Improvements in and relating to Weighing Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Comental
Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1894
سلسل
4005
Located
Plot A
1805
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Weighing Machines.
1, JAMES HINES, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, in the County of Dumbarton,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction,
fitting and arrangements or combinations, of the parts of weighing machines, and
especially those of the large platform class used in weighing cattle, waggons, and
other wheeled vehicles and movable objects, which improvements will make such
machines more reliable in construction and action, and more easily adjusted and
repaired without removing the heavy working parts or preventing the traffic over
the machines while repairing them, and further by special improvements make the
automatic indicating mechanism and dial of these machines to automatically record
or print the weight of each vehicle or other movable object as it is passed over or
on to the machine.
One improvement of this invention consists in forming the lower securing face of
the two knife edge fulcra at the platform carrying end of each arm of the main
levers (or it might be steelyard) with a transverse convex segmental surface, fitted
into converse concave or transverse segmental grooves in the levers and drawn from
a point either inside or outside the knife edge fulcra, each having a centre securing
bolt like stem passed through a corresponding hole in the centre of the groove and
lever, and secured by a screw nut (or other equivalent) on end of bolt stem on
other side of lever. Either the inner or outer of these two knife edge centres or
fulcra (preferably the latter) which carry the main platform, or weight, are made
each to shift or oscillate adjustably in relation to the other centres of motion in its
grooves, or to the other knife edge, by making the centre hole in the lever of its
securing bolt radial and oblong towards the outer surface of lever, which would be
curved segmentally to the same centre as the resting surface of the knife edge
piece, and have a broad corresponding surface gripping plate washer, which when
the outer nut was screwed up on it would secure each knife edge centre or fulcrum
piece in any adjusted position it was set to. Another improvement consists in
mounting a crosshead transversely across the lever, over each of the said inner
knife edge centres, with a recess in its under side into which the steel bearing
block would be fitted so that its under grooved surface would rest on its corresponding
knife edge below. The outer projecting ends of each crosshead would be formed
with saddle grooves and carry the upper close end of pendant open forked bolts or
straps on each side of levers, and have a crosshead secured on the four lower ends
of these bolts by screw nuts, or by other equivalent floating link arrangement, so as
to carry, by grooved and rounded bearing block- below, the opposite ends of each
of the transverse end beams of the platform frames passed through the open floating
links, or forked straps or bolts, below ends of levers, and carrying the corresponding
ends of the longitudinal beams of the weighing platform frame. By a further
improvement these main duplex levers are arranged to work parallelly and as close
as convenient on the insides of the longitudinal side beams of the platform frame,
each with their two end knife edge centres resting on grooved bearing steel blocks,
carried and fitted portably or loose in the top of brackets on each inner end of the
fixed outer bed frame of the machine; and by one arrangement having the inner
long free ends of these levers brought towards each other in the centre, and linked
to and carried as usual near the centre of the machine by the inner part of the
ordinary transverse carrying lever led out below to the steelyard pillar. And all

page_text: "
for obtaining free access to all the adjustable and fixed knife edge centres, bearing
blocks and securing and carrying crossheads and fittings for the more easy
adjustment, repair or removal of the working and wearing parts. For the said
advantages and at the same time to obtain a rigid platform frame, its lower part is
formed of the two simple transverse end steel beams of (I) girder section, herein
before described as carried in the forked bolts or strap links at the ends of the
main levers, and which by short double flanged stools bolted on the top ends of
these beams, carry the ends of the longitudinal side beams bolted to them, which
are of like (I) steel girder section, which for railway weighing machines, have
channel, or flanged, rails bolted on their upper surface in line with and nearly level
with the nails of the railway. For further rigidity the upper part of these two side
beams of the platform frame would be secured together by two, three or more,
transverse tie rods or bars, preferably with swivel screw shackles and screw bolts at
their ends through the vertical web of the beams (or other equivalent or portable
tie bais) which would also secure a rough surface cast iron closing in cover plate
over and between the inner upper edges of the said beams, and all capable of
Another
removal for easily getting at all the working parts as before stated.
