Improvements in Automatic Scales for Measuring and Weighing Material in Bulk.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1898-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1898
Improvements in Automatic Scales for Measuring and Weighing
Material in Bulk.
I, PEETE BASIL CLARKE, of 11, Broadway, New York City, in the State of New
York, United States of Amenica, 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:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in automatic scales for measuring all
classes of material in bulk and particularly to that class of automatic scales in
which the supply and discharge valves are operated by the power on weight of the
material which is being weighed.
The object of the apparatus is to provide a simple and efficient automatic and
continuously operating apparatus for weighing material in bulk, to provide a
positive and rapidly closing cut-off, which will be reliable and efficient in its
operation, and to enable the operation of the apparatus to be controlled when
deaned and locked in a position with its cut-off closed to prevent material from
passing through it; and also to secure greater accuracy in weighing
A further object of the invention is to provide means for varying the capacity
of the apparatus.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrange-
ment of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying
drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rotary weighing machine constructed in
accordance with this invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view;
Figure 3 18 a transverse sectional view;
Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of the mechanism for operating the cut-offs,
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views illustrating the construction of the buffer
and the check pawl;
•
Figure 8 18 a detail view of the trip lever;
Figure 919 a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of slidingly mounting
the rotary cylinder or drum.
Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings
1 designates a rotary cylinder mounted on a horizontal shaft 2 composed of
the side discs 3, and radial partitions 4, forming buckets or compartments for the
reception of the coal or other material to be weighed The honzontal shaft 2
is extended beyond the sides of the rotary cylinder to form journals which pass
through longitudinal slots 5, of uprights 6, of a supporting frame 7, said uprights 6
being preferably constructed of channel non, and having side flanges 8 foi ming
a way between them The supporting frame 18 substantially rectangular and
is composed of the said uprights 6, corner posts 8* and suitable connecting bais
ari anged horizontally and secured to the corner posts and to the uprights The
PQ31

page_text: Journals or extended portions of the shaft 2, which are arranged in beaning
openings of hanger bars 9, are connected with scale weights 10, by cables 11, oi
other suitable flexible connections, located at each side of the supporting frame
and aanged on front and rear pulleys 12 and 13 The pulleys 12 and 13, which
are arranged in the same horizontal plane, are located at the top of the frame
and the front portions of the cables 11 extend downward at the outer faces of
upughts 6, and are secured to the upper ends of the hanger bars 9
The rotary cylinder 1, which is normally held elevated by the scale weighta
bearing against the top of the slots 5, in the frame 6, drops or moves downward
when one of its buchets has received from a feed shute 14 or other source of supply,
a charge sufficient to over balance the scale weights. The scale weights 10 are,
secured to the rear ends of the cables 11, and are atianged for weighing any amount"
of coal or other material, the machine being preferably constructed for a five
hundred pound change of coal for each bucket
The feed shute 14, which is located above the rotary cylinder or coal receiver 1,
19 adjustably mounted on the supporting frame by means of slotted aims or
posts 14, which enable the shute to be adjusted relative to the rotary cylinder 1,
for the purpose hereinafter described
The
The cylinder 1 is spaced from the uprights 6 by hubs or sleeves 15, Figure 3,
having enlarged outer portions, which are interposed between the cylinder and
the uprights and reduced inner portions 16 on which the cylinder tuins
