US875771A - Grain elevator and weigher. - Google Patents

Description

(2654 2 Eran/ford, (and 6 PATENTED JAN '7, 1908. G. BRADFORD & G. L. GHATPIELD. GRAIN ELEVATOR AND WEIGHER.

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GRAIN ELEVATOR AND WEIGHBR.

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No. 875,771. PATENTED JAN. 7. 1908. G. BRADFORD & G. L. GHATPIBL'D.

GRAIN ELEVATOR AND WEIGHER.

APPLICATION TILED APR.9,1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

.OI-IESTER BRADFORD AND GEORGE L. CHATFIELD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA; SAID GHATFIELD ASSIGNOR TO SAID BRADFORD.

GRAIN ELEVATOR AND WEIGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed April 9.1907. $erial No. 367.201.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHESTER BRADFORD and GEORGE L. CHATFIELD, citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Elevators and VVeighers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of devices which are especially designed for use in connection with threshing machines or separators to receive the threshed grain as it comes therefrom, elevate and weigh the same, and. deliver it to sacks or wagons for further disposition.

Our object is to simplify and perfect the construction and increase the efficiency and accuracy of such apparatus, and our said invention principally consists in an improved mechanism for operating and manipulating the weigher.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an elevator and weigher embodying our said invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of such a ma chine as it appears when mounted upon the side ofa separator ready for use, a fragment of a separator being shown the spout gate being open and the weigher-bucket gate being closed as when grain is being delivered into said weigher-bucket; Fig. 2 a similar view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper por tion of the elevator and the weigher, but with the spout gate closed and the weigher-bucket gate open as when discharging grain; Fig. 3 a central vertical sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, but with the mechanism in the positions shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a top or plan view of the complete machine on a still further enlarged scale, onehalf of the top portion of the inclosing casing or wall of the head being broken away to show the interior construction, a prolongation of the head shaft being indicated by means of dotted lines Fig. 5 a side elevation of the opposite side of the weigher and adjacent parts to that shown in Figs. 1. and. 2, on the same scale as Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a view of the driving gearing (on a still further enlarged scale) in the position it occupies when the weigher bucket is at rest while being filledthe tripped. or disengaged position of the catch or trip arm being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 7 a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the trip shaft and attached parts partly revolved; Figs. 8

1 and 9 vertical sectional views as seen when looking in the directions indicated by the arrows from the dotted lines 8 8 and 9 9 respectively, in Fi 6; Fig. 10 a rear elevation of a portion of t 1e trip plate, the trip finger thereon, and the spring for urging said finger in the direction which throws the clutch shoe into engagement with the internal surface of the clutch rini the position of said clutch shoe being indicated by means of dotted lines; Fig. 11 a horizontal sectional view at the point indicated by the dotted line 11 11 in Fig. 7 Fig. 12 a rear elevation of the driving gear of the gate-operating mechanism;

Fig. 13 a horizontal sectional view at the point indicated by the dotted line 13 13 in Fig. 5, illustrating especially the scale beam and immediately adjacent parts, the open position of the swinging member of said scale beam being indicated by means of dotted point indicated by the dotted line 14 14 in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 adetail sectional view at the point indicated by the dotted line 15 15 in Fig. 5, but with the snout gate swung down to its closed position, and Fig. 16, a transverse vertical sectional view of the head at the point indicated by the dotted line 16 16 in Fig. 2.

In order to fully illustrate our invention and its use we have shown in Fig. 1 a complete machine mounted on a fragment of a separator 21. The elevator is shown as secured thereto by suitable attaching devices, as 22 and 23, the latter of which hangs upon a rod or bar 24 carried by brackets 25 on the separator 21. The cross-conveyer 26 (which will not be further described herein, as the same forms the subject-matter of other patents and applications) is also shown as mounted upon this same rod or bar 24 by means of suitable supports 27 and 28.

Our present invention relates only to so much of the machine as is illustrated in the remaining figures of the drawing. The elevator head is composed of a base or casting 31, two sheet-metal cheek pieces 32 and 33 which are preferably rigidly attached to said casting 31, as by riveting, a top and front portion 34, which is preferably rigidly attached to the cheek pieces 32 and 33, as by riveting, and a rear body portion 35, which is preferably detachably attached to the casting 31 and the cheek pieces 32, as by bolts 36, and a removable cap portion 37,

lines; Fig. 14 a detail sectional view at the I the forward end of which engages with the presently more fully described. The scale rear portion of the part 34, as by being inserted below its adjacent edge, while its other end is secured by abolt 3S and a nut 39. As the cap 37 is very conveniently removable, quick access can be had to the interior of the head and, as the part 35 is also removable, the whole head mechamsm can be easily reached and removed, whenever that becomes necessary or desirable, as in the case of. renewal or repair.

Within the casting 31 and the wall portion 35 of the head, we form suitable ways to receive and guide the bearing structure 41, which is mounted within this head to carry the shaft 42 for the upper sprocket-wheel 43 of the elevator which bearing structure, shaft, and the means for adjusting the same, are of substantially the same character as the corresponding parts shown and described in Letters Patent N 0. 782,642, to which reference is hereby made for a more complete disclosure of these features. The head, as a whole, (when assembled) is secured to the legs 44 and 45 of the elevator by means of bolts 46 which engage with suitable ears on the main casting 31 of said head, and corresponding ears or flanges 47 secured to the adjacent ends of said elevator legs. Thus, by removing said bolts 46, the whole head may be easily and quickly removed from and attached to said elevator legs. As the boot 48 of the elevator is attached to said elevator legs by corresponding bolts 49 and ears or flanges 47, we are able to make a machine of any desired height by connecting elevator legs or tubes of the desired length to the standard head and boot ;such

heads and boots being kept in stock, and being all uniform. This is of considerable advantage to the users of such machines; as in case the owner of such a machine desires to attach it to a separator of different make or size he has only to procure these legs or tubes of the desired length, when he is able to use all the remaining parts of the machine without change, and to quickly and easily assemble and disassemble the structure.

Upon forwardly projecting parts of the machine head casting 31 are scale pivots 51 and 52. Upon these the scale beam (composed of the parts 53, 54, a and 110) is mounted, and this, in turn, has other scale pivots 55 and 56, on which (by means of suitable hanger-bars 57) the weigher bucket 58 is suspended. The position of this weigher bucket is controlledi. 6., undue swinging thereof is preventedby a link 59 (see Figs. 2 and 3) connecting the lower portion of said bucket to a suitable bearing on the leg 44 of the elevator. The scale beam is provided with a projecting trip arm a which serves as a detent to engage with the trip finger of the tripping mechanism, and it also has a graduated arm for the scale weight, all as will be beam proper, as above indicated, is composed of two parts. This is to facilitate assembling and disassembling the machine. The scale pivots 51 and 52 (being upon the casting 31) are of course rigid. In order to mount the scale beam thereon, one side of it must be capable of being moved toward and from the other. The part 54 is therefore made separate from the part 53, and is preferably pivotally secured thereto by a pivot 54, said pivot usually being a rivet, riveted closely enough to hold the parts firmly together but not tightly enough to prevent the swinging of one part relative to the other. In placing this scale beam on the scale pivots 51 and 52, this part 54 is swung to one side, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 13, until the scale eyes of said scale beam are in the proper relation to said scale pivots, when said part 54 is swung inwardly to the position indicated by the full lines, and is' there secured by a suitable pin 53 by which it is securely held in place.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is necessary in this type of machine to have two gates or valves, each of which shall be closed while the other is open, in order to properly regulate the flow of the grain and enable the same to be weighed in successive predetermined quantities usually half bushels. One of these gates or valves controls the discharge outlet or snout mouth of the head, and the other the discharge outlet or dumping opening in the bottom of the weigher bucket. It is, of course, necessary that both these gates or valves should be operated from the same source of power, in order that their movements may be properly timed to each other. The tripping mechanism, as it is called, by means of which the movements of these gates or valves is controlled, is a leading feature of our present invention.

