Improvements in Lubricators.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
FREDERICK LAWRENCE RAWSON of 11 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London in the County of Middlesex Electrical Engineer JAMES GEORGE WATERS
FAIRBAIRN of 33, Wendell Road, Shepherds Bush in the County of Middlesex,
Electrical Engineer, & THE WOODHOUSE & RAWSON ELECTRIC MANUFAOTG. Cor. Ld.
of 11 Queen Victoria Street London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :―
The present invention relates to "Improvements in Lubricators" of the class known
as sight-feed Lubricators.
We use a reservoir generally of the ordinary oil cup shape but bored out to a true
cylinder and this we provide with a piston which is depressed by weights or a spring
so as to keep considerable pressure on the oil. The reservoir may be filled through a
tubular piston rod projecting upwards and having a screw plug at its upper end; this
can be raised by hand to take the pressure off the oil when the reservoir is to be
filled, and it also acts as an indicator shewing by the extent it projects the amount of
oil within.
The oil passes out at the lower end of the reservoir, its rate of flow being regulated
by a screw valve or other device and then floats upwards in drops through water or
other suitable liquid contained in a small glass cylinder conveniently placed at the side
of the reservoir.
The passage of the drops of oil is then made easily visible, and the flow is
regulated by the screw or other device until the desired number of drops pass per
minute.
The oil on the top of the water flows down a suitable passage to the bearing to be
lubricated.
In order to prevent the wasteful flow of oil at such times as the shafting is stopped
and consequently lubrication is not necessary, we may fit the lubricator with a
valve which is kept closed by the action of a spring so as to prevent the flow of
oil when the shafting is not in motion. By the action of an eccentric wheel in
connection with the valve and actuated by the revolving shafting the valve may
be opened against the action of the spring as soon as the shaft begins to revolve
and in this way the passage of oil is only allowed during such time as the shafting is
in motion.
Or we may electrically connect together a number of such lubricators to each of
which is alded a small electro magnet so that by the application of a current which
may be switched on by the stoppage of the shaft any number of these magnets
may be set in action, simultaneously closing or opening the valve which stops or allows
the passage of the oil.
By the employment of any of the well known automatic feed arrangements acting
between a larger tank containing the oil and the reservoir mentioned above the latter
can be always kept supplied with oil.

page_text: עבעם VV
DE BOLTIVATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
We FREDERICK LAWRENCE RAWSON of 11 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London in the County of Middlesox Electrical Engineer, JAMES GEORGE WATERS
FAIRBAIRN of No. 33 Wendell Road Shepherd's Bush in the County of Middlesex
Electrical Engineer, and THE WOODHOUSE & RAWSON ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING
Co. Ld. of 11 Queen Victoria Street, E.C. do hereby declare 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 :-
The present invention relates to improvements in lubricators of the class known as
sight feed lubricators.
We use a reservoir generally of an oil cup shape but bored out to a true cylinder
and this we provide with a piston which is depressed by weights or by a spring so as
to keep considerable pressure on the oil.
The roservoir may be filled through a tubular piston rod projecting upwards and
having a screw plug at its upper end, this can be raised by hand to take the pressure
off the oil when the reservoir is to be filled or preferably the reservoir may be filled
by simply removing the cover raising the piston and pouring in the oil.
The height of the projecting piston rod acts as an indicator of the amount of oil in
the reservoir.
The oil passes out at the lower end of the reservoir its rate of flow being regulated
by a screw valve or other similar device and then floats upwards in drops through
water or other transparent liquid of greater specific gravity than the oil and having
no chemical action on the oil and contained in a small glass cylinder conveniently
placed by the side of the resorvoir.
The passage of the drops of oil is then made clearly visible and the flow is
regulated by the screw or other device until the desired number of drops pass per
minute.
The oil on the top of the water flows down the passage to the bearing which is to
be lubricated.
On reference to figures I II III and IV which represent respectively an elevation
a sectional clevation of the lubricator, a plan of the top bracket and of the bottom
bracket and in which similar letters are employed to represent corresponding parts;
R is the piston rod and P the piston which may be weighted by discs of lead or other
metal on the top, A is the resorvoir.
The oil flows through the opening B the passage C and the valve D to the small
opening E where it forms into separate drops and passes up through the liquid in the
transparent cylinder F and thence flows down the tube G (seen in plan Fig. IV and
by the tube H to the bearing into which the lubricator is screwed at K.
The screw L regulates the rate of flow by closing or opening the valve D leading
from the resorvoir to the small opening E. The piston weight is arranged with
4 holes M through it and is recessed on its lower side as shown in Fig. 1 to allow the
oil which may collect on the top of the piston to flow through the valve N into the
resorvoir when the piston is raised.
Instead of the weight we may use a coiled spring between the cover of the
resorvoir and the top of the piston or we may attach the spring to the piston rod
externally to the cover so as constantly to exert a pull downwards on the piston rod.
In order to prevent the wasteful flow of oil at such times as the shafting or other
machinery is stopped and when consequently lubrication is not necessary we fit the
lubricator with a valve which is kept closed by the action of a spring so as to prevent
the flow of oil when the machinery is not in motion. By the action of an eccentric
wheel in connection with the valve and actuated by the revolving parts of the
machinery the valve is opened against the action of the spring as soon as the
machinery begins to move and in this way the passage of the oil is only allowed