improvement consists in an entire new construction and arrangement of mechanism
for freeing the floating or weighing bed frame, by raising it off the knife edge
centres of the main levers, instead of lowering these as is the usual practice; and
this consists in fitting a vertical sliding block in guides at each of the four corners
of the fixed bed frame of the machine, under each end of the two longitudinal
beams of the floating bed frame, the upper surface of these sliding blocks
having a recess for receiving thin bearing plates for adjusting the height
to which to raise the said side beans and frame. These raising and lowering
blocks have grooves in their undersides, each being supported on the top rounded
end of the upper of two short "toggle or "joggle" links both rounded on top
ends but grooved segmentally and transversely on their under sides, fitting
each other at a centre joint with a shackle link, the lower one resting and
working by its groove on a rounded projection formed or fitted on the fixed bed
frame of the machine vertically below the sliding blocks, so that when these
toggle" links are forced up vertically in line, by their centre joint link, as will
hereinafter he described, they raise the blocks and platform by the ends of the side
beams, a tenth of an inch or so off the knife edge centres of main levers; but when
the "toggle links are pulled inwards to an angle at the centre joint they lower
the blocks and allow the platform fiame to rest and float on the knife edge centres
or bearing fulera of the main levers, all ready for weighing. The two centre joint
links of the two sets of "toggle" links under each side beam of the platform, are
respectively jointed to the outer ends of two connecting rods having their inner
ends jointed to two opposite acting vertical studs in a horizontal chain wheel carried
on a fixed stud in the centre of the bed plate of the machine, under each side beam,
and these chain wheels are coupled to work in unison by a single open loop chain
passed round them with the ends of the chain coupled in the centre on one side by
a swivel screw tightening shackle. One of these chain wheels has another chain
wheel on it preferably below having a long open loop chain passed round it and
carried out at its other loop end and twisted a few turns round and secured in the
centre to a vertical spindle mounted in footstep and upper collar bearings in the
steelyard standard or pillar bed plate, with retaming collar below and an actuating
hand wheel on top end. The ends of this chain are also tightened up by a swivel
screw shackle link. The turning of this band wheel and spindle two revolutions
or so, in one direction of the other, winds ou one end of the chain and gives off the
other, and so with great power turns the two inner horizontal chain wheels with
the crank pins in them, of the adjacent ends of the two connecting rods under each
side beam, so as either to push these connecting rods outwards in line and the
toggle" links up vertical to raise the platform off the knife edge centres of the
main levers, or vice versa draw the connecting rods inwards towards each other and
the "toggle" links down to an angle inwards and so lower the platform on to
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66
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page_text: the knife edge centres of the main levers of the machine ready for weighing all as
herein before described, in accordance with this improved relieving and engaging
arrangement. Another very useful improvement consists in the construction and
adaptation of portable covering in angled or curved cast iron or other metal blocks
or plates, preferably of an A or light roof section in shape each fitted at its side
edges to and over each open gap or forked end of the main levers of platform
weighing machines which have their working knife edge centres and bearing
blocks fitted and acting within the forked ends of their levers. All so that these
improved covers may protect said working parts from water and other injurious
matter, which pass down through openings in and around the edges of the moving
top plate of the platform of these machines, by their angled tops conducting or
deflecting these deleterious substances down past the outsides of the levers and
their working fittings, while these covers are yet made easy of removal for getting
at the working parts fitted within the openings of the levers for their inspection
and repair.
One arrangement or combination of these improvements,-for making the
ordinary automatic indicating mechanism with its revolving spindle and lever index
pointer and figured dial, to also automatically record or print the weights of the
vehicles or other objects as they are passed on to or over the machine, consists in
doing so by a combination of mechanical motion, taken from the moving vehicle
or other object as it is passed on to and off the platform, and a combination of
electric appliances connected with this and with the index dial and index pointer,
both combinations being capable of considerable modification, to effect the said
printing of the weights say in tons, hundredweights and quarters (or other
series of weights) shewn or indicated on the dial, as the index pointer comes
round to and is steadied at the particular weight of each vehicle and motion
of the platform. One construction and arrangement of the parts of these two
combinations of automatic printing mechanism as applied to a railway waggon
weighing machine consists, first, as regards the electrical appliances, in making
an electric circuit by a lever, spring, or other equivalent, switch actuated by the
mechanical motion or mechanism from the platform, with two wires, one leading
through an electric bobbin connected with the frame carrying the spindle of the
rotating indicating pointer lever of the ordinary weight indicating mechanism and
dial of these machines, and back through a small electric or galvanic battery for
the purpose, so as to magnetise the index pointer through its spindle or carrying
frame at same time leaving it quite free to rotate on its axis to pass round from
zero to any point and weight indicated on the dial, from say one quarter hundred-
eight up to say nineteen tons nineteen hundredweights, and three quarters, and
afterwards back again, and be steadied at any one of these points by the weighing
and indicating mechanism as usual, it not being possible to interfere with the
rotation of this pointer without disturbing the mechanism and the exact indication
of the weight. But by these improvements a separate electric circuit is completed,
through a slight lateral motion of the pointer in contact with an electric lateral
contact pin fitted through the dial and connecting wires at every one of these
points and weights indicated, just as the pointer is brought to rest opposite these
That is, there are
pins by the particular weight on the platform of the machine.
u
three wine circuits formed or connected up with the pins at the back of the dial,
or other convenient part, through the said battery and through the coiled wires of
a corresponding number of electro magnets and differential lever armatures on an
oscillating spindle with a segmental lever, with the printing figures one, two, three,
projecting from its segmental surface, respectively brought into action by
completing the three circuits through their respective differential acting lever
armatures to indicate one quarter, two quarters, and three quarters, between every
hundredweight round the whole dial, and print it on the quarters column of the
paper as will hereinafter be described. The segmental type levers are brought
back after each action of printing and breaking of the electric circuit, to their
normal non-printing position by their own counterbalanced weight or by a light

page_text: spring. For printing the hundred weights, a long segmental lever is mounted on,
say, one end of a long reciprocating spindle, and having the figures one to nine
and a cypher in rotation projecting from its upper segmental surface brought into
action (in like manner to the quarters printing arrangement described) by ten
separate wire circuits and coiled magnets through their respective differential lever
armatures and respective levers on the long spindle to give the greater motion of
the segmental lever respectively for the units one to nine and a cypher in the units
column of the hundredweights, when another segmental lever and short spindle
would be brought into action through another wire circuit and coiled maguet and
magnetic armature or lever armature, which would bring a figure one on the
segment into position to print in the tens column in front of the cypher and units
to indicate from ten up to nineteen hundredweights between every ton indicated on
the dial, thus only requiring eleven circuits for all these. Then for recording and
printing the tons indicated round the dial as their magnetic terminal pins are
reached by the indicating pointer, there is a set of two segmental printing levers,
with the numerals one to nine and a cypher on the former for printing the units
column, and a figure one in the latter for printing the tens in front of the units.
ranged in front of the hundred weights, but in the tons column of the strip of
paper to be printed, otherwise all substantially as described in reference to the
printing of the hundred weights, by the said levers being mounted on their
respective long, and short, spindles with acting levers on the spindles and
differential acting armature levers with their respective coil magnets, that is, ten
for the units and one for the tens in the eleven different circuits required for
printing the whole of the nineteen tons respectively as they are required in
combination with the hundredweights and quarters beforementioned, thus requiring
twenty five electro magnetic circuits in all, eleven each for the tons and hundred-
weights and three for the quarters all respectively brought into action by the
index pointer coming steadily in front of its corresponding terminal pin of the
circuit, that is, when the index pointer is magnetised by the first single electro
magnetic circuit before described, and only put into action by the mechanical
motion of the weighing machine when automatic printing of the weights is
desired; and when this printing is not required the said mechanical motion is
disconnected and the indicating mechanism acts all as usual for indicating to
the sight, but not recording, the weights. The actual printing may or would be
effected on the underside of a roll of paper, previously ruled in columns for tons
hundredweights and quarters on its said underside. The advanced end of the paper
from the roll would be passed through between a pair of guide gripping and
drawing, or feed rollers, preferably geared together at one end, and wound off the
roll intermittently, after each printing recorded on it, in the direction of the lined
columns and motion of the type segments and over an endless carbon ink band
between it and the type segments, and traversed over guide rollers at right angles
to the notion of the paper to be printed and type segments. And so as to record
or print the weight on the paper by the action of three lever hammers, or other
equivalent pressers, over the paper, carbon ribbon, and type segments in their set
position as hereinbefore described, the printing taking place it might be through
small openings in a thin plate between the carbon band and the paper, the hammers
being actuated by a spindle of the mechanical motion arrangement taken from the
last motion of the travelling vehicle over the weighing platform, as also the
traverse of the carbon ink band. One arrangement of the mechanical motion taken
from the platform of the weighing machine consists in mounting a horizontal acting
beam lever under each end of the platform on fixed centres and having a pushing
down rod projecting up from its extreme outer end with bevelled or rounded top
reciprocating up through the platform at the side of one of the rails on it, so that
the front and back wheels of the vehicle will press the rod and the outer end of the
lever downwards as they pass over it in going off the platform, the other or inner
ends of these levers have each cords or wires attached to them led out over guide
pulleys to the indicating house and mechanism, having hooks or joints on their

page_text: extreme ends one of which levers and cords only would be in use according to the
direction the railway waggons were being traversed to be weighed, namely, that at
the advance end of the platform where the waggons pass off, the other beg
uncoupled and its pressing rod down out of action. The outer free end of the corl
or wire, from the lever arrangement in action for the time being under the advan e
end of weighing machine platform, would be hooked or coupled to one arm of
a beam or two armed lever, carried to oscillate on a fixed stud near its centre, while
the other arm of this lever would be jointed to a ratchet pawl, so mounted over
a ratchet wheel with say eight teeth equally pitched round it, and secured on one end of
a horizontal spindle mounted in a suitable stationary journal bearing frame, that cach
oscillation of the lever under the weighing platform and pull of its cord or wire would
turn the ratchet wheel one tooth at a time and its spindle in the same proportion.
A set of make and break lateral studs or projections would be so secured and
divided round the ratchet wheel, or its spindle, as to come into action as each alternate
tooth was brought round to act on the spring or other terminal closing switch of the
first electric circuit through the battery and for the time being complete this
circuit, and at the same time cause the index pointer to complete the second electric
circuit through the terminal pin in the dial opposite it for the time being, and which
brings the required segmental levers and their type into proper position for printing
the actual weight corresponding to the position of the index pointer over the dial.
While when the other alternate set of ratchet teeth were similarly brought round,
each to their stationary position, the said pins or projections would free the switch
terminals and break the first electric circuit for the time being, thus also freeing the
index pointer which would then return to its normal zero position on the dia! ready
for the next action of the weighing machine and this mechanism. The sequential
action of the mechanism is as follows, each waggon as it comes wholly on to the
rails of the weighing platform brings the index pointer steadily to rest at, or over,
the weight indicated on the dial equal to that of the waggon, and just as this has
taken place one of the front wheels comes forward and presses down the rod and
outer arm of lever under platform so that the inner arm pulls the cord of the ratchet
pawl lever which thus turns the ratchet wheel and its spindle to the extent of one
tooth this being one of the alternate set of teeth which brings the electric switch
into contact to complete the first circuit through the battery, and afterwards the
second circuit by the lateral movement of the index pointer, which then completes
the second electric circuit through the contact pin opposite or nearest it, and through
all the wires connected thereto through the battery and the several magnets required
to bring the proper levers with their printing type into position for printing, all as
hereinbefore described, a lever or equivalent on the ratchet wheel spindle being then
brought into action to either bring down the hammer levers or pressers over the
paper and type to print the weights thereon, all as hereinbefore described, a spring
or weight bringing the pawl lever and its connections back to their normal position
for again acting. This being all done by the action of the front wheel of the
waggon, the second or rear wheel then passes forward and presses down the rod and
lever under the platform and by the cord and atchet pawl lever turns the ratchet
wheel and its spindle round to the position of one of its alternate blank acting,
teeth, which as before stated breaks the electric current and allows all the ievers
to return to their normal position ready for the next weighing and printing action ;
this latter action of the ratchet wheel and its spindle may, by a ratchet or tooth
wheel feed gear connected to the spindle of one of the paper gripping rollers, draw
forward the printed paper sufficiently and ready for the printing at the next action
of the weighing machine and printing mechanism, and also in an equivalent manner
traverse forward the carbon or ink band between the type and the paper to be
printed.
Dated the 30th Avust 1801
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMI LEIM DIECI
Improvements in and relating to Weighing Machines.
I, JAMES HINES of Dunedin Lodge Lenzie, in the County of Dumbarton,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing that is to say :—
My invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the construction
and arrangement and combination of the parts of weighing machines, and especially
those of the large platform class used in weighing cattle, waggons, and other
wheeled vehicles and moveable objects, which improvements will make such
machines more reliable in construction and action, and more easily adjusted and
repaired without removing the heavy working parts or preventing the traffic over
the machines while repairing them, and further by special improvements make the
automatic indicating mechanism and dial of these machines to automatically record
or print the weight of each vehicle or other moveable object as it is passed over or
ou to the machine.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended five sheets of explanatory drawings, in which the same reference letters
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation Figure 2 an end elevation, and
Figure 3 on Sheet 2 a plan view all of a platform or waggon weighing machine as
constructed in accordance with my improvements.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation broken away and showing to a larger scale than
in Figure 1 the toggle joint of relieving gear.
Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of part of the steelyard, showing the improved
knife edge centres ;
Figure 6 is a detached elevation showing to an enlarged scale the improved knife
edge centres as applied to the levers of the machine.
Figure 7 on Sheet 3 is a diagram elevation and Figure 8 a corresponding plan
showing the appliances on which the vehicle or object to be weighed passes, and
from which motion is transmitted to the electric contact mechanism, and mechanical
stamping appliances.
Figure 9 is an elevation, and Figure 10 is a plan view of the mechanism
used in making electric contact, and which is actuated by the wires coming from
the weigh bridge.
Figure 11 on Sheet 4 is a front elevation and Figure 12 a side elevation of the
recording dial and electrical connections.
Figure 13 on Sheet 5 is a sectional front elevation Figure 14 a sectional side
elevation, and Figure 1 a sectional plan of the printing mechanism and electric
connections and
Figure 16 is a side elevation of the stamping and feed paper appliances.
Referring to the drawings on Sheets 1 and 2.
One improvement of this invention consists in forming the lower securing face
of the two knife edge fulcra a and b shown detached in Figure 6 at the platform
carrying end of each arm of the main levers, or it might be the steelyard C
as modified to suit in Figure 5, with a transveise convex segmental surface, fitted
into converse concave or transverse segmental grooves al in the levers A and
drawn from a point inside the knife edge fulcra, each having a centre securing
bolt like stem ab passed through a corresponding hole a³ ³ in the centre of the
groove in the lever A and secured by a screw nut (or other equivalent) on the end
of bolt stem a² 2 on other side of lever. Either the inner or outer of these two
knife edge centres or fulcra (preferably the former) which carry the main platform

page_text: or weight, are made each to shift or oscillate adjustably in relation to the other
centres of motion in its grooves, or to the other knife edge, by making the centre
hole as in the lever A or steelyard C of its securing bolt radial and oblong towards
the outer surface of lever or steel-yard which would be curved segmentally to the
same centre as the resting surface of the knife edge piece, and have a broad
corresponding surface gripping plate washer, a' which when the outer nut was.
screwed up on it would secure each knife edge centre, or fulcrum piece many
adjusted position it was set to.
Another improvement consists in mounting a crosshead B transversely across the
lever A over each of the said knife edge centres a with a recess in its under side
into which the steel bearing block is fitted in a usual manner so that its under-
grooved surface will rest on its corresponding knife edge below. The outer
projecting ends B' of each crosshead B are formed with saddle grooves, and carry
the upper close end of pendant open forked bolts or straps B3 on each side of
levers A, and a crosshead B³ is secured on the four lower ends of these bolts B2 by
screw nuts, or by other equivalent floating link arrangement so as to carry, (by
bearing blocks B below) the opposite ends of each of the transverse end beams D
of the platform frames passed through the open floating links, or forked straps or
bolts B below ends of levers A said transverse beams D being formed to carry
the corresponding ends of the longitudinal beams D' of the weighing platform.
frame.
By a further improvement these main duplex levers A are arranged to work
parallelly and as close as convenient on the insides of the longitudinal side beams D¹
of the platform frame each with their two end knife edge centres b resting on
grooved bearing steel blocks, carried and fitted portably or loose in the top of
bracket D on each inner end of the fixed outer bed frame D³ of the machine ;.
and by one arrangement having the inner long free ends of these levers A. brought
towards each other in the centre at A' and linked together at A³, one lever A
being extended out to the steel yard pillar C.
And all for obtaining free access to all the adjustable and fixed knife edge
centres a b, bearing blocks and securing and carrying crossheads and fittings for
the more easy adjustment, repair or removal of the working and wearing parts.
For the said advantages and at the same time to obtain a rigid platform frame,
its lower part is formed of the two simple transverse end steel beams D of (I) girder
or other section, hereinbefore described as carried in the forked bolts or strap
links B2 at the ends of the main levers A and which by short double flanged
stools d bolted on the top ends of these beams D carry the ends of the longitudinal
side beams D¹ bolted to them, which are of like (I) steel girder section which for
railway weighing machines have channel or flanged ails d' bolted on their upper
surface in line with and nearly level with the rails d' of the railway.
For further rigidity the upper part of these two side beams D¹ of the platform
frame would be secured together by two, three, or more transverse tie rods or
bais d³ preferably each formed in two parts coupled together at the centre by a
right and left handed screw coupling and passing through the vertical web of
the beams D' at their ends. By this arrangement when repairs are taking place
the levers A can be removed without disturbing the longitudinal beams D' and
not interrupt the traffic passing over the weighing machine.
Another improvement consists in an entire new construction and arrangement
of mechanism for freeing the floating or weighing bed frame, by raising it off the
knife edge centres a of the main levers A, instead of lowering the levers A as is
the usual practice, and this consists in fitting a vertical sliding block E in guides E¹
at each of the four corners of the fixed bed frame D' of the machine under each
end of the two longitudinal beams D' of the floating bed frame, the upper surface
of these sliding blocks E having a recess E' for receiving thin bearing plates E³
for adjusting the height to which to raise the said side beams D' and frame.
These raising and lowering blocks E have grooves E* in their undersides, each
being supported on the top rounded end of the upper of two short "toggle".or

page_text: "
"
'joggle links e ¹ both rounded on top ends but grooved segmentally and
transversely on their under sides fitting into each other at the centre, the lower
one e resting and working by its groove on a rounded projection e formed or
fitted on the fixed bed frame D³ of the machine vertically below the sliding block E,
so that when these "toggle" links e e' are forced up vertically in line, by their
centre joint links, as will hereinafter be described they raise the blocks E and
platform by the ends of the side beams D' a tenth of an inch or so off the knife
edge centre a of main lever, but when the "toggle" links e e' are pulled inwards
to an angle at the centre joint they lower the blocks E and allow the platform
frame to re-t and float on the knife edge centres or bearing fulcra a of the main
levers A, all ready for weighing. The two centre joints of the two sets of toggle
links e e¹ under each side beam D' of the platform are respectively jointed to the
outer ends of two connecting rods e³ having their inner ends jointed to two opposite
acting vertical studs f" in horizontal chain wheels ff carried on a fixed stud /2
in the centre of the side of the box of the machine, under each side beam D', and
these chain wheels ff are coupled to work in unison by an endless chain 3 passed
round them. One of the chain wheels f¹ has another chain wheel F on it above,
having an endless chain F passed round it and attached to a vertical spindle F
mounted in footstep and upper collar bearings F one cast solid with the steelyard
standard or pillar C', and the other secured to a stone in the ground, and having
an actuating hand wheel F3 on top end.
The turning of this hand wheel Fs and spindle F1 two revolutions or so, in one
direction or the other, winds on one end of the chain F and gives off the other, and
so with great power turns the two inner horizontal chain wheels ff' with the crank
pins in them, and the adjacent ends of the two connecting rods es under each
side beam D', so as either to push these connecting rods outwards in line and the
"toggle" links e el up vertical to raise the platform of the knife edge centres a of
the main levers A, or vice versa draw the connecting rods e inwards towards each
other, and the "toggle" links e e' down to an angle inwards and so lower the
platform on to the knife edge centres a of the main levers A of the machine ready
for weighing all as hereinbefore described in accordance with this improved
relieving and engaging arrangement.
Referring to the figures shown on Sheets 3 to 5.
One arrangement or combination of these improvements for making the ordinary
automatic indicating mechanism with its revolving spindle and lever index pointer
and figured dial, to also automatically record or print the weights of the vehicles
or other objects as they are passed on to or over the machine consists in doing so
by a combination of mechanical motions taken from the moving vehicle or other
object as it is passed on to and off the platform and a combination of electric
appliances connected with this and with the index dial and index pointer, both
combinations being capable of considerable modification, to affect the said printing
of the weights say in tons, hundred-weights and quarters (or other series of weights)
shown or indicated on the dial, as the index pointer comes round to and is steadied
at the particular weight of each vehicle and motion of the platform. One con-
struction and arrangement of the parts of these two combinations of automatic
printing mechanisin as applied to a railway waggon weighing machine consists,
first, as regards the electrical appliances, in making an electric circuit by a rubbing
spring contact g actuated by the mechanical motion or mechanism from the
platform, with two wires g¹ g², oue g₁ leading through an electric bobbin or
solenoid g³ connected with the frame G carrying the spindle G¹ of the rotating
' indicating pointer G of the ordinary weight indicating mechanism and dial of
these machines and back through a small electric or galvanic battery at G³ for the
purpose, so as to magnetise the index pointer G³ through its spindle G or carrying
frame G, at same time leaving it quite free to rotate on its axis to pass round from
zero to any point and weight indicated on the dial from say one quarter hundred
weight up to say nineteen tons nineteen hundred weights and three quarters, and
afterwards back again, and be steadied at any one of these points by the weighing
1

page_text: and indicating mechanism as usual, it not being possible to interfere with the
rotations of this pointer G without disturbing the mechanism and the exact
indication of the weight. But by these improvements a separate electric circuit is
completed through a slight lateral motion of the pointer G2 in contact with electric
lateral contact or contacts h insulated from each other radially and pins fitted
through the dial. Wires are connected at every one of these points h and weights
indicated just as the pointer G' is brought to rest opposite these contacts h by the
particular weight on the platform of the machine. That is there are from one to
five wire circuits in the case of tons, hundred weights and quarters formel or
connected up with the contacts h at the back of the dial or other convenient part
through a battery at h³, and through the coiled wires of a corresponding number of
electro-magnets (I) and differential lever armatures J on an oscillating spindle .1
with a segmental lever k' with the printing figures one two, three projecting from
its segmental surface, respectively brought into action by completing the three
circuits through their respective differential acting lever armatures J to indicate
one quarter, two quarters, and three quarters between every hundred-weight round
the whole dial, and print it on the quarters column of the paper as will herein-
after be described. The segmental type levers k¹ to k are brought back after each
action of printing and breaking of the electric circuit, to their normal non-printing
position by their own counterbalanced weight or by a light spring.
For printing
the hundredweights a long segmental lever is mounted on say, one end of a long
oscillating spindle k and having the figures one to nine and a cypher in rotation
projecting from its upper segmental surface brought into action (in like manner
to the quarters printing arrangement described) by ten wire circuits connected to
ten separate terminals and coiled magnets through their respective differential
lever armatures 12 and respective levers on the long spindle k to give the greater
or less motion of the segmental lever k respectively for the units one to nine and a
cypher in the units column of the hundred weights when another segmental lever k³
and short spindle m would be brought into action through another wire circuit
connected to a terminal K which is electrically connected to a coiled magnet K' and
magnetic armature K' which would bring a figure one on the segment into position
to print in the tens column in front of the cypher and units to indicate from ten
up to nineteen hundredweights between every ton indicated on the dial, thus only
requiring eleven circuits for all these. The levers K², 13, fulcrumed on the
spindles J and respectively are pressed down by the armature levers J and ²
respectively when a current is passed through the magnets K, I or and this
pressure on the ends of the levers K brings into vertical position the required
figures on the top of the segmental levers k¹, . Then for recording and printing
the tons indicated round the dial as their magnetic terminal pins are reached
by the indicating pointer G³, there is a set of two segmental printing levers with
the numerals one to nine and a cypher on the former for printing the units column
and figure one in the latter for printing the tens in front of the units, ranged in
front of the hundred-weights but in the tous column of the strip of paper to be
printed otherwise all substantially as described in reference to the printing of the
hundredweights by the said levers being mounted on their respective long and short
spindles with acting levers on the spindles and differential acting armature levers
with their respective coil magnets that is ten for the units and one for the tens in
the eleven different circuits required for printing the whole of the nineteen tons
respectively as they are required in combination with the hundredweights and
quarters before mentioned, thus requiring twenty five electro-magnetic circuits in
all, eleven each for the tons and hundredweights and three for the quarters all
respectively brought into action by the index pointer G² coming steadily in front
of its corresponding terminal contacts of the circuit, that is, when the index
pointer G is magnetised by the coil g of the first single electio-magnetic encuit
described and only put into action by the mechanical motion of the weighing
machine when automatic printing of the weights is desired; and when this printing
is not required the said mechanical motion is disconnected and the indicating
B

page_text: mechanism acts all as usual for indicating to the sight, but not recording the
weights. The actual printing may or would be effected on the underside of
a roll of paper previously ruled in columns for tons, hundredweights. and
quarters on its said underside. As shown in diagram elevation in Figure 16
the advanced end of the paper from the roll would be passed through between
a pair of guide gripping and drawing or feed rollers L preferably geared
together at one end and wind off the roll of paper L¹ intermittently, after
each printing recorded on it, in the direction of the lined columns and motion
of the type segments and over an endless carbon ink band L between it and
the type segments k¹ to and travelled over guide rollers L³ at right angles
to the motion of the paper to be printed and type segments. And so as to record
or print the weight on the paper by the action of three lever hammers L' or other
equivalent pressers, over the paper, carbon ribbon L' and type segments &¹ to ko
in their set position as hereinbefore described, the printing taking place it might
be through small openings in a thin plate between the carbon band L2 and the
paper, the hammers, L* being actuated by a connecting rod L' from the mechanical
motion arrangement taken from the last motion of the travelling vehicle over the
weighing platform as also the traverse of the carbon ink band. One arrangement
of the mechanical motion taken from the platform of the weighing machine consists
in mounting a horizontal acting beam lever M under each end of the platform, on
fixed centres and having a pushing down rod M' projecting up from its extreme
outer end with bevelled or rounded top reciprocating up through the platform
at the side of one of the rails M* on it so that the front and back
wheel M³ of the vehicle will press one of the rods M¹ the other being
then out of action and the outer end of the lever M downwards as they pass over
it in going off the platform. The other or inner ends of these levers M have each
cords or wires M' attached to them led out over guide pulleys M to the indicating
house and mechanism, having an appliance connected to their ends whereby either
cord or wire can be brought into action according to the direction the railway
waggons were being travelled to be weighed, namely that at the advance end of the
This is
platform where the waggons pass off, the other being put out of action.
