IMPROVEMENTS IN GREASE BOXES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Wirth at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1876. A communication from
Joseph Schiffers, Engineer, residing at Dortmund.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Agency, of Frankfort-
on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GREASE BOXES."
A communication.
In existing oil boxes where the oil is raised from below to the axle head by
means of a cotton wick there is a connection of guides, supports, and hinges between
the oil box proper and the cast-iron axle box; this arrangement occasions clogging,
and often prevents the free passage of oil to the axle, causing the latter to heat.
In my apparatus the complete isolation of the oil box proper from the cast-iron
axle box is effected, and the oiling is performed by a roll of plush which hangs
lightly against the axle.
In applying my Invention to an axle box wherein the line of division between the
upper and lower axle boxes is high up, the upper axle plate has two projecting
wings cast on it, which wings are bored to correspond with the ribs, and through
them pins are passed. Two casily movable arms made of hardened cast iron arc
hung on these pins, which are welded together with round iron, or are cast in con-
junction and held together by a cross piece.
The grease roller is easily removed, and hangs lightly in the lower half of the
axle box; this roller is composed of woollen plush, which is sewed tightly round a
piece of hoop iron, or round a small tin case. The plush roller is hung into the
hangers and a catch is passed over its spindle ends. To remove the same the
lower axle box is taken off and the catches turned to the left, thus liberating the
spindle ends, when the roller may be lifted out and turned with its fresh side
against the axle. The catch is provided with a nose, which, resting against the
langer, prevents the turning of the catch to the right and its touching the axle.
The plush roll may be kept in position by a spring pressing against a flat centre
bar. The slipping out of the spindle is prevented by another spring, which passes
over the spindle heads. The oil is sucked up to the rollers by double wicks weighted
at their lower ends by small pieces of hoop iron. In putting on the lower half of
the axle box these weights slide down slopes and thus take the wick into the oil.
A tin box catches the oil as it drops off the axle; in this box all small particles of
metal and dirt are deposited, after which the oil passes out through small holes to
the wick.
A round projection which is cast on the inner axle bearing, and which transmits
the shocks given by the axle to the outer upper half of the grease box, is bored

page_text: through, and when oil has to be poured in at the top it does not allow the same to
run directly on the axle, but conveys the same to the plush rollers. A space receives
the oil, which is conveyed by a wick to the aforesaid plate; this wick is passed
through a small gas tube, and may be thus renewed with the greatest ease.
The shape of the shell is also new, ribs projecting from the same are so rounded
off as to allow the shell to turn in every direction, and at the same time lic close
to the axle. These shells can be finished in the lathe and placed in the grease box
without any further fitting. The ribs prevent the slipping of the shell from its
right position when the axle experiences a sudden and violent shock.
The oil rollers are in this case hung in the same manner as above described. The
spring is fastened to the bolt which runs through the tin casing in the centre of the
plush roll; this spring holds the roller in its place. If the roll is pressed upwards
the spring yielding allows the roller to be taken out. Between the two ribs the
hanging irons are placed, these can be easily turned in any direction and support
the oil rollers.
The packing consists of two wood plates provided with excentric rings; these
have between them a felt ring and are pressed against the axle by a spring, this
spring presses the wooden plates against the cast-iron casing of the grease box.
The nuts are also fastened and kept from coming off by passing a six-sided
plate over the same after they have been drawn tight, and then turning them
slightly to the left, when one of the corners will be tightly wedged against the
other ironwork. A wire is passed through the screw to prevent the plate coming
off the same. When the nut has to be tightened the wire is turned upwards to allow
the plates to be removed from the nuts.