balance bob (balansbob)

A beam, bent lever, or bob, rocking or oscillating on an axis, and having at one end a counterpoise, while the other is attached to the rod of a Cornish pumping-engine. It is designed to relieve the strain on the engine and rod resulting from lifting a heavy load. Also called oscillating or rocking bob. See bobl. In com ., a balance-book (bal'ans-bük), n. book in which the adjusted debtor and cred i- tor accounts have been posted from the ledger. balance-bridge (bal'ans-brij), n. A bridge in which the overhang beyond an abutment is counterbalanced either by means of heavy weights connected with it by chains running over pulleys, or by a portion of the roadway which extends backward from the abutment. See bascule - bridge . balance-crane (bal'ans-krān), n. A crane in which the load is counterbalanced in whole or in part by a weight, swinging with the load, but placed upon the opposite side of the pintle or post.