Improvements in Lubricators.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 1st July, 1892--Accepted. 6th Aug., 192
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
I, WILSON HARTNELL, of Benson's Buildings, Park Row, Leeds, in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It has reference to the class known as "Sight-feed" Lubricators; and has for its
object the improvement of the same, and that more especially by providing means
for (1) more accurately and easily adjusting the dropping oil, (2) for instantly
stopping the whole supply, (3) for rapidly putting on a maximum supply-as for
example when starting machinery, and for (4) properly falling back to the usual or
otherwise desired working supply, to which the instrument has been previously
adjusted. In some cases the appliance may also be given a forcing action to
compel any oil, such as may have thickened by standing, to move forward.
I accomplish my object as follows:-The lower part of the base of my lubricator
is hy preference screwed, for fixing purposes, in the usual way, and has glass
inserted in its sides for the "sight-feed" peep-holes. The upper part of this base
is screwed to receive a central overhead cylinder, of small diameter, the lower part
of which forms the main valve seat. Before being finally screwed together a glass
bell, for forming a visible reservoir of. oil, is fitted outside, and, at its base between,
these screwed portions, with suitable yielding washers on each side of the bell to
prevent its being broken. The glass bell has a cover through which a prolongation
of the central cylinder projects, leaving however the cover free for removal for
filling or cleaning purposes.
The valve spindle, which is introduced from below, and reaches to the top of the
instrument, has an enlarged base which is pointed below, for dropping the oil down
the centre of the peep-hole chamber. Immediately above this enlargement the
spindle is ground so as to fit tightly against the beforementioned valve seat.
Instead of this spindle being turned parallel, where it passes through the base of
the valve seat, it is tapered, as it rises upwards, for some little distance, for a reason
explained afterwards. Inside the central cylinder a coiled spring is introduced,
which presses against a piston head attached to the central spindle, and holds the
valve at the base tightly against its scat.
The top of the spindle is screwed and fitted with a suitable adjusting nut, and a
spring catch, attached to the prolongation of the central cylinder, is arranged to
fit into and bear against an upper shoulder on this nut, in such a manner that when
it is suitably twisted round, for adjusting purposes, the valve is gradually pushed
downwards off its seat. When the spring catch, however, is pushed out of gear,
the beforementioned coiled spring immediately brings the valve back again, and
stops the flow of oil. The upward tapering of the valve spindle (above the valve seat
and inside the parallel portion of its bored out base) has already been mentioned,
the effect is as follows:- -When the overhead adjusting nut first forces the valve
off its seat no oil can pass, because the lower part of the spindle fits the hole, but,
as this slight taper has been specially arranged on the spindle, more oil will be
allowed to pass as the spindle is further and further depressed by the adjusting nut.
By this means very minute adjustments are easily made, as considerable movements
on the screw are required, to alter the area of flow for the oil, by reason of the
said taper.
Suppose now the cup being charged with oil, the spring catch thrown out of
gear, and the valve, whose spindle has been previously adjusted, automatically
closed-it is wished to make a start with a machine to which the lubricator is

page_text: attached-The attendant, first presses down (without turning it) the central
adjusting nut, to a considerable extent, so as to give a maximum flow of oil, and
then releases it, whereupon the spring catch comes into operation, and prevents the
spindle rising further than to the previously-regulated point, which causes the oil
to drop with the desired flow. When the oil is to be finally cut off the catch is 5
slipped out of gear and the valve allowed to rise.
When a force pump action is to be given to the instrument, the piston on the
valve spindle, when descending under a rapid action from the hand, cuts off, or
throttles, the ingress and egress of the oil to and from the cup, and compels a
downward movement. At the bottom of the stroke passages are arranged so as to 1
allow a free flow of the oil notwithstanding.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1891.
WM. SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Park Row, Leeds, Yorks.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
I, WILSON HARTNELL, of Benson's Buildings, Park Row, Leeds, in the County
of York, 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 :—
It has reference to the class known as "Sight-feed" Lubricators; and has for its
object the improvement of the same, and that more especially by providing means
for (1) more accurately and easily adjusting the dropping oil, (2) for instantly
stopping the whole supply, (3) for rapidly putting on a maximum supply-as for
example when starting machinery, and (4) for promptly falling back to the usual
or otherwise desired working supply, to which the instrument has been previously
adjusted. In some cases the appliance may also be given a special forcing action
to compel any oil, such as may have thickened by standing, to move forward in the
lubricating holes. In order to fully explain my invention I have annexed a
drawing on which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a lubricator made according to
my plan, and Figs. 2 & 3 are similar sections with the base and cup removed (to
save space on the drawing), but with the valve spindle, etc., in different positions.
Figs. 4 & 5 are similar sections, viewed at right angles to the others, showing how
the valve spindle may be arranged to give a forcing action.
I accomplish my object as follows:-The lower part of the base A of my
lubricator is by preference screwed, for fixing purposes, in the usual way, and has
glass inserted in its sides for the "sight-feed" peep-holes at B. B. The upper
part A' of the base is screwed to receive a central overhead cylinder C, of small
diameter, the lower part of which forms the main valve seat C. Before being
finally screwed together a glass bell D, providing a visible reservoir of oil, is fitted
outside, and at its base between, these screwed portions, with suitable yielding
washers D D introduced on each side of the bell to prevent its being broken.
The glass bell has a cover E, up to or through which a prolongation C³ of the
central cylinder extends, leaving however the cover free for removal for filling or
cleaning purposes. The cover rests on this prolongation and therefore need not
touch the glass cup.
The valve spindle F, which is introduced from below, and reaches to the top of
the instrument, has an enlarged base F', which is pointed below for dropping the
oil down the centre of the peep-hole chamber. Immediately above this enlargement
the spindle is ground so as to fit tightly against the before mentioned valve seat C¹.
Instead of this spindle being turned parallel, where it passes through the base of
the valve seat, it is tapered at F' as it rises upwards, for some little distance for a

