Improvements in Weighing Apparatus and Computing Scales therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct.,
1897
[Communicated from abroad by DANIEL MYERS, of 69 Clinton Stre t, Cleveland,
Ohio, in the United States of America, Wholesale Druggist.]
Improvements in Weighing Apparatus and Computing Scales
therefor.
I, CHARLES JUNGE, of Lincoln Chambers, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in computing scales, that is, to scales
which are adapted to indicate the value, at any given rate, of any article placed
upon the scale platform. The scale shown, which embodies the invention, is also
adapted to indicate weights as well as values.
The objects of the invention are to produce a scale of the character described,
which shall be simple and durable in construction; which shall be absolutely
accurate in its indications of weight and computations of value at any given rate
for each unit of weight; and which may be easily, quickly, and accurately
adjusted to indicate values at different rates.
In the drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my new scale; Figure 2 is a
sectional plan view on line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view
on line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the fulcrum carriage;
Figure 5 is a rear view of the fulcrum carriage; and Fig. 6 is a perspective
view of the upper end of the fulcrum block.
serve as
Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the value indicating beam, which
may also
the weight indicating beam. It is fulcrumed on the
standards b¹ b¹, which standards rise from the horizontal frame member B. This
frame member B is supported by the standards, n, which rise from the base N.
W represents the scale platform, which may be supported upon any suitable
platform levers, which are not parts of the invention, and, therefore, are not shown.
h¹ h² represent a jointed connecting rod, by which the auxiliary beam H is con-
nected with the platform levers. So far as the principal invention is concerned,
the platform levers might be dispensed with, and a scale pan might be suspended
from the part 2 of this connecting rod.
The horizontal frame member B consists, as shown, of the parallel front and
back bars bb, and the connecting bars 63 63. The auxiliary beam H is fulcrumed
to and lies between the bars bb, its said fulcrum being midway between the
points at which the connecting rod 2 and link h are suspended from said beam.
This beam H is graduated and may be used as a weighing or tare beam, if desired.
The horizontal rate beam C is suspended from and pivotally connected at or
near its ends with the two freely swinging links a and h, of which the former is
suspended from the value beam A behind its fulcrum, and the latter from the
beam H in front of its fulcrum, as shown.
It should be here stated that the knife edged pivots commonly used in scales,
are the means which should be employed to connect the said links with the rate

page_text: beam and with the two beams A and H; and that both of said beams A and H
should be fulcrumed upon knife edges..
The upper edge of the rate beam C is properly graduated by notches indicated
by c. A fulcrum block G is movable above and in a path parallel with the
graduated edge of the rate beam, and it is likewise movable vertically; wherefore,
by virtue of these two motions, the sharpened fulcrum g on the lower edge of this
block may be moved into engagement with any notch c in said rate beam.
This fulcrum block G is supported by à carriage D, on which it is vertically
movable for the purpose of engaging and disengaging the rate beam. This carriage
may be mounted upon four wheels which enter and operate in the horizontal
grooves b which are formed in the inner faces of the bars bb. The end pieces d².
of the carriage extend downward, and they support a rectangular bar di which
extends between them. The fulcrum block G, which is made in the form of a
rectangular frame having horizontal top and bottom members g¹ g², and end
members, is provided with a rectangular slot g³ through said end members.
The rectangular bar d³ passes through this slot, and thereby guides the block in
its vertical movements. The fulcrum block is moved up by a spring g³, which is
compressed between the top member g¹ and the bar d³, and it is moved down to
engage with the rate beam, by means of cams 7 secured upon a rock shaft R, so
that they may engage with the bottom fulcrum block member g². The shaft R
is journalled in the end pieces of the carriage, and it is rocked by means of a
handle r', which is secured to a sleeve 72, the latter being secured upon the shaft R.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the fulcrum of the rate
beam is always supported by carriage D; and that the carriage is supported upon
the fixed frame work, and not upon the rate beam or upon any of the imoving parts
of the scale mechanism. The movement of the fulcrum along the rate beam
cannot, therefore, throw the scale out of balance in any 'degree, as it would if the
fulcrum were supported by the rate beam. Obviously one may vary the specific
means for supporting the movable fulcrum so that it may be moved into and out
of engagement with any part of the rate beam; but it is an essential and valuable
feature of the invention that said fulcrum be supported by a fixed part of the
scale, and not upon the rate beam itself. I believe I am the first to construct a
. computing scale having a rate beam which does not move longitudinally to adapt
the scale to compute values at different rates, and a fulcrum which does so move
and is supported during such movement, not by the rate beam or any other beam,
but by some fixed part of the scale frame.
As the scale beams shown are graduated, the unit of weight as one pound avoir-
dupois, and the unit of value is any amount selected; but it is an easy matter to
graduate the beams to adapt the scale to any unit of weight.
As shown, the notches c in the rate beam are associated with two rows of
indicating Figures e e³ upon a rate plate E,-of which those in the upper row are
four times as great as the corresponding figures in the lower row. It will be
noticed also that the value beam A is provided with two rows of graduations a³ a³.
The value indicating figures in the upper row are four times as great as the
corresponding figures of the lower row. The upper row of value figures indicate
values at the rates indicated by the upper row of rate figures upon the rate plate E,
and the lower row of value figures on beam A indicate values at the rates indicated
by the lower row of rate figures upon the rate plate. This increases the capacity
of the scale without increasing the length of the beams. Clearly the rate indicat
ing figures might be placed upon the rate beam, and the rate plate E, which is
hereinafter explained, might be omitted.
The operation of the described mechanism is as follows: If it is desired to
ascertain the value of any article placed upon the scale platform, at any given rate
per pound, the carriage D is moved until the fulcrum 'g is in line with the proper
notch upon the rate beam, which, as I will presently explain, is shown by the rate
plate E. The fulcrum block is then moved down into engagement with said notch
in the rate beam; the poise a³ upon the value beam is moved along until the scale

