CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING SOLID BODIES AND FOR MEASURING FLUIDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF 'DAMPERS
Year: 1863

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Ellis Rowland at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 29th April 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELLIS
ROWLAND, of Manchester, if the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING SOLID BODIES AND FOR MEASURING FLUIDS, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF
'DAMPERS," " and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn declaration that I am the first and true Inventor thereof:
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Ellis Rowland, do hereby declare that
the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal fully describes
and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawings (that is to say):
My Invention relates to an apparatus for weighing solid bodies or measuring
fluids, wherein water or other liquid confined within a chamber is applied and

page_text: employed as the counterbalance to the body to be weighed, such chamber
communicating with a graduated tube to indicate tho weight by the height of
the water in the tube.
A second part of the Invention relates to a similar arrangement of apparatus
to be employed to open and close "dampers" in the flues of a furnace
employed to beat a steam boiler or generator, the rise and fall of the beam,
being effected through the medium of the water, instead of being adapted to
weighing is applied to the aforesaid purpose.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, similar letters of
reference being marked upon corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of the weighing apparatus, partly shewn in
section, to illustrate the internal arrangement; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the
same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus for opening and closing
'dampers," also shewn partly in section; and Fig. 4 represents an apparatus
for measuring liquids.
"
In Fig. 1, a is a pedestal or column, supporting a hollow vessel and
receptacle or dish b, having a deep channel or groove formed around its
circumference, which is partly filled with mercury y, as shewn in red. This
dish is filled with water or other liquid z, shewn in blue, which floats upon the
mercury, and the inverted cup or bell c bears and floats upon its surface, the
sides of the cup dipping into the mercury and water in the groove from
the upper surface of this cup, the column d extends upwards, and receives the
pivot e or fulcrum, upon which the beam fis balanced at the centre of its
length, the extremities of the said beam being furnished with trays or plat-
forms g, g', for the reception of articles to be weighed. A tubular column h
is also connected with the liquid z, into which it rises through the channel i,
as shewn in dotted lines, and the said tubular column is composed of glass or
transparent material, and is graduated to denote parts of pounds or gallons
(or other weight or measure), the position of the liquid in the tube indicating
the weight upon the tray or platform; this column also forms a bearing or
support for a second pivot or fulcrum e'. The action of the weighing
apparatus or scales is as follows:-When the body to be weighted is heavy and
bulky it is to be placed on the tray or platform g, in which instance the
weight is supported by and bears upon the pivot or fulcrum c', which becomes
the balancing point, and the weight causes the pivot e to lift the cup or bell c,
which is followed by the liquid, thus the column of liquid in the tube falls,
and the weight of the body on the tray is indicated on the graduated scale by

page_text: the position of the liquid in the tube. In weighing lighter and more valuable
articles the weight is to be placed on the tray g', in which instance the
fulcrum or pivot e becomes the balancing point, and the pressure of the weight
falls upon the column d, and upon the cup c, and consequently pressure is
exerted on the liquid surface in the dish b, which causes the liquid to rise in
the tubular column h, and the weight is ascertained by the height of the liquid,
the mercury in the groove effecting a water-tight joint, and preventing tho
liquid from escaping from the dish when the pressure is applied. In adapting
this apparatus to the opening and closing of dainpers, the channel i is connected
with the beam f, which is mounted upon a central pink, and a link lis
attached to the upper end of the bell, which is retained in a vertical or
parallel position by a radius rod m, a weight n being attached at the end of
the beam opposite to the damper o, the weight being sufficiently heavy to hold
the cup down until the pressure of water and steam in the boiler exceeds any
given pressure; when such excess of pressure occurs, the water from the
boilers lifts the cup, and by raising that portion of the beam, causes the
damper o to descend into the flue p. In measuring liquids the channel i is
connected with the vessel containing the liquid to be measured, the flow of
which is controlled by a tap q. Another channel is also connected with the
channel i, through which the liquid is "drawn off" after being measured,
such being controlled by the tap r. When liquid is to be measured the tap g
is opened, and the handle end of the beam f is drawn down (as shewn), which
raises the bell c to any height, according to the quantity required to be
measured (the degrees of measurement being marked on the sido of the cup).
This causes the liquid to fill the bell c as far as it is raised; the tap q is then
shut, and the tap r opened; the weight n then presses on the bell c, and
causes the measured quantity to issue therefrom through the channel or
pipe i'.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with tho
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim,-
First, the novel construction and arrangement of apparatus for weighing
solids and measuring liquids, wherein liquid is employed and made serviceablo
(either by pressure or suction) instead of the counterbalance weights in
ordinary use.
Secondly, I claim the application and adaptation of liquid to the said
purpose.
And, thirdly, I claim the arrangement of apparatus and means employed

page_text: for opening and closing "dampers," as herein-before described, set forth, and
fully illustrated in the Drawings attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ellis Rowland, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ELLIS ROWLAND. (L.S.)