enlarged outer portions of the hubs or sleeves are clamped by set sciews 17 to
the shaft 2, and anti-friction 1ollers 18, which are arranged at opposite sides of
each upright, are mounted on a short transveise shaft 19, passing through the
enlarged portion of the sleeve 15 and through the shaft 2, the sleeve 15 being
provided with lateral extensions, as illustrated in Figure 9, of the accompanying
diawings
This construction enables the vertical movement of the cylinder ou
the supporting frame to be free from friction
Each side of the cylinder 18 provided with as many studs or projections 20,
Figures 1 and 3, as there are buckets, engaging with buffer 21, Figure 6, and
holding the conesponding bucket in position to receive a charge of coal from
the feed shute 14 The studs or projections 20 are arranged to bring the centie
of gravity of the bucket in process of being filled slightly in advance of the
shaft 2, so that the tendency of the material will be to throw the bucket forward
and thereby rotate the cylinder when the latter is released from the buffer 21,
and a check pawl 22, by the downward movement of the cylinder The buffer 21,
preferably employed, consists of a head and a stem 23 passing into a tubular casing
or housing and provided with a collar or flange forming an inner head for
engaging a block of rubber 24, but any other form of cushion may be employed
The casing or housing of the cushion is provided at its outer end with a removable
screw plug 25 which holds the cushion in place and which enables it to be readily
removed and replaced by a new piece of rubber when desired
After the cylinder has discharged the contents of a bucket, it is restored to its
former position by the weight of the scale weights, and as it rises it is guided to
a buffer by a curved flange 26 on its periphery, disposed at an inclination, as
clearly illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying diawings The lug 20 when
in contact with the buffer, is also engaged by the check pawl 22, which is pro-
vided with an angular engaging portion conforming to the configuration of the
lug 20
The other end of the pawl 22 18 pivotted and its upper edge is engaged
by a spring 27 The lower end of the buffer 18 bevelled to facilitate a forward
rotation of the cylinder as the latter moves downward, and the check pawl 22
prevents any retrograde rotation
Each of the discs of the cylinder is provided with eccentric peripheral portions 28,
forming an annular series of cams and providing an annular series of substantially
radially disposed shoulders 29 adapted to be engaged by rear springs 30, should
the evlinder descend without 1otation through a heavy lump of coal, getting at
the rear side of the bucket and changing the centre of gravity, in which event,

page_text: the upper ends of the springs 30 will give the cylinder a forward kick, and thereby
produce the necessary iotation The spings 30, which are secured at their lower
terminals to the reai coinel posts of the supporting frame, have the upper ends
fiee and engaging the peripheries of the discs
The forward iotation of the cylinder 18 sudden and rapid at the beginning of
the descent, and in order to check this rotation and prevent the lugs from striking
the buffer severely and rattling the machine, brake shoes 31 are provided The
brake shoes, which are arranged at opposite sides of the front of the name, are
mounted on pivoted aims 32 and engage the peripheries of the discs, and as the
cams gradually widen, the fiction becomes greater and the cylinder is gradually
cheched, so that it stukes the buffer with very little force Wooden shoes are
preferably provided to avoid wearing the cylinder and the tension 18 produced
by spital springs 33 connected with the lower portions of the arms 32 at the bach
of the brake shoes and with brackets 34 extending from the front corner post of
the supporting fiame and being substantially V-shaped, as shown
The eccentrically arranged peripheral portions are also adapted to engage and
ide over 1olleis 35 to assist the upwaid movement of the cylinder, and the
1ollers 35, which are located at opposite sides of the supporting frame, are mounted
on a transverse shaft Jo
At the lower end of the feed shute 14, a main valve or cut-off 37 is provided,
which consists preferably of a gate hinged at its bottom and adapted to swing
