GB2237395A

GB2237395A - Weighing device

Info

Publication number: GB2237395A
Application number: GB9022340A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter John Barry Choppin
Original assignee: POLAR PUMPS Ltd; POLAR REFRIGERATION SERVICES
Current assignee: POLAR PUMPS Ltd; POLAR REFRIGERATION SERVICES
Priority date: 1989-10-13
Filing date: 1990-10-15
Publication date: 1991-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-15
Also published as: GB9022340D0; GB2237395B

Abstract

An alarm device 31 for attachment to an industry-standard dial scale 5 of a weighing device 1 comprising a manually displaceable pointer 7 to indicate on the scale a pre-set weight required; a proximity sensor 34 sensitive to the position of a standard pointer 6 of the scale, electronic control means connected to the proximity sensor, means within the electronic control means for emitting an alarm signal upon the proximity sensor sensing the presence of the standard pointer 6 indicating that the pro-set weight had been attained, and an electric power source. Disclosed is a support and handling frame to hold a gas cylinder being filled or emptied. <IMAGE>

Description

WEIGHING DEVICE This invention relates to an alarm device for a weighing device, to a weighing device capable of indicating when a pre-set weight has been attained incorporating'such alarm device, and also to a support and handling frame.

Such weighing devices are advantageous in the accurate filling of containers, not only in automated filling plants (where bins, cartons, packages may require filling with liquids and/or solids) but also where the containers are closed, such as gas cylinders, where visual inspection of the extent of filling is impossible and where inadvertent overfilling may be hazardous or even explosive as in the case with many industrial gases or ref rigerants. Although container filling has been referred to above, the weighing device is equally effective not only for weight checking of containers - whether empty, fully filled or partially filled, but also in the emptying of containers - either wholly, or partially to a preset weight.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an alarm device for attachment to an industry-standard dial scale corn pr i sing a m anual ly displaceable pointer to indicate on the scale a pre-set weight required; a proximity sensor sensitive to the position of the standard pointer of the scale, electronic control means connected to the proximity sensor, means within the electronic control means for emitting an alarm signal upon the proximity sensor sensing the presence of the standard pointer indicating that the pre-set weight had been attained, and an electric power source.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a weighing device comprising: (i) a scale e.g. indicating 8-1PIB kg; (ii) a manually displaceable pointer to indicate on the scale the pre-set weight required; (iii) attachment means for suspension from the weighing device of a container to be filled or emptied to the pre-set weight; (iv) transducer means connected to the attachment means and sensitive to the weight of a container and its contents, if any; (v) electronic control means in communication with the transducer means; (vi) a visual and/or audible alarm operable under control of the electronic control means when the pre-set weight has been achieved; and (vii) an electric power source.

The alarm device in accordance with the first aspect is intended to be fitted to an industry-standard dial scale, in which the standard pointer is adapted to sweep over the scale in accordance with the weight of the container attached to the scale. Thus, the proximity sensor may consist of a magnet, if the standard pointer of the associated scale is metallic. Also the alarm signal may be to a visual and/or audile alarm provided on the device, and in addition or alternatively may be to an output port to switch off, via a suitable lead, an associated pump etc.

In general, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a container to be filled or emptied is attached e.g. by a hook, to the attachment means, the desired final weight is manually indicated by the user displacing the dial, the control means is activated, and the filling or emptying operation is commenced. Upon the weight being achieved, an audible alarm such as, a buzzer will sound, so that the operator may halt the filling or emptying process. In an enhanced version of the weighing device, the filling or emptying process may be halted automatically e.g., by providing a relay e.g., 5 amp, 24 volt, activated by the control means and to cut off power to a filling or emptying device, which device, for a flow able material, would be constituted by a pump.

In detail, the attachment means is provided at what, in use, is a lower end of the weighing device, and preferably the weighing device is provided with a second attachment means e.g., at an opposite end to the first attachment means, whereby the weighing device may be suspended at an elevated location, for the container to be suspended beneath the weighing device, with a base of the container just above ground level.

