Patent GB-674553-A (GB)
Title: Rail lubricating device mounted on a vehicle running on rails
IPC: A63C9/086
Filed: 1950-06-06
Abstract: 674,553. Lubricating railway lines. VORBURGER, R. E. L., and LAFAYE, A. J. M. P. June 6, 1950 [June 13, 1949; June 27, 1949; April 7, 1950], No. 14154/50. Class 12 (iii). A railway locomotive or like tracked vehicle carries a device for automatically lubricating the outer rail when rounding curves. The device ejects an atomized lubricant on to the rounded and higher part of the inner side of this rail, non-return valves being provided at each end of the lubricant conduits to maintain them permanently full and thus ensure immediate delivery of oil to the rail as soon as the vehicle enters a curve. A pipe 1, Fig. 2, is connected to a source of motive fluid, e.g. steam, which is transmitted through a three-way control 2 to a lubricant tank 3. A pipe 4, having a non- return valve 5, connects the tank to distributers 10, 11. Pipes 13, 14 carry the lubricant, and pipes 15, 16 the motive fluid, to atomizer ejectors 17, 18, non-return valves being provided within the ejectors at the ends of the lubricant pipes 13, 14. An adjustable connecting-rod 24, constituting part of an automatic control for the lubricator, connects a point 25 of the main frame 22 of the locomotive to a cam-carrier 26 rotatably mounted at 29 on the secondary frame 23 of a bogy or the like on which the lubricator is mounted. The cam-carrier 26 has upon it adjustably-mounted cams 27, 28, which are caused by the relative motion between the secondary frame 23 and the main frame 22 on rounding a curve to actuate rollers 30, 31 mounted respectively on rods 32, 33 and thus set the lubricator in operation. Alternatively, gravity feed or mechanical means can be used instead of the above-described pressure system, to cause the lubricant to flow. In a further modification, the automatic operating mechanism is electromechanical and comprises switching means actuated in a similar manner to that described above. A device may be provided to switch off the lubricator if the vehicle stops on a curve. One form of distributer for lubricants under pressure comprises a body 65, Fig. 5, which lodges a spring-urged piston having grooves 71, 72 co-operating with passages 73, 75 and 74, 76 to permit the flow of lubricant and motive fluid. The connection is such that the cam 87 operates a valve 81 which thereby allows the motive fluid to act upon the piston and move it into the operative position. In one modification the distributer has an electricallyoperated control valve. A form of distributer is also described for use when the lubricant is caused to move under the action of gravity or by mechanical means. The atomizer ejectors comprise a lubricant inlet conduit 98, Fig. 8, and a motive fluid inlet conduit 99; a spring- urged non-return valve 100 or the like is situated in the lubricant inlet. A lubricant chamber 102 has convergent combining-tubes 103, 104, preferably arranged symmetrically in pairs. A pulverizing chamber 109 and an ejecting nozzle 111 combine the lubricant and motive fluid. In a modified form of the atomizer, means are provided for automatically varying the resistance to movement of the spring urging means of the non-return valve 100. The lubricant jet is directed almost vertically on to the rails, so that the running surfaces thereof are never lubricated. Means, such as needle valves, may be used to regulate the rate of flow of the lubricant. If necessary, a steam or vapour trap may be connected between the source of motive fluid and the distributers. The actuating device may be replaced by a pendulum acting either through the elevation of the outer rail of a curve or by centrifugal force, or by other means. Other forms of atomizer, such as a Venturi trompe or flume, may be employed.