page_text: reason explained afterwards. Inside the central cylinder a coiled spring G is
introduced, which presses against a piston head H, attached to the central spindle,
and so holds the valve at the base tightly against its seat. The piston is shown
fixed by a screw H₁ for which a pathway is slotted in the side of the central
cylinder, and thus the valve spindle is held from turning round. A pocket as
shown in Fig. 3, or other equivalent, may be arranged for this screw H³ to work
in; in order to stop the free upward exit of oil when the piston H is suddenly
depressed.
The top of the valve spindle is screwed and fitted with a suitable adjusting
nut J; and a spring catch K, attached to the central cylinder K³, is arranged to
fit into and bear against an upper shoulder J¹, on this nut, in such a manner that
when it (the nut) is suitably twisted round, for adjusting purposes, the valve is
gradually pushed downwards off its seat as shown in Fig. 3. When the spring
catch, however, is pushed to one side, as shown in Fig. 1, the before mentioned
coiled spring immediately brings the valve back again, and stops the flow of oil,
which latter reaches the central cylinder through a hole at L.
The upward tapering of the valve spindle (above the valve seat and inside the
parallel portion of its bored out base) has already been mentioned, the effect is as
follows:-
-When the overhead adjusting nut J first forces the valve off its seat no
oil can pass, because the lower part of the spindle fits the hole; but, this slight
taper being specially arranged on the spindle, more oil will be allowed to pass as
the spindle is further and further depressed by the adjusting nut. By this means
very minute adjustments are easily made, as considerable movements of the screw
are required to alter the area of flow for the oil, by reason of the said taper. If
too much oil is being passed the nut is of course twisted in the opposite direction.
Suppose now-the cup D being charged with oil, the spring catch K pushed to
one side, and the valve F whose spindle has been previously adjusted (by the
nut J) automatically closed-it is wished to make a start with a machine to which
the lubricator is attached. The attendant, first presses down (without turning it)
the central adjusting nut to a considerable extent, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to give
a maximum flow of oil, and then releases it; whereupon the spring catch comes into
operation, as shown in Fig. 3 and prevents the spindle rising further than to the
previously-regulated point, which causes the oil to drop with the desired flow.
When the oil is to be finally cut off, the catch K is pushed out of gear, as shown in
Fig. 1, and the valve allowed to rise.
When a definite force-pump action is to be given to the instrument, the piston
on the valve spindle, when descending under a rapid action from the hand, cuts off,
or throttles, the ingress and egress of the oil to and from the cup, and compels a
downward movement. At the bottom of the stroke passages are arranged so as to
allow a free flow of the oil notwithstanding. This is shown carried into effect in
Figs. 4 & 5, where the piston H has a prolongation H², or is thimble-shaped. In
Fig. 5 the piston is shown in the act of descending, but with the hole L still open.
Immediately this hole is closed the forcing action is in full play, and continues so,
until an upper hole L' in the piston comes into line with the lower hole L, as
shown in Fig. 4, when a continuous flow is again provided. Here, H³ is a fixing
screw, and Hanother fitting into a slot in the piston to prevent its turning round.
It must however be understood that without this special form of piston the
arrangement shown in Fig. 1 produces a very considerable forcing action when the
outlet hole L from the cup is smaller than the hole in the base, and the pressure
suddenly applied. I do not wish to confine myself to the exact details shown, as a
variety of modifications could undoubtedly be arranged without losing the four
leading features of my lubricator, viz. (1) a prompt start, with forcing action and
full supply which lasts only so long as the attendant holds the valve down, (2) an
ordinary release causing the valve to fly back to a previously regulated point, which
may thus remain more or less constantly set, (3) an instant and complete shut off,
by simply releasing a catch, and (4) an easy means of adjustment.

page_text: 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 ;-
•
(1) A lubricator arranged, constructed, and operated substantially as described
herein and shown on the drawing, with the object and for the purpose set forth.
(2) In a lubricator the combination of a spring valve-spindle and catch, the
falling back against which latter brings the valve to a previously regulated position,
substantially as described and shown."
Dated this 30th day of June 1892.
WM.
SNOWDON,
9, Old Bank Chambers, Leeds, Yorks., Agent for the Applicant.