Improvements in Lubricators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
Improvements in Lubricators.
I, JOHN MEDWAY of 48, Russell Street, Cambridge in the County of Middlesex
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby
leclare 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 has for its object to provide a force-feed lubricator or lubricating
apparatus which shall be certain in its operation and that will supply a predeter-
mined charge of the lubricant at each operation, so that excessive discharge or
waste of the lubricant may be avoided.
To this end, the invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed
to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification:-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a locomotive provided with a lubricating
apparatus embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a plan view of the pressure reservoir forming a part of said
apparatus.
Figure 2 represents a section on line 2ª-2ª of Figure 2.
Figure 3 represents a sectional view showing an oil reservoir and an oil-
measuring chamber connected therewith and constituting a part of the apparatus.
Figure 4 represents a sectional view of another form of oil-measuring chamber.
Figure 5 represents a sectional detail bereinafter referred to.
Figure 6 represents a partial vertical section and partial side elevation of the
preferred construction for use in lubricating the valves in the steam-chests.
Figure 7 represents a section on line 7-7 of Figure 6.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings-
a represents a pressure reservoir, which receives compressed air (or steam) from
any suitable source of supply, through a pipe a'. The reservoir is here shown as
composed of two sections 23 secured together, the section 3 having a screw-
threaded socket 4 formed to engage a threaded shank or stud affixed at a suitable
point in a locomotive cab or elsewhere. Within said reservoir are formed a series
of passages a² extending from the interior of the reservoir to the outer surface
thereof and containing push-pieces a³ on the inner ends of which are formed
valves at which normally bear on seats at the inner ends of the passages a², and
close the latter to prevent the escape of the compressed air, said push-pieces
projecting from the outer surface of the reservoir so that they can be manipulated
or pressed inwardly by the operator to open said passages and permit the escape of
compressed air therethrough.
0 % և represent a
series of pressure supply-pipes communicating with the
passages a² and extending from the reservoir a to supply compressed air or steam
to a corresponding series of oil-measuring chambers hereinafter described. Said
chambers receive oil by gravitation from a suitable reservoir or reservoirs and
deliver the oil to the parts to be lubricated, each pressure supply-pipe supplying
air to a separate measuring-chamber.
The reservoir e in
In the present case I have shown two oil reservoirs, e and e¹.
the construction shown in Figure 3 supplies oil to a single measuring-chamber c

page_text: that delivers oil through a pipe d to the slide-valve in the steam-chest f, the oil
being drawn by suction to the steam-chest through pipe d; while in the construction
shown in Figures 6 and 7, said reservoir e supplies oil to two measuring-chambers c,
each connected with one of the steam-chests. The reservoir el supplies oil through
delivery pipes d¹ to a series of ineasuring-chambers c' located at various other
points, as shown in Figure 1.
Each measuring-chamber is constructed to receive a predetermined quantity or
charge of oil, sufficient for one lubrication, and delivers the same to the pipe
leading to the part to be lubricated when the corresponding valve at in the pressure
reservoir is manipulated, as hereinafter described, so that oil is supplied to the
different valves, bearings, etc., in predetermined charges without waste.
Each measuring-chamber comprises a casing having a cylindrical receptacle 5,
which receives oil from the accompanying reservoir and compressed air or steam
from the pressure reservoir.
The measuring-chamber e shown in Figure 3 has an oil-inlet e² communicating
directly with the oil reservoir e, while the two chambers c shown in Figure 6
communicate with an intermediate chamber e which is in constant communication
with the reservoir e through a neck e, the pressure supply-pipes & being connected
with said chamber. The chambers care at the outer or lower ends of the delivery
pipes d', which are connected at their upper ends with the reservoir e by
Tcouplings m (shown in section in Figure 5) and short nipples n, said couplings
receiving the pressure supply-pipe b, the arrangement being such that both air and
oil enter the delivery pipes d', as hereinafter described.
A piston 6 is fitted to move in each measuring-chamber, and is connected with a
valve 7 which, when the piston is in its normal position, closes an outlet passage 8
which in the measuring-chamber or chambers, connected with the reservoir e is
connected with the delivery pipe d. In each of the other measuring-chambers the
outlet passage 8 is connected with a short delivery pipe or nozzle . When the
valve a controlling the pressure supply-pipe 6 is opened by the operator, the com-
pressed air or steam liberated thereby acts to displace the piston 6, causing it to
open the valve 7 and thus release the charge of oil which had previously found its
way thither from the oil reservoir, the pressure being prevented from forcing oil
upwardly into the reservoir e by a suitable check-valve 12, shown in Figure 3 as a
loose valve, which is raised and closes the oil-inlet e² when the pressure is admitted,
said valve opening by gravitation and permitting oil to flow through said inlet
when the pressure is shut off. In Figures 4 and 6 said check-valve is shown as
the upper portion of the piston.
When the valve a is released by the operator, it is closed by the pressure in the
reservoir a₂ and brings a vent-opening 10 in the push-picce a into position (as
shown at the top of Figure 24) to release the pressure in the pipe ; whereupon
the piston and valve are returned to their normal position either by a controlling
spring 9, as shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6, or by gravitation, as shown in Figure 4.
In Figures 3 and 5, the valve-controlling spring is arranged to raise the piston and
thus cause the latter to close the valve 7; while in Figure 6 the spring acts
through a yoke e upon the two pistons and valves connected with said yoke. The
pressure supply-pipe b may be provided with a check-valve 15 adapted to prevent
the flow of oil into the pipe and to permit the entrance of compressed air.
It is practicable to liberate the charges of oil that are held by the chambers c
for the valves in the steam-chests, without the use of steam or compressed air, said
charges being drawn to the steam-chests by suction, as already stated. I have
therefore provided means for manually operating the pistons and valves in the
said chambers c, so that if a supply of air or steam is not available, or if the use
of such supply is not desired, the oil can be released from the chambers c by hand.
In Figure 3 the result is accomplished by means of a rod or stem 13 attached to
the check-valve 12 and extending through the top of the reservoir e, so that it
may be moved end wise by hand to displace the piston and valve. In Figures 6
and 7, the same result is produced by means of à cam e' arranged to act on the

page_text: yoke e, said cam being affixed to a rock-shaft e³ which is journalled in a stuffing-
box or packed bearing e¹ in one side of the chamber e and has an external handle
or lever e⁹.
The inner wall of each measuring-chamber is provided with leakage grooves 70
so arranged that when the piston is in its normal position oil will flow freely by or
around it and thus fill the measuring-chamber.
It will be seen that the delivery pipe d which conducts oil to the slide-valve is
empty, each charge of oil being drawn through said pipe by suction in the steam-
chest. Each of the delivery pipes d', on the other hand, is always full of oil, the
pressure which depresses the piston and opens the valve being exerted on the
piston through the body of oil in said pipe.
The measuring-chamber c², which I show in Figure 4 as a modification, comprises
a casing having an oil receptacle 5', a piston 61 therein, and a valve 7' attached
to said piston. The upper portion of said measuring-chamber is connected with
the reservoir e by a suitable connection, such as 14, which conducts oil from the
reservoir to the measuring-chamber. The air or steam pressure in this case enters
the lower part of the measuring-chamber and raises the piston, causing the upper
end of the latter to act like the check-valve 12 before described and close the oil-
inlet of the measuring-chamber, the piston at the same time opening the valve 7',
so that the charge of oil is then ejected by the air or steam pressure from the
measuring-chamber. When the air or steam pressure ceases, the piston descends
sufficiently to open the measuring-chamber inlet and close valve 7', whereupon a
charge of oil flows from the reservoir through the leakage grooves 70 to the lower
portion of the measuring-chamber, the oil being prevented from entering the air-
pipe by the spring-controlled check-valve 15.
It will be seen from the foregoing that when a valve in the pressure reservoir is
opened by the operator, the air or steam released opens the corresponding measuring
chamber and causes the delivery of a charge of oil at the desired point.
This apparatus is especially valuable for locomotive engines, because it enables
the engineer or fireman to quickly and economically lubricate a large number of
the frictional parts from the cab, each measuring-chamber being caused by the
depression of a push-piece to deliver a predetermined quantity of oil and no more,
so that waste of oil is prevented. It is obvious that the invention may be embodied
in an apparatus comprising but one series of parts, namely, one pressure supply-
pipe and its valve, and one oil-measuring chamber. The apparatus will usually
comprise a plurality of said parts, however, for obvious reasons.
The check-valves which prevent the pressure admitted to the measuring-chambers
from entering the oil reservoir are important, since without them the pressure
admitted to any measuring-chamber would be communicated through the oil
reservoir to the other chambers, causing a simultaneous discharge of oil from all
the chambers. The check-valves therefore permit each chamber to be discharged
independently.
i represents a steam chamber which is attached to the bottom of the oil
chamber e and projects upwardly into the latter for the purpose of receiving steam
to warm the oil in cold weather, said steam chamber having no communication with
the interior of the oil chamber, so that it conducts heat to the oil but does not
admit the steam to contact with the oil. The chamber i has a socket which
is adapted to receive a steam pipe, the latter acting as a supporting standard.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is declared that what
is claimed is :
1. A force-feed lubricator comprising an oil reservoir, an oil-measuring chamber
having an oil-receiving inlet communicating with said reservoir and an oil-outlet
connected with a part to be lubricated, a piston in said chamber, a valve connected
with said piston and normally held thereby in position to close the outlet of the
measuring-chamber, a pressure supply-pipe cominunicating with said chamber

page_text: whereby pressure may be introduced into the chamber to displace the piston and
valve, a check-valve which is caused by said pressure to close the inlet of the
measuring-chamber and prevent the pressure from entering the oil reservoir and is
normally open to permit the free entrance of oil to the measuring-chamber, and
means whereby a flow of oil is permitted from the reservoir by or around the
piston when the latter is in its normal position.
2. A force-feed lubricator comprising an oil reservoir, an oil-measuring chamber
communicating with said reservoir and having an oil-outlet communicating with a
part to be lubricated, a piston in said chamber, a valve connected with said
piston and normally held thereby in position to close the outlet of the chamber,
and manually operated means whereby the piston may be displaced to open the
valve and release a charge of oil.
3. A force-feed lubricator comprising an oil reservoir, a plurality of oil-measuring
chambers communicating with said reservoir, each having an outlet communicating
with a part to be lubricated, pistons in said chambers, valves connected with said
pistons and adapted to close the outlets of the chambers, a yoke connecting the
said pistons, a spring whereby the pistons and valves are normally held in position
to close the outlets of the chambers, and a manually operated lifting device
whereby the yoke may be raised to simultaneously displace the pistons and
valves.
4. A force-feed lubricator comprising an oil reservoir, a plurality of oil-
measuring chambers communicating with said reservoir, each having an outlet
communicating with a part to lubricated, pistons in said chambers, valves connected
with said pistons and adapted to close the outlets of the chambers, a yoke
connecting the said pistons, a spring whereby the pistons and valves are normally
held in position to close the outlets of the chambers, and a yoke-lifting cam
within the reservoir provided with an operating handle or lever outside the
reservoir whereby the yoke, pistons, and valves may be simultaneously displaced.
5. A force-feed lubricator comprising an oil reservoir, a plurality of oil-
measuring chambers cach having an oil-inlet communicating with said reservoir
and an oil-outlet communicating with a part to be lubricated, pistons in said
chambers having outlet-closing valves, said pistons being normally in position to
close said valves, a pressure reservoir, a plurality of pipes connecting said
reservoir with said chambers, normally closed valves controlling said pipes and
adapted to be manually operated to admit pressure to the chambers, and check-valves
in the oil-inlets of the measuring-chambers adapted to be closed by the pressure
admitted to the chambers and prevent the pressure from entering the oil reservoir,
whereby each chamber is adapted to be independently discharged.
6. A force-feed lubricator comprising an oil reservoir, an oil-measuring chamber
which receives a charge of oil from the oil reservoir, a piston in said chamber
provided with a valve which normally closes the outlet of the chamber, a pressure
reservoir, a pressure supply-pipe connecting the pressure reservoir with the
chamber, and a normally closed valve controlling said pipe and adapted to be
manually operated to admit pressure to the measuring-chamber, said valve baving
means for liberating air from the said pipe when the valve is closed.
7. An oil chamber having a steam chamber or receptacle projecting into the oil
space.
Dated this 6th dor of Foh1905
JOHN MEDWAY,
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.