IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE LUBRICATORS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Albert Berly, Civil Engineer, of No. 9, Rolf Road,
Peckham Rye, London, S.E., in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE LUBRICATORS." A communication from
abroad by Mr. Henri Bossière, Engineer, 9, Rue du Bastion, le Havre, France.
Sealed the 28th January 1879, and dated the 1st November 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Jules Albert Berly at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1878.
JULES ALBERT BERLY, Civil Engineer, of 9, Rolf Road, Peckham Rye, London,
S.E., in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINE LUBRICATORS.
A communication from abroad by Mr. Henri Bossière, Engineer, 9, Rue du
Bastion, le Havre, France.
My Invention consists in an improved method of constructing lubricators for
steam engines of every description by which a perfect lubrication is obtained, and
all the inconvenients attached to the use of lubricators as heretofore employed in
connection with steam engines are avoided.
The principle upon which the action of my improved lubricator is based is the
difference of specific gravity of two liquids in contact under the same pressure.
My improved lubricator consists of a cylindrical body C containing a certain
quantity of oil, and which can be filled through a plug hole R and emptied by
means of a purge cock P. See accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1. Its top and bottom
communicate together through valves H and E by ineans of a glass gauge always
indicating what quantity of oil remains in the lubricator; they are also both and
respectively in communication with the steam pipe supplying the steam to the
cylinder; its top, by means of a small ordinary plain pipe L, see Fig. III., conveying
the oil from the lubricator to the steam pipe, and its bottom, by means of, a small
pipe I, ending in a worn tube K situated above the top level of the plain pipe L,

page_text: and conveying steam and condensed steam or water from the steam pipe to the
lubricator. These communications can be opened or interrupted by means of
valves O and W, which are placed respectively-at-the-top-and-bottom-of-the-
lubricator.
Both plain pipe L leading from lubricator to steam pipe, and worm tube K, L,
-leading-from_steam pipe to lubricator, are provided with a steam-cock G and V at
the end attached to the steam pipe. The cock G is a three-way cock.
-If,-the-lubricator_being_full_of_oil and both the valves O and W being shut, the
steam-cock V is slowly and gradually opened, the steam will fill the pipe K, I, aud
condensate, and when said pipe K, I, will be full of water up to the top level of
pipe L; if the valve-O-is-fully-opened,-tho-air-hole-of-the-three-way_steam-cock_G_
being put in communication with the atmosphere and the valve W slowly and
gradually opened, the excess of weight of the water column upon the corresponding
oil column (both being under the same pressure) will cause the oil to rise in pipe L
until it reaches the air hole of steam-cock G; if then the said steam-cock G is
turned into communication with the steam pipe the oil continuing to be displaced
will be forced into the said steam pipe, it only remaining to regulate the flow of oil
by means of valve W, which is provided with a hand and a dial. Each drop of
water introduced in the lubricator through valve W will cause a similar drop of oil
to be injected in the steam pipe.
The quantity of oil remaining in the lubricator is always shown on glass guage U,
and when the said lubricator is full of water and consequently when all the oil has
been forced through pipe K, I, in the steam pipe and therefore used, the said
lubricator is cleared of water by shutting the valves O and W and opening the
plug R and the purge-cock P; and replenished by shutting purge-cock P and
pouring the oil through plug hole R. When full, the plug R being screwed in
position, the valves O and W have merely to be re-opened, O in full, W as it was
before, to insure the working of the lubricator.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Fig. I. is a section and general view of the improved lubricator; Fig. II. is a plan
of ditto.
Fig. III. is a view showing the improved lubricator adapted to a 4-cylinder
marine engine.
Fig. IV. is a view showing the improved lubricator adapted to a double-cylinder
stationary engine.
Fig. V. is a view showing the improved lubricator adapted to a locomotive.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the means of
performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
The arrangement of a steam engine lubricator in connection with oil and water
pipes and valves and steam-cocks, such as described and illustrated by me, the
action of which is based on the difference of specific gravity of two liquids in
contact under the same pressure, such arrangement giving the following advantages
upon the ordinary and other systems of lubricators in use, viz.:.
The lubricator can be placed at any distance from the machine intended to be
lubricated, consequently in the engine room or elsewhere where it is found to be
the most convenient for the engineer.
The lubricator always remains perfectly cold, no steam or hot water being allowed
to come into contact with it, and is therefore not liable to dilatation or contraction,
and consequently to leakages.
The oil always remaining perfectly cold is not subject to decomposition by the
beat.
The impurities contained in the oil remain, owing to their greater specific gravity,
always at the bottom of the lubricator, from which they are periodically expelled
through purge-cock P when clearing the lubricator of water before replenishing it
with oil.
Every drop of oil is judiciously used and thoroughly consumed, thereby causing

page_text: an economy of 50 per cent. over other lubricators, and doing away with the injuries
to condenser tubes and boilers attending the use of lubricating oil as provided by
the lubricators of other descriptions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Albert Berly, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 30th day of October, 1878.