Edward Dampier, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, the Thirteenth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and forty.
CHRIST EDWP (L.s.) DAMPIER..
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Christopher Edward
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourteenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Christopher Edward Dampier came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.