IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATORS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A, of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster Civil Engineer 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:
و"
This invention relates to improvements in lubricators in which a column or other
pressure of water is employed to overcome the pressure of steam against the flow
of oil to the desired destination, and which are provided with a transparent medium
more commonly termed a "sight-feed" through which the oil from the lubricator *
is caused to flow, so that by the eye the amount of oil being fed to the device to
be lubricated may be determined.
The principal object of this invention is to produce a continuous flow of oil and
water alternately through a "sight-feed;" further objects are to utilize water as a
vehicle for the oil as it escapes to and flows through the sight-feed; to effectually
utilize the cleansing properties and greater gravity of water for taking up and
carrying off all foreign substances in, or the particles of oil, which would otherwise
adhere to and partially if not wholly obscure the "sight-feed;" to readily and
quickly reduce the oil, when congealed or heavy from cold to a condition necessary
for successful feeding; and finally to provide certain details of construction herein-
after described.
These objects are attained by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
in which is shewn a central longitudinal section of a lubricator embodying the
invention and showing its attachment to a condensing pipe and steam pipe.
A represents a cylindrical oil reservoir constructed of suitable material adapted
to withstand the required pressure which may be provided with a stopper adapted
for filling purposes.
B is a plug providing a connection between the upper portion
of the reservoir and the sight-feed by means of its vertical passage