Improvements in Lubricators for Axles and Shafts.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec.; 1890
Complete Specification' Left, 21st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators for Axles and Shafts.
We, JAMES SHAW. PATTEN, Inventor, of 916, West Fayette Street, EDWIN.
HIGGINS, Attorney-at-Law, of 208, Courtland Street, HENRY HERBERT COOK,
Real Estate Dealer, of 1029, McCullough Street, and MORTON SCHAEFFER,
Attorney-at-Law, of 208, Courtland Street, all in the. City of Baltimore and
State of Maryland, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to means for lubricating the bearings of axles or shafts.
Our invention will be described as applied to a vehicle axle, but we wish it.
understood that we do not limit ourselves to suchouse as the invention may be.
employed to advantage in various other journal bearings without departing from,
the broad principles of our invention.
The spindle of the axle is provided in its upper side with a longitudinal groove
and with a recess or reservoir in line with the groove and connected therewith by
an opening formed through a shoulder on the spindle and which separates the
groove from the reservoir. The reservoir is closed by a plate which is. fitted in
undercut guides, the edges of the plate being adapted to said guides so that the
plate can be readily slid into, and out of position over the reservoir when the wheel
is removed from the spindle to permit access to the reservoir. To supply oil to the
reservoir without removing the cover plate we provide such plate with an opening
which is normally closed by a plate made of spring metal which is hinged or
pivoted to the axle so as to close or expose the opening. This plate has near its
swinging end a knob or handle on its upper side and on its under side in alignment
with the handle a slight projection which in the normal position of the swing plate
enters an opening and locks the plate from jarring. or jolting-out of place, and the
plate is provided with a vent hole which preferably extends through the knob and
projection. A spring-pressed rod extends along the groove into the reservoir and
serves to effect an even distribution of the oil. The spring is of spiral or cone
shape having its large end arranged to bear against the back wall of the reservoir
which end is preferably of sufficient diameter to fit between two opposite walls of
the reservoir. At its small end the spring has a cylindrically-coiled portion and
the wire is bent back from the point or extremity and is of sufficient length
for its point to be bent down through the perforation in the rod. The rod is
provided at its inner end with a reduced portion, at the inner end of which is a
shoulder.
i
In connecting the spring and slide rod the cylindrical part of the spring is fitted
on the reduced part of the rod up against the shoulder, the wire is, then bent, along
the outside of the cylindrical part and its point is bent down through a perforation
of the reduced part of the rod. This construction is simple, efficient, and serves,
to connect the spring and slide rod without the necessity of separate fastening.
The spring serves to force the said rod outward after it has been moved inward by
the devices, which we will now describe. The axle box may except in the particulars
hereinafter described, be of ordinary construction. Within this box, near its outer
end, we secure a ring whose inner face is cam-shaped and arranged to be pressed
against by the outer end of the rod so that as the wheel turns the cam ring, will..
operate to force the rod inward and then permit it to be returned by its actuating
spring before described. This operation results in a reciprocating movement of the
oiling rod effecting an even distribution of the oil as. desired. The axle box is
provided with, or carries, the cam ring which is preferably held from turning inde-
pendently of the axle box by forming in its outer side a slot, which receives a pin

page_text: or stud projecting inwardly from the axle-box. The spring, besides acting on the
rod, serves to agitate the oil in the cavity and operates in a measure to keep the
same from clogging in its reservoir..
Our invention is adapted for use upon all kinds of vehicles, such as carriages,
wagons, railway cars, etc. We have described it as applied to the axle of a vehicle
but we do not confine ourselves to such use, as it may be applied to a great many
kinds of machinery whether portable or stationary and for light or heavy bearings.
In railway cars, etc., and machinery upon which axles or journals revolve, our
invention is applied by reversing it so as to make it effective, such construction
being carried out by providing the cam ring on the axle or revolving part and the
groove slide rod and oil cavity in the non-rotating box or bearing; and it will be
understood that such construction may to a certain extent be regarded as the
equivalent of that herein before described.
It will be understood that we may so construct the slide rod and cam that the
latter will operate the slide rod in both directions. In such construction the slide
rod is bent or otherwise provided with a groove in which fits a cam fixed within
the wheel box and which as the wheel revolves moves the slide rod in both
directions.
