Improvements in Lubricators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
--
ROBERT BEST HELLIWELL Mechanical Engineer 21 Kenmare Road Smithdown
Road Liverpool do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a lubricator which shall automatically
supply the lubricant according to the requirements of the bearing; it is specially
adapted for use with loose pulleys and the like, the lubricant being preferably of
the grease class. To briefly describe the construction of lubricator
may say that
in its outer appearance it resembles the ordinary brass cylindrical oil cup with
screwed cap and stub-end for fixing in place, that is, in this particular form to be
described. The inside of the cup is turned out truly cylindrical having one hole in
the centre of the bottom, passing through the stub-end and one or two holes com-
municating with the outer air also through the bottom. Within the cylindrical cup
a piston is fitted so that it can freely move up or down according to the direction
of the force acting upon it, from its centre pends a tube of such a size as to fit easily
the hole in the stub-end in which it is intended to slide, the tube is of such a length
that if the piston be lifted up until it touch the cap, the said tube will still be
within the hole.
Having described its construction the action of the lubricator is as follows.
The lubricator being fixed into the boss of the loose pulley, so that it is vertical
to the axis of revolution and it's piston inserted, is filled full of the lubricant and
the cap screwed down, on the pulley being set in motion a tendency is imparted, by
the action of centrifugal force, to the piston as also to the lubricant to fly away
from the centre of revolution, this causes the piston to bear on the lubricant, which
latter being of a less specific gravity than the metal of the piston seeks to give
place precisely as water in a cup will give place to a stone or anything of greater
specific gravity, dropped into it, therefore the lubricant will be forced down the
tube, through the hole in the stub-end and to the bearing continuing to flow until
the piston touch the cap, air entering to the underside of piston through the holes
afore mentioned, preventing the occurrence of partial vacuum which would impede
the travel of piston.
Dated this Twentieth day of January 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
I ROBERT BEST HELLIWELL of 21 Kenmare Road, Smithdown Road, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancashire, 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 :-
My invention relates to a lubricator specially adapted for use on loose pulleys and
the like, and it has for its object the automatic supply of the lubricant according
to the requirements of the bearing.
I attain this end by constructing a lubricator in the manner illustrated in the
accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation partly in
section of a lubricator embodying my improvements, and Figure 2 is a plan thereof
with the cap removed. Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like
letters of reference.
The lubricator consists of a cylindrical cup A having a screwed-on or other

page_text: suitably attached cap A' and a stub-end A³, the latter screwed to adapt it to be
fixed in place.
In the cylindrical cup is a piston B having a stem B₁ adapted to slide freely in
a hole a in the stub-end A2, and of such a length that when the piston is up to the
top of the cup the stem is not out of the hole a in the stub-end. Through the piston
and its stem is formed a central hole b. In the bottom of the cup A are one or
more small holes a', and on the top of the piston is attached a tongue or cover 61
capable of being adjusted to more or less close the hole 6 through the piston and
its stem.
The action of the lubricator is as follows:-The lubricator having been fixed
into the boss of the loose pulley so that it is vertical to the axis of rotation, the
cup is filled with the lubricant-which is preferably of the solid class-above the
piston, and the cap is then attached, the orifice of the hole 6 having been adjusted
by means of the tongue or cover b¹. On the pulley being set in motion, centrifugal
force causes the piston B to have a tendency to fly away from the centre of rotation.
It thus bears on the lubricant which, being of less specific gravity than the metal,
seeks to give place to the piston, which it does by passing down through the hole 61
in the piston B and its stem B', to the hole in the stub-end A² of the lubricator
and thence to the bearing. This action continues until all the lubricant is expelled
from the cup and the piston B comes into contact with the cap A'. To prevent
the formation of a vacuum in the cup on the underside of the piston, which would
impede the travel thereof I form the small holes a¹ in the bottom of the cup A as
shown.
It will be understood that the thickness of the piston B is controlled by the
consistency of the lubricant and the speed at which the pulley to which it is to be
attached revolves, and as these vary considerably I sometimes make the piston of a
moderate thickness and give increased weight to it when required, by means of lead
or other metal discs adapted to be passed over the stem B¹ on the underside of the
piston when required.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction herein described and shown by the accompanying drawing,
but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall
within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The improvements in lubricators substantially as herein set forth.
2nd. In a lubricator, the combination with the cylindrical cup having a suitable
cap and a stub-end for attachment, of a piston having a central hole adapted to
receive a hollow stem the said piston being adapted to slide freely in the said cup
and the said stem adapted to slide freely in a hole through the stub-end of the
cup, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a lubricator, the combination with the cylindrical cup A having a suitable
cap A and a stub-end A³, of the piston A having a stem B, of the central hole b
through the piston B and its stem B', and of the hole or holes a¹ in the bottom of
the cup B, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose set
forth.
4th. In a lubricator, the combination with the cylindrical cup A having a suitable
cap A¹ and a stub-end A2, of the piston B and stem B₁ having a central hole b,
and of the tongue or cover 6¹ on the top of the piston B adapted to regulate the
orifice of the hole b, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose
set forth.
5th. In a lubricator, the combination of the cylindrical cup A having one or
more holes al in its bottom, of the cap A' screwed on or, otherwise attached to the
top of the said cup, of the stub-end A having a central hole a and adapted to
provide a means of attachment for the lubricator, of the piston B sliding freely in
the cylindrical cup A, of the stem B' fixed to the piston B and adapted to slide freely

page_text: in the hole a in the stub-end A², of the hole 6 passing centrally through the piston B
and the stem B, and of the tongue or cover bf adapted to regulate the orifice of the
hole b, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.