AN IMPROVED METHOD OP LUBRICATING
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OP
LUBRICATING."A communication from abroad by Edwin P. Quadling, of
Cape Town, South Africa.
Sealed the 11th September 1863, and dated the 1st April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
April 1863.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF LUBRICATING," communicated to me from abroad by Edwin P.
Quadling, of Cape Town, South Africa, to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is an improved method of lubricating, especially
applicable to journals of railway plant. In my method I use oil or other
material capable of being raised or conveyed by capillary power instead of
ordinary grease. I raise the oil or lubricating material from the bottom
cistern of the axle box, or from other part or appliance containing the oil or
material, by means of the capillary action or power of cotton or other wicks
or other capillary conductors or agents; I mostly use flat cotton wicks for the
purpose.
In carrying the Invention into effect I recommend that the wicks be
suspended on or carried over a cradle fitted within the axle box, and composed

page_text: of four or more end or cross pieces united by longitudinal pieces which lie
parallel with the journals on each side, and from or on these parallel pieces I
suspend or place the wicks in such manner that a portion of the wicks shall
be in the oil, while another portion passes under and touches the lower side of
the journal, thereby maintaining a constant supply of oil thereto. The cradle
prevents the wick from pressing heavily against the journal, so that very little
friction results and the wick is not liable to be burnt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuanco of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Michael Henry, Her special licence that I, the said Michael
Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Michael Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF LUBRICATING," communicated to me from abroad by Edwin P.
Quadling, of Cape Town, South Africa, upon the condition (amongst others),
that I, the said Michael Henry, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Henry, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof as communicated to me, reference being had to the accom-

page_text: panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
The object of this Invention is an improved method of lubricating, especially
applicable to journals of railway plant. In this method oil or other lubricating
material capable of being conveyed by capillary action is used instead of
ordinary grease, and according to the Invention the said oil or lubricating
material is raised to the journal or surface to be lubricated from the bottom
cistern of the axle box, or from other reservoir or part containing such oil or
material by.means of the capillary action of cotton or other wicks, or other
capillary conductors or agents suspended on or carried over a cradle or frame
fitted in the axle box or in an equivalent situation; flat cotton wicks are
preferred as the conducting agents, and oil as the lubricating material.
It is recommended in carrying the Invention into effect that the cradle or
frame be constructed of four or more end pieces united by longitudinal pieces
parallel with the journals on each side, on which parallel pieces the wicks are
so suspended or placed that a portion thereof shall be in the oil, while another
portion shall pass under and touch the lower side of the journal, thereby
maintaining a constant supply of oil thereto.
The cradle prevents the wick from pressing heavily against the journal, so
that very little friction results, and the wick is protected from liability of being.
burnt by the overheating of the journal.
In order that the mode of performing the Invention may be fully under-
stood, I proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
Drawings, which represent the improved lubricating arrangements applied in
the axle box of a railway carriage.
Figuro I is a side elevation, and Figure 2 front view of the axle box. In
both Figures part of the box is removed to exhibit the improved lubricating
arrangements.
A is the axle box; B, journal (of the axle) to be lubricated; C, oil reservoir
or cistern. a, b, c, cradle or frane, over which is hung cotton wick or other
capillary conducting agent d, d; a portion of this wick or agent d is in the oil
reservoir C, and another portion is in contact with the journal B. The cradle
a, b, c, consists of a bottom or sole piece a, to which are attached four uprights
or standards b, b, connected at top by cross pieces c. The frame pieces b, b,
act somewhat as a spring and press the wick d gently against the journal B,
so as to keep the journal always coated with a sufficient quantity of oil. By
these means overheating of the journal is prevented; moreover, the level of
the oil in the reservoir being below the under surface of the journal, dust or
foreign material that might find its way into the axle box and rest on the

page_text: surface of the oil, or become mechanically mixed therewith, is prevented from
attaining and adhering to the journal, and from getting between it and the
brasses; the journal is thus preserved from much wear and heat, and only a
comparatively pure oil is raised thereto by the wicks.
Although I have shewn and described the above method of lubrication as
applied to the journals of a railway carriage axle, I wish it to be understood
that the said method, namely, suspending cotton wick or other capillary
conductors over a cradle or frame, may be applied with equal facility and
in similar manner to journals or bearings of other axles or shafts, or to other
appliances, parts, or surfaces requiring to be lubricated.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I do not restrict myself to the
exact mechanical details of construction of cradle or framo herein described, as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of the Invention
herein set forth; and I declare that what I claim as the improved method of
lubricating communicated to me is, the employment or application of a cradle
or frame, on or over which are carried or suspended cotton wicks or other
capillary conductors in such manner that such wicks or conductors shall
convey lubricating material from the reservoir or part containing it to the
journal or other appliance or surface to be lubricated, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
84, Fleet Street, London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)