upward, said gate being aanged in an inclined position and resting upon the
bottom of the shute when it is open, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings. The adjustment of the shute 14 enables the cut-off 37 to be brought
close to the receiver or cylinder, in order that when the latter has received its
change there will be no materal between the cut-off and the receiver or cylindeı
hable to fall into and affect the latter, as would be the case were the cut-off
airanged at a considerable distance above the receiver This main cut-off 37
1s connected by link bars 38 with arms 39 of a shaft 40, upon which the rear
wheels or pulleys 13 are mounted The pulleys 13 are keyed or otherwise fixed
to the shaft 40, and are connected by clips 41 with the cables 11, whereby when
the weights move upward and the cables forward, a positive corresponding move-
ment will be imparted to the wheels 13 and to the shaft 40 The front ends of
the link bais 38 are connected with arms 42 and 43 of the shaft of the cut-off,
and as the aims 42 and 43 depend from such shaft, a forward movement of the
aims 39, induced by a downward movement of the cylinder, will swing the main
cut-off upward
In order to render the closing of the cut-off positive and to enable it to operate
on such heavy material as coal, a device similar to that described in my Application
for Letters Patent No 13109 of A D. 1898 for Improvements in automatic scales
for measuring and weighing material in bulk of even date herewith is adopted
This device consists of two supplemental weights 44, one on either side of the
cylinder 1, arranged to slide vertically in suitable ways formed by the flanges 8,
upon the uprights 6, on either side of the cylinder, and are held in position by
the straps or guides 51, at either end These weights are hent at the centie
as shown in cioss-section in Figure 3, and are provided with the longitudinal
slots 45, in the bent portion, as shown in Figure 3, through wluch the extremity
of the shaft 2 passes on either aide. During the operation of filling the cylinde
these weights are held in a fixed position, as shown in Figure 3, with the top of
the slotted opening resting on the top of the shaft 2 On either side of the frame
This 18
or support 8 18 placed a tip lever 16 of the toim shown in Figure 8
pivotted to the frame at the point 53", Figure 3, the upper extremity of which 54*
is so bent as to engage with a suitable cotch or recess 49 in the outer face of the
weight 44. The lower extremity of the lever 46 is slightly bent as shown in
Figures 1 and 8
When the cylinder 1 18 being filled, the weights 44, which
weigh preferably about one hundred pounds each, rest upon the ends of the shafts 2,
and are supported thereby, and their effect is to partially counterbalance the weight

page_text: of the scale weights 10, and when a bucket has received about four hundred
pounds of material to be weighed, cause the cylinder to begin to move downward
slightly before it has received its complete or full charge As the cylinder
descends, the weights 41 descend with it and in then descent the projecting bent
extremities of the trip lever 46 engage with the recess 49 and lift the weights
and hold them stationary The cylinder, however, on receiving its full chargo
continues to descend, and upon reaching the poising point, the lug 47 on the
hanger bais 9 trips the bent portion of the tip lever 46, whereby the aim is thrown
inward and the tooth or bent upper extremity 18 withdiawn or released from the
notch or recess 49. This disengages the weights 44 which thereupon drop upon the
shaft 2 and the additional impetus thereby imparted to the bucket produced by
the sudden falling of the weights, causes à quick and positive movement of the
mechanism operating the cut-off. The supplemental sliding weight is mounted
in suitable keepers oi guides 51, and the upper portions of the levers 46 are engaged
by springs 52 which throw the levers into engagement with the sliding weights
The main feed valve or cut-off 18 composed of a rotating shaft provided with
parallel slats 37, attached to it It is placed at the lower end of the feed shute 1+,
and is actuated by the arms 39, keyed to the shaft 40, and connected with depending
arms 42 and 433, attached to the shaft of the main cut-off.
The front ends of the links 38 are provided with a slot 53 which receives the
pins 54 on the aims 42 and 43, whereby the links have a limited movement inde-
pendent of the said aims, which permits the first slight downward movement of
the cylinder, under the influence of the supplemental sliding weights to take
place without affecting the main cut-off At the end of the first downward move-
ment of the cylinder, the rear ends of the slots 53 are carried to the pins 54, 50
that when the next downward movement of the cylinder takes place it will instantly
operate on the main cut-off 37 Upon the upward or return movement of the
cylinder, the slots 53 permit the cylinder to rotate sufficiently to carry
the front partition or wall of the bucket to be filled, to a position in
advance of the shute before the main cut-off begins to open, thereby
preventing any liability of any coal spilling into the bucket being
discharged In order to lock the main cut-off in its closed position and prevent
the weight of the coal from opening it, as the links 38 move rearward, the arm 43
at one side of the shute is provided with an upward extension or lug 55, which
18 provided at its top with a notch and which is engaged by a tooth of a sping
actuated catch 56. The catch 56 consists of a bar or shank pivotted at one end,
and a spial spring 57 18 connected with the catch and adapted to swing the same
downward and hold it in engagement with the lug 55
A supplemental cut-off is provided, mounted on the shute at a point above the
main cut-off, to prevent large lumps of coal from passing downwaid to the lower
end of the shute after a bucket has received the greater part of its change, so that
as coal is being weighed, the remaining part of the change may be made up
of small pieces and also to relieve the main cut-off of the pressure of much coal,
and thereby facilitate a positive operation of the same and an accurate weighing
of coal The upper or supplemental cut-off is provided with a series of curved
tines or fingers, which are secured to a transverse bar or shaft, and it 18 counter-
balanced when open, by a weight 59, Figue 1, which swings over the centie
as the gate closes and assists in holding the cut-off 58 closed Xlink 60, which is
arranged at one side of the upper cut-off 18 connected with a vertically movable
1od 61 The extremity of this rod 18 provided with a roller 64, aanged to run
on the periphery of the adjacent disc of the cylinder to avoid any friction in
lifting the rod When the cylinder 18 in its uppermost position, the rod 18 airauged
to hold the gate 58 open, but when the cylinder first moves downward it drops
and permuts the gate to close The 1od 61, which is mounted in a suitable guide 62
is provided above the guide with shoulders 63, which rest upon the guide when 5
the supplemental cut-off is closed The upward movement of the cylinder after

page_text: a bucket has been emptied, lifts the rod 61; and opens the gate or cut-off 58; and
the lower end of the rod 61.
The upper or supplemental cut-off is also provided with a depending arm 65,
which when the cut-off is open 18 arranged over and rests upon an upwardly
extending arm 66, of the shaft 40, and the arm 66 is timed to assume a vertical
position beneath the aim 65, when the gate 18 of ened by the upward movement
of the rod 61 and the cylinder acting upon the lower end of the latter
This con-
stiuction takes the weight of the upper or supplemental cut-off from the cylinder
to prevent said cut-off from affecting the accuracy of the weighing machine. A
stop 67 18 mounted on one side of the shute in position to be engaged by an exten-
sion 68 of the aim 42 of the main cut-off or gate, to limit the opening movement
of the latter, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying diawings.
The weight 50, which holds the supplemental cut-off or gate closed, may be
adjustable to vary the pressure, and if desired, a spring can be substituted for
the weight
The method of operation is as follows:-
The cylinder is turned so that one of its buckets is under the feed shute, and
the scale weights 10 are adjusted to discharge the bucket, when any desued
weight of material, say five hundred pounds, has been fed into it The sliding
weights 44 are preferably about one hundred pounds, and while the bucket 18 being
filled they rest upon the shaft 2 and serve to counterbalance partially the scale
weights 10. When the bucket has received four hundred pounds of material,
it will under the influence of this weight 10 and the supplemental weights 44,
move downward until the supplemental weights 44 are engaged by the tup
levers 46, which relieve the cylinder of the supplemental weights and cause the
same to cease its downward movement until the additional one hundred pounds
of material necessary to complete the change, has been delivered into the bucket.
When this has been fed into it, the evlinder will then start downward and after
it has moved a short distance, the levers 46 will be tipped by bevelled lugs or
projections, 47 whereby the supplemental sliding weights are thereupon released
and caused to fall and engage the shaft 2 of the cylinder and impart an additional
impetus to the latter In this manner, sufficient force 18 obtained to actuate the
cut-off positively and enable the same to operate successively on heavy materials,
such as coal, which acquires considerable force in descending a shute
The cylinder
18 then released from the buffer 21 and notated forward upon the shaft 2, and dis-
changes its contents --
I desire it to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction
and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spint of the invention.
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 18.
1. The combination of a suitable frame, suitable pulleve on the frame, cords
unning on the pullevs, a cylinder moving vertically in the frame, arranged to
1otate on its bearings, attached to one end of the cords; scale weights attached
to the other end of the cords, a supply shute; a valve placed therein actuated
by the movement of the cylinder for controlling the supply of material thereto,
and means for counterbalancing the scale weights and for adding to the load an
additional weight when the poising point is reached, whereby an additional
impetus 19 imparted thereto, and the closing of the valve 18 effected, substantially
as described
2 The combination of a suitable fiame; suitable pulleys on the frame. cords
running on the pulleys, a cylinder moving vertically in the fiame arranged to
rotate on its bearings, attached to one end of the cords; scale weights attached
the other end of the cords, a supply shute, a valve placed therein actuated
by the movement of the cylinder for controlling the supply of material; and

page_text: means for counterbalancing the scale weights set in operation by the cylinder
itself in its descent, for adding to the load an additional weight when the poising
point is reached, whereby an additional impetus is imparted thereto, and the closing
of the valve 18 effected, substantially as described
3. The combination of a suitable frame, suitable pulleys on the frame, cords
running on the pulleys; a cylinder moving vertically in the frame, arranged to
rotate on its bearings, attached to one ond of the cords, scale weights attached
to the other end of the cords, a supply shute, a valve placed therein actuated by
the movement of the cylinder, for controlling the supply of material thereto, a
supplemental sliding weight engaging the cylinder and partially counter-
balancing the scale weights, independently sustained, and released on the downward
motion of the machine, and devices connected with the cylinder and caned by the
same, aanged to engage and tap the supplemental weights at the poising point
when the cylinder moves downward to discharge its contents, substantially as
described
4 The combination of a suitable frame, suitable pulleys on the fiame, cords
1unning on the pulleys, a cylinder aanged to rotate on its beaungs, moving
vertically in the frame, and provided at its periphery with a series of eccentric
portions, forming cams, and an annulai seiles of radial shoulders, attached to
one end of the cord, scale weights attached to the other end of the cords, a supply
shute, a cut-off placed therem automatically actuated by the movement of the
cylinder, foi controlling the supply of material thereto, a brake shoe aanged
at one side of the cylinder in position for engaging the cams, a spring mounted
upon the frame and ananged to engage the shoulders when the cylinder moves
downward, and a supplemental weight engaging with the cylinder and partially
counter balancing the scale weights and for adding to the load an additional
weight when the poising point is reached, whereby an additional impetus is
imparted thereto, and the closing of the cut-off is effected, substantially as
described,
5. The combination of a suitable frame, suitable pulleys on the frame, cords
running on the pulleys a cylinder moving vertically in the frame, aanged to
rotate on its bearings, attached to one end of the cords; scale weights attached
to the other end of the cords, a supply shute, a cut-off placed theiem actuated
by the movement of the cylinder, for controlling the supply of material thereto,
a supplemental hinged cut-off mounted on the supply shute and provided with
an aim; a weight extending upward from the cut-off and counter balancing the
same when the cut-off is open; à vertically movable supporting 1od provided with
a suitable stop for limiting its movement, connected with the aim of the supple-
mental cut-off and adapted to rest upon the cylinder when the latter is raised,
and a supplemental weight engaging with the cylinder and partially counter-
balancing the scale weights and for adding to the load an additional weight when
the posing point is reached, whereby an additional impetus 18 imparted thereto,
and the closing of the cut-off is effected, substantially as described.
an
6 The combination of a suitable frame, suitable pulleys on the flame, coids
unning on the pulleys, a cylinder moving vertically in the fiame, aanged to 4
1otate on its bearings, attached to one end of the cords; scale weights attached
to the other end of the cords a supply shute, a valve placed therein actuated by
the movement of the cylinder for controlling the supply of material thereto,
oscillating arm 39 connected with one of the pullers, a hinged cut-off, an arm 43
connected with the cut-off and provided with an extension 5, having a recess in 5
its end; a link connecting said aims and having a limited movement independent
of the arm 43, a pivotted catch provided with a tooth or projection for engaging
8a1d recess:
a spring for actuating the catch, a supplemental weight sliding on
the frame, engaging the cylinder and partially counterbalanong the scale weights
independently sustained, and released on the downward motion of the machine
and means connected with the cylinder carried by the same in its downward move-
ment, for supporting and tripping the supplemental weights at the poising point
5

page_text: when the cylinder moves downward to discharge its contents, substantially as
described.
