Patent GB-190121944-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Arrangement and Construction of Lubricators and their Application of Steam Engines and other Machinery
Inventor: THOMPSON WILLIAM HENRY
Filed: 1901-10-31
Granted: 1902-10-31
Abstract: 21,944. Thompson, W. H., and Thompson, R. Oct. 31. Lubricators. - Relates to lubricators for steam engines &c. of the type in which an automaticallyoperated piston is employed to expel the lubric a n t, and consists of improvements i n t h e lubricators described in Specifications No. 2044, A.D. 1892, and No. 29,970, A.D. 1897. The lubricant cylinder A is arranged in combination with a power cylinder a, provided with a piston b and rod c. A rack e, adjustably connected to the rod c by a right and left handed nut h, gears with a toothed wheel or quadrant f, which carries a pawl m for actuating a ratchet-wheel on a spindle L, a pawl m<1> being provided to prevent reverse movement of the ratchet-wheel. Other suitable mechanism may be employed. The cylinder a is connected at one end to the cylinder of the engine or to the air pump, and is operated by the fluid therefrom, or by the vacuum created, or both, in synchronism with the engine. A cock o, or a spring-loaded valve, is arranged to throttle the air supply to the back of the piston so as to regulate the action of the piston. Springs may be arranged to assist the action of the piston, or the piston may be operated by steam &c. admitted through automaticaliy - operated slide &c. valves. The spindle L drives, through bevel gearing, a spindle 1<b>, upon which is mounted the first pinion of a train of wheels. The spindles of these wheels are mounted in removable plates P<1>, Q and carry, on the inside of the plate Q, other pinions, arranged in working rotation with two spur-wheels in gear with each other. These wheels are mounted on a carriage connected with an indexwheel H, and, by rotating the wheel H, one or other of the spur-wheels can be brought into engagement with any of the pinions. One of the spur-wheels 6 carries a pinion 8 in gear with an annular wheel J, connected with the piston-screw E, as described in Specification No. 2044, A.D. 1892. By means of this gearing, varying rates of travel for the main piston may be obtained. The wheel H is locked in the adjusted position by the engagement of a catch T, which engages one of a number of notches in the wheel. The piston screw E and the guide D<1> &c. are arranged in a line parallel to the centre line of the cylinder, so as to prevent rotation of the piston, such arrangement being applicable to other similar lubricators. The lubricant outlet pipes leading to the main, crosshead, and crank-pin bearings and to the guide slippers &c. are coupled to passages p formed in an auxiliary chamber P, which communicates with the cylinder A by a passage q. A three-way cock R is arranged in this passage, so that the cylinder A can be placed in communication with the filling-aperture or with the chamber P as desired. A non-return. valve may be arranged in the passage q to allow the lubricant to be fed to the chamber P, and to close the passage when the piston is being retracted, or a hand-operated valve may be employed for this purpose. In order to prevent excessive strain on the mechanism when the lubricant is being fed against considerable pressure, the end of the piston-rod D may be extended and fitted with a piston working in an auxiliary cylinder. This cylinder is connected to the cylinder a, or to the pipe conveying the motive fluid &c. to the cylinder a, so that the auxiliary piston co-operates with the piston b to effect the motion of the main piston. Fig. 5 shows an arrangement in which water pressure is employed to force forward the main piston, this lubricator being adapted for pumping-engines or other hydraulic machinery. The rod c of the piston b, working in the power cylinder a, is extended to form a plunger c' working in a cylinder c<2>. The cylinder c<2> is connected by passages c<3>, a<1>, to the lubricant cylinder A and to a water reservoir A<1>, formed with or encircling the cylinder A. An adjustable spring-loaded valve c<5> controls the passage a, and a valve c<4> controls the passage c<3>. The reciprocations of the piston b actuate the plunger c<1>, and water is pumped into the cylinder A to drive forward the main piston and force the lubricant, through the passages p, to the parts to be lubricated. The main piston is provided with a screw E in engagement with a hollow rod D, which passes through a stuffing-box D', and is provided at one end with a wheel &c. and at the other end with a flange d'. The screw E &c. is arranged out of the centre of the cylinder to prevent rotation of the piston. A filling-orifice q<1>, closed by a plug, is provided for the cylinder A. When all the lubricant has been expelled from the cylinder, the piston is returned by turning the rod D, the flange d<1> taking against the end of the cylinder. The water from the back of the piston is returned past a valve a' to the reservoir A<1>.