effected as follows:-The two ends of the wires M at the weigh house are
connected to a slotted link N like that used in the reversing motion of a steam
engine. A sliding piece N¹ is jointed to the end of the ratchet lever n of the
appliances hereinafter described. The link N is moved to and fro by means of a
bell crank N2 actuating a connecting rod N³, and either of the wires M₁ are thus
brought into action to operate the mechanism hereinafter described. The outer
free end of the cord or wire M' from the lever arrangement in action for the time
being under the advance end of weighing machine platform would be coupled as
just described to one arm of a beam or two armed levers n carried to oscillate on a
fixed stud n' near its centre, while the other arm of this lever would be jointed to a
ratchet pawl n², so mounted over a ratchet toothed wheel n³, and secured on one
end of a horizontal spindle mounted in a suitable stationary journal bearing frame
that each oscillation of the lever M under the weighing platform and pull of its
cord or wire M would turn the ratchet wheel 3 one tooth at a time and its spindle
in the same proportion. A set of make aud break lateral studs or projections n
would be so secured and divided round the ratchet wheel ³ or its spindle as it
comes into action as each alternate tooth was brought round to act on the spring or
other terminal closing switch g of the first electric circuit g' g² through the battery
shown at G and for the time being magnetise the pointer G2 by means of the
coil and which is thus attracted to the nearest contact and so complete this
circuit and which brings the required segmental levers k¹ to and their type into
proper position for printing the actual weight corresponding to the position of the
index pointer G' over the dial, while when the other alternate set of ratchet teeth
were similarly brought round, each to their stationary position, the said pins or
projections would free the contact g and break the first electric circuit for the
time being, thus also freeing the index pointer G³ which would then return to its

page_text: h
normal zero position on the dial ready for the next action of the weighing machine
and this mechanism. The sequential action of the mechanism is as follows, each
waggon as it comes wholly on to the rails of the weighing platform brings the
index pointer G2 steadily to rest at, or over, the weight indicated on the dial equal
to that of the waggon, and just as this has taken place one of the front wheels M³
comes forward and presses down the rod M₁ and outer arm of lever M under
platform so that the inner arm pulls the cord M of the ratchet pawl lever n which
thus turns the ratchet wheel n³ and its spindle to the extent of one tooth this being
one of the alternate set of teeth which brings the electr.c contact g into contact
with one of the pins n¹ to complete the first circuit through the battery G³ and
afterwards the second circuit by the lateral movement of the index pointer G²,
which then completes the second electric circuit through the contact pins opposite
o nearest it, and through all the wires connected thereto through the battery and
the several magnets required to bring the proper levers with their printing type
into position for printing all as hereinbefore described, a bell crank lever n from
the lever n being then brought into action to bring down the hammer levers or
pressers L by means of the connecting rod L' over the paper and type to print the
eights thereon all as hereinbefore described, a spring nº or a weight bringing the
pawl lever n and its connections back to their normal position for acting again.
This is all done by the action of the front wheel of the waggon and the second or
rear wheel then passes forward and presses down the rod M' and lever M under
the platform and by the cord m and ratchet pawl lever n turns the ratchet
wheel and its spindle round to the position of one of its alternate blank acting
teeth, which as before stated breaks the electric current and allows all the levers
to return to their normal position ready for the next weighing and printing action.
This latter action of the ratchet wheel n³ and its spindle may by means of an
endless bando passed round a pulley on same communicate motion to the spindle
of one of the paper gripping rollers L and so draw forward the printed paper
sufficiently far and ready for the printing at the next action of the weighing
machine and printing mechanism, and the carbon or ink band may be traversed
forward between the type and the paper to be printed in an equivalent manner.
11
In some cases an auxiliary dial may be used to take the part of the large dial
in the electric printing, the large dial being used solely, to indicate the weight to
sight, and instead of magnetising the pointer G of the large dial, or the equivalent
in the auxiliary dial, a large ring magnet may be used fixed to the face of the dial
which would attract the pointer G' to the contacts h. And in some instances the
steel yard of the dial mechanism may be used to take the place of the pointer by
being similarly attracted to contacts, as in the case of the pointer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The general construction and arrangement and combination of the parts of
weighing machines and their electric recording and printing mechanism or appliances
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Second. In connection with weighing machines, the forming of knife-edge
centres with convex segmental or curved surfaces to fit into concave or hollow
surfaces in lever or steel-yard, substantially as herein described in reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In connection with weighing machines the forming of knife edge centres
as described in Claim 2, and the making of one of said centres adjustable, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In connection with weighing machines, the arrangement of crosshead
with saddles and forked straps carrying transverse and longitudinal beams, in

page_text: combination with a loose steel bearing inside, substantially as herein described in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In connection with weighing machines, the method consisting of toggle
link mechanism for raising the platform frame off the knife edges of the levers to
relieve the knife edges from undue wear, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In connection with weighing machines, the arrangement in combination
of toggle links, connecting rod, chain, wheels, and operating gear for raising the
platform frame off the knife edges of the levers, substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. In connection with weighing machines, the arrangement of mechanical
motions taken from the moving vehicle in combination with electric appliances for
the purpose of automatically recording or printing the weights, substantially as
herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Eighth. In connection with weighing machines, the method of making contact
at the dial by magnetically attracting the pointer to the contacts, substantially as
set forth.
Ninth. In connection with weighing machines, the method of causing the front
wheels only of the vehicle being weighed to make electric contact for magnetising
the pointer the rear wheels being out of action, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In connection with weighing machines the method of putting only one of
the vertical rods pressed down by the vehicle wheels into action at the one time,
substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. In connection with weighing machines, the method of automatically
bringing printing types into action to record the weights corresponding to that of
the object being weighed, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. In connection with weighing machines the arrangement in combination
of the type printing mechanism, substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 29th day of June 1895.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.