IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SEED AND OTHER DRY GOODS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrison, of Leicester; in the County of Leicester,
Seed Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING SEED AND OTHER DRY GOODS."
Sealed the 15th March 1878, and dated the 15th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November 1877.
"IM-
JOHN HARRISON, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Seed Merchant.
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SEED AND OTHER DRY
GOODS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for
measuring seed and other dry goods. For this purpose, I employ a frame consisting
of two upright guide rods connected together at the upper and lower ends by
suitable cross bars. On the upper cross bar is mounted a hopper or funnel, the
mouth of which fits into a tube depending from and fixed to the said cross bar:
A moveable cross bar capable of being slidden up and down, for adjustment on the
upright guide rods, and of being fixed thereon at any convenient height, carries a
short tube and a delivery spout. This short tube has fitted to it another tube,
preferably of glass, which fits easily, the exterior of the tube depending from the
upper cross bar.
In bearings fixed at or near the bottom of the upper dependent tube, and in the
lower short tube is mounted a shaft or axis, which is capable of sliding up and
down through the upper bearing, and of operating the valves.
In the short tube and at the lower end of the upper dependent tube, are mounted
suitable valves, which act in combination with fixed stops to cut off and open the
communication or passage through the tubes as required, and the fixed stops in the
short tube have their upper faces inclined to facilitate the complete discharge or
clearance of the material being measured from the measuring chamber. The shaft

page_text: or axis is operated by a spring, so as automatically to shut off the passage or outlet
from the measuring chamber. A lever or projection connected to the shaft enables
the latter to be operated as desired.
The outside of the dependent tube is marked with suitable graduations, so as to
enable the quantity measured to be readily adjusted by raising or lowering the
sliding cross bar, so that the upper edge of the tube carried by the latter is coinci-
dent with the required graduation. Thus by operating the lever on the shaft or
axis, the valves are alternately opened and closed, so as to first fill the measuring
chamber, and then discharge the same, the supply to the measuring chamber being
cut off during the discharge of the latter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th May
1878.
"IM-
JOHN HARRISON, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Seed Merchant.
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING SEED AND OTHER DRY
Goods."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for
measuring seed and other dry goods. For this purpose according to one arrange-
ment I employ a frame consisting of two upright guide rods, connected together
at the upper and lower ends by suitable cross bars. On the upper cross bar is
mounted a hopper or funnel, the mouth of which fits into a tube depending from
and fixed to the said cross bar. A moveable cross bar capable of being slidden up
and down for adjustment on the upright guide rods, and of being fixed thereon at
any convenient height, carries a short tube and a delivery spout. This short tube
has fitted to it another tube, preferably of glass, which fits easily, the exterior of
the tube depending from the upper cross bar.
In bearings fixed at or near the bottom of the upper dependent tube, and in the
lower short tube is mounted a shaft or axis, which is capable of sliding up and
down through the upper bearing, and of operating the valves.
In the short tube and at the lower end of the upper dependent tube, are
mounted suitable valves, which act in combination with fixed stops to cut off and
open the communication or passage through the tubes as required, and the fixed
stops in the short tube have their upper faces inclined to faciltate the complete
discharge or clearance of the material being measured from the measuring
chamber. The shaft or axis operated by a spring so as automatically to
shut off the passage or outlet from the measuring chamber, or if desired the
spring may be dispensed with. A lever or projection connected to the shaft
enables the latter to be operated as desired.
The outside of the dependent tube is marked with suitable graduations, so as to
enable the quantity measured to be readily adjusted by raising or lowering the
sliding cross bar, so that the upper edge of the tube carried by the latter is coin-
cident with the required graduation. Thus by operating the lever on the shaft or
axis, the valves are alternately opened and closed, so as to first fill the measuring

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2 is a vertical section; and Figure 3 is a plan
or top view of apparatus constructed according to my Invention; and Figure 4 is
a sectional plan on the line 1, 1, of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a vertical section on the
line 2, 2, of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional plan on the line 3, 3, of Figure 2; and
Figure 7 is a vertical section on the line 3, 3, of Figure 6.
Figures 8 are a plan and section of the upper valve; and Figures 9 are a plan and
section of the lower valve.
Figures 4 to 9 inclusive are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In the arrangement represented in the Drawings, the apparatus is constructed
with only a single upright guide rod for cheapness of construction, but if desired
two upright guide rods may be employed, as described in my Provisional
Specification.
a is a foot to which an upright guide rod b is firmly fixed; c is a bracket or arm
fixed firmly at the upper end of the upright b; and d is a hopper or funnel, the
mouth of which fits into the upper end of a tube e, depending from and fixed to the
said bracket or arm c. A moveable bracket or arm f, capable of being slidden up
and down for adjustment on the upright guide rod b, and of being fixed thereon at
any convenient height, carries a short tube g and a delivery spout h. This short
tube g, has fitted to it another tube i, preferably of glass, which fits easily the
exterior of the tube e.
In bearings fixed at or near the bottom of the upper dependent tube e, and in
the lower short tube g, is mounted a shaft or axis j, which is capable of sliding up
and down through the upper bearing and of operating the valves k, l, the valve k
being mounted in the lower end of the tube e, and the valve in the short tube g.
The valve acts in combination with a fixed plate or stop e', and the valve with
a fixed plate or stop gl, such plates e¹, g¹, being formed with suitable passages or
openings, so as to enable the valves to cut off and open the communication or
passage through the tubes e, g, i, as required, and the fixed plate or stop in the tube
g has its upper face inclined between the openings or passages therein, to facilitate
and ensure the complete discharge or clearance of the material being measured from
the measuring chamber. The shaft or axis j is operated by a spring m, so as
automatically to shut off the passage or outlet from the measuring chamber, whilst
a levern, fixed to a projection from the valve l, enables the shaft j, and consequently
the valves k, l, to be operated as desired.
The outside of the tube e is marked with suitable graduations (not shown in the
Drawings) so as to enable the quantity measured to be readily adjusted by raising
or lowering the sliding bracket or arm f, so that the upper edge of the tube e
carried by the latter is coincident with the required graduation. Thus by operating
the lever or projection n, the valves k, l, are alternately opened and closed, so as to
first fill the measuring chamber and then discharge its contents through the outlet
o, the supply to the measuring chamber being cut off during the discharge of the
contents of the said measuring chamber.
I find it convenient also to use a damping apparatus attached to the rear of the
outlet, whereby the adhesive part of the envelope or pocket used by seedsmen may
be moistened by being held to the same as the seed is leaving the valve. This
consists of a piece of metal p, of heart or other convenient shape, attached to the
outlet o, and provided with slots, or covered with felt or other absorbent material
to conduct the moisture from a sponge q, or other material acting as a reservoir.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode which I

page_text: or
liave found to answer, in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim is, the peculiar construction and arrangement of means
apparatus for measuring seed and other dry goods, substantially as herein shown
and described:
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrison, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN HARRISON. (L.S.)