IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING STEAM ENGINE AND OTHER CYLINDERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John James Royle, of 71, Market Street, in the City of
Manchester, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING STEAM ENGINE AND
OTHER CYLINDERS."
:
Sealed the 28th May 1880, and dated the 1st December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John James Royle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1879.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE, of 71, Market Street, in the City of Manchester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LUBRI-
CATING STEAM ENGINE AND OTHER CYLINDERS."
I provide a communication by a suitable pipe or passage between each end of
the steam engine or other cylinder through a pair of cones or combination of parts
similar to those used in an injector, in such manner that as a jet of steam or other
vapour passes the cones at each stroke of the piston a vacuum or partial vacuum is
produced. A suitable vessel containing the lubricating material provided with
a regulator supplies the lubricant to one of the cones, such lubricant being drawn
into the cylinder at each stroke by the vacuum so produced.
Instead of the communication being between each end of the cylinder it may be
made between the cylinder and the valve chest or main steam pipe, or in compound
engines between the high and the low pressure cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John James Royle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st June
1880.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE, of 71, Market Street, in the City of Manchester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR Lubri-
CATING STEAM ENGINE AND OTHER CYLINDERS."
As applied to lubricating a steam engine cylinder I arrange a communication by
a suitable pipe from the middle of such cylinder or thereabouts to the main steam
supply pipe through-a pair of cones or combination of parts similar to those used
in an injector in such a manner that as the steami passes the cones a vacuum or
partial vacuum is produced which I utilize for the purpose of inducing the oil to
enter the cylinder, suitable means being provided to feed the oil to the steam jet
in regular and measured quantity.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a side sectional view, Figure 2
a front exterior view, and Figure 3 a plan of my improved lubricator, and Figure 4
represents one mode of connecting the same to a steam engine cylinder, drawn to a
reduced scale.
A is the body or injector portion of the lubricator provided with cones B and C.
The inlet cone B I prefer to place in direct communication with the main steam
supply pipe D of the engine, and I prefer that the rear of the inlet cone C should
communicate with the engine cylinder E about the middle in horizontal cylinders
or the upper end in the case of vertical cylinders. The suction produced by the
steam passing these cores 1 utilize to draw in the oil or other lubricant which I
cause to fall on to the cup J, as hereinafter described. A valve F is arranged to
prevent the return of the oil.
G is an oil reservoir or receiver mounted upon the bracket H projecting from
the injector body A and provided with a loose cover I; a regulator is provided for
controlling the quantity of oil to the cup J, and consequently the quantity fed to
the engine. This regulator consists of a screwed cap L, which can be made to
more or less cover a small hole M in the tube N and so regulate the quantity of
oil dropping on the cup J to the greatest nicety.
From the foregoing description it will be apparent that at each successive period
of low pressure in the cylinder a jet of steam passes through the cones B and C
and the suction produced thereby opens the valve F and draws in through the
passages any oil or other lubricant that may have been fed to the cup J and
carries it into the cylinder. At the period of high pressure in the cylinder the
valve F closes and so prevents the oil returning.
Figure 5 represents a side sectional view, Figure 6 a front view partially in
section, and Figure 7'a plan view of a similar lubricator arranged for locomotive,
marine, and other engines which work intermittently, and in which lubricator the
feed of oil or other lubricant is not visible as in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. In this
case the oil reservoir or receiver O communicates by means of the syphon pipe 01
directly with the body P of the injector through the valve box Q fitted with the check
valve R. Projecting upwards inside the reservoir O is a tube T which is open at
the top and has its lower part formed as the plug of a tap or cock T', the body of
which is formed upon the sleeve S. This sleeve S fits round the tube T and has a
small hole U passing through it corresponding to a similar hole in the fixed tube T
so that by turning such sleeve S by means of the milled head V the amount of
passage through the plug tap T¹ may be varied, and consequently the quantity
of oil passing to the valve R regulated to the greatest nicety. The relative
position of the holes in the tap T is shewn or indicated by a pointer W sweeping
over an index X; Y is a lock nut for fixing the sleeve S in position.
Figure 8 represents (upon a small scale) one method of fixing this lubricator to
a locomotive engine. The lubricator is affixed by preference to the side of the

page_text: smoke box, as illustrated, by means of the screwed end a and secured in position by
the lock nut b; the inlet cone c is then connected by the tube d to the main steam
pipe e, whilst the outlet cone fis connected to the cylinder g by the tube h.
The action of this nodification is substantially the same as that illustrated by
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, but as the class of engine to which this lubricator is adapted
works intermittently it is necessary to provide against any waste of lubricant
whilst such engines are standing still, and this is effectually accomplished by raising
the body P about on a level with the oil in the reservoir O, so that when the
engine is standing the feed stops as soon as the syphon pipe O' becomes filled.
Although I have found the methods of fixing the lubricators hereinbefore
described to give the best results in practice I would observe that it is not
essential that the steam supply be taken from the main steain pipe as it may
be taken from the valve box of the engine, or from either end of the cylinder.
It will be apparent that this arrangement of lubricator is also applicable for
lubricating air, gas, and other engines operating in a similar manner, in which case
it is obvious that the steam jet must be replaced by the air or gas, by which
such engines respectively are driven, and that oil, suct, tallow, or other lubricant
may be employed.
In conclusion I would observe that I do not confine myself to the methods
hereinbefore described of supplying and regulating the quantity of oil or other
lubricant to the cones of the injector as it will be obvious that the same may be
accomplished, for instance by capillary attraction, using a cotton or other fibrous
wick, or by means of the needle or Lieuvain regulators, and in a variety of other
well known ways. Further, I would remark that I am well aware that a steam
jet has been used for injecting fluids into vessels under pressure, and therefore I
make no claim to the principle of a steain jet so used, but what I do claim is,―
1st. The use and application of a steam jet in the lubrication of steam engine
cylinders and its equivalent adaptation in the lubrication of air, gas, and other
motive power engines, as herein before described.
2nd. The construction and use of apparatus for injecting oil or other lubricant
into steam engine and other cylinders, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
3rd. In the construction of a cylinder lubricator the employment of injector
cones or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described
and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings.
4th. The combination and arrangement of injector body A, cones B and C, check-
valve F, open oil reservoir G, and regulating cap L or equivalent, communicating
together and operating substantially as and for the purpose described and illus-
trated on the accompanying Drawing.
5th. The injector body P containing the cones c and f, valve R, and regulating
sleeve S around the tube T or its equivalent, operating substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John James Royle, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty first day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Agent,
71, Market St.,
Manchester.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE. (L.S.)