IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING MACHINES FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES AND OTHER HEAVY OBJECTS, AND ALSO FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESSURE OF THE WHEELS OF Loco- MOTIVES, AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederik Wolff, of the International Patent Office,
Copenhagen, Denmark, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WEIGHING MACHINES FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES AND OTHER HEAVY OBJECTS,
AND ALSO FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESSURE OF THE WHEELS OF Loco-
MOTIVES, AND OTHER VEHICLES." A communication from Frederik Casse,
of Haarlev, Denmark.
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederik Wolff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1882.
FREDERIK WOLFF of the International Patent Office, Copenhagen Denmark,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING MACHINES FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
AND OTHER HEAVY OBJECTS AND ALSO FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESSURE OF THE
WHEELS OF LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER VEHICLES." A communication from
Frederik Casse of Haarlev, Denmark.
This Invention relates to "Improvements in Weighing Machines for Railway
Vehicles and other Heavy Objects and also for Ascertaining the Pressure of the
Wheels of Locomotives etc."
This said Invention is constructed and arranged as follows:
Two nearly identical systems of levers are fixed in suitable rails and connected
with each other by means of a suitable axle. The levers rest with the one end on
fixed or stationary knife edges, the other ends being carried by loose or moveable
knife edges which transmit their movements to the lower levers which said levers
are firmly attached to the axle. These said lower levers rest on stationary knife
edges which are fixed in standards. The upper levers are connected to the knife
edges which are so attached to the rails that the wheels of the vehicle to be
weighted rests above the same.
In the first system or method the lower lever is provided with a long arm which
has a receptacle for the weights at the opposite end.
The planking or platform is supported by the beams.
The upper ends of the upper levers are covered by suitable capsules. The upper

page_text: knife edges are arranged somewhat lower than the surface of the rails in order to
protect the same when weighing is not to be carried out.
The rails are connected by means of suitable connecting pieces part of which are
securely attached to the fundament or ground plate or these said connecting pieces
can be cast of one piece with the said rail or rails and are of such shape that they
form with the remaining pieces a continuation of the rail or rails. A counterweight
is so adjusted that the zero marks stand opposite to each other when the weighing
machine is not in use. At such time an arm is given a quarter revolution upwards
so that a lever is pressed firmly against an india rubber plate or cushion fixed in
the standard. A similar plate is attached in the bottom of the opening in order
to prevent the parts being injured in case the lever descends suddenly.
A small weight is employed for adjusting the machine. When the weighing
machine is not in use trains can pass over the rails without in any way affecting
the weighing machine or coming in contact with the same.
When a truck is to be weighed a rod arranged for such purpose is pushed into
its right hand position so that the connecting pieces receive a quarter turn in the
direction of the centre of the track or between the rails.
The truck is now moved forward until the wheels rest on the knife edges.
The arm or rod which was previously upright is now turned down and weights laid
in the dish or receptacle.
In order to ascertain the weight of a truck at one weighing the distance
between the axles must be such that each pair of wheels can rest on the knife
edges.
If the distance between the axles does not correspond with the distance between
the knives the weight must be ascertained in two operations by bringing first one
pair of wheels onto the knife edges and afterwards the second pair of wheels. If
it is desired to arrange the weighing machine for trucks with great differences
between the axles several systems of levers can be attached between the rails. If
however the difference is trifling it will be sufficient when the levers are given a
greater sweep and the knife edges made somewhat longer.
One system of levers will be sufficient when double weighting is not
objected to.
Instead of the wheels pressing direct on the knife edges the same can be covered.
by a suitable platform which said platform can if desired be provided with
rails.
The ends of a rod or shaft are provided with excenters by means of which the
said platform can be raised out of contact with the knives.
Instead of applying the weights at the end of the lever this first weighing lever
can be connected to a second lever which may be provided with weight receptacle or
disc or dish.
The levers can also be bent or curved or one of the same can be lengthened so as
to form a simple apparatus for weighing objects lighter than railway trucks and
Buch like.