The trip shaft 61 is mounted in suitable bearings 39 formed in piece with (or rigidly attached to) the wall 38 of the chamber carrying the adjustable bearing-structure 41 for the main sprocket or head shaft 42, which chamber-wallv usually forms part of the main casting 31 of the elevator head. A triple plate 62 is mounted thereon to revolve therewith. It is of course desirable that this trip shaft and trip plate should bear a fixed and unvarying relation to the scale mechanism, in order that the latter may be operated uniformly. It is also necessary that the trip mechanism be intermittently driven from some convenient source of )ower. The upper sprocket-wheel or head of shaft is the available source of power from which. to drive this mechanism; and this shaft, in our improved machine, is adjustable, for the purpose of regulating the tension of the ole vator chain. We have therefore found it necessary to provide a yielding or traveling means for transmitting power from the sprocket-wheel shaft to the trip shaft. We therefore mount loosely on the trip shaft a combined spur-gear-and-clutch member 63, andv mount rigidly on the sprocket-wheel shaft 412 a pinion 64;, and connect these two by an intermediate floating gear 65, and unite the bearings for these gears by means of the links 66 and 67. By this means the sprocket wheel shaft 42 can be raised andlowered, as may be necessary in making the required adjustments, without at all disturbing the position of the trip shaft and the parts carried thereby, or disengaging the driving devices, as the floating gear will travel about the other gears in the arrangement shown and still remain in operative engagement therewith.

By reference especially to Figs. 9 and 11 the details of the construction of this "floating gear connection may be seen. The combinod-clutch-and-gear part 63 has a hub 63 on which the link 66 is mounted; and the upper end of said link 66 has a short hub on which one end of the link 67 is mounted. A stud-shaft 66 is carried by the upper end of he link 66; and upon this the intermediate gear wheel mounted. Said intermedi ate gear wheel has a countersunk or cupshaped side (see especially Fig. 9) which contains a washer and the head of this studshaft 66, so that the same does not project beyond the surface of the gear. A washer 67 on the inner end of a stud shaft 66 serves to hold the link 67 in place, the end of said stud shaft being-riveted over said washer, as shown. The end of the link 67 opposite to that which rests on the hub on the upper end of the link 66 surrounds a projecting hublike end 41 on the bearing structure 4].. The link 67 is therefore almost entirely protected from wear,the only wear to which it is subjected being such as results from the swinging of the link, as the bearing structure 41 and. the shaft 42 are adjusted.

As before stated, the trip shaft 61 and trip plate 62 are connected to revolve together, while the gear 63 is mounted to revolve loosely on said trip shaft. Consequently the gears just described are constantly in motion when the elevator is running, while the trip shaft and other tripping mechanism are at rest except when operated at the predetermined times. As heretofore stated, the scale beam 53 and 54; embodies an arm a which extends out into proximity to the tripping mechanism. is empty, or contains less than the predetermined load, so that it is in its upper postition (being there held by the scale weight), said arm a extends into the path of the trip finger 71, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When the Weigher bucket is filled to the predeter- Vhen the weigher bucket 58' gravity of the scale weight, with the consequence that the weigher-bucket will descend a short distance, throwing up the end of the arm or detent a out of the path of the finger 71. As is best shown in Fig. 10, this finger 71 rests against a suitable spring 72, and as soon. as said finger escapes from the arm a it will fly forward from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 to the position shown by the dotted. lines therein. This trip finger has a studshaft or pivot 73, upon which is mounted. a clutch member adapted to engage with the internal surface-of the combinedgear-and-clutch part 63, and thereupon the trip shaft will be rotated, (through the train of gears, the clutch members and the trip plate) as will be readily understood. The clutch member last referred to, which is mounted on said shaft or pivot 7 3 of the tripping finger 71, is formed to fit the internal face of the combined-gear-and-clutch part 68. Its body 74 is preferably a casting, and to this we secure (as by a rivet 75) a shoe 76, preferably of steel. By means of a set screw 77 we are able to secure a very accurate adjustment, and this also provides for the taking up of wear. The steel and cast iron sur faces also operate better than two surfaces of the same material. The casting 74 has a lip or projection at the end to receive the thrust of the shoe 76, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The trip finger 71 is mounted at its inner end 71. in a rocker bearing slightly to one side of the trip shaft 61, and an extension 78 on the trip plate 62 extends over and houses in this trip finger, and also provides a chamber for the spring 72, thus efficiently holding the parts in assembled. relation.