7 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder mounted in the frame a cut-off connected with and auto-
matically operated by said cylinder, a sliding weight mounted on the frame and
engaging the cylinder, scale weights, a flexible connection extending from the
diuni to the scale weights, a tip level fulcrumed on the frame, arranged to engage
the sliding weight to support the same and provided with a bend, and a bevelled
lug on projection carried by the flexible connection and arranged to engage the
bend of the lever, whereby the weight is released, substantially as described.
8 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder, a hinged cut-off, pulleys mounted on the frame at the
top thereof, scale weights, a cable arranged on the pulleys and connected with
the scale weights and the cylinder, an arm connected with one of the pulleys and
with the hinged cut-off to open and close the same, a supplemental weight engaging
the cylinder, and means for supporting and tripping the same, substantially as
described
9 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder mounted in the frame, pulleys arranged at the top of
the fiame, scale weights, a cable arranged on the pulleys and connected with the
scale weights and with the cylinder, a hinged cut-off provided with an arm 29
connected with one of the pulleys, a link connecting said arm and having a limited
longitudinal movement independent of the arm of the cut-off, a supplemental
weight engaging the cylinder, and means for supporting and tripping the weight,
substantially as described.
10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder mounted in the fame, pulleys arranged at the top of
the frame, scale weights, cables connected with the scale weights and with the
cylinder, an oscillating arm 39, a hinged cut-off provided with an aim, and a
link connecting said arms and having a limited longitudinal movement inde-
pendent of the arm of the cut-off, substantially as described
11 In a maclune of the class described, the combination of a vertically
movable rotary cylinder mounted therem, pulleys arranged at the top of the
fame, scale weights, cables auanged on the pulleys and connected with the scale
weights and with the cylinder, an oscillating arm connected with one of the pulleys,
a hinged cut-off provided with an arm, a link connecting said arms and having
a limited longitudinal movement independent of the arm of the cut-off, and a
catch for holding the gate or cut-off closed during the independent movement of
the link, substantially as and for the purpose descubed.
12 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder provided at its periphery with a series of eccentric portions
having cui ved peripheral edges and forming cams disposed longitudinally of the
periphery of the cylinder and gradually tapering in width from one end
to the other, and a brake shoe aanged to engage the cams, substantially as
described
13 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder provided with eccentric peripheral portions forming an
annular series of substantially radially disposed shoulders, and a spring mounted
on the frame and arranged to engage the shoulders when the cylinder moves down-
waid, whereby it will be rotated forward, substantially as described.
14 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a rotary
cvlinder, a shaft carrying the rotary cylinder and capable of vertical movement
in the frame, sleeves fixed to the shaft at the sides of the cylinder, forming bearings
for the latter and provided with enlarged portions interposed between the same
and the sides of the frame, transverse shafts passing through the sleeves and the
said shaft, and anti-friction rollers mounted on the transverse shaft and engaging
the frame substantially as described.

page_text: 15 In a machine of the class described, the combination of a fiame, a vertically
movable rotary cylinder provided with a series of exterior projections, a buffer
mounted on the frame and arranged to be engaged by the projections of the
cylinder, a check pawl pivotted to the frame and arranged to engage the projections
to lock the cylinder against retrograde rotation, and a rigid guide flange 26
mounted on the frame below the check pawl and disposed at an inclination, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described
16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, a vertically
movable coal receiver, a movable cut-off, scale weights connected with the coal
receiver, a supplemental weight engaging the receiver and partially counter-
balancing the scale weights, means for supporting and tipping the supplemental
weight, and connections between the cut-off, and the coal receiver, substantially
as described
נית
WM P THOMPSON & Co,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant