Improvements in Value Computing Weighing Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1899
Complete Specification 1 of: 6th Mar 1907-1ccented 19th May 1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Value Computing Weighing Apparatus.
I, ALPHA REEVE BEAL, Gentleman, of No. 218, North Fairmount Street,
Pittsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to that class of weighing scales wherein actual weighing
by pounds and ounces is done away with, and instead thereof is employed a
mechanical-balance-calculating mechanism based on the price per pound of any
given commodity and the amount of money the purchaser desires to expend,
regardless of whether the amount will purchase one or more pounds or only a
fractional part of a pound.
The invention consists of a rigid upright frame or track upon which a carriage
moves. Locking mechanism holds the carriage rigid in the frame or on the track
in any desired adjustment, the locking points being evenly spaced apart, whereby
the carriage moves exactly the same distance between any two adjacent points on
the scale.
The beam is evenly balanced in the carriage, and consists of two longitudinal
bars, and one of these bars is notched or indented at regular intervals, the inter-
vals in point of space corresponding exactly with the points for locking the ear-
iage to the base. The other beam-bar is scaled and carries a poise which is
slidable thereon to indicate the amount of money to be expended.
Extending vertically upward from the weighing platform is the steelyard rod.
At the upper extremity of this rod is a yoke so pivoted as to oscillate in a ver-
tical arc, and the notched beam-bar is embraced by the yoke, and the bar-notches
engaged by a roller journaled in the yoke concentrically with the yoke pivots.
In adjusting or setting the scale, when the carriage is unlocked and moved hori-
zontally, either one way or the other, the beam moves through the steelyard-rod-
yoke, the yoke roller having frictionless passage over the beam-bar indentations
until brought to rest in the indentation desired for the adjustment. The steel-
yard-rod and its yoke have limited play in the direction of the beam's length,
the extent thereof being insufficient, however, to permit of the yoke-roller lodging
in any other beam-bar indentation than the one corresponding with the point at
which the carriage is then locked.
A scale of price-per-pound units may be placed on the carriage-supporting
frame, the same being arranged in exactly the same relation as the notches on
the beam-bar and the points for locking the carriage. A pointer may extend
from the carriage to the scale, whereby when the carriage is released, the pointer
moving over the scale indicates the price per pound or other unit of the com-
modity to be weighed, the carriage being locked at said point. This movement
of the carriage moves the beam through the steelyard-rod yoke, and brings the
yoke-roller to rest in the beam indentation which corresponds exactly with the
point at which the carriage is locked. The beam poise may then be adjusted to
indicate the amount of money the purchaser desires to expend.

page_text: The free oscillatory movement of the yoke and roller is such that when the
carriage is moved the previous adjustment and operative union of the yoke is
broken without the necessity of first raising or leveling the beam or adjusting
other parts as a pre-requisite to a new setting, as has been necessary in scales of
this type prior to my invention.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.
Improvements in Value Computing Weighing Apparatus.
1, ALPHA REEVE BEAL, Gentleman, of 218, North Fairmont Street, Pittsburg,
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 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:
-
This invention relates to price or money-weight scales, and one object thereof
is to connect the steelyard-rod and beam in such manner that the latter may be
moved, as when setting the scale, without being locked to or held rigid with the
carriage.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of
price or unit indications on the base or fixed portion of the machine, in connec-
tion with an indicator on the carriage movable over said indications, and also an
improved lock for accurately holding the carriage in adjustment. One defect in.
scales of this character as at present constructed is that the carriage when fixed
is liable to be out of correct position relative to the steelyard-rod and beam con-
nection, and vice versa, giving to the parts when in use strained and unnatural
position, and thereby impairing the very essential accuracy of the weighing
inachine. It, therefore, becomes a further object of the invention to remedy the
defects noted by causing the carriage and beam connection to maintain constantly
relatively correct position.
Further objects of the invention are to provide improved means for shifting
the carriage; to provide an improved mounting for the carriage in the machine
base; and to provide improved means for relieving the beam of the weight of a
load which may be placed on the scale before the beam is set, whereby the beam
is more easily adjusted to proper position.
The invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the com-
bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of a scale embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the supplemental base and carriage.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the carriage locking rack, looking in
the direction of the arrow, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure. 1.