When it is desired to ascertain the pressure of a locomotive wheel the said
locomotive is brought into such position on the weighing machine that the wheel
in question comes in contact with the knife edge whereas the other wheel on the
same axle rests on the connecting piece.
In order to attain this one of the rods employed must be placed out of
connection with the connecting piece before the handle is pushed over preparatory
to weighing.
The rails must be so laid that they are on a level with the knife edges with the
exception of about two feet at each end which said length or distance is inclined
or slanting towards the connecting pieces.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederik Wolff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July
1882.
FREDERIK WOLFF of the International Patent Office, Copenhagen Denmark
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHING MACHINES FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
AND OTHER HEAVY OBJECTS AND ALSO FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESSURE OF THE
WHEELS OF LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
This Invention relates to improvements in weighing machines for railway
vehicles and other heavy objects, and also for ascertaining the pressure of the
wheels of locomotives and other vehicles.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a top view, Fig. 2 a section on the
line F G in Fig. 5, Fig. 3 a section on the line D E in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, shew details.
Between the rails A (Fig. 1) two nearly identical systems of levers B, and B, are
arranged, which said systems consist of the levers a, b and c and are united by means
of the axle d. The levers a and b (Fig. 1 and 2) rest with one end on stationary
knife-edges e, the other ends being borne by moveable knife edges f and g, which
transmit their movement to the levers c, which said levers c are firmly attached to
the axle d. These levers c rest on stationary knife-edges, which are fixed in the
standards, brackets or supports h.
These levers a and b are connected to the knife edges i which are so attached to
the rails that the wheels of the railway vehicle rest on the said knife edges i when
weighing has to take place.
In the one system B, the lever c is provided with a long arm k which has at its
further end the receptacle for the weights m.
The wood platform or covering n which is supported by the joists o, and also the
capsules p are shewn in Fig. 2 and 3.
The knife edges i are arranged somewhat lower than the surface of the rails in
order to prevent them from coming into contact with the wheels of the vehicle,
when weighing is not to take place; the connection to the iron rods being
established by means of the connecting pieces q and r (Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.)
The pieces r are securely attached to the fundament plate or cast in one piece
with the same; and, as shewn in the Drawing are made of such shape, that they
form with the pieces q a horizontal and level continuation of the rails, when the.
said piece q occupies the position shewn in the Drawing, when however the piece
q has made a quarter of a revolution in the direction of the centre line of the rails,
the said pieces present inclined surfaces, which guide the wheels on to the knife
edges . The pieces q are attached in pairs by means of rods or axles and are
turned by means of the rigid arms t, the rods u, v, x and the lever y.
is a counterweight, which is so adjusted that when the weighing machine is
not in use, the points o stand opposite one another and the arm o¹ takes up the
position indicated in the Drawing.
When the weighing machine is not in use the arm is given a quarter of a
revolution upwards by which means the lever k is pressed tightly against the india-
rubber plate B, which is fixed in the standard C. A similar plate of india rubber o
other suitable material is also fixed on the bottom of the opening in order to prevent
damage being done in case the lever suddenly falls down. d is a small sliding
weight for adjusting the weighing machine when the same is unoccupied or otherwise
when necessary.
When the weighing machine is not in use the rod y occupies the position shewn

page_text: in the Drawing, and trains can pass over the rails without in any way coming into
contact with the weighing machine.
When a truck has to be weighed the rod y has to be pushed to its right hand
position, by which means the pieces q receive a quarter of a revolution in the
direction of the centre line of the rails. The truck is then moved forwards until
the wheels rest on the knife edges i. The arm o¹ which was previously upright
is turned down and weights placed in the dish or receptacle in order to attain a
balance.
In order to ascertain at one weighing operation the weight of a truck or other
vehicle, the distance between the axles must be such that each pair of wheels can
rest on the knife edges i. If the distance between the axles does not correspond
with the distance between the knife edges, the weight must be ascertained by two
operations; by bringing first one pair of wheels on to the knife edges and after-
wards the other pair.
If it is desired to adapt the weighing machine for trucks or cars with important
differences in the distance between the axles, several systems of levers can be
arranged between the rails, for instance B. If however the difference is not very
important, it will be sufficient to give the levers a and b a greater sweep and make
the knife edges i somewhat longer as shewn in the Drawing.