The trip shaft 61 carries a crank on each end, one to operate the snout gate and the other to operate the weigher-bucket gate. For convenience, one of these cranks is in the form of a wrist 81 on the trip plate 62. This is connected by means of a link 82 with an arm 83 of the snout gate 84, which arm is mounted on the pivot 85 carried on the side of the elevator head. This link 82 is slotted, so that the crank of the trip mechanism only operates in. one directioni. 0., to open the gatewhich permits the gate or valve 84 to remain at rest in its closed position for a brief period, while the weigher-bucket gate or valve is opened or discharged. This snoutgate or valve 841 is closed by means of a spring 86 (see especially Fig. 15) mounted in a suitable chamber (preferably formed in the same plate casting 87 which carries the pivot 85) and which is connected to the arm 83 by a suitable rod 88. The other arm 89 to this snout-gate (see Figs. 1 and 2) is similar to the arm 83, except that it does not need to extend beyond the pivot 11 on which it is mounted.

The Wrist pin 91 of'the crank on the oppomined. extent, however, it will overcome the l site end of the trip shaft 6]. (see Fig. '2) is connected by means of a link 92 with one arm of the bifurcated lever 93. Said lever extends out over the weigher bucket 58, and is connected by means of a link 94 with the bucket-gate 95 of said weigher bucket. The link is preferably slotted for a short distance at its lower end, so as to permit of some movement of said lever 98 without moving the bucket-gate. The forked or bifurcated arm or lever 93 is mounted on pivots 96 and 97 on the same pivot- plates 87 and 98 which carry the pivots for the arms of the snoutgate. The weigher-bucket gate 95 is carried by arms 99 which are mounted oirpivots 100 on the sides of the weigher bucket, as shown. As best shown in Fig. 4, we form brackets 101 and 102 on the main casting 31 of the elevator head. To these brackets we secure a tally-box 103. This tally-box is operated by a link 104 which runs back and is connected to the same crank wrist 91 which, (through link 92) operates the weigherbucket operating mechanism. This link 104 is slotted to compensate for the fact that the throw of the crank is greater than is required to operate the tally. Said link is also curved somewhat, (see Fig. 4) and is formed of spring metal. It is, therefore, somewhat yielding in its character, and may thus be so constructed and arranged as to throw the tally to the extreme limits of its movement and hold it there under spring force until the next movement takes place. As shownand heretofore explained, the main head-shaft carrying the upper sprocket wheel is adjustable. The level of the scale beam is about the same as the level of this shaft, so that the scale arm if extended out in the usual way would cross the level of the shaft, when in some of its positions. e have, therefore, as is best shown in Fig. 5, extended the scale arm upwardly and in wardly to a position close alongside the walls of the head, and above the level of the said shaft 42 when in its highest position. This scale arm 110 is secured to the scale frame or scale beam by bolts 111 passing through a suitable slot therein. The shaft 42 may therefore be prolonged, if desired, (as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4) so that a driving pulley may be placed on this end of the shaft, as desired. The scale arm 110 is supported at the predetermined position by rest 112, which is adjustably secured in a socket provided therefor in frame 31 by set screw 113. The scale arm 110 bears the usual graduations and figures, as shown, and carries a weight which is preferably composed of two parts 114 and 115 secured together by bolt 116 and wing nut 117.

In operation, the grain enters the elevator boot 48 (from the separator 21) and is carried up the rear elevator leg 45 by the chain and buckets. Upon reaching the elevator head it is thrown to the front thereof, and