Figure is an end view.
Figure 6 is a full size elevation of the beam connection, showing a portion of
the beam.
Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the beam roller connection detached.
The platform connection and base being the same as those formerly used and

page_text: forming no part of my invention are not here illustrated, nor is the machine here
shown provided with a tare-beam, as I prefer to dispense therewith, the steelyard-
rod extending directly from a counter-weighted platform lever or nose-iron, as
is common in machines of this character.
Referring to the drawings, supplemental base A, supported on uprights B, is
flanged on opposite sides at A¹ to form tracks for carriage C. Raised from the
carriage are fulcrum posts 1), between which bars E and F are evenly balanced
on, knife-edges D'. These bars are rigidly united at the ends and constitute the
balanced beam. The space between the bars forms slot G, and the bottom of
this slot, or the top edge of bar F, is scalloped or serrated at F. Bar Fis
embraced by yoke H, and journaled therein over the bar is roller I, having side
flanges I. The bar moves through the yoke and beneath the roller, and when at
rest the roller drops by gravity into one of scallops F1. Yoke H is loosely
mounted by means of knife-edge trunnions H in yoke J, secured to the upper
end of the steelyard or load-connecting rod K. This rod extends downward
through hollow post L, and the latter supports four vertical guides or stops M,
two on each side of the beam. Yoke H has sufficient play between guides M to
afford the roller limited vibration in the direction of the length of the beam.
When the beam is moved, as when setting the scale, this play of the load-rod con-
necting roller prevents frictional engagement and cramping of the cooperating
parts. The horizontal play each way of yoke H between guides M is in extent
approximately one-half the length of one of scallops F1, so that the vibration of
the roller cannot carry it past the scallop corresponding with the carriage locking
point. It is by means of this limited vibratory movement of the roller connec-
tion that I am enabled to adjust the scale without first raising the load connection
and leveling the beam, as is necessary in many forms of even-balanced scales, and
by causing the roller to engage the correct beam scallop and rendering it mechani-
cally impossible for the same to engage any other scallop, I obtain absolute
accuracy.
Rigid with yoke H, and in line with roller I, also with the beams, are arms N
carrying upwardly-pressing springs 0, provided with anti-friction rollers O¹, and
these rollers bear upward on the under edge of bar E and serve to hold the
yoke normally against vertical oscillation and in perpendicular position, though
the springs have not sufficient resistance to impede the movement of the beam
past the roller.
It will be noted that the top plane of knife edge trunnions H¹ aligns with the
center of the journal of roller I, so that when yoke J is pulling down on said
knife edges, as when weighing, a direct central pull is exerted on the roller
causing the same to accurately center in one of scallops F. It will also be noted
that by the arrangement of vertical guides and mechanism for always centering
the roller, the steelyard or load-connecting rod is always perpendicular.
Instead of placing the price or unit indications on the lower bar of the beam—
that is to say, bar Fas is now generally practiced in this class of scales, I have
positioned them on the front of supplemental base A, as shown at 1', and provided
the carriage with pointer Q, reaching over and depending in front of the indica-
tions, where it designates the price per pound or other unit of the article weighed.
For moving and locking the carriage in the frame or base, I provide shaft R,
journaled longitudinally in the carriage, and arranged thereon is dog S, which
engages rack-bar T, secured to the inner side of base A. Spring R constitutes
a tension for the shaft, holding dog S normally in engagement with one of the
rack-bar notches. The carriage is thus unlocked and rendered capable of move-
ment upon a partial rotation of the shaft, and this movement of the shaft is
effected by depressing handle U at the left hand of the carriage. Said handle is
provided, preferably, with a semi-spherical hold U adapted to fit the hollow of
the hand, and with the hand positioned thereon, the fingers extending over rest V
on the carriage extremity with one finger resting on the carriage proper and the
thumb dropped down onto the front of base A, as seen in Figure 2, slight pressure

page_text: of the hand releases the carriage, and I have found by practical experience that
the handhold just described affords the best possible control of the carriage for
one hand, and obviates all tendency to cramp or stick the same. A similarly
formed handle W, extending from shaft R at the opposite end of the carriage,
provides for ready manipulation thereof with the right hand of the operator.
