Improvements in Oil Cans.
Year: 1895

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JACOB MILLER MCKNIGHT, Banker, of 101 West
Market Street, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.]
Improvements in Oil Cans.
I WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of the Firm of Wheatley & Mackenzie
Engineers and Patent Agents of 40 Chancery Lane London 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:-
This invention relates to oil cans to be used as locomotive oilers and consists. in
certain improvements in detail construction and operation of parts, all. as herein-
after more fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the:claims.
In the annexed drawings similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts
in both views, in which-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the oil-can complete and
Fig. 2 is a view of a modification of the operating thumb-latch.
A is the can or vessel which is used to hold 'the lubricating oil, the same being
provided with a funnel shaped bottom, having a central opening in which is held a
threaded stopper B. The nut C and vertical strainer D. are made-integral with
the bottom E or are securely fastened thereto. The strainer D.is.of sufficient size
to nearly fill the body of the can so that a large quantity of oil. may be quickly
filled into the can and permit it to become strained. after. filling, thus saving the
time which it would take to strain the oil with any other style.of strainer.
Secured to the upper end of the can is a screw threaded collar Gin which works
a spring held reciprocating rod or plunger a held in a.stuffing box and being
provided at its end with a beveled point, a', while its outer end is enlarged to a
sufficient extent to form a seat against which the spring c will bear. to. hold. said
plunger a normally at its extreme outer position. Lugs dare formed on the
collar G in which is held the thumb-latch H which rises through the handle L to
be of easy access to the operator. A downward extension his formed on the lower
side of the thumb latch H which bears against the outer end of the plunger. a
so as to project said plunger inward when pressure is applied to the .thumb
latch H.
In
K is an extension of the spout through which the oil is passed. from.the.can.
the upper portion of K is a beveled valve seat e in which normally rests the
valve M. Depending from the valve M is a rod N which is provided on its lower
end with the ball, O, the rod N passing through the bridge g to hold said ball O
always central within said extension K at the lower end thereof where it fits over
the screw-threaded collar G.
When the extension K is screwed to place the ball O will lie within the
collar, G, in such position that the central axis of the said ball will be a degree
above the pointed end of the beveled plunger so that when said plunger is
projected inwardly the bevel thereof will cause the ball, O, to rise above its
normal plane, thereby carrying with it the rod N and raising the said valve M
from its seat e so as to permit the free passage of oil past said valve to the nozzle
of the oiler.
The nozzle P is screw threaded at its lower end and screws onto the part K to
complete the oiler and is made removable for convenience in assembling the parts
and renewal in case of damage.

page_text: In the modification shown at Fig. 2 the rod a is actuated by a jointed push
latch H H adapted to bear against said rod a to project it inwardly to raise
the ball and valve M when desired. The bridge picce g is of only sufficient
width to form a guide for the rod N and is not intended to close the passage for oil
into the part K.
In operation the device is found to be practicable, simple and, owing to the few
parts, is not at all liable to get out of order.
Owing to the fact that the ball, O, is held central in the collar G it is always in
the proper position to be actuated by the push rod, a, to lift the valve M when the
extension K is in position.
It is desirable that the part K be secured so as to prevent rotation owing to the
jar of the trains on which the oilers are to be carried and to accomplish this desired
result any suitable locking device may be used.
In practice the device is operated as follows:
The oil being filled into the bottom of the can it finds its way through the
strainer D into the can body. When the operator desires to apply oil to any part
of his machine or locomotive the nozzle, P, is placed in the proper position, the
nozzle being held down, the latch H is depressed with the thumb, the ball, O, and
valve M are raised by the inner beveled enl of the push rod, a, bearing under the
said ball and the oil will flow to the point desired and when a sufficient quantity
of oil has been applied the latch H is released, the spring c retracting the push rod
and the springs retracting the ball O and closing the valve M.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An oiler comprising the body A, provided with the funnel bottom, a strainer D
within said body, a collar, G, a push rod a projecting into said collar G a valve M,
depending rod N, a ball O at the lower end of said rod bearing normally on the
inner end of said push rod a and a spring adapted to normally hold said ball and
push rod a in contact, all substantially as specified.
2. In an oiler, a body portion, a strainer within said body, a spout, a valve in
said spout, a push rod depending from said valve, a ball on the lower end of said
push rod, a collar secured to the upper end of the can, a spring held push-rod held
in said collar bearing against said ball and a thumb latch bearing against said push
rod, all combined and operating substantially as specified.
3. In an oiler a spout portion K, a valve and valve-seat therein, a rod N
connected to said valve, a ball on the lower end of said rod and a beveled
push rod bearing normally on said ball in combination with retracting springs
for holding said parts normally in engagement, substantially as shown and
specified.
Dated this 17th day of September 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.