The weighing device preferably provided with a metallic e.g., steel, casing readily capable of accepting the loads e.g., < 2 Kg. for which the weighing device is designed to handle. It is also preferred for the casing to be disclike e.g., of 18" diameter, in which case the scale is circular. Consequently the pointer is rotated over the scale about an axis co-incident with that of the scale. Two scale setting knobs, located 188o apart, may be provided for this purpose, with the knobs slackened, the pointer rotated to the weight required and the knob re-tightened.

The weighing device is also conveniently provided with a "scale on" indicator lamp, and also a push button to activate the control means and preferably also serving to reset, when it is required to re-set the weighing device either for filling or emptying a second or subsequent container to the same weight, or a second container to a different weight.

The power source may be from mains, if available, at 24by, with a transformer to provide 12 volt DC, or alternatively a housing may be provided for two PP3 batteries or re-chargeable batteries, in which case a battery warning or failure indicator is desirable. Also, a no volt contact port may be provided for external control of the filling device e.g., a pump.

Conveniently the transducer means may sense the rotation of a needle, which rotation is dictated by the weight of the container and its contents, with a relay being locked when the needle reaches the pointer.

According to a third aspect of the invention of independent significance, there is provided in conjunction with a weighing device as defined above, a support and handling frame for a container, comprising: (a) a base; (b) a column extending upwardly from the base; (c) cradle means attached to the base and/or to the column to support a container to be filled or emptied; (d) an attachment point for the weighing device at an elevated location; and (e) a pair of spaced-apart ground-engaging wheels located at the lower end of the column.

Thus, considering use of this frame in a containerfilling mode, with an empty container ready for filling already loaded on to the support and handling frame and seated on the base, the latter is wheeled, in the manner of a barrow or sack trolley, to a filling zone. The column is then erected or extended to desired height and a weighing device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention is attached to the column attachment point. The frame is then rotated such that the column and hence the container are moved from an upright position to a horizontal position, in which position the container is attached to the attachment means of the device. The frame is then rotated in the opposite direction to attain the original, upright position, with the container no longer seated on the base but suspended from the weighing device, which is in turn suspended from the column attachment point. The filling operation is then commenced, and at the completion of this the frame, and the now filled container, are rotated to the horizontal position in which the container is disconnected from the device so that, upon rotation back to the upright position, the container re-engages the base means and the column may be retracted, so that the filled container may be wheeled away for transport, storage or use. Similar procedures are adopted when it is required to use the frame for weight checking or for entire or partial removal of the contents of a container.

In detail, the base and column may extend orthogonally with respect to one another.

The column is preferably erectable and collapsible by any of various means. Thus, the column may be telescopic.

It may be two part, with a spigot and socket connection between the two parts. It may be hinged at approximately its mid-length, for folding through 188o between erected and collapsed positions. The attachment point of the column may itself be adjustable along the column to accommodate containers of different heights.

The cradle means is adapted to stabilise the location of the container on the frame. Thus, if the container has a rectangular periphery the cradle means may comprise two projecting, metal tongues spaced apart by a distance approximating to the width of the container. If the container is a gas cylinder, then the cradle means is arcuate.

Preferably, two cradle means are provided, one at the base means to engage the lower end of the container, and the other attached to the column at a distance spaced upwardly from the base means, to engage the upper end of the container.

The two aspects of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which an alarm deivce and a weighing device in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention are shown by way of example only in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, whilst a frame in accordance with the third aspect of the invention is shown by way of example only, in different operational positions, in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, an alarm device 31 for attachment to an industry-standard dial scale 1 comprising a manually displaceable pointer 7 to indicate on the scale 5 a pre-set weight required. A dished casing 36 projecting from the scale houses a proximity sensor 34 sensitive to the position of the standard pointer 6 of the scale 5, and electronic control means is connected to the proximity sensor 34. Also located within the casing 36 is means within the electronic control means for emitting an alarm signal upon the proximity sensor 34 sensing the presence of the standard pointer 6 indicating that the pre-set weight had been attained. A housing 9 is provided for an electric power source in the form of batteries.

