IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATORS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
LUBRICATORS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This Invention relates to improvements in sight-feed lubricators, in which the
oil drips from the lower part of the main chamber into and through a glass tube,
passing thence to the pipe which conveys it to the place to be lubricated.
The Invention consists principally in combining the oil cup with a central stem,
that admits steam to the upper part of the cup, and with one or more side
discharge pipes at the bottom, through which the oil drips. The present Invention
by separating the sight tube wholly from the central steam passage gives greater
rigidity to the structure and simplities its construction.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the
improved lubricator. Figures 2 and 3 are sectional side elevations of modifications
of the same.
In the Drawings with more particular reference to Figure 1, the letter A
represents the oil cup. The same is placed upon a tubular shank B, which
communicates by a lower passage a with the steam boiler or other steam supply
pipe or vessel C. The passage a can be closed, or more or less opened, by a
valve D..
The cup A is traversed centrally by an upright pipe & which communicates with
the steam passage just described, and conducts the steam into the upper part of
the cup A, preferably into the hollow cap E, which is screwed upon the cup in the
manner shown in Figure 1, and which, when removed, allows the cup to be filled
with oil. The lower part of the cup A has as many oil outlet openings das may
be required. Each of these outlets leads into a valve chamber e, that can be closed
by a valve F, and passes thence into a drip pipe f, which enters the glass tube G.
Through this glass tube the oil drips into the pipe H, which conducts it to the
place to be lubricated.

page_text: Figure 1 shows a double drip attachment to the cup A and, in fact, a cup which
is adapted for use in locomotives to supply oil to the two steam cylinders of the
locomotive. The lubricator shown in that Figure is supposed to be located in the
cab, within convenient reach of the engine driver who by adjusting the valves F, F
regulates the escape of oil from the cup, and by the valve D regulates the supply
of steam to the cup.
The tubes G, G will indicate at all times whether or not the lubrication to each
cylinder goes on in proper manner.
I am fully aware that lubricators have already been devised with central stems
and sight-feeds which are at the sides of the oil cups, but I have never seen a
lubricator in which the sight-feed is below the oil cup at the side of the tubular
stem, which arrangement is of special advantage in that it enables me to use tho
steam pressure on top of the oil for the purpose of producing the drip in proper
ratio. By screwing the stem B into the globe J containing the passage a as
indicated in Figure 1, the whole lubricator may be detached from the boiler for
repair or other purpose, whenever desired, in which case, of course, the valve D is
first closed to prevent the escape of steam from the boiler.
Each pipe H should also have a valve, as indicated at I, which should be closed
if a glass tube breaks or if from any other cause back pressure of steam from the
cylinders must be prevented.
Figure 2 shows in substance the same arrangement as that which is indicated in
Figure 1, with the exception that the valve D is placed into the body of the
stem B, and with the further exception that the oil from the tube G flows into the
lower part of the stem B and not into any separate tube.
Figure 3 shows the same arrangement as Figure 2, with the exception that no
valve D is provided, such valve being in many cases superfluous where lubrication
is necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1 The oil cup A, combined with the central, hollow, supporting stem B,
internal, upright steam-pipe b, lower oil discharge opening d, valve F, downwardly
extending drip pipe and sight tube G, said sight tube being below the cup A and
parallel with the tubular stem B but at a distance therefrom, substantially as
herein shown and described.
2ªd The oil cup A, combined with the central, hollow, supporting stem B,
internal, upright steam-pipe b, lower oil discharge opening d, valve F, downwardly
extending drip pipe f, sight tube G and outwardly extending oil discharge pipe H
having valve I, substantially as herein shown and described.
3rd The globe J having valve D in combination with the detachable stem B,
cup A, drip pipe G, oil discharge pipe H, and valve I, substantially as herein
shown and described.