US257474A - Automatic liquid-weighing machine - Google Patents

Description

(ModeL) Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. ORAWLEY.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 257,474. Patented May 9,1882.

(ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. ORAWLEY.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 257,474. Patented May'9,1,882.

(ModeL) E. ORAWLEY. 4 Sheets Sheet 3.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 257,474. Patented May 9,1882.

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(Mod'eL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. C RAWLEY.

v 7 AUTOMATIC LIQUID WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 257,474. Patented May 9,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVIN ORA\VLEY, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOlt TO SIMPSON 8t GAULT, F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID-WEIGHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,474, dated May 9, 1882. Application and January 11. 1881. (Model.)

To all. whom it may concern Be it known that'I, EDWIN CRAWLIQY, a resident of the city of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Meters, 0! which the following is a specification.

The primary object ofmy invention is to provide a machine whereby liquids can be meas- [O ured with speed and with accuracy.

' The subordinate objectsof my invention are to secure compactness in the construction of the machine, to produce a machine economic in cost, easy in operation, durable, and not liable.to get out of order, and easy of repair.

The various features of my invcntionemployed to carry into etft'ect these objects will be fully apparent from the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figl'ire 1, Sheet 1, represents a top view of a machine embodying myinvention, the rod L, which carries the weightsj and k employed to graduate the machine, being partially broken away, so as to show the graduated scale-rod M. Fig.

2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the same machine. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, said section being taken at the dotted line :0 w of Fig. 1; Fig. 4,

0 same sheet, is a vertical central section of the valve P. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a view of the devices for connecting the valve-stem to the supporting-bar and to the weighted lever X, whereby the weight of the'valves is suitably conn- 3 5 terbalanced. Fig. 6, Sheet 4, is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine. Figs. 7 and 8, Sheet 4, represent the device for allowing the liquid to be emptied from the machine. Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 3, represent the valve-seat and the lower end or face of the valve P.

A indicates the frame of the machine.

B indicates the balance-beam, supported at the fulcrum a by arm 0, attached to the 5 frame A. 4

The oscillating pan l) consists of the two compartments or buckets, b, which alternately receive the fluid to be weighed until the desired weight of liquid has been received. This pan D oscillates on a rod,'d, which passes through a sleeve, 0, located in the pan at the divisionfbetween thecompartments I). This rod (2 is fixed to the lower ends of the suspension-rods E, which are supported by and swing upon bearingsg, having knife-edges, these bearings projecting from the sides of the arms B. of the balance-beam. Attached to the arm B of the balance-beam is the weight F, swung in the usual manner of weights attached to the scale-beam.

The amountof the swing of the balance-beam B is regulated by adjusting the stops it 7L2 on the bar h, which latter slides through a hole in the beam G, the latter beam being attached to main frame A.

When the valve or valves P, which are more fully hereinafter'described, and which control the admission of liquid into the pan, are about threequarters closed, it is necessary to keep the valves open to this degree, allowing the liquid to enter slowly into a bucket of the pan until the bucket has received the'proper amount.

During the period of supplying each pan with liquid it is found necessary where the aperture is of any considerable size to diminish the flow of liquid when the bucket has received about three-quarters of the proper amount of liquid it is to receive. Were the flow not thus diminished, the momentum of So inflowing liquid would force too much liquid into the bucket and render the action of the entire apparatus unreliable. To practically obviate this difficulty the check-weightsj k are so suspended that the balance-beam, asit rises, takes the weight of weightj and weight It successively.

The means here shown for suspending the weightsj and kjconsist of a swinging lever, L, fixed to the oscillating cross-beam I, and hav- 9o ing its forward end projecting under the arch K, which latter is attached to the main frame A, and serves as a stop to prevent the other. end of the lever and the \veightsj I; from fulling more thana desired distance as theweight 5 F descends.

The ends of the cross-beam each rest and oscillate upon acenter, Z, on the portions 15 0f the balance-beam B. These centers Z are directly in the center of the axis of oscillation of the balance-beam B. Weight 7c is suitably secured to the lever L. In the presentinstancc This machine is intended to measure out a' given quantity ofliqnids of different densities. For example, let us assume that the machine is to be employed to measure out the liquid by the gallon. Now, as the measurement is effected by the weight of a gallon, and as the weight of a gallon of liquid will vary according to the density of the latter to be measured, it becomes necessary to supply a provision whereby the machine may be easily and quickly adapted to this change in weight.

In thepresent instance the following device is employed: A scale-rod, M, preferably lying in the same plane as the centers (4 of the main beam B, is attached at one end to the portion B of the balance-beam B and at the other end to a forward portion, 13*, of said balance-beam B. This rod M is provided with a screwthread. A weigl'it, N, concentric with the rod, moves thereon, being provided with a female screw-thread, which engages the screw-thread on said rod. By turning the weight N in one or the other direction it is moved along the rod as desired. The weightN is set at the desired point on the rod M by a set-nut, p.

The top side of the rod M is preferably cut off, and on the fiat surface thus formed a scale is marked, the graduations being such as to allow the weight N to be properly set, so that the flow of theliquid into the bucket shall be cut off when thelatter has received the proper amount of liquid by weight.

The receiving-vessel 1t maybe of any desired shape and size. In the present instance it consists of a pan whose depth is preferably greater than the height of the valve P, which controls the admission of liquid into the buckets I). This vessel It is fed with liquid through the supply-pipe S. This pipe isprovided with a regulating-valve, T, of suitable form. In the present instance it is that variety of valve known as the butterfly valve, and is regulated by float U., This float U is loosely connected to arms g, which at their other ends are pivoted at r to the vessel R, as shown. A cross-piece, r, connects arms q. A forked piece, r whose arms connect below with levers 0', which move the valve T, is connected to saidcross-piece r, and is capable of vertical adjustment thereon by nut 1", whereby the valve T can be caused to regulate the inflow of liquid, according as the pressure on the sup ply-pipe S varies.

'Orifices 19 are placed in the side of the pipe S, whereby the latter is enabled to discharge its contents into the receiving-vessel R without allowing the current of inflowing liquid to impinge directly upon the valves 1. There may be one or more of the valves 1?, and they consist essentially of a cylindrical wall, and are therefore provided with a hole extending from top to bottom, and rest upon valveseats to, preferably flush with the bottom of the pan, inclosing an opening, V, in the bottom of the vessel it. The material ofthe valve at bottom is thickened, as shown, to provide for wear of the valve. The valve-stem a is held in position by any suitable device, as the spiders or webs 1;, attached to the valve and stem, and the spider or web a, attached to a downward extension of the valve-seat, and allowing the lower end of the stem to play freely through a hole in the center ot'the web c.

The objects of thus providing a skeleton valve are as follows: First, the weight of the valve is diminished and the amount of counter-balance required is lessened; secondly, the edge of the valve being thin, the tendency of the liquid passing out under the valve to upheave the valve and keep same suspended is reduced to a minimum; thirdly, the valve being opened as described, the flow of liquid cannot create a vacuum under the valve and suck down the latter..

The valves are counterbalanced to almost their full weight, enough weight being left in them to insure their descent at the proper time. Each counter-balance consists of a lever, X, fulcrumed at X, preferably on knife-edged pivots, provided at one end with weight X preferably adjustable along said lever, and at the other end secured to said valve-stems by any suitable connection, as hooks Z The valves are directly operated by the bar W, fixed .to and extending between the two arms B of the balance-beam 1-3, and provided with knife-edges Z, on which the links Z (one of each being respectively connected to each valve-stem) are hung, and by which the aims are always suspended, except when down and resting upon their respective valve-seats. Instead of the cross-bar W, each valve may be supported on a separate pin projecting from the balance-beam.

The mode of connection between the links Z and their respective valve-rods is preferably an adjustable one, and is here made by a screwthread. The valves reach their seats before the forward end of the beam 13 ceases to descend, and the bar \V continues to descend after the valves reach their seats, passing down through the opening in the links Z. The moment the valves reach their seats their weight is removed fronrthe balance'beam, and thisdiminution of weight must becompensated for. This compensation is made as follows: Two compensating-weights, each consisting of an upright arm, 3, provided with weight 4 and arm 5, oscillate on pivots 2. The arm 5 rests on a knife-edge supported in stirrups 6, whose arms are suspended between the receiving-vessel P. and the frame A on knife- IIO edges 8 of the bar' W. When the rear or weighted end of the beam is down the upright arm 3 of the compensating-weight lever is inclined slightly rearward to insure the keeping of the arm 5 in contact withthe knife-edge of the stirrup 6 as the latter descends. When the valves reach their seats the arm 3 and its weight 4 have fallen sutticiently forward to be a weight upon the bar W equal to that which the valves were before they reached their seats. The momentum of the arm 3 and weight 4 in fallin g adds weight in excess of what the valves would have imparted if still suspended, and the momentum is useful in insuring the continued descent ofthe forward ends of the beam and overcoming the resistance made by the mechanism employed to unlock the pan D and allow it to be discharged, and in this manner accuracy in the operation of weighing is insured. Preferably a stop, 2l,'is provided to prevent the weight at and arm 3 from moving too far forward when the weight and arm are returned to their upright position, and thus the arm 5 is prevented from leaving its seat on the stirrup.

The pan D works within a receptacle or jacket, 9, which consists ofa pan, 22, and hood 23, and which prevents the liquid from splashing and conveys it to a central outlet, 10, whereby it is delivered.

Any form of mechanism for unlocking the pan 1) and for allowing it to be oscillated in the direction of the bucket which is full and allow the latter to deliver its contents, &c., may be employed.

I employ a well-known mechanism for accomplishing this purpose, which is as follows:

The suspension-rod E is provided with auxiliary arm 11, to the end of which is pivoted a catch,12,havingapin,17,projcctingatrightangles to the length thereof, and while the bucket is being filled fittinginto oneof thenotcheslS of Y the quadrant-slotlt. The end of t his catch has a projection, 15, extending outwardly at right angles from the catch, and a part of the frame A is so formed, as at 16, to constitute a stop that when the pan and rod E are depressed this projection 15 shall impinge against the stop 16 and be prevented from descending with the pan and arm, and the pin 17 will thus be raised out of the notch 13, in which it has been resting,and thus the pan be free to oscillate, whereupon said pan will turn in the direction of the bucket which has been filled, and the latter will deliver its load at the bottom of the machine. As the bucket delivers its load the arms and part will rise and the pin 17 will enter that notch in the opposite end of the quadrant-slot which is now in turn presented for the reception of said pin.

A locking and unlocking device like that above described is also placed on the other side of the pan. The pan D may be varied in construction. For example, it may have one or several buckets instead of two, as herein mentioned. The mechanism for enabling the descent of the pan to unlock it, so that the contents of one compartment or-bucket may be discharged and an empty receptacle be then furnished to receive a fresh supply of liquid, will, in the event of a change in the construction of the pan, be suitably altered to perform such desired functions and accomplish such results.

The mode of operation of the afore-described machine is as follows: The liquid flowing from weight F, at which time the beam rises till it comes into contact with the weight when the movement of the beam ischecked till enough additional liquid has been added to that already in the bucket to overcome said weights, when the beam again ascends until weight j strikes weight it. In the meantime the valves have descended and have nearly reached their seats, and the flow of liquid from the receivingvessel into the bucket has been greatly diminished, but continues to flow until enough liquid has entered the bucket to overcome the weight of the combined gravity of the weights F) 7;, whereupon the rear end of the balance-beam will again rise and the front ends of said beam will descend,lettiug the valves down onto their seats and stopping the flow of liquid into the bucket underneath. By this time the compensating-weights 4: have moved over rearward and brought enough pressure on the bar to compensate for the loss of weight upon the forward end of the beam occasioned by the absence of the weight of the valves 1, and the momentum of these moving weights 4 carries the beam down past the point of equilibrium occasioned by the valves coming onto their seats and the weights 4 taking their place. Consequently these weights etcentinue to move rearward, and the more they are inclined the greater influence they exert in forcing down the forward end of the beam B. As the forward end of the beam and the pan continue to descend the catch 12 is lifted and the bucket containing liquid discharges its contents into the jacket 22, at the same time bringing the empty bucket into position to receive the next installment of liquid. The forward end of the beam, being relieved of the weight of theliquid, immediately returns, assumes its first position, and returning the valves and accompanying parts to their first position, whereupon the like operation is repeated as long as there is liquid to supply the apparatus. hat I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The hollow valve P, provided with the spider v and the guiding device e, the lower edge of the valve constituting its face, and the face of the seat inclosing the exit-orifice, and being without a surrounding ridge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The hollow valve P, provided with a stem, at, located within the valve and engaging a guideway, o, located in the orifice of the valve-seat, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The hollow valve P, provided with a stem, a, located within the valve and engaging a guideway located in the orifice of the valveseat, the lower edge of the valve constituting its face, the face of the seat inclosing the exitorilice, and being without a surrounding ridge, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The hollow valve P, provided with a stem, at, located within the valve and engaging a guideway located in the orifice of the valve seat, the lower edge of the valve being flush with the floor of the receiving-vessel and constituting its face, the face of the seat inclosing the exit-orifice, and being without a surrounding ridge, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5 The combination of the weighted balancebeam B and the valves P, supported from the forward end of said beam, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination of the valve P and weighted leverX, fulcrumed at X-from arch or support K, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The combination of the weighted balancebeam B and the valves P and weighted lever X, fulcrumed at X, and supporting at its forward end the valves P and connecting and operating mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. The combination of the weighted balancebeam B and the valves and weighted lever X, fulcrumed at X, and supporting the valves P and devices for continuing the descent of the pan after the valves have reached their seats, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The combination otthe weighted balancebeam B, bar \V, valves 1?, links Z, beam X, device 3 &t 5, and connecting devices, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. The combination of the valves P, the slotted links Z, and bar W, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. The combination of the valves P, the slotted links Z, bar W, stirrup 6, and device 3 4t 5, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. The combination of the balancebeam B and the lever L, pivoted to and oscillating within said beam, one end of said lever being provided with weights and 7:, supported above the end of the balance-beam in such a manner as to enable the balance-beam to receive their weight successively, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. Thecombination oftheweighted balancebeam B, receiving-vessel It, supply-pipe S, valve T, valve P, weighted lever X, device for continuing the descent of the pan D when the valves reach their seats, and devices for enabling the descent of the pan to allow thelatter to discharge its contents, and connecting and operating mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

EDWIN ORAWLEY.

Witnesses:

WM. E. JONES, F. R. HILL.

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