A Self-acting Lubricator or Self-lubricating Axle Box for Trucks, Cars, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
A Self-acting Lubricator or Self-lubricating Axle Box for Trucks,
Cars, and the like.
We, HUGO LOOSE, Forge Master, and GUSTAV SCHREYER, Mine Inspector, both
of Karsten Central Mine at Beuthen, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to a self-acting lubricating device for axle boxes, the
chief features of which are, that in order to effect the lubricating, all that is
needed is to loosen a screw, thereby resulting in a considerable saving of time.
Moreover, to fill the grease chambers, the car needs only to be tilted sideways,
which is considerably easier to effect than with the ordinary lubricating appliances.
A further advantage of this device is that the axles are held together firmly, so
that they cannot slide sideways, thereby effecting a great saving in grease. Again,
when using firm or non-liquid grease, the fatty substance is completely shut in
whilst the car is at a standstill, and the lubricating taking place only when the
car is in motion.
Besides these advantages, the lubricating device possesses other points of
superiority which need not be mentioned.
The annexed drawings shews a lubricator of this class, and the following is a
fuller description of the same.
Fig.
shews a cross section of the lubricator on the line y-y.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section of the same on the line a-x.
The lubricator consists of a hollow body c in both extremities d of which, the car
axles a and b are journalled, thereby rigidly binding the said two axles. Inside
this hollow body there is a chamber e, which, on loosening the screw s can be
filled with the lubricating substance, said substance then making its way through
the two channels n towards both the axles. At the outlets of these two channels n,
the axles a and b are exactly fitted in the boxes d so that escape of the lubricating
material is checked, and it gradually accumulates a short distance from the inlet a
in the annular spaces m left in the box d to receive it.
In order to prevent the lubricating substance from oozing out at the sides of
the axles, said axles a and b are provided with washers inserted in annular
recesses made in the axle journals r.
The method of working of the device is as follows:-
When the chamber is full of lubricating material and the car is at rest, both of
the narrow outlets of the channels are blocked by the congealed grease. But as
soon as the car is in motion, the parts where the axles are in close contact with
the boxes become heated, thereby melting and thinning the lubricating substance,
which then spreads along the axle to the spaces m and thence further along the
axle up to the washers v. The result is therefore that the whole of the axle is
lubricated, and that the lubricating takes place regularly, until the last drop in
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page_text: the reservoir e is used up. As soon as the car comes to a stand, the lubricating
material thickens of itself, and its escape is prevented by the washers v.
When the channels n require cleaning, one needs only to draw out the axle and
loosen a screw and then a wire can be passed through the channels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. A self-acting lubricator for axle boxes, characterised by a hollow body c
filled with lubricating substance, said substance passing from said hollow body
through the channels n, and reaching the boxes d in which the axles are jour-
nalled, said axles being lubricated by their own rotation, and any loss of lubri-
cating substance being prevented by washers arranged on the axles, substantially
as described and shewn.
Dated this 21st day of November 1899.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicants, 33, Cannon Street, London, E.C.