D
01
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators for Axles and Shafts.
We, JAMES SHAW PATTEN, Inventor, of 916, West Fayette Street, EDWIN
HIGGINS, Attorney-at-Law, of 208, Courtland Street, HENRY HERBERT Cook,
Real Estate Dealer, of 1029, McCullough Street, and MORTON SCHAEFFER,
Attorney-at-Law, of 208, Courtland Street, all in the City of Baltimore and
State of Maryland, United States of America, 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:-
Our invention relates to means for lubricating the bearings of axles or shafts.
Our invention will be described as applied to a vehicle axle, but we wish it
to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to such use, as the invention may
be employed to advantage in various other journal bearings without departing from
the broad principles of our invention.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a horizontal longitudinal sectional
view of our improvement.
Figure 3 is a cross-section on about line 3-3 Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of a part of the axle and spindle.
Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the cam ring, a part of the axle box
being shewn in section.
Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the cover plate for the oil cavity or
reservoir.
Figure 7 is a detail view illustrating the manner of connecting the spring with
the slide rod, and
Figure 8 is a sectional view shewing the slide rod and cam construction whereby
the cam may operate the slide rod in both directions.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

page_text: The axle A has its spindle B provided in its upper side with a longitudinal
groove C and, in rear of shoulder D, with a recess or reservoir E in line with
groove C and connected therewith by an opening d formed through the shoulder D.
At opposite sides of, and above the reservoir E are formed undercut guides F for
the cover plate G whose edges are adapted to said guides so that the cover plate
can be readily slid into and out of position over the reservoir when the wheel is
removed from the spindle to permit convenient access to the said reservoir.
In order to supply oil to the reservoir without removing the cover plate G we
provide such plate with an opening g through which oil may be supplied to the oil
cavity or reservoir. This opening g is normally closed by a swing spring plate H.
This plate is of spring metal which is hinged or pivoted at h to the axle and has
near its swinging end a knob or handle I on its upper side and on its under side in
alignment with handle I it has a slight projection which in the normal position of
the swing plate enters the opening and locks the plate H from jarring or jolting
out of place. A vent hole J is formed through plate H usually and preferably
through the knob I and projection i as shewn. This plate H may be readily swung
to one side to expose opening when it is desired to supply oil to the reservoir. A
rod K is supported to slide longitudinally in the groove C and through the opening d
into the reservoir. This rod is given an outward tension by means of a spring M
which is preferably constructed and connected with the rod K in the manner which
we will now describe. The spring M is of the spiral or cone shape shewn having
its large end or base m arranged to bear against the back wall of the reservoir, such
end or base m being preferably made of sufficient diameter to fit between two
opposite walls of such reservoir and thus be held at such end steady in position, as
will be understood from the drawings. At its small end, the spring M has a
cylindrically-coiled portion M' and the wire is bent back at m' from the point or
extremity of the portion M' and is of sufficient length for its point to be bent at m
down through the perforation in the slide rod K. This slide rod K is provided at
its inner end with a reduced portion K' at the inner end of which is a shoulder k,
such portion K being perforated at k¹. In connecting the spring and slide rod,
the cylindrical part M' of the spring is fitted on the part K¹ of the rod up against
the shoulder k, the wire is then bent at me along the outside of part M¹ and its
point is bent at m² down through the perforation in front of the portion L¹ of the
spring. This construction is simple, efficient, and serves to connect the spring and
slide rod without the necessity of separate fastening. The spring serves to force
the said rod outward after it has been moved inward by the devices which we will
now describe. The axle box O may, except in the particulars hereinafter described,
be of ordinary construction. Within this box O near its outer end we secure the
cam ring P. This ring has its inner face p formed cam-shaped and arranged to be
pressed against by the outer end of the rod K so that as the wheel turns the cam
ring will operate to force the rod K inward and then permit it to be returned by
its actuating spring before described. This operation results in a reciprocating
movement of the oiling rod K effecting an even distribution of the oil as desired.
The axle box is provided with or carries the cam ring which is preferably held
from turning independently of the axle box by forming in its outer side a slot Q
which receives a pin or stud 9 projecting inwardly from the axle box, as most clearly
shewn in Figure 5. The spring M besides acting on the rod K serves to agitate
the oil in the cavity and operates in a measure to keep the same from clogging or
gumming in its reservoir. For such reason and for convenience of arrangement,
we prefer to arrange the spring M in the oil cavity and to employ a spring of the
coil variety as shewn.
9.
Our invention is adapted for use upon all kinds of vehicles, such as carriages,
railway cars, etc. We have described it as applied to the axle of a vehicle but we
do not confine ourselves to such use as it may be applied to a great many kinds of
machinery, whether portable or stationary, and for light or heavy bearings. In
railway cars, etc., and machinery upon which axles or journals revolve our invention
is applied by reversing it so as to make it effective, such construction being carried

page_text: out by providing the cam ring on the axle or revolving part and the groove, slide
rod, and oil cavity in the non-rotating box or bearing, as will be readily understood,
and it will be understood that such construction may to a certain extent be regarded
as the equivalent of that shewn and hereinbefore more fully described. It will be
anderstood that we may so construct the slide rod and cam that the latter will
operate the slide rod in both directions. Such a construction is shewn in Figure 8
in which the slide rod is bent or otherwise provided with a groove R in which fits a
cam S fixed within the wheel box and which, as the wheel revolves, moves the slide
rod in both directions. This construction is simple, durable, and operates smoothly
and easily.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
.what we claim is-
1: A self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, consisting of the axle having
a spindle portion provided with a. longitudinal groove communicating with an oil
reservoir, a rod sliding in said groove, a spring for actuating said rod in one direction,
and the axle box provided with a cam by which to force the rod in the opposite
direction, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth...
2. A self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, comprising, in combination,
the axle having an oil reservoir and a spindle portion provided with a longitudinal
'groove communicating with the said oil reservoir, a rod sliding in the said groove,
a spring adapted to move said rod in one direction, such spring being located in the
oil reservoir, and means by which to move the rod in the opposite direction, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, the combination of the
axle having an oil reservoir and a spindle portion provided with a groove com-
municating with said reservoir, the rod sliding in said groove, and the spring
secured at one end to the said slide rod, all substantially as set forth;
:
4. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination, with the spindle portion having a
longitudinal groove and the rod sliding in said groove, of the box fitted on said
spindle portion and having a cam surface arranged to engage the outer end of
the sliding rod, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination, with the spindle portion having a
longitudinal groove, the rod sliding in said groove and the box fitted on said spindle
portion and having a pin q, of the cam ring fitted in said box and having a slot Q
to receive the pin and a cam surface to engage the outer end of the slide rod, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
1
6. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle having an oil reservoir
and provided at the opposite sides thereof with undercut guides and having the
spindle portion provided with a longitudinal groove, the cover plate fitted to the
undercut guides at the opposite sides of the oil reservoir, the rod sliding in the groove
of the spindle and means whereby to operate said slide rod, all substantially as set
-forth.
7. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle having an oil cavity or
reservoir, the cover fitted to said reservoir and having an opening g, and the spring
swing plate arranged to be adjusted to cover said opening g and having a vent
arranged to register with the opening 9, substantially as set forth.
8. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle having an oil reservoir
and provided with a spindle portion having a longitudinal groove communicating
with said reservoir, the cover plate fitted over the reservoir, the rod sliding in the
groove of the spindle and projecting at one end into the oil reservoir and having
said end reduced and perforated the spring in said reservoir having a tubular portion
fitting on said reduced end of the slide rod, the axle box fitted on said spindle,
and the ring fitted in said box and having a cam surface arranged to. engage the
outer end of the slide rod, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth...
9. In a self-oiling bearing, substantially as described, the combination of the

page_text: axle or shaft, the box or bearing, one of such parts being provided with an oil
cavity or reservoir and a groove communicating therewith, a rod supported to slide
in the said groove, a spring by which the said rod is actuated in one direction, and
a cam by which the said rod is moved in the opposite direction, all substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
10. In a self-oiling bearing, the combination of the axle, the slide rod having
near one end a perforation, the spring having a tubular or cylindrical portion
fitted on the said rod and provided with a short length of wire bent alongside
the said cylindrical portion and having its free end passed through the opening
in the slide rod, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
September 1901
J. S. PATTEN.
E. HIGGINS.
H. H. COOK.
M. SCHAEFFER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.