† 1. An appliance, consisting of a scale-beam caused to oscillate by the fall of a stream of water, forming part of a machine for raising water for irrigation purposes. Obs.
There is some doubt whether the appliance described by Darwin was ever in practical use.
1800. E. Darwin, Phytologia, xi. Pl. VI. After a time the water balance q r s closes the cocks now open, and opens their antagonists.
2. A machine for raising loads to a height, consisting of two cars with water-vessels attached, connected by a chain passing over a pulley, so that the empty car is made to descend by the weight of water in its vessel, thus hoisting up the loaded car.
1875. J. H. Collins, Metal Mining, 84. The Water-Balance.—In many of the open works on the northern side of the great coal basin of South Wales, water-balance machines are largely used for winding purposes.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 71. Water-balance, an arrangement by which a descending tank of water raises mineral in a shaft by a rope passed over a pulley.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 16 Feb., 6/2. Hastings Town Council has resolved to construct a water-balance lift to hoist visitors to the breezy heights of East Hill.
3. Aeronautics. (See quot.)
1903. Daily News, 21 Sept., 4/6. The other chief new point in the construction is the water-balance, which will maintain the machine in a horizontal position … as the airship swings round into the wind.
