Roberval balance
/ˌrɒbəval ˈbaləns/ /ˌrɒbəval ˈbal(ə)ns/(also Roberval's balance) Science
noun
A type of balance designed so that the indicated weight is unaffected by the position of the loads in the pans.
- The balance has two identical horizontal beams, one directly above the other, both pivoted centrally to a vertical column. At the end of each horizontal beam is a pivot to which is attached a vertical beam, one beam at each end, thereby forming a parallelogram linkage whose vertical sides remain parallel. The scale pans are on the top of the vertical beams..
Origin
Mid 18th century. In some forms from the genitive of the name of Gilles Personne de Roberval, French mathematician, who presented a balance of this type before the French Academy of Sciences in 1670 + balance. In some forms from the name of Gilles Personne de Roberval + balance.