page_text: is in balance. The value figure on beam A in line with the reading edge of the
poise is the correct value of said article at the selected rate.
The scale mechanism described may also be used to indicate weights on beam A;
and to that end, the beam is provided with a row of weight graduations a' As
the scale shown in the drawing is organized, the fulcrum g must be made to engage
with the middle of the rate beam; that is to say, at a point midway between the
two links a and h; and then when the scale is in balance, the position. of the poise
on beam A shows the weight of the article on the scale platform.
In addition to the main features of the scale as hereinbefore described, it
contains many minor features of improvement introduced for the purpose of
rendering the scale accurate, of making it easy to adjust the scale to indicate
values at different rates, and to prevent failure to operate in the described manner.
A rate plate E is fixed to the front side of the front bar b, where it is plainly
visible. It is graduated and marked to indicate different rates per pound, the
spacing of the graduations being the same as the spacing of the notches c on the
rate beam C. A pointer e is fastened to the carriage D, and its pointed end is
extended in front of said rate plate, and it moves along said rate plate when the
carriage is moved. A similar rate plate E may be fixed to the rear frame bar b,
and a similar pointer e¹ may be secured to the carriage, and extended into proper
relation to said rate plate E¹.
When the scale contains the features of construction last described, it is not
necessary to have upon the rate beam any rate indicating figures associated with the
notches, which figures would otherwise be necessary. It is only necessary to watca
the position of the rointer e relative to the plate E to determine when the
fulcrum 9 has reached a point above the desired notch in the rate beam,
whereby when the fulcrum block G is moved down, the fulcrum g will make the
proper engagement with the rate beam.
Frepresents a rate bar having in its edge notches f which are spaced like the
notches c in the rate beam. This bar is rigidly connected with some part of the
scale frame, as, for example, the rear bar b. The lower part of this bar is
approximately horizontal, wherefore the notches f in its edge are approximately
vertical.
Carried by the fulcrum block G is a finger k, which, as said block is moved
downward, is caused to engage with the notched edge of said bar F. This finger
is, in the form shown, the downwardly turned end of a bar (K, which is pivoted on
top of the fulcrum block, and is constantly pressed toward said notched edge of
bar F by a spring k¹. Although the notched edge of the bar F, is, as stated,
approximately horizontal, its inner face close to the edge is slightly inclined, as
shown in Figure 3, wherefore, as the finger k is moved down with the fulcrum
block, it first engages with said inclined surface, whereby it is forced against the
action of the spring k until said finger may enter one of the notches f. There-
after the spring ¹ holds it firmly in said notch until the fulcrum block is raised.
The construction last described prevents the accidental movement of the fulcrum
carriage to the right or left after it has reached the desired point relative to the
rate beam, but before the fulcrum g has engaged with said rate beam..
M M represents two fixed stops placed close to the ends of the rate beam. These
stops are so close that they do not permit the rate beam to move longitudinally
the distance between any two notches in said beam, but they are nevertheless so
far from said rate beam that they do not interfere with its operation when the
fulcrum g is in engagement with it.
The beam A is provided with a combined balance and gravity weight T which
screws onto a threaded rod t. This rod passes loosely through a hole in a rear-
ward extension as of the value beam, the end of said rod resting upon said
extension. The lower end of this rod passes into a longitudinal slot in a rearward
extension a6 of the value beam. A pin 2 projects from the vertical bar a' which
connects the two extensions a5 a6, and its inner end enters a vertical slot 3 in the
weight T, which slot is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,-whereby the weight

page_text: is prevented from turning. As the rod is turned, the weight is raised or lowered
to adjust the gravity of the beam. The adjustment of the balance of the beam is
effected by a screw which screws into the end of the extension a6 against the
lower end of the rod t, whereby the rod may be swung upon its head tas a pivot.
A coil spring to in a recess in extension a exerts its force to hold the lower end of
the rod t against the end of screw t¹.
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. In a computing scale, the combination with a graduated rate beam which has
no sensible longitudinal movement, of a movable fulcrum which is adapted to be
moved into engagement with different parts of the rate beam and is supported
independently of the scale beams, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a computing scale, the combination of a rate beam which does not move
longitudinally, and a fulcrum which is supported independently of the scale beams
and is movable longitudinally of said rate beam, with means for relatively moving
the fulcrum and scale beam toward and from each other to cause their engagement
and disengagement, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a computing scale, the combination of a graduated value beam, an
auxiliary beam, a connecting rod for connecting the auxiliary beam with the plat-
form levers or scale pan, and two freely swinging links suspended respectively
from said two beams, with a horizontal rate beam extending between and freely
suspended upon said links, and a horizontally movable fulcrum adapted to be
moved into engagement with any part of the rate beam, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
4. In the described scale, the fulcrum carriage which is mounted in horizontal
grooves in the scale frame, and a vertically movable fulcrum block mounted upon
said carriage, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In the described scale, a fixed rate plate graduated to correspond with the
graduations in the rate beam, and a pointer secured to the fulcrum carriage and
extended in front of said rate plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In the described scale, the fixed rate bar notched to correspond with the
graduations on the rate beam, and a spring-actuated finger connected with the
movable fulcrum and adapted to engage with the notched edge of said bar,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In the described scale, the two stops placed respectively close to, but out of
contact with the ends of the rate beam, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
8. A combined gravity and balance weight secured to beam A ana adjustable
thereon, both vertically and in the arc of a circle, substantially as described.
Dated this Twelfth day of January 1897.
CHARLES JUNGE.