Should the scale be heavily loaded before adjusting the balance-beam, the
latter may be temporarily relieved by depressing lever X, which has loose engage-
ment with steelyard-rod K, thus raising and sustaining said rod and the load
during the adjustment of the beam, in such instance lever X being manipulated
by the right hand and the carriage by the left hand of the operator.
In operation, the carriage is moved until pointer Q indicates on scale P the
price per pound, when shaft R is released, causing dog S to engage the notch on
rack T corresponding to the price indication, and said rack being notched in
unison with bar F of the beam, the latter is brought to rest with the relatively
proper scallop beneath roller I, into which the roller drops by gravity, it being
impossible for the same, owing to the mechanism before described, to engage any
other scallop. Thus with the price per pound indications corresponding exactly
with the notches on locking rack T, and said indications and notches correspond-
ing with beam-scallops F1, absolute accuracy is attained. By dropping the car-
riage to position within the supplemental base rather than positioning it on top
thereof, it becomes unnecessary to secure the carriage against vertical displacement.
As the price indications are on the base, they read in the same direction as the
value indications on the beam, thereby avoiding the confusion that always exists
when all indications are on the beam and read in opposite directions, as now
generally arranged.
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 is:-
1. The combination with a beam provided with evenly spaced indentations, a
load connecting rod, a roller at the upper end of the rod adapted to engage the
beam indentations, the roller having play in the direction of the length of the
beam, and means for limiting the play of the roller to an extent approximately
one-half the length of one of the beam indentations, substantially as shown and
described.
2. The combination of a beam, a yoke, a horizontal roller journaled in the yoke
and engaging the beam, trunnions projecting from opposite sides of the yoke,
the top plane of the trunnions aligning with the axial center of the roller for the
purpose described, and a downwardly pulling load connection mounted on said
trunnions.
3. The combination of an indented beam, a load rod, a horizontally elongated
connection between the beam and rod, said connection carrying a roller for engag-
ing the beam indentations and having horizontal pivotal union with the load rod,
said pivotal union aligning horizontally with the axial center of the roller, and
means for maintaining the elongated connection normally parallel with the beam,
substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination of a balanced beam, a load connecting rod, a connection
between the beam. and rod, said connection adapted to vibrate on a horizontal
axis, and fixed vertical stops for limiting the vibration of said connection.
5. The combination of a beam, a load-connecting rod, a loose roller connection
between the beam and rod, the engagement of the load-rod with the roller con-
nection being, when weighing, in the horizontal plane of the axial center of the
roller, substantially as shown and described.
G. The combination of a base, a carriage, a balanced beam on the carriage, a
vibratory load connection uniting and cooperating with the beam, and fixed
guides raised from the base for limiting the vibrations of the load connection.
7. The combination of a beam, a load-connecting rod, a yoke pivotally mount: d

page_text: on the beam so as to oscillate vertically with relation thereto, and bearings on the
yoke with which the load-rod has loose engagement, the yoke affording a loose
connection between the beam and load-rod and serving to maintain the load-rod
and the bearings on the yoke for said rod and the yoke-pivot in a vertical plane
when weighing, substantially as shown and described.
8. In a scale of the character described, the combination of a base, a carriage,
carriage locking and releasing mechanism, and a depressible knob-shaped handle
movable with the carriage for actuating said mechanism, the knob of the handle
fitting the hollow of the operators hand while the fingers thereof are sustained
by the carriage, whereby the operator maintains perfect control over the carriage
movement with one hand, substantially as shown and described.
9. The combination of a base, a carriage, carriage locking and releasing mech-
anism, a depressible knob-shaped handle at one of the carriage for actuating said
mechanism, and a finger rest positioned at the carriage end inward from the
handle, the knob fitting the hollow of the hand and the rest supporting the fingers
thereof while adjusting the carriage.
10. In a price scale, the combination of a frame, a beam movable thereon pro-
vided with evenly spaced indentations, a load-connecting rod, a roller at the upper
end of the rod past which the beam moves, the roller having play in the direction
of the length of the beam, and stops for limiting the play of the roller to an extent
approximately one half the length of one of the beam indentations, substantially
as shown and described.
11. An improved price or money-weight scale, substantially as herein shown
and described.
Dated this 5th day of March 1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents.