IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING WHEELS AND PULLEYS WHICH TURN UPON OR INDEPENDENTLY OF THEIR SHAFTS OR AXLES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING WHEELS AND PULLEYS WHICH TURN UPON OR
INDEPENDENTLY OF THEIR SHAFTS OR AXLES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by John Norris, of Paris, France, Gentleman.
Sealed the 16th November 1877, and dated the 22nd May 1877.
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1877..
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING
WHEELS AND PULLEYS WHICH TURN UPON OR INDEPENDENTLY OF THEIR SHAFTS
OR AXLES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by
John Norris, of Paris, France, Gentleman.]
This Invention relates to lubricating apparatus chiefly designed for wheels or
pulleys ordinarily termed "loose" wheels or pulleys, which are mounted with a
capability of free or independent rotation on their shafts, axles, or spindles.
Efficient apparatus or means for this purpose has for a long time been greatly,
needed and sought for, but the centrifugal action of such wheels and pulleys has
always been found to present very great difficulty.
By this Invention I have sought to overcome this difficulty by a peculiar con-
struction and arrangement of parts, whereby I cause the centrifugal force to exert a
pressure tending to drive the lubricating matter inward or to the centre of the
wheel or pulley. For this purpose I use a grease or oil cup, or receptacle screwed
or otherwise secured to the boss of the wheel or pulley. Inside this cup or recep-
tacle is a tube, which forms a continuation of the stem of the cup, and through
which there is a passage from the interior of the same to the hole in the boss of the
wheel or pulley, which hole conducts the lubricating matter to the shaft or axle on
which the said wheel or pulley. runs. Inside the said lubricating cup I place an
annular weight, that is to say, a flat circular piece, with a central hole through
which the said tube extends. This weight is free to move in the said receptacle or
.

page_text: vessel, and the centrifugal force tends to throw the same to the outer end or portion
thereof. The space between the outer end and this weight is filled with the
lubricating matter, and when the wheel or pulley is in motion the said weight will
exert a pressure upon the lubricating matter, and will force the same through the
aforesaid tube to the shaft or axle.
The outer part or body of the said cup or receptacle is secured to the base or
inner part by screwing or otherwise, so that it may be readily removed and replaced.
The said base is formed on the stem or shank, which is screwed into the boss or hub
of the wheel or pulley.
I may modify the said Invention by forming the said apparatus with a tube at
one side instead of in the centre for conducting the grease or oil to the shaft or
axle. In this form of my apparatus one part of the said tube is attached to a cap
or cover, and the other part to the body of the cup or receptacle, the two parts
being fitted together and forming a tight joint when the cover is placed on the
cup. The weight in this modified form of my apparatus is simply a flat disc or
piston.
The said cup or vessel is provided with a small hole fitted with a screw, which
may be removed to admit air into the same on the back or inner side of the
weight
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 2
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
November 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING
WHEELS AND PULLEYS WHICH TURN UPON OR INDEPENDENTLY OF THEIR SHAFTS 2
OR AXLES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by
John Norris, of Paris, France, Gentleman.
1
This Invention relates to lubricating apparatus chiefly designed for wheels or pulleys
ordinarily termed "loose" wheels or pulleys, which are mounted with a capability of
free or independent rotation on their shafts, axles, or spindles. Efficient apparatus 3
for this purpose has for a long time been greatly needed and sought for, but the
centrifugal action of such wheels and pulleys has always been found to present very.
great difficulty.
By this Invention I have sought to overcome this difficulty by a peculiar con-
struction and arrangement of parts, whereby I cause the centrifugal force to exert a
pressure tending to drive the lubricating matter inward or to the centre of the wheel
or pulley.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical central section shewing my improved apparatus more
especially adapted for lubricating with grease.
Figure 2 is a similar section shewing the said apparatus as constructed more
especially for the use of oil.
Figure 3 illustrates a modification of the said apparatus herein-after described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.