In the drawings, a weighing device 1 comprises a disclike steel casing 2 provided with an anular rebate 33 into which is set an annular edge of an annular perspex cover 35 to which the casing 31 is attached. The casing 2 has a hollow interior to house standard components of a conventional dial scale. The casing 2 is provided externally at what, in use, is a lower end, with an attachment means 3 and at an upper end with a further attachment means 4. The casing 2 may be of 18" (25cm) diameter housing a visible, circular scale 5 marked from 0 kg to l kg (or to 2 kg).Rotatable over the scale, in accordance with the weight imposed on the device 1 is a first pointer 6, while a second, scale setting pointer 7 is manually displaced and set in a pre-set weight position by releasing two diametrically opposed knobs 8, rotating the scale setting pointer 7 to the required pre-set weight and retightening the knobs.

A weight sensitive transducer means within the casing 2 is connected to the attachment means 3, while electronic control means, also located within the casing 2 is powered by two PP3 batteries likewise housed within the casing in containers 9. The weighing device 1 is also provided with a battery warning/failure indicator. As an alternative to battery power, if mains power is available, this may be transferred to 12 volt and supplied to the control means via a port 18; while a no-volt control port 11 may also be provided for external control purposes. The control means is activated by the user, pressing an ON button 12, which is also pressed to re-set the device, an indicator lamp 13 being illuminated when the device is in a weighing mode.The weighing device 1 is also provided with a visual and/or audible alarm 13A (respectively a flashing warning light and a buzzer) actuable by the electronic control means when the preset weight has been attained.

In use, a container to be filled or emptied is attached e.g. by a hook, to the attachment means 3, the desired final weight is manually indicated by the user displacing the setting pointer 7 the electronic control means is activated by pressing button 12, and the filling or emptying operation is commenced. Upon the weight being achieved, the buzzer will sound, so that the operator may halt the filling or emptying process. In an enhanced version of the weighing device, the filling or emptying process may be halted automatically e.g., by providing a relay e.g., 5 amp, 24 volt, activated by the electronic control means and to cut off power to a filling or emptying device, which device, for a flowable material, would be constituted by a pump.

The filled or emptied cylinder is then removed from the weighing device 1 and the button 12 again presssed to reset for the next filling or emptying operation.

Although the weighing device 1 may be incorporated into a weighing machine e.g. by being supported at an elevated location, the provision of the further attachment means 4 enables the device 1 to be portable, particularly if battery powered, and to be hooked onto an elevated support structure at any suitably convenient location.

A support and handling frame 14 in accordance with the second aspect of the invention comprises a base 15, with a column 16 extending orthogonally upwardly from the base and a pair of spaced-apart ground-engaging wheels 15A located at the lower end of the column 16. The latter is of two-part, spigot and socket connection shown collapsed in Figure 2 and erected in Figures 3 - 5. The column 16 is also provided, adjacent the base 15 with a lower, arcuate cradle means 17, and spaced upwardly therefrom with an upper arcuate cradle means 18. These two cradle means, together with the base, serve to mount and retain a gas cylinder 19 on the frame 14.

To the column 16, at an elevated location is also attached a bracket 2 providing an attachment point 21 for the weighing device 1.

In use of this frame 14 in a container-filling mode, an empty container 19, ready for filling, is loaded on to the frame and seated on the base as shown in Figure 2 and the frame 14 is then is wheeled, in the manner of a barrow or sack trolley, to a filling zone. The column 16 is then erected as shown in Figure 3. The frame 14 is then rotated such that the column and hence the container are moved from an upright position to a horizontal position, and a weighing device 1 in accordance with the first aspect of the invention is attached to the column attachment point 21 and the container 19 is attached to the attachment means 3 as shown in Figure 4. The frame is then rotated in the opposite direction to attain the original, upright position, with the container no longer seated on the base but suspended from the weighing device, which is in turn suspended from the column attachment point, as shown in Figure 5. The filling operation is then commenced, and at the completion of this the frame 14, and the now filled container 19, are rotated to the horizontal position of Figure 4 in which the container 19 is disconnected from the device 1 so that, upon rotation back to the upright position, the container re-engages the base means as shown in Figure 3 and the column may be retracted to the Figure 1 position, so that the filled container 19 may be wheeled away for transport, storage or use.

Claims

1. An alarm device for attachment to an industrystandard dial scale comprising a manually displaceable pointer to indicate on the scale a pre-set weight required; a proximity sensor sensitive to the position of the standard pointer of the scale, electronic control means connected to the proximity sensor, means within the electronic control means for emitting an alarm signal upon the proximity sensor sensing the presence of the standard pointer indicating that the pre-set weight had been attained, and an electric power source.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is a magnet.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the alarm signal is to a visual and/or audible alarm and/or to an output lead to an associated machine.

4. A weighing device comprising: (i) a scale e.g. indicating 0-11118 kg; (ii) a manually displaceable pointer to indicate on the scale the pre-set weight required; (iii) attachment means for suspension from the weighing device of a container to be filled or emptied to the pre-set weight; (iv) transducer means connected to the attachment means and sensitive to the weight of a container and its contents, if any; (v) electronic control means in communication with the transducer means; (vi) a visual and/or audible alarm operable under control of the electronic control means when the pre-set weight has been achieved; and (vii) an electric power source.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the electronic control means incorporate a relay to cut off power to a filling or emptying device.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the attachment means is provided at what, in use, is a lower end of the weighing device.

7. A device as claimed in any any one of Claims 4 to 6 incorporating a second attachment means.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the second attachment means is located at the opposite end of the device to the first attachment means.

9. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8, provided with a metallic e.g., steel, casing capable of accepting the loads e.g., < 20 Kg. for which the weighing device is designed to handle.

18. A device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the casing to be disc-like e.g., of 1" diameter, in which case the scale is circular.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the pointer is rotated over the scale about an axis co-incident with that of the scale.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein two scale setting knobs, located 1800 apart, are provided for this purpose, with the knobs slackened, the pointer rotated to the weight required and the knob re-tightened.

13. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 12, provided with a "scale on" indicator lamp.

14. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 13, provided with a push button to activate the control means.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the push button also serves to re-set, when it is required to reset the weighing device either for filling or emptying a second or subsequent container to the same weight, or a second container to a different weight.

16. A device as claimed in Claim 9, and any Claim appendant thereto, provided with a housing to receive at least one battery to provide the power source.

17. A device as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the casing is also provided with a battery warning or fault indicator.

18. A device as claimed in Claim 9 and any Claim appendant thereto wherein the casing is also provided with a no volt contact port for external control of the filling device e.g., a pump.

19. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 18, wherein the transducer means senses the rotation of a needle, which rotation is dictated by the weight of the container and its contents, with a relay being locked when the needle reaches the pointer.

2. A weighing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A support and handling frame for a container for use with a weighing device as defined above, the frame comprising: (a) a base; (b) a column extending upwardly from the base; (c) cradle means attached to the base and/or to the column to support a container to be filled or emptied; (d) an attachment point for the weighing device at an elevated location; and (e) a pair of spaced-apart ground-engaging wheels located at the lower end of the column.

22. A frame as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the base and column extend orthogonally with respect to one another.

23. A frame as claimed in Claim 21 or Claim 22 wherein the column is erectable and collapsible.

24. A frame as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the column is telescopic.

25. A frame as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the column is in two parts, with a spigot and socket connection between the two parts.

26. A frame as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the column is hinged at approximately its mid-length, for folding through 18Bo between erected and collapsed positions.

27. A frame as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 26, wherein the attachment point of the column is itself adjustable along the column to accommodate containers of different heights.

28. A frame as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 27, wherein for a container having a rectangular periphery, the cradle means comprises two projecting, metal tongues spaced apart by a distance approximating to the width of the container.

29. A frame as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 27, wherein if the container is a gas cylinder, then the cradle means is arcuate.

3. A frame as claimed in any one of Claims 21 to 29, wherein two cradle means are provided, one at the base means to engage the lower end of the container, and the other attached to the column at a distance spaced upwardly from the base means, to engage the upper end of the container.

31. A support and handling frame for a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.