Improvements in the Mode of and Means Employed for Lubricating Journals.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Apr.,
Improvements in the Mode of and Means Employed for Lubricating
Journals.
We, MATTHEW COULSON, and MARTIN LUTHER MULHOLLAND, both of Spennymoor,
in the County of Durham, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to an improved mode of and means employed for lubricating
the journals of railway carriage and truck axles or for rotatory shafting generally,
and is especially applicable-to-tram-tubs and pulley axles employed in mines and
quarries which are turned upside down from time to time or tilted in all positions.
The object of our invention is to effect perfect lubrication with economy in the
quantity of oil used, the essential features being the means by which the journal,
axle neck or rotating shaft automatically absorbs the requisite quantity of oil by
capillary attraction from a chamber or recess forming a reservoir in which it is stored,
and in the case of colliery tubs or articles which are turned upside down or are tilted
in all positions, the chamber forming the reservoir is so constructed that the oil
cannot run out whatever be the position of the tub or other article.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide in the pedestal carriage or axle
box a recess or chamber to serve as an oil reservoir in such a position and of such
capacity that the oil contained therein occupies a lower level than the underside of
the journal or axle neck, one or more tubes extend from the underside of the journal
or axle neck to the oil reservoir to form communications for the passage of the oil,
each of these tubes is filled with absorbant material forming an easy fitting plug
which acts as a conductor; it is essential that the upper end of the plug.be kept in
contact with the journal or axle neck, otherwise the oil will not be sucked up through
the tube and no lubrication will take place, this is effected by applying sufficient
pressure to the plug such as would be exerted by a spiral spring or other equivalent
contrivance. In case of the axles of railway carriages or trucks, or in all cases
where the shafting is fixed in position and the pedestal carriage or axle box is not
tilted or inverted in position, any recess or chamber may be provided to serve as the
reservoir for storing the oil, in which the oil occupies a lower level than the underside
of the journal or axle neck and must be conducted thereto by capillary attraction, in

page_text: such cases the oil may be supplied to the reservoir through any suitable inlet, but in
case of colliery tubs or other articles the pedestals or axle boxes of which are liable
to be tilted or inverted the oil reservoir is constructed as follows:-the tube or inlet
for the admission of the oil is provided preferably at the lowest part of the reservoir
and extends upwards above the surface of the oil when at the intended maximum
depth, space is provided in other parts of the reservoir and above the top of the inlet
tube of sufficient capacity to receive all the oil contained in the lower part thereof so
that when the reservoir is inverted or tilted the oil is received into this space and finds
a level below or clear of the end of the inlet tube and is thus prevented from
running out through the inlet tube or through the tubes which encase the capillary
plugs.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of and Means Employed for Lubricating
Journals.
We MATTHEW COULSON and MARTIN LUTHER MULHOLLAND both of Spennymoor.
in the County of Durham Engineers 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 an improved mode of and means employed for lubricating
the journals of Railway carriage and Truck axles or for Rotatory shafting generally
and is especially applicable to Tram Tubs and Pulley axles employed in mines
and quarries which are turned upside down from time to time and tilted in all
positions.
The object of our invention is to effect economy in the quantity of oil used, the
essential features being the means by which the journal, axle neck or rotatory shaft,
automatically absorbs the requisite quantity of oil by capillary attraction, from a
chamber or recess forming a reservoir in which it is stored, and in the case of
colliery tubs, or articles which are turned upside down or are tilted in all positions
the chamber forming the reservoir is so constructed that the oil cannot run out,
whatever be the position of the tub or other article.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide in the pedestal, carriage, or axle
box, a recess or chamber to serve as an oil reservoir, in such a position, and of such
capacity that the oil contained therein occupies a lower level than the underside of
journal, or axle neck, one or more tubes extend from the underside of journal, or
axle neck to the reservoir, to form communications for the passage of the oil, each of
these tubes are filled with absorbent material of Cotton Wool or Sponge forming an
easy fitting plug which acts as a conductor; it is essential that the upper end of the
plug be kept in contact with the journal, or axle neck, otherwise the oil will not be
sucked up through the tube, and no lubrication will take place, this is effected by
applying sufficient pressure to the plug, such as would be exerted by a spiral spring
or other equivalent contrivance.
In case of the axles of railway carriages, or trucks, and in all cases where the
shafting is fixed in position, and the pedestal carriage or axle box is not tilted, or
inverted in position any recess or chamber may be formed to serve as the reservoir for
storing the oil, in which the oil occupies a lower level than the underside of journal,
or axle neck, and must be conducted thereto by capillary attraction, in such cases the
oil may be supplied to the reservoir through any suitable inlet, but in the case of
colliery tubs or other articles, the pedestals or axle boxes of which are liable to be
tilted or inverted, the oil reservoir is constructed as follows:
The tube or inlet for the admission of the oil is provided preferably at the lowest
part of the reservoir, and extends upwards above the surface of the oil, when at the
intended maximum depth, space is provided in other parts of the reservoir and above
the top of the inlet tube of sufficient capacity to receive all the oil contained in the

page_text: lower part thereof, so that when the reservoir.is inverted or tilted the oil is received
into the space below or clear of the end of inlet tube, and is thus prevented from
running out through the inlet tube, or through the tubes which encase the capillary
plugs.
In order the better to show the manner in which this is performed we annex the
accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 show side and end elevations in section, of Pedestal suitable for
colliery tubs or Quarry Trams.
Figures 3 and 4, side elevation and end section of Hanging Bracket.
Fig. 5 side elevation (half in section) of carriage or Plummer Block.
Fig. 6.vertical cross section of ditto.
Fig. 7 sectional plan through g-h-Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 side elevation (part section) of axle box for colliery or
Fig. 9 end elevation (half in section) ditto.
mineral waggons.
Fig. 10 side elevation (half in section) of axle box for Railway carriages or
Trucks.
Fig. 11 end elevation (section) of ditto.
In these drawings the same letters of reference, refer to similar parts in each
figure.
A Oil Reservoir or chamber.
B Capillary plug.
.
Holes for supplying oil when required.
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;
A cotton, wool, or sponge plug or plugs to act as capillary conductors for lubricant
from the oil chamber to the journals or axle necks, with or without spiral springs
in combination with oil supply holes, and oil chamber or Reservoir, substantially in
the manner described and set forth.
Noted this 20th dess of L..
1000