Balance

Claim 2

A balance comprising, in combination: a. normally stationary support; b. a first balance beam mounted on said support for angualr movement about a first pivot axis; c. a second balance beam mounted on said support for angular movement about a second pivot axis; d. two counterpoises respectively mounted on said first and second balance beams for angular movement therewith; e. hanger means pivotally secured to said first balance beam for angular movement about a third pivot axis, 1. said hanger means being secured to said second balance beam for angular movement about a fourth pivot axis, 2. each of said pivot axes extending horizontally in the operating position of said balance, 3. said fourth pivot axis intersecting a vertical plane including said third pivot axis in said operating position; and f. a weighing pan fixedly mounted on said hanger means.

Claim 3

each of said pivot axes extending horizontally in the operating position of said balance,

Claim 4

each of said pivot axes extending horizontally in the operating position of said balance,

Claim 5

A balance as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and third pivot axes spacedly extend in a common direction, and said second and fourth pivot axes spacedly extend in a common direction.

Claim 6

A balance as set forth in claim 2, wherein said fourth axis perpendicularly intersects said vertical plane.

Claim 7

said fourth pivot axis intersecting a vertical plane including said third pivot axis in said operating position; and f. a weighing pan fixedly mounted on said hanger means.

Claim 8

said fourth pivot axis intersecting a vertical plane including said third pivot axis in said operating position; and f. a weighing pan fixedly mounted on said hanger means.

Claim 9

A balance as set forth in claim 2, wherein said beams are arranged one above the other in said operating position.

Claim 10

A balance as set forth in claim 2, wherein each balance beam has a first arm and a second arm, the respective first arms of said balance beams carrying said counterpoises, and the respective second arms being pivotally secured to said hanger means, said balance further including electromagnetic compensating means connected to the respective second arms of said balance beams for adjustably compensating the forces exerted on said balance beams until said balance beams are stationary relative to said first and second pivot axes respectively.

Claim 11

A balance as set forth in claim 2, wherein said balance beams each include two cross bar portions, the balance further comprising first pivot means including two pivot assemblies spaced along a first one of the cross bar portions of said first balance beam in the direction of said first pivot axis and connecting said first balance beam to said support, second pivot means including two pivot assemblies spaced along a first one of the cross bar portions of said second balance beam in the direction of said second pivot axis and connecting said second balance beam to said support, third pivot means including two pivot assemblies spaced along the second cross bar portion of said first balance beam in the direction of said third pivot axis and connecting said first balance beam to said hanger means, and fourtH pivot means including two pivot assemblies spaced along the second cross bar portion of said second balance beam in the direction of said fourth pivot axis and connecting said second balance beam to said hanger means, said hanger means including a rigid hanger assembly pivotally secured to said balance beams by said third and fourth pivot means, and rigidly connected to said weighing pan, each pivot assembly including a flexible ribbon member mounted for flexing movement about the associated pivot axis and under tension opposing said flexing movement, the ribbon members in each pivot means jointly constituting the sole connecting means respectively connecting said balance beams to said support and to said hanger means.

Claim 12

A balance as set forth in claim 2, further comprising first and second pivot means respectively securing said balance beams to said support for angular movement about said first and second pivot axes, and third and fourth pivot means respectively securing said hanger means to said first and second balance beams for angualr movement about said third and fourth pivot axes, each pivot means including at least one flexible ribbon member attached to an associated balance beam, said ribbon member being stressed in tension while transmitting the weight of said hanger means and of said weighing pan between said balance beams and, respectively, said hanger means and said support.

Claim 13

A balance as set forth in claim 7, wherein said third pivot means includes another flexible ribbon member attached to said hanger means for flexing movement about a flexing axis, and rigid weight transmitting means connecting said one ribbon member of said third pivot means to said other ribbon member for transmitting the weight of said pan and of said hanger means from said other ribbon member to said one ribbon member and there-by to said first balance beam, said flexing axis and said third pivot axis extending in respective perpendicularly offset vertical planes in said operating position of the balance.

Claim 14

A balance as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second balance beam has a resiliently deformable portion, one of said ribbon members of said second and fourth pivot means being attached to said deformable portion for flexing movement about the corresponding pivot axis, said balance further including adjusting means for deforming said portion transversely of said corresponding pivot axis, and for thereby angularly shifting said corresponding axis.