page_text: The apparatus shewn in Figure 1 has a grease cup or receptacle a screwed or
otherwise secured to the boss of the wheel or pulley by the stem a¹. Inside this
cup or receptacle a is a tube b, which forms a continuation of the stem a¹ of the
cup a, and through which there is a passage from the interior of the same to the
hole in the boss of the wheel or pulley, which hole conducts the lubricating matter
to the shaft or axle on which the said wheel or pulley runs. Inside the said lubri-,
cating cup I place an annular weight or piston c, with a central hole through which
the said tube extends. This weight or piston is free to move in the said receptacle
or vessel, and the centrifugal force tends to throw the same to the outer end or
portion thereof. The space between the outer end and this weight is filled with the.
lubricating matter, and when the wheel or pulley is in motion the weight or piston c
will exert a pressure upon the lubricating matter, and will force the same through.
the aforesaid tube to the shaft or axle..
The outer part or body of the said cup or receptacle is secured to the base or
inner part at a² by screwing or otherwise, so that it may be readily removed and
replaced. The said base is formed on the stem or shank a¹, which is screwed into
the boss or hub of the wheel or pulley to be lubricated.
The said cup or vessel is provided with a small hole fitted with a screw a³, which
may be removed to admit air into the space on the back or inner side of the weight.
or piston c, in which a vacuum may exist. Instead of this screw a valve- may be.
used.
In the apparatus shewn in Figure 2, a is the body or receptacle for the oil or
lubricating matter, and a* is the cover of the same secured in the said receptacle by.
means of the screw thread, as shown; b is a tube for conducting the oil to the shaft
or axle; b¹ is a valve for regulating the passage of the lubricating matter, and
closing the said tube when the apparatus is at rest, the said valve being pressed
upon the end of the tube by a small spiral spring 62; c is a plate or piston for
forcing the oil or lubricating matter into the conducting tube b; d is a spiral spring
for overcoming the centrifugal force, and pushing back the piston c when the
apparatus is at rest; e, e, are valves placed on the piston c for permitting the return
of any oil which may have passed to the under or inner side of the said piston, and
which is caused by the pressure of the spring d to return through the said valves to
the upper or outer portion of the receptacle a; f is a valve used instead of the.
screw a for admitting air into the lower or inner part of the receptacle a when a
vacuum exists therein. All of these parts may be formed of any suitable metal
or other material.
I may modify the said Invention, as shown in Figure 3, by forming the said
apparatus with a tube g at one side instead of in the centre for conducting the
grease or oil to the shaft or axle. In this form of my apparatus one part of the said
tube is attached to the cap or cover a, and the other part to the body, cup, or
receptacle a, the said two parts being fitted together and forming a tight joint when
the cover is placed on the cup. The weight in this modified form of my apparatus
is simply a flat disc or piston.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I am aware of there having been already in use apparatus for lubricating
loosely revolving wheels and pulleys, but my Invention differs from these in the
following particulars, namely:-
In the apparatus shewn in Figure 1 the body or receptacle a screwed to a base
formed solidly on the stem or neck of the apparatus, and having no separate or
detachable cover at the upper or outer end of the said receptacle.
Also the screw threads whereby the said body a is united to the base formed
inside the said body and on the outer periphery of the base, that is to say, the
inside or female thread formed in the body a, and the male thread on the base, so
that the said base does not project beyond the body, and thereby form an unsightly
and inconvenient protuberance.
Also the air holes in the said apparatus provided with screw plugs or valves, as

page_text: shewn, so that air can be admitted or excluded as desired from the space behind or
below the piston or weight c.
And in respect of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 the novel features are as
follows, that is to say:
The piston c provided with a valve or valves and with a spiral spring at the upper
or outer side for the purposes specified.
Also the central tube b with a valve controlled by a spiral spring at the outer
extremity of the said tube.
Also the cover secured upon the body or receptacle a by means of a male thread
on the cover and a female thread in the body or receptacle, whereby I avoid having
an unsightly and inconvenient protuberance or projection around the said
apparatus.
Also the air hole provided with a valve inside the body a.
And in respect of the modification of my Invention shewn in Figure 3 the novel
feature is the outer tube formed in two parts, one of which is connected to the body
or stem, and the other to the cover or cap, and which are coupled or connected as
described.
These various improvements in the details of the construction of the said apparatus
are very important, as they form the means for obviating the difficulties heretofore
existing in the use of lubricators whose operation is governed by centrifugal action,
and render these lubricators practically effective.
And I claim the embodiment of these novel and peculiar features in the said
apparatus, as above set forth, and for the purposes specified.
།
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W. ROB“. LAKE. (L.S.)