IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING APPARATUS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Osborn, of Sheffield, in the County of York, for
A com-
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING APPARATUS."
munication from abroad by Thomas F. Stevenson, residing at New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 19th January 1877, and dated the 25th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Osborn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1876.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAMUEL OSBORN, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
LUBRICATING APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by Thomas F. Steven-
son, residing at New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improved efficient and simple lubricating apparatus,
more particularly designed for application to the axle journals of railway rolling
stock but also suitable for other axles, journals, or shafts.
The apparatus is contrived for the use of oil or other liquid lubricant, and
whilst acting so as to repeatedly apply the same lubricant to the journal filters it
between each re-application. The apparatus, which can be easily placed inside
many existing axle boxes, comprises a square or other conveniently shaped piece of
felt which is borne up against the journal by a light helical spring of such diameter
as to enclose a cylindrical cup-like space beneath the felt. The bottom of this cup-
like space is covered with cotton cloth or other suitable woven fabric as is also the
cylindrical exterior of the helical spring and the fabric is closely attached all round
to the felt. In the middle of the felt piece a hole is cut and in this hole there is
held by elastic wire one or more loose wheels which are in contact with the journal
and revolve with it; and as they dip into the lubricant in the cup they continually
apply the lubricant to the journal. The lubricant spreading on the journal finds
its way into the axle box outside of the cup and becomes filtered in passing through
the woven fabric into the cup.

page_text: · SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Samuel Osborn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th January 1877.
SAMUEL OSBORN, of Sheffield, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LUBRICATING APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by Thomas F. Steven-
son, residing at New York, United States of America.
The said Invention relates to improved, efficient, and simple lubricating apparatus
more particularly designed for application to the axle journals of railway rolling
stock, but also suitable for other axles, journals, or shafts.
The apparatus, which is applicable to many existing axle boxes, is contrived for
the use of oil or other liquid lubricant, and comprises a felt pad borne up against
the journal by a light helical spring, the bottom and cylindrical exterior of which
are covered with a suitable woven fabric and form a kind of cup which rests
immersed in the lubricant on the bottom of the axle box. In the centre of this cup
or cylindrical space one or more loose wheels are suspended by elastic wires, and
passing through a hole cut in the middle of the felt piece bear against the journal
and are turned by it, the oil or other lubricant into which they dip being raised by
their rotation to the journal. The lubricant spreading on the journal finds its way
into the axle box outside the cup, and being filtered in passing through the woven
fabric into the cup again is susceptible of repeated application to the journal.
And in order that the said Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
to be herein-after referred to and representing a modification of the improved
lubricating apparatus as applied to the axle journal of a railway carriage or wagon.
In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections, as at right angles to each other, of a railway
carriage axle box fitted with a modification of the improved lubricating apparatus.
The apparatus, which is placed in a recess or cavity formed to contain the lubricant
in the lower part of the axle box, comprises a square or other conveniently shaped
piece of felt 1, bent to the contour of the axle journal and borne up against the
journal by a light helical spring 2 terminating at the top and bottom in rings of
such diameter as to enclose a cup-like space beneath the felt 1. The bottom of this
cup-like space is covered with cotton cloth or other suitable woven fabric 3, as is
also the cylindrical exterior of the helical spring, and the fabric is closely attached
all round to a piece of cloth fixed to the felt 1. In the middle of the felt piece a
hole 4 is cut, and in this hole 4 there is held by clastic wires 5, attached to their
central pins or spindles, one or more loose wheels or rollers 6, which are in contact
with the journal and revolve with it; and as they dip into the lubricant in the cup
they continually apply the lubricant to the journal. Feathers 7 may be attached,
as shown in Figures 3 and 4, radially round the wheels 6, extending beyond their
peripheries so as to dip into and raise the lubricant when it is nearly exhausted.
When the improved lubricating apparatus is in use the felt pad becomes soaked
with oil, and as it is borne up against the axle journal it continuously cleans it and
insures an equal distribution of the oil over it. The parts forming the improved
lubricating apparatus are united together in a compact form, and do not require to
be fixed to the axle box in any way; and the construction of the filtering cup 3
with the helical spring 2 for bearing up the pad 1 admit of the whole being com-
pressed into a small compass and flat form, such as to allow of the entire apparatus
being very easily introduced into many existing forms of axle box.
Having thus particularly described the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the arranging or combining of a felt pad (1), a helical spring (2),
a filtering cup or bag (3), and a wheel or wheels (6) to form lubricating apparatus

page_text: for axle and similar journals, these parts being constructed and operating sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
°
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Osborn, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
SAMUEL OSBORN. (L.S.)