Improvements in Sight Feed Lubricators for Steam Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sight Feed Lubricators for Steam Engines.
1
I Alfred DRAPER OTTEWELL of The Brass Foundry, Traffic Street, Derby,
in the County of Derby, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to diminish the number of parts used in and
simplify the construction of sight feed lubricators.
In carrying out my said invention I provide a reservoir or receptacle for the oil or
lubricant of any convenient construction to be supported by any suitable means in
any convenient position, this reservoir is provided with a feed opening for oil at the
top and an opening at the bottom for discharging water, or condensed steam;
screw or other suitable plugs or caps being inserted therein when the apparatus is
being used. A condenser is placed a short distance over the oil or lubricant
reservoir, having two openings in the bottom, one through which the water or
condensed steam passes downwards and another through which the oil or lubricaut
is admitted. The first of these openings communicates by means of a tube or
chamber with the oil reservoir, the water or condensed steam passing thence by a
vertical tube nearly to the bottom of the said oil reservoir. The second opening
has fixed in or connected to it the sight feed glass which also passes direct to the
top of the oil reservoir, the joints or connections between the sight feed glass and
condenser and oil reservoir being effected and packed in any suitable manner.
Concentric with the sight feed glass the oil delivery nozzle is screwed or otherwise
fixed to the top of the oil reservoir, and immediately below this is placed a regulating
valve to control the amount of oil or lubricant delivered or required.
A suitable communication valve or steam cock is provided for the admission or
inlet of steam into the condenser from the boiler and exit of oil or lubricant to the
engine, also a screw or other plug at the top of the condenser or in other suitable
position for charging with water, admission and extraction of sight feed glass, and
for cleaning and other purposes. An air hole or air cock if desired will be
provided at the top of the condenser, or in other suitable position. I may also
provide suitable means of indicating, latching, or locking the oil regulating valve in
any desired position, to ensure regularity of flow of lubricant or to prevent tampering
by incompetent persons. A guage glass will also be provided when desired to
indicate the amount of oil in the reservoir.
The condenser will preferably be made large enough to condense rather more
steam than will be necessary for the greatest flow of lubricant required so that
there will be a certain amount of water or condensed steam passing back through
the steam inlet of the condenser carrying the lubricant on its surface.
The communication valve may be connected by a single tube, preferably carried
downwards from the lubricator, to the steam pipe, which tube conveys both steam
to and oil from the lubricator; or, by means of a branch I niay convey to the
lubricator live steam by the upper branch or, tube and oil from the lubricator (and
excess of condensed steam) by the lower branch or tube, the horizontal leg, stem
or branch of the doing service for both tubes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows: The condenser being filled or partly
filled with water and the oil reservoir being filled or partly filled with oil, the
screw or other plugs or caps being screwed down or closed, the communication
valve or steam cock and the regulating valve are opened, steam being by the

page_text: former admitted to the condenser. where it condenses and passes down the vertical
tube to the bottom of the oil reservoir where, by its superior specific gravity, it
displaces the oil and causes the said oil or lubricant to rise and pass through the
regulating valve and delivery nozzle, rising therefrom drop by drop through the
water in the sight feed glass and condenser, upon the surface of which water it floats
through the steam inlet and thence to the part or parts to be lubricated.
It will thus be seen that the water flows vertically down from the condenser in a
column to the bottom of the oil reservoir and the oil which it displaces rises
vertically upwards (except when passing through the regulating valve), through
the delivery nozzle and sight feed glass to the surface of the water in the condenser
and away to the parts to be lubricated.
It must be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact arrangement
which I have described, this being merely a description of my apparatus in the
form which I at present prefer, and for a particular size of lubricator. It can
be varied in many ways, for example, as regards the position and form of the
communication valve or steam cock. As at present arranged I prefer a wheel
valve but I may subsequently exchange for this a plug or gland cock.
Dated this 25th day of February 1895.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.
I, ALFRED DRAPER OTTEWELL, of The Brass Foundry, Traffic Street, Derby
in the County of Derby, Mechanical Engineer, 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 objects of my invention are to diminish the number of parts used in and
simplify the construction of sight feed lubricators.
:
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this Specification:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section on line 'a.' 'a' of Figures 2 and 4 of my improved sight
feed lubricator.with. single connection adapted for a valve chest as will be herein-
after,explained, this view also shews the application of an air cock to my improved
lubricator.
Figure 1 shews the upper part of a similar view to Figure 1 but illustrating the
application of my invention to a double connection as adapted for either locomotive
or stationary engines in cases where the said lubricator has to be fixed some.
distance froin live steam.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 'b.' 'b." of Figures 1 and 3.
Figure 3 is a plan on line 'c.' 'c.' of Figure 1 with, the plug, put &c. of the valve
removed.
Figure 4 is a plan on line 'd.' 'd.' of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on line 'e. e.' of Figure 6 through the condensing
chamber of another form of single connection lubricator..
Figure 6 is a plan on line 'ff of Figure 5.
The form of connection illustrated on Figures 5 and 6 is particularly applicable
for attaching close to and direct into the steam pipes of stationary or other
engines.
In carrying out my said. invention I provide a reservoir or receptacle A for the
oil or lubricant of any convenient construction to be supported by any suitable
means in any convenient position, this reservoir is provided with a feed opening B
for oil at the top and an opening C at the bottom for discharging water, or
condensed steam; screw or other suitable plugs or caps D or E, being inserted