One system of levers will be sufficient, when the double weighing is practicable.
Instead of arranging the pieces q so that they can be turned sideways, they
can of course be arranged in such a manner that they can be sunk or lowered a
little so that when desired, the wheels can be brought to bear on the said knifo
edges i.
Instead of letting the wheels come direct upon the knife edges i the said knife
edges can be covered by a flooring or platform which said flooring or covering can
if necessary be provided with rails (Fig. 7 and 8).
The ends of the rod or shaft s (Fig. 7 and 8) are provided with excentrics q as
afore mentioned and when these receive a quarter of a revolution, the platform or
flooring is raised out of contact with the knife edges.
Instead of applying the weights at the end of the lever (Fig. 1 and 2) this lever
can be brought into connection with, or attached to another lever, which latter
may be provided with weight receptacle.
The levers a and b can also be bent or curved (Fig. 9 and 10) or one of the same
may be lengthened, whereby a simple apparatus for weighing lighter objects than
railway trucks is obtained (Fig. 11).
When it is required to ascertain the pressure of the wheel of a locomotive, the
engine is brought in such a position on the weighing machine that the wheel in
question comes into contact with the knife edge i, and the other wheel on the
opposite extremity of the same axle rests on the piece q.
In order to affect this, one of the rods u or x must be put out of connection
with the piece q, before the lever or handle y is pushed over.
The rails also inust
be so laid that they are on the same level as the knife edges, with the exeption of
a portion at both ends of about two feet, which are arranged to slant upwards
towards the pieces q
Having now described this said Invention and the method in which the same is
to be carried into effect, I desire it to be understood that the details of the same
can be modified without departing from the tenor of my Invention; but what I
claim and desire to have secured by Letters Patent is:
1, The system of levers consisting of one or more pairs of one-armed forklike
(V or U) formed levers, which are arranged in pairs opposite one another with
diverging or open arms, and of which, each one with the fork-end rests upon the
knife edges and the opposite extremity rests upon the loose knife edges f I, in
which said arrangement or system, the knife edges are arranged on the same level
so that each pair of levers transfers the pressure on to the next pair and in the
same manner on to a one-or two-armed lever which can be supported by a horizontal

page_text: pivot or axle or can bear direct upon the knife edges; this said pivot or axle can
turn in bearings fixed underneath the levers, substantially as described in the
foregoing Specification and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
2, The device in which an upright knife-formed rail or rod i is arranged in such
a manner on each of the fork-shaped (V or U) levers that one pair of railway
wheels can rest at the same time upon the knife edges for each pair of levers so
that the pressure or weight of the wheels can be transferred, both to the bearings
under the arm of the fork and to the loose knife edges ƒ and g at the other
extremity of the levers, substantially as described in the foregoing Specification
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
3 The arrangement in which a device consisting of a piece of rail g is arranged
parallel with and close to each of the knives i the upper edge of which said piece q
is situated slightly above the edge of the said knives i, and which said pieces q
turn on a horizontal longitudinal axlo in such a manner that this said device or
piece of rail q, in one position forms, a continuation of the permanent way and in
the other position (after being turned about a quarter of a revolution from the
knife edges) is out of all contact with the wheels of the railway vehicle, thus
permitting the wheel to run on to the knife edges; an integral part of this
arrangement being the connecting pieces r, which are bolted to the fundament
plate or may be cast in one piece with the same, which said pieces rare situated
between the rails of the permanent way and the knives i, upon which the wheels
are to run, and which said pieces form inclinations, by means of which the wheels
are guided on to the knife-edges which are upon a somewhat lower level,
substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and shewn in tho
accompanying Drawings.
4. The arrangement of the excentric disc (forming part of the piece or device q)
on the axle 8, for the purpose of raising the top plate or platform from off the
knife edges, substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and shewn in
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Frederik Wolff have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witnesses,
EDWIN A BRYDGES.
JOHN O. TONKIN.
FREDERIK WOLFF. (L.S.)
Patentee.