Improvements in "Sight-feed" or other Lubricators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Sight-feed" or other Lubricators.
I, RICHARD JAMES THRELFALL of 7, Belgrave Terrace, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1. Automatic stoppage of the supply of the lubricant when the engine comes to
rest.
2. Continued supply of the lubricant when steam is shut off, as in a locomotive engine
when running down a gradient, approaching a station or being brought to a stop.
3. When applied to "sight-feed" lubricators to shut off steam in case of the sight
glass breaking.
Lubricators made according to my invention are specially designed for the slide
valves and pistons of locomotive engines but can also be applied to other engines.
The lubricator consists of an oil cylinder fitted with a packed piston the rod of
which projects through one end of the cylinder. In one form of my invention I make
the piston rod tubular, to act as an air vessel, closed at the outer end on which is a
handle and with openings at the inner end, next the piston, into the oil cylinder. In
another form I provide an air vessel on the top end of the oil cylinder preferably
around the piston rod which in this case may be solid.
The supply of oil in drops is regulated in the usual way by a cock, valve or coned
plug and is controlled by a ball in a concave seat in which it rolls when the engine is
running and comes to rest when the engine stops, closing the oil aperture.
The lubricator is connected at one end with the steam chest, and fitted with a back
pressure valve by which steam is admitted at one side of the piston the oil being on
the other side. The other end of the cylinder is also connected with the steam chest,
or with the cylinder, to supply the oil to the valve or piston as the case may be.
+
The oil cylinder is charged by opening the supply aperture pushing the piston back
(the steam back pressure valve being opened to allow the steam and water of con-
densation to return into the steam chest) and filling the cylinder the oil flowing up
the tubular piston rod or into the air vessel and the supply aperture being closed and
steam applied the oil is forced up the rod or air vessel till the compression of the air
therein equals the pressure in the cylinder.
The piston, by the pressure of steam behind it, forces the oil through a channel
to the regulating cock, valve or plug through which it passes to the underside of
the ball which, rolling in its seat, allows the oil to pass through into the sight
tube from which it is delivered into the steam chest so long as the engine is
running but, when stopped, the ball comes to rest in its concave seat and closes the
aperture.
When the engine is running without steam the supply of oil is continued by the
pressure of the column of air in the piston rod or in the air vessel upon the oil, so
that lubrication still goes on until the steam is again turned on...
The piston is retained in position by the closing of the back pressure valve which
I propose to fit so that it can be opened and kept open when required to act as a
drain cock.
Should the "sight-tube" glass break, the escape of steam back from the steam
chest or from the cylinder is prevented by a screw plug, provided for the insertion of
the glass tube into its sockets, being turned a quarter round which shuts off the
communication.
Dated this 28th dor of Ma 1990
R: J. THRELFALL.
Per L. W.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Sight-feed" or other Lubricators.
I, RICHARD JAMES THRELFALL, of 7 Belgrave Terrace, Gateshead, in the County
of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The objects of this invention are:
.1. Automatic stoppage of the supply of the lubricant when the engine comes to
rest.
2. Continued supply of the lubricant when steam is shut off, as in a locomotive
engine when running down a gradient, approaching a station or being brought to a
stop.
3. When applied to "sight-feed" lubricators to shut off steam in case of the sight
glass breaking and to keep the glass filled with water.
Lubricators made according to my invention are specially designed for the slide
valves and pistons of locomotive engines but can also be applied to other engines.
The lubricator consists of an oil cylinder fitted with a packed piston the rod of
which projects through one end of the cylinder. In one form of my invention I
make the piston rod tubular, to act as an air vessel, closed at the outer end on which
is a handle and with openings at the inner end, next the piston, into the oil cylinder.
In another form I provide an air vessel on the top end of the oil cylinder preferably
around the piston rod which in this case may be solid.
The supply of oil in drops is regulated in the usual way by a cock, valve or
coned plug and is controlled by a ball in a concave seat in which it rolls when
the engine is running and comes to rest when the engine stops, closing the oil
aperture.
The lubricator is connected at one end with the steam chest and fitted with a
back pressure valve by which steam is admitted at one side of the piston the oil
being on the other side. The other end of the cylinder is also connected with the
steam chost, or with the cylinder, to supply the oil to the valve or piston as the case
may be.
The oil cylinder is charged by opening the supply aperture pushing the piston
back (the steam back pressure valve being opened to allow the steam and water of
condensation to return into the steam chest) and filling the cylinder the oil flowing
up the tubular piston rod or into the air vessel and the supply aperture being closed
and steam applied the oil is forced up the rod or air vessel till the compression of
the air therein equals the pressure in the cylinder.
The piston, by the pressure of steam behind it, forces the oil through a channel to
the regulating cock, valve or plug through which it passes to the underside of the ball
which rolling in its seat, allows the oil to pass through into the sight tube from which
it is delivered into the steam chest so long as the engine is running but, when
stopped the ball comes to rest in its concave seat and closes the aperture.
When the engine is running without steam the supply of oil is continued by the
pressure of the column of air in the piston rod or in the air vessel upon the oil, so
that lubrication still goes on until the steam is again turned on.
The piston is retained in position by the closing of the back pressure valve which
I propose to fit so that it can be opened and kept open when required to act as
a drain cock.
Should the "sight-tube" glass break, the escape of steam back from the steam
chest or from the cylinder is prevented by a screw plug, provided for the insertion
of the glass tube into its sockets, being turned a quarter round which shuts off the
communication.
In order to keep the "sight-tube" glass replenished with water I provide a
cock which, when required, opens a communication between the bottom end of the
cylinder and the oil feed so that water of condensed steam will flow into the sight
tube.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying Sheet of drawings 2 views of my lubricator are shewn, of
half the actual size, as arranged vertically and with a "sight-feed" and fixed by a
bracket to some convenient part of the engine.
Fig. 1 is entirely in section and Fig. 2 is a section through the line x-x of
Fig. 1 shewing also the combined back pressure valve and drain valve in section.
A is the cylinder fitted with the packed piston P into which is secured the tubular
piston rod R closed at top and at bottom also except for small holes H through
which the oil flows into it. S is the oil supply plug. Live steam enters by the branch
at bottom through the back pressure valve K into the cylinder. beneath the piston.
The oil above the piston as the piston rises in the cylinder passes down the channel C
to the regulating screw cone plug F past which it flows to the underside of the ball B
which when the engine is running rolls in its concave seat allowing the oil to pass
into the sight tube T through the water in which it rises in drops and passes out
at top through the cock D to the parts of the engine or, machine requiring
lubrication. The ball B also acts as a valve to retain the water in the sight tube.
When the sight tube requires replenishing with water the cock E being opened
(as shewn on drawing) water from condensed steam flows from the cylinder and fills
the tube.
When the oil is exhausted the piston P is pushed down to the bottom of the
cylinder A the water of condensed steam escaping through the valve K which is
opened against the pressure of the small spring G by the screw H, and drains the
water back to the steam chest when the valve K is allowed to close and again acts as
a back pressure valve.
Should the "sight-feed" glass break the escape of steam from the steam chest or
cylinder through the oil feed pipe is prevented by turning the cock D a quarter
round when the cap L being unscrewed a new glass is readily inserted.
When the engine is running without steam as in descending a gradient the supply
of oil is kept up by the air in the top of the piston rod, which has been compressed
by the column of oil rising in the tube, until steam is again admitted under the
piston which has in the meantime remained stationary being kept in position by the
closing of the back pressure valve.
When the engine comes to rest the ball B ceasing to roll in its concave seat, closes
the aperture beneath it and the supply of oil is cut off.
When made without sight-feed the oil passes direct from the ball chamber by a
feed pipe to the part to be lubricated.
In some cases I may provide an air vessel connected with the oil chamber,
instead of the tubular piston rod, in which the air will be compressed and act in the
same manner to maintain the supply when steam is shut off but I prefer the
construction shewn on drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The application of a ball rolling in a concave seat to lubricators in which a
piston working in a cylinder causes the oil to be forced by the pressure of steam to
the part to be lubricated said ball acting, as described in my Patent No. 6760 of
1884, to intermittently open and close a supply channel when in motion and to close
such channel when at rest substantially as described and shown.
2nd. In such lubricators the use of a tubular piston rod forming an air vessel,
closed at outer end, into which the oil is admitted through holes at inner end to flow
into the piston rod and to compress the air therein with the object of maintaining
the supply of oil when steam is shut off; or the alternative use of an air vessel in
the oil chamber instead of the tubular piston rod substantially as described and in
the first form illustrated.

page_text: 3rd. In combination with such sight feed or other lubricators the application of a
self acting back pressure valve serving 'also as a drain valve substantially as described
and shewn.
4th. In combination with such lubricators when fitted with a sight tube the appli-
cation of a shut off cock to prevent the escape of steam should the glass break and
whilst a new glass is being fitted substantially as described and shewn..
:
5th. In combination with such lubricators when fitted with a sight tube the appli-
cation of a cock by which the sight tube may be replenished with water when
necessary substantially as described and shewn.
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6th. The improved lubricator comprising the various parts as a sight feed. lubricator
or in the alternative form without the sight feed tube T the shut off cock D and the
cock E for replenishing the sight tube in either form constructed and operating
substantially as described and in one form illustrated.
.. . ·י חח
T. J. DANSON, F.I.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.,