page_text: during such times as the machinery is in motion. Fig. V shows one method by which
this may be effected.
O is an eccentric and Q a connecting rod operating the valve J. This connecting
rod may be fitted with a coupling to allow of accurate adjustment of length. S is a
coiled spring tending to shut the valve.
The revolving machinery is in contact with the eccentric O and tends to turn it
round till its further motion is arrested by a stop and in so doing raises the connecting
rod and opens the valve. On the stoppage of the machinery the spring S forces down
the valve and prevents the flow of oil.
This device inay conveniently be attached to the screw K below the lubricator. Or
we may employ an electrical device to actuate this valve so that by the application or
cessation of a current the valve may be opened or closed.
This device may consist of an electro magnet acting against the force of gravity or
a spring or we may employ a magnet with a polarized armature so that by the
passage of a current a valve may be opened and by the reversal of the current it may
be closed.
Or again we may employ the solenoidal form for actuating a plug which opens or
closes the valve.
One form of this is seen in Fig. VI. The solenoids T and X are arranged on
separate circuits so that on the passage of the current through T the valve is opened
by the movement of the core and when it is necessary to close the valve a current
is passed through X when the core is drawn back and the valve is closed.
We may connect any number of these lubricators fitted with one or other of these
electrical devices on a single circuit either in series or in parallel so that by a simple
switch or reversing key we can actuate them all simultaneously. Or we may actuate
them automatically by the movement of the machinery. In one arrangement we
clip a lover on to the shaft, this lever is raised by the movement of the shaft.
By this upward movement contact is made so as to complete a circuit through all
the electro magnets or solenoids thereby opening the valves for the passage of oil.
On the stoppage of the machinery a counterpoise weight on the lever causes it to fall
and complete a circuit by which all the valves are closed.
This electrical system of regulation of lubricators may also be applied to other
forms of lubricators by the interposition of any of the above described electrically
actuated valves between the resorvoir and the down flow pipe and thus economy in
the flow of oil during unnecessary periods may be secured. Fig. VII shows
diagramatically how in a system of above mentioned lubricators any number of the
resorvoirs may be replaced by a single resorvoir common to them all.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invon-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare what we
claim is :-
1. An instrument for lubricating purposes in which the lubricant is caused to
pass solely under the action of gravity, in drops at a rate capable of regulation
and through a liquid enclosed in a transparent chamber so as to he clearly visible.
2. An instrument for lubricating purposes in which the lubricant is caused to
pass under the combined action of a spring and of gravity in drops at a rate capable
of regulation and through a liquid enclosed in a transparent chamber so as to be
clearly visible.
3. An instrument for lubricating purposes substantially as described.
4. The combination with the above described lubricator of a mechanical device in
counection with and actuated by the moving parts of the machinery requiring
lubrication whereby the lubricant is only allowed to pass while the machinery is in
motion substantially as described.
5. The application of electrical devices to the regulation of lubricators either singly
or in groups substantially as described.
6. The combination with the above described lubricator of an electric device by
the action of which the passage of the lubricant may be controlled.

page_text: 7. The arrangement of one or more such combined lubricators and electric devices
on a single electrical circuit so that the passage of the lubricant may be controlled
simultaneously in all the lubricators either by hand or automatically by the motion of
the machinery.
Dated this 21st day of Angust 1880
J. SHURMER,
JAMES GEORGE WATERS FAIRBAIRN.
F. L. RAWSON.
Secretary of the Wooohouse & Rawson Electric Manufacturing Co., Ld.