is piled against the snout-gate 84. A wall 31 at the front of the opening leading down the front elevator leg 44 is of considerable service in preventing the grain from being carried back down saidleg, and adds considerably to the holding capacity of the front of the head. Said head is also widened in front, as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 13, and this also increases this holding capacity. W'hen, in the course of the operation, the mechanism operates'to 0 en the snout-gate, in the manner hereinbe ore described, the material gathered in front of the elevatorhead will be discharged, by gravity, directly into the weigher-bucket 58. The weight 114115 on the scale arm 110 being set to a predetermined point, the grain in the weigher bucket, when it reaches the predetermined amount, will overcome this weight and the weigher bucketwill descend. As said weigher bucket descends the stop arm a is thrown up out of contact with the trip finger 71 of the clutch mechanism, thus permitting the members of said clutch mechanism to operatively engage as hereinbefore described. These revolve the trip shaft 61, which, through the wrist pin 91, link 92, lever 93 and link 94, operates to raise the weigher-bucket gate 95, permitting the grain in the weigherbucket to be discharged. At the same time the wrist 81 on the trip plate 62 travels upwardly permitting the spring 86 to close the snout gate, which it does very quickly. As the link 94 is slotted, the snout gate is practically closed at the time the weigher-bucket gate begins to open, so that the amount of grain in the weigher bucket is not augmented by any further discharge after this operation. The engaging surfaces of the clutch mechanism being smooth, they engage very promptly, and at any pointbeing in this respect superior to a clutch mechanism which depends for its operation upon a series of projections. The weigher-bucket gate being elevated from overhead, and from a central point, is elevated much more easily and evenly than when pushed open from below at one side. The snout gate being closed by a direct spring pull, and the rod which ,immediately contacts therewith resting upon a rocker-shaped surface, it operates with great certainty and promptness. The parts generally being so constructed as to be readily assembled and disassembled, are

put in operative position very readily, and

the means provided give ready and convenient access to the interior, as for purposes of renewal or repair when the parts become worn or broken.

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

1. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevator legs, the elevator head, an adjustable shaft-bearing mounted in said head, the elevator shaft mounted in said bearing, a weigher-bucket-and-soale mechanism carried by the elevator head, a tripping mechanism shaft mounted in stationary bearings and arranged parallel to the elevator shaft, a tripping-mechanism mounted on said shaft, and a floating gear connecting the elevator shaft and the tripping-mechanisn1 shaft, whereby the elevator shaft may be adjusted toward and from the tripping mechanism shaft without disturbing the relations of the tri ping mechanism and the weigher-bucket-an. -scale mechanism.

2. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevator structure, the weigher structure, a tripping mechanism adapted to be driven from the elevator mechanism for operating the grain valves and having its shaft arranged parallel to the elevator-mechanism shaft, said .elevator mechanism being provided with an adjustable bearing, and a floating gear interposed between the elevator shaft and the shaft of the tripping mechanism, whereby the tension of the elevator chain may be adjusted without disturbing the relations of the tripping mechanism and the weighing mechanism.

3. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of an adjustable bearing-structure for the elevator shaft, said elevator shaft mounted therein, means for adjusting said bearing structure, a gear on said shaft, stationary bearings, a trip-mechanism shaft mounted therein, a gear on said shaft, a link pivotally mounted at one end on. the tripmechanism shaft, a link pivotally mounted at one end on the elevator shaft, said links coming together at their other ends, and a third gear engaging with said other two gears and carried by said links where they come together.

4. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevating mechanism, the weighing mechanism, valves to the discharge-mouth of the elevator and to the weigher bucket, and valve-operating mechanism, said valve-operating mechanism embodying a pivoted lever mounted on the ele vator head above the weigher bucket and extending out over said bucket and a link connecting said weigher-bucket valve and the outer end of said lever, whereby said weigher-bucket valve is lifted from above in operation.

5. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the weighenbucket valve mechanism for operating said valve embodying a lever pivoted to the elevator head above and extending over the weigher-bncket, a link connecting said lever to said valve, and mechanism for operating said lever.

6. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of a weigher bucket and. its valve, and mechanism for operating the weigherbucket valve comprising a lever positioned above the weigher bucket and a link depending therefrom and having a sliding connection with the weigher-bucket valve.

'7. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevator mechanism, the weigher mechanism, a tripping mechanism, said. tripping mechanism embodying an arm extending out from the scale beam structure into the path of a tripping finger, a tripping finger carrying a clutch member, a rotary device carrying said finger, and a second clutch-member with which the clutch-member on the tripping finger is adapted to engage.

8. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevating mechanism, the weighing mechanism, the valves thereof, and a tripping mechanism'for said valves, said tripping mechanism comprising a trip shaft, a combined-gear-and-clutch member loosely mounted thereon, means whereby the same is driven continuously from the elevator shaft, a member fixedly mounted on the trip shaft and carrying a second clutch member, a trip arm carried rigidly by the scale beam and extending into the path of a trip finger on said second clutch member, said trip finger, and a spring carried by the member fixedly mounted on the trip shaft and bear ing against said trip finger, whereby, when the stop arm of the weighing mechanism is raised out of contact with said finger, the same will be thrown forward and cause the second-named clutch member to engage with the first-named clutch member.

9. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevating mechanism, the weighing mechanism, a trip mechanism driven from said elevating mechanism and embodying a constantly rotating clutch member, a shaft on which said clutch memher is loosely mounted, a second clutch member rotating with the shaft, an arm carried by the scale beam extending into the path of a finger of said second clutch member, said finger said first clutch member being in the form of a flange having an internal operating face, and said second clutch member being" in the form of a shoe carried by said finger and which extends within and is adapted to engage with said internal operating face.

10. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevating mechanism, the weighing mechanism, and a tripping mechanism for the valves thereof, said tripping mechanism embodying a trip shaft, a clutch member loosely mounted thereon, means whereby the same is driven continuously from the elevator shaft, a member fixedly mounted. on the trip shaft and carry ing a second clutch member, a trip arm on the scale beam extending into the path of a finger on said second clutch member, said finger, and a spring carried by the part of said second clutch member which is fixedly l by the tripping mechanism is driven from mounted on the trip shaft, whereby, when the trip arm is raised out of contact with the trip finger, the second-named clutch 1nember will be thrown forward and caused to engage with the first-named clutch member.

11. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of the elevator structure, the weigher structure, a tripping mechanism adapted to be driven from the elevator mech anism for operating the valves to the discharge openings, said elevator mechanism being provided with an adjustable bearing, and a gearing interposed between the elevator shaft and the shaft of the tripping mechanism embodying a gear on said tripping-mechanism shaft having an extended hub, a gear on said elevator shaft, a gear interposed between said two gears and carried by links, one of said links being carried at one end upon an extended hub of the gear on the tripping-mechanism shaft and carrying in its other end a stud shaft for said intermediate gear, and the other link being mounted on a hub on the first-named link at one end and on a hub on the elevator shaft bearing at the other end.

12. In an elevator and weigher, the combination, with the elevator shaft and means for transversely shifting the same, of a gear carried by said shaft, a second shaft, a gear carried by said shaft and having an extended hub, a link pivoted on said hub, a second link pivoted about the axis of the elevator shaft, a connection between said links, a gear carried at the junction of said links and meshing with the shaft gears, weighing mechanism, a tripping mechanism carried by said second shaft, and an operative connection between said weighing mechanism and said tripping mechanism.

13. In an elevator and weigher, the combination, with the elevator shaft and means for transversely shifting the same, of a gear carried by said shaft, a second shaft, a gear journaled on said shaft and having an extended hub, a link pivoted on said hub, a second. link pivoted about the axis of the elevator shaft, a connection between said links, a gear carried at the junction of said links and meshing with the shaft gears, a weighing mechanism, a tripping mechanism carried by said second shaft, and an operative connection between said weighing mechanism and said tripping mechanism.

14. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of an elevator structure the mechanism whereof is provided with an adjustable bearing, a weigher structure provided with a trip engaging element, a tripping mechanism for operating the grain valves and embodying a shaft mounted in stationary bearings and arranged in parallel relation to the shaft of the elevator-mechanism, and flexible extensible means wherethe elevator mechanism, whereby the tripping mechanism is permitted to remain in fixed relation to the weigher structure while the elevator mechanism from which it is driven is capable of adjustments to various positions relative thereto without interfering with the operation of said tripping mechanism.

15. In an elevator and weigher, the combination with a mechanical elevator and the driving shaft thereof, and means for adjusting said shaft transversely of its axis, of weigher mechanism arranged to receive material from the elevator, valves for con trolling the flow of material to and from the weigher, intermittentlyacting trip mechanism for operating said valves, said trip mechanism comprising a rotating member having its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the elevator shaft, and a driving train between the elevator shaft and said rotating member, the elements of said train being adjustable rotatively about the axes of said shaft and rotating member but remaining at a fixed distance therefrom.

16. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of an elevator structure carrying scale pivots at the sides of its head, and a weighing mechanism adapted to be carried by said scale pivots and comprising a scale beam embodying two parts, one of said parts being pivotally connected to the other whereby the same may be conveniently mounted upon said scale pivots, and, a suitable securing device for holding the two parts in assembled relation when placed on the pivots.

17. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of an elevator structure embodying ahead having a discharge mouth at its snout, pivots on the sides of said head, a snout gate having arms mounted on said pivot, one of said arms having a rocker-shaped formation on its upper side, a tubular structure carried by the elevator head adjacent to the snout gate-arm pivot, a spring arranged within said tubular structure, and a rod connected to said spring at one end and extending through the adjacent snout-gate arm and bearing upon the rocker-shaped portion thereof at the other end.

18. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of an elevator structure, a weigher structure, a tripping mechanism adapted to be driven from the elevator mechanism for operating the grain valves, said grain valves, a tally-box mounted on the elevator structure, and a yielding slotted link extending from a crank of the tripping mechanism to the tally-box mechanism, whereby said tally-box mechanism is operated from said tripping mechanism positively but yieldingly.

19. The combination, in an elevator and weigher, of an elevator structure, a weigher structure, a tripping mechanism adapted to be driven from the elevator mechanism for operating the grain valves, said grain valves, brackets formed on the weigher structure, a tally-box mounted on said brackets, and a link extending from a crank of the tripping mechanism to the tally-box mechanism and serving to operate the same.

20. The combination, in an elevator and weigber, of the elevating mechanism including an. adjustable bearing structure for the upper elevator shaft, the weighing mechanism, the tripping mechanism embodying a trip arm on the scale beam, a yielding connection between the elevator shaft and the tripping mechanism, and a scale arm connected to the scale beam and extending upwardly to above the highest position to which the elevator shaft may be adjusted and thence horizontally over said shaft.

21. The combinatin of weighing mechanism embodying a tripping arm, a tripping mechanism embodying a tripping finger into the path of which said arm extends, a rotary device on which said finger is mounted the bearing for said finger being located to one side of the axis of said rotary device, a loosely mounted clutch member whose axis is coincident with that of said rotary device the clutch. surface being the internal surface of a rim thereon, and a second clutch member carried by said finger and adapted to engage with said surface.

22. The combination of weighing mechanism embodying a tripping arm, a tripping mechanism embodying a tripping finger into the path of which said arm extends, a rotary device on which said finger is mounted the bearing for said finger being located to one side of the axis of said rotary device, a loosely mounted clutch member whose axis is coincident with that of said rotary device, the clutch surface being the internal surface of a rim thereon, and a second clutch member pivotally mounted on said finger and adapted to engage with said surface.

23. The combination of weighing mechanism embodying a tripping arm, 'a tripping mechanism embodying a tripping finger into the path of which said arm extends, a rotary device 011 which said finger is mounted, a loosely-mounted clutch-member whose axis is coincident with that of said rotary device, the clutch surface being the internal surface of a rim thereon, and a second clutch member carried by said finger and adapted to engage with said surface, said clutch member being composed of a base part and a shoe and means for adjusting said shoe in relation to said base part.

24. The combination of weighing mechanism embodying a tripping arm, a tripping mechanism embodying a tripping finger into the path of which said arm extends, a rotary device on which said finger is mounted, a

loosely mounted clutch member Whose axis is coincident with that of said rotary device, the clutch surface being the internal surface of a rim thereon, and a second clutch member carried by said finger and adapted to engage with said. surface, said clutch member being composed of a part having a recessed side immediately carried by said finger and a shoe secured within said recess rigidly at one end and adjustably at the other.

25. The combination of weighing mechanism embodying a tripping arm, a tripping mechanism embodying a tripping finger into the path of which said arm extends, a rotary device on which said finger is mounted, a loosely mounted clutch member whose axis is coincident with that of said rotary device the clutch surface being the internal surface of a rim thereon, and a second clutch member carried by said finger and adapted to engage with said surface, said clutch member being composed of a part immediately carried by said finger and a shoe secured rigidly thereto at one end and adjustably at the other with its free or adjustable end resting against a projection formed on the base.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals at Indianapolis, Indiana, this fifth day of April, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and seven.

CHESTER BRADFORD. [a s] GEORGE L. CHATFIELD. [a s] Witnesses:

THOMAS W. MoMEANs, FRANK A. FAHLE.

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