page_text: therein when the apparatus is being used. A condenser F is placed a short
distance over the oil or lubricant reservoir, having two openings G and H in the
bottom, one (G) through which. the water or condensed steam passes downwards
and another (H) through which the oil or lubricant is admitted. The first of
these openings G communicates by means of a tube or chamber I with the oil
reservoir, the water or condensed steam passing from said tube or chamber I by a
vertical tube K nearly to the bottom of the said oil reservoir. The second
opening H has fixed in or connected to it the sight feed glass L which also passes
direct to the top. of the oil reservoir, the joints or connections between the sight
feed glass and condenser and.oil reservoir being effected and packed in any suitable
manner.
Concentric with the sight feed glass L the oil delivery nozzle or nipple; M is
screwed or otherwise fixed to the top of the oil reservoir; and immediately below
this is placed a regulating valve N to control the amount of oil or lubricant.
delivered or required.
Instead of screwing the piece of metal forming the chamber I into the top of the
oil vessel A as shewn upon Figure 2, I sometimes cast it in one piece therewith.
A suitable communication valve or steam cock O or O' is provided for the
admission or inlet of steam, into the condenser from the boiler and exit of oil.or
lubricant to the engine, also a screw or other plug P at the top of the condenser
for charging with water, admission and extraction of sight-feed glass,, and for
cleaning. and other purposes. An air or gas port: Q (see Figure 2) or an air
cock Q (see Figure 1) if desired will be provided at the top of the condenser, or
in other suitable position. I may also provide suitable means of indicating,
latching or locking the oil regulating-valve in any desired, position to ensure
regularity of flow of lubricant or to prevent tampering by incompetent persons.
A gauge glass will also be provided when desired to indicate the amount of oil in
the reservoir. The two latter parts not being of a novel character are not shewn
upon the drawings.
The condenser will preferably be made large enough to condense rather more
steam than will be necessary for the greatest flow of lubricant required so that
there will be a certain amount of water or condensed steam passing back through
the steam inlet of the condenser carrying the lubricant on its surface.
The communication valve 0 or O¹ may be in connection with a single tube R
or R in either of the forms shewn on Figures 1, 5 and 6, the tube for connecting
steam pipe or steam chest thereto, if any, being preferably carried downwards from
the lubricator to the steam pipe or steam chest, which tube if any, conveys both
steam to and oil from the lubricator; or, by means of a branch (see Figure 1^).
I may convey to the lubricator live steam by the upper branch or tube S and oil.
from the lubricator (and excess of steam or condensed steam) by the lower branch
or tube T, the horizontal leg, stem or branch U of the doing service for both.
tubes.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The condenser F being filled or partly filled with water and the oil reservoir A
being filled with oil or oil and water, the screw or other plugs or caps D and E.
being screwed down or closed, the communication valve or steam cock O or O' and
the regulating valve N are opened, steam being by the former admitted through
the port V to the condenser where it condenses and passes down the vertical tube I
to the bottom of the oil reservoir where, by its superior specific gravity, it displaces
the oil and causes the said oil or lubricant to rise and pass by the regulating.
valve N and through delivery nozzle or nipple M rising therefrom drop by drop.
through the water in the sight feed glass L and condenser F, upon the surface of
which water it floats through the steam inlet or port V and thence to the part or
parts to be lubricated.
It will thus be seen that the water flows vertically down from the condenser in a.
column to the bottom of the oil reservoir and the oil which it displaces rises
vertically (except when passing by the regulating valve), through the delivery-

page_text: nozzle or nipple and sight feed glass to the surface of the water in the condenser
and away to the parts to be lubricated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In combination the oil cup A, the condenser F, with air or gas port Q, the two
pipes I and L connecting the condenser with oil reservoir, said pipes being
independently arranged, a single port V for the inlet of steam to, and the outlet of
oil from, the condenser, an inlet $ and outlet T, a valve O controlling the port V,
and a valve N controlling the connection between the oil cup and the pipe L,
substantially as described.
2. In combination, the oil cup A, the condenser F with air or gas port Qor
cock Q', the two pipes I and L connecting the condenser with oil reservoir, said
pipes being independently arranged, a single port V for the inlet of steam to, and
the outlet of oil from, the condenser, an inlet-and-outlet R, a valve O controlling
the port V, and a valve N controlling the connection between the oil cup and the
pipe L, substantially as described.
3. In combination, the oil cup A, the condenser F, with air or gas port Q the
two pipes I and L connecting the condenser with oil reservoir, said pipes being
independently arranged, a single port V for the inlet of steam to, and the outlet of
oil from, the condenser, an inlet-and-outlet R', a valve O' controlling the port V
and a valve controlling the connection between the oil cup and the pipe L,
substantially as described.
1007
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.