Improvements in Electrically-controlled Lubricators and Oil Cups.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1890-Accepted 26th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THOMAS JOSEPH MCTIGHE, of 13, Park Row, in
the City and State of New York, United States of America, Electrical
Engineer.]
Improvements in Electrically-controlled Lubricators and Oil Cups.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents
45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in lubricators for various kinds of
machinery, and the object of the invention is to effect the automatic starting and
stopping of the supply of oil coincident with the starting and stopping of the
machinery to which the cup is applied.
Ordinary oil-cups as now most generally used consist of an oil reservoir which has
a nipple for attachment to the journal-cap and some form of valve or closing device
attached to the feed outlet of the reservoir, with means for manually closing and
opening such valve, the means usually being adjustable for the purpose of regulating
the quantity of oil fed to the shaft or journal after the valve has been opened. Such
devices are made in great variety and my invention is applicable to all.
My invention consists in a lubricator having an oil reservoir, means for leading
the oil to the point of use and an electro-motive device for determining the motion
of the oil to such point of use; my invention further consists in a lubricator pro-
vided with a valve for controlling the egress of oil, an electro-magnet for controlling
the valve, and means for energizing said electro-magnet; my invention further con-
sists in a lubricator with an adjustable valve for controlling the feed, an electro-
magnet for controlling the valve and a circuit and electric generator for operating
said magnet; my invention further consists of an oil-cup having a valved outlet, an
electro-magnet attached to the cup structure and circuit terminals or binding-posts;
my invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of devices
substantially as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a preferred form of my improved automatic oil-cup ;
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating its application to a dynamo-electric machine of
the series-wound type;
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating its application to a dynamo-electric machine of
the shunt-wound type;
Fig. 4 is a detail showing one means of mechanically closing the circuit which
controls the oil-cups for application to an engine shaft under special circumstances;
and
Fig. 5 is a modification of the means of mechanically closing the circuit by the
operation of the shaft.
My invention is primarily designed for use on dynamo-electric machines and
electric motors. In the class of oil-cups usually applied to the bearings of such
machines means are generally found for accurately regulating the quantity of oil
fed to the bearing in a given time, and for this purpose it is customary to adopt
what is known as a "sight-feed" cup, provided with an adjusting valve for the
purpose of closely regulating the number of drops of oil per minute which are fed to
the bearing. In a large electric lighting or power station where there are a number
of dynamos, considerable time is necessarily consumed at starting and stopping, by
the necessity for opening the valves of the oil-cups in the former case and closing
them in the latter, as otherwise while the machines are not running, all the oil

page_text: .
would flow out of the cups. Many cups of this character have no
means for
determining the amount of opening of the valve, so that the rate of feed must be
manually adjusted at each time the valve is opened, causing a further loss of
time.
In a power house, whether for electric lighting or other purposes wherein one or
more engines are in regular use, this matter of opening and closing all the oil-cups
consumes a large amount of time, owing to the great number of oil-cups which are
required. This is especially the case in power stations for electric railways in which
frequently the power is distributed by a large number of comparatively small
engines, as each of such engines usually has from ten to fifteen oil-cups and some-
times more.
In all these cases, and a great many others not necessary to mention
herein, my invention is directly applicable, as will be seen.
Referring now to Fig. 1 I prefer to construct as follows. I take an ordinary oil-
cup having
a reservoir of sufficient capacity for the purpose. This cup is usually
composed of the glass reservoir A with a brass cap B and brass nipple C terminating
in the valve seat d and feed-nozzle e. This is in turn screwed into a nozzle f which
is threaded at g for insertion into the journal-cap in the usual manner, (or into an
insulating bushing g₁ if desired) and is provided with a transverse opening / for the
purpose of observing the rate of speed as the oil issues in drops from the nozzle e.
The cap B and bottom-piece C are held rigidly in position by means of a central
tube which at its top is threaded into the cap B and below into the nipple C. A
suitable opening is made in the cap for the purpose of permitting the reservoir A
to be conveniently replenished with oil, and such may be provided with a suitablo
cover or plug if desired. Tube i is perforated laterally near the bottom to permit
passage of the oil.
On the nipple extending from the top of cap B, 1 screw a magnet-spool m and in
the central opening thereof I place the sliding core n which at its lower end carries
the valve rod p which is adapted to close on the valve seat d below. At the upper
end of the spool m I insert a spring s on top of the core n and then follow this with
the nutt threaded into the magnet m, as shown. The nut tis threaded axially for
the reception of the adjustable stop-screw, whose lower end forms an abutment or
stop for the upward movement of the core n and valve rod p.
The magnet-spool m is wound with insulated wire of whatever size or character
the special circumstances of use may call for. On passing a current through the
coil of wire on the magnet m, the core n is at once attracted, lifting the valve rod
from the seat d and opening the outlet for the oil, the amount of opening being
determined by the position of the feed-screw v. On opening the circuit of the
magnet m the core n is free to drop and is pressed downwardly by the spring s so as
to cause the rod p to securely close the outlet at the valve. seat d. The foregoing
constitutes the specific construction which is simple and for most purposes preferable,"
but I do not limit myself to any such construction, as obviously it may be varied to
a very wide extent.
For use on a dynamo-electric generator or motor I propose to utilize the current
of the dynamo or motor for the purpose of automatically starting and stopping the
feed coincident with or substantially coincident with the starting and stopping of
the machine. For this purpose the circuit arrangement may vary according to the
character of the machine itself. :
In Fig. 2 I have shown two oil-cups A diagramatically as arranged for lubricating
the journals of a series-wound machine; in this case a few turns of coarse wire well
insulated suffices on the magnets of the oil-cups and the main current is passed through
them, the amount of energy absorbed by the magnets being exceedingly small.
In Fig. 31 have shown a method of connecting the magnets. when applied to the
-oil-cups of a shunt-wound machine. In this case each magnet is so arranged in
the circuit in parallel with one side of the field-magnets as to absorb but one half the
electro-motive-force which exists at the armature terminals.
Obviously, when the cups are arranged on a dynamo-electric machine or electric

page_text: motor under conditions similar to those illustrated at Figs. 2 and 3, so long as no
current is flowing through the oil-cup magnets, no oil can escape from the cups, and
this is the condition of non-operation of the machines or motors. As soon, however,
as the machine or motor is started the current begins to circulate through the magnets
of the oil-cups and quickly rises to such point as to be sufficient to lift the valve rods
and start the feed. When the machine is shut down the current ceases and the valve
rods p immediately close the feed outlet and the flow of oil is at once effectively
stopped.
Obviously the invention may with great advantage be applied to machinery when
the actuating current is obtained either from a dynamo-electric machine or an
ordinary battery. In the case of the dynamo-electric machine the mechanical con-
nection, by means of a belt, between such dynamo and the driving power would
cause the oil-cups to operate on the starting of the engine or other driving power..
In the case where a battery is used or a dynamo which is not mechanically con-
nected to the driving power, I propose to adopt means for automatically closing the
circuit of the oil-cup magnets, which shall close the circuit upon the starting and open
the circuit upon the stopping of the engine.
.
One means for that purpose is illustrated at Fig. 4 wherein W is a shaft such as
the main shaft of the engine or a shaft to which the same is mechanically connected..
G represents a generator of electric current independent of the engine and consisting
either.of a suitably driven dynamo or a battery. and y are the circuits. A A" A
are oil-cups having the magnets m controlling their feed outlets and connected to the
circuit wires x and y in multiple. The terminals of the circuit consist of the insulated
point and the pivoted weighted arm 1, having a retracted spring 2. The arm 1 is
pivoted on the end of the shaft W and forms a terminal of the circuit by having the
latter connected to any portion of the engine-frame. The point may be conveniently
connected to the side x of the circuit by means of an insulated contact ring and brush
bearing thereon.
When the engine is at rest the retracting spring 2 holds the arm 1-away from
contact with the stop z and the circuit is opened and therefore the oil-cups have their
valves all tightly closed against their respective seats. On starting the engine, how-
ever, the inertia of the arm 1 will throw it against the contact z and firmly hold it.
there as long as the engine is in motion. The circuit ay will thus be closed so as to
energize all the magnets m of the oil-cups which may be included in such circuit.
On shutting down the engine the spring 2 will exert its power and open the circuit.
between 1 and z.
When thus applied to an engine a single automatic circuit closer will serve for the
simultaneous control of all the oil-cups on the engine, whether the magnets are in
multiple or series. In some cases this number may reach as high as twenty, and in
that event I prefer to arrange the magnets in multiple are with the circuit x y
because of greater facility for insulating.
In Fig. 5 I have illustrated another construction for closing the circuit by the
motion of the shaft without the necessity of having contact rings or other devices on
the shaft itself. In this case the shaft end is recessed and a spring 3 is first inserted,
then a plunger-rod 4 is inserted so as to bear against the spring 3, the outer end of
the rod 4 pressing against the spring blade 5 which forms one terminal of the circuit.
and is attached to a stationary fixture 6 arranged opposite the end of the shaft W. On
the fixture 6 is the other terminal 7 of the circuit. The spring 3 when the shaft W
is at rest causes the rod 4 to press against the terminal 5 and force it out of contact
with terminal 7, thus keeping the circuit open. On a small pedestal 8 fixed to the end
of shaft W and surrounding the rod 4 I pivot the centrifugal levers 9 provided with
the weights 10 and having their inner arms extending into a slot in the rod 4. When
the shaft W is set in motion the centrifugal action of the balls 10 causes the inner
arms of the levers 9 to so press on the rod 4 as to compress the spring 3, thus
relieving the terminal 5, which thereupon comes in contact with terminal 7 and closes
the oil-cup circuit.

page_text: .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-..
1. A lubricator for shafts, journals, etc., consisting of an oil reservoir, means for
leading the oil to the point of use, and an electro-motive device for determining the
motion of the oil to such point of use."
2. A lubricator for shafts, journals, etc., provided with a valve for controlling the
egress of oil, an electro-magnet for controlling the valve, and means for energizing
said electro-magnet.
3. A lubricator for shafts, journals, etc., provided with an adjustable valve for con-
trolling the feed, and electro-magnet for controlling the valve and arranged to open
the valve upon the passage of a current through said magnet.
4. A lubricator for shafts, journals, etc., consisting of an oil-cup, a valved outlet
therefrom, an electro-magnet attached to the feed-cup structure, and circuit terminals
for such electro-magnet, adapting it to be connected into an electric circuit.
5. The combination of an oil-cup, a feed controlling electro-motive device, a
generator of electricity and a circuit connecting the electro-motive device and
generator.
6. The combination of an oil-cup having a valved outlet therefrom, and an electro-
magnet operatively connected to the valve and included in an electric circuit
containing a generator of electricity.
7. The combination, with an electric generator and its circuit, of two or more
lubricators provided with feed-controlling electro-magnets included in said electric
circuit and means for closing said circuit through all the electro-magnets simul-
taneously.
8. The combination, with a mechanically driven shaft, of an electric generator and
its circuit, two or more lubricators provided with feed-controlling electro-magnets
included in said electric circuit, and a circuit closer forming the terminals of said
circuit and adapted to be operated by the motion of said shaft."
Dated this 26th day of June 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant..