The Weights and Measures Regulations 1963

PART XI DEAD-WEIGHT MACHINES

Materials and principles of construction

103.—(1) The bearing surfaces and points of contact of all stays, hooks, loops and adjustable slides on dead-weight machines shall be made of hard steel, and the knife edges shall be so fitted as to be incapable of twisting.

(2) Adjustable slides shall be secured in position by means of lock nuts or other suitably secure device.

104.—(1) The goods platform of dead-weight machines shall not exceed in length the length of the beam, or in width double the width of the beam. Folding wings shall not increase such dimensions by more than one-third in either direction.

(2) The platforms shall be made of metal or hard wood.

105.  The minimum movement of the beam from the horizontal in dead-weight machines, shall be as follows:—

(a) if the machine is of the vibrating weighing instrument type, five-eighths of an inch in both directions;

(b) if the machine is of the accelerating weighing instrument type, seveneights of an inch in one direction only.

106.  Loose balancing material for the adjustment of dead-weight machines shall be contained in a balancing box permanently fixed beneath one platform, and its weight shall not exceed three-quarter per cent. of the capacity of the machine. Any other balancing material shall be in one piece and shall be permanently attached to the machine.

Testing

107.—(1) Dead-weight machines shall indicate the same weight within half the prescribed limits of error when a load equal to one-quarter of the capacity of the machine is placed successively at the middle of the front of each platform and centrally over the knife edges on each side of each platform.

(2) Except in the case of double machines, dead-weight machines shall also fall within the prescribed limits of error when a load equal to the capacity of the machine is uniformly distributed over each platform.

(3) Double machines shall also fall within the prescribed limits of error when a load equal to half the capacity of the machine is uniformly distributed over both goods platforms, a load equal to the capacity of the machine being uniformly distributed over the weights platform.

108.  Parts I and VI of Schedule 2 hereto shall have effect for prescribing limits of error in relation to dead-weight machines.

Stamping

109.  The stamp shall be placed upon the plug or stud provided for that purpose on a conspicuous part of the beam of the dead-weight machine.