US508507A - Weighing and registering attachment for refrigerators - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

' W. B. DIGKSON. WBIGHING AND REGISTERING ATTAUHMENT FOR REFRIGERATORS;

Patented Nov; 14, 1893.

5 wan imam;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM 13 DIOKSONfOF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

.WEIGHING AND REGISTERING ATTACHMENT FOR REFRlGERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,507, dated November 14, 1893.

A Application filed May 1, 1893. Serial No. 5 (N0 m m To wZZ whom itmay concern.-

Be it known that-I, WILLIAM B. DIoKsoN, of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weighing and Registering Attachments for Refrigerators, of which the following is a full, clear, and-exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof.

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerators; and the object of the invention, is to provide a weighing and registering attachment, by which the quantity of ice placed within the refrigerator shall be automatically weighed and the quantity in pounds and fractlons thereof disclosed to-the View of the purchaser. Furthermore to provide an attachment ofthis character, which is simple and lnexpensive of construction, and which may be easily applied to or detached from a refrigerator of the usual construction. 7

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as will be herelnafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In order that my invention may be fully understood,I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l, is a perspective of a refrigerator constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is avertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line ww of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a Vertical and enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator, and taken on the line cc-m of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a face View of a portion of a refrigerator and'showing a slightly modified form of the register. Fig. 5, is a face View of a portion of the refrigerator, and showing a slightly modified form of construction. Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator taken on the line yy of Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a face View of a portion of a refrigerator the registering apparatus of which is' of modified construction. Fig. 8, is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator taken on the line .e-z of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9, is a cross sectional View of the shaft and the ratchet'wheel which carries the indicator-finger, and also the spring-actuated pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel.

ftion.

In the drawings, 1 designates a refrigerator of the usual or any preferred construction;

this refrigerator being divided by the horizontal partition 2, into the upper and lower compartments 3 and 4 respectively. The upper compartment 3, is for the reception of the ice, and is provided with the usual drain pipe 4 communicating therewith at its 60 upper end and extending downward through the bottom of the refrigerator as shown at4 The lower compartment 4., is provided with the usual removable partitions or shelves 5,

upon which is placed, and also upon the bot- The upper or ice the usual construction and arrangement. Se-

cured by screws or other suitable means upon the upper side of the partition 2 are the tubular standards 9, one standard 9 being located adjacent to each corner of said partiguide sleeve 9, and have their upper ends secured rigidly or permanently to the under side and near the corners of a horizontal A depending guide rod 10, fits and is adapted to operate vertically within each platform 11; said platform marginally conforming to the shape of and fitting snugly within the upper compartment 3. A spiral lift-spring 12 surrounds or encircles each Vertical guide rod 10, and bears at-its opposite ends against the upper ends of the tubular standards 9, and the lower side of the platform 11, or an enlargement formed at the upper ends of each rod 10 as shown. These lift-springs 12 are of predetermined resistance,

and are adapted as different weights or press- 5 ure is placed upon the-platform 11, to allow said platform to move down a certain'distance, which through mechanism to be hereinafter described causes the weight or pressure upon the platform 11 to be automatically Ioo determined and disclosed to view at the outer side of the refrigerator. To prevent the lift-,, springs from raising the horizontal platform too high and possibly disconnecting the pendent rods 10 from their connection with the tubular standards 9, the stop-pins or strips 11 are provided, these strips projecting inwardly a slight distance from the side walls of the refrigerator and into the path of the platform 11, so that as the weight or pressure is removed from said platform, the springs 12 exerting their upward pressure will cause said platform to contact with and rest against the under side of said stop-pins 11.

Extending transversely of the refrigerator a suitable distance below the movable platform 11, and journaled at its rear end and near its forward end in bearings 12 is a horizontal shaft 13, the front end of which projects a slight distance beyond the front side of the refrigerator, and carries rigidly secured thereon the indicator-finger 1 1. Bigidly mounted upon the shaft 13 at its middle is a gear-pinion 15, which meshes with a depending and vertical rack bar 16 secured at its upper end to the under side of the platform 11.

A plate provided with a quadrant scale 17 thereon to indicate pounds and fractions of a pound, is secured upon the front side of the refrigerator, and the indicator finger 14: is adapted as the platform 11 is moved up or down to indicate or point out the pressure thereon upon the scale 17.

Referring to Fig. 4 I show a circular plate 16 upon which the scale is inscribed; this circular plate and the scale inscribed entirely around said plate being adapted for use with a refrigerator which may contain one hundred pounds-or more of ice at a time.

Referring to Fig. 6 I show a modified form of indicator, the refrigerator being in this i11- stance formed with a vertical slot 17 through which projects, and also through the slotted and vertical scale plate 19 the indicatordinger 18, which is secured to the front edge or margin of the movable platform 11: the pinion and pendent rack bar 16 beingin this instance dispensed with, and also the quadrant scale plate 17 and indicator 14. A circular register plate is provided with a scale 20, and is secured to the front side of the refrigerator in any suitable manner, and an indicator-finger 21 is carried by a revoluble bolt 22, and is adapted to be moved by hand so as to register the amount of ice indicated by the indicator-finger 18 upon the scale plate 19. By this arrangement, itwill be seen that the amount of icereceived each morning, will be automatically indicated upon the scale plate 19, and by moving the register-finger 21 a corresponding distance each morning, the total amount of ice received during the week will be known, thereby not necessitating an entiredependenceupon the word of the iceman.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I show a still further modified form of construction; the arrangement being such in this instance that while the indicator-finger 14 will be moved around upon the scale plate 17 the proper dis tance each time the ice is placed therein, it

will be prevented automatically from moving backward, due to the revoluble movement of the shaft 13 and caused by the upward movement of the platform 11 when the weight or pressure is removed therefrom. In this instance a ratchet wheel 23 is provided; said ratchet wheel being formed with a cylindrical projection 21 which has a bearing2-t hearing in the side of the refrigerator,and carries at its outer end the indicator-linger 14. The ratchet wheel 23 is further formed at its innor side with a socket 25 in which is revolubly mounted the front end of the shaft 13, and said shaft is further provided adjacent to its front end with the radial arm or extension 26, to the outer end of which is pivotally mounted upon the bolt 27, the pawl 28. The free end of the pawl 28 isheld in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by the spring 29 which is carried by or secured to the free end of the arm or extension 26 of the shaft. It will be seen from this construction, that as the weight or pressure is applied upon the movable platform 11 the rotation of the shaft 13 will cause the revoluble movement of the ratchet wheel in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9, and also cause the indicator finger carried by said ratchet wheel to indicate upon the scale plate 17 the weight or the amount of pressure upon the platform 11. As the pressure is removed from the platform 11,however, the backward rotation of the shaft 13 will cause the spring-actuated pawl 28 to slip over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 23 without changing the position of the indicator-finger. It will thus be seen that with this construction the indicator and registering mechanism are combined. This construction are especially applicable to very large refrigerators.

The operation of the device is as follows: The door 8 is opened and the ice placed upon the movable platform 11. Accordingly as the weight of the ice is heavy or light, the platform moves downward a corresponding distance, and the rack bar 16 carried thereby, meshing with the pinion 15 rotates the shaft 13 and indicates upon the scale plate the amount of ice in the refrigerator. Should any quantity or all of the ice be removed, the upward pressure of the springs 12 causes the platform to move upwardly and resume its normal position against the under side of the stop-pins 11.

It is to be understood, that I do not wish to confine myself in the application of the invention to house or stationary refrigerators alone, but that I intend to use said attachment in connection with refrigerator-cars, for packing house purposes, and in fact in all places where it is applicable and desirable or necessary to use such a device.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a weighing and registering attachment, which is simple and inexpensive of construction, and which may easily be applied to or detached from a refrigerator.

IIQ

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A refrigerator, having an ice chamber, a-

- 5 movable platform mounted therein, and a revoluble shaft 13 having an arm, and located in the said chamber, and adapted to be actuated by the movable platform, in combination with a ratchet-wheel having a stub-shaft journaled in a side wall of the refrigerator,

and also having a tubular socket in which is revolubly mounted one end of the shaft 13,

a dial-plate upon the outer side of the refrigerator, an index finger carried by the outer end of the stub-shaft, and a spring-actuated pawl carried by the arm of the shaft 13, and engaging the ratchet-wheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. DIOKSON. Witnesses:

G. Y. THORPE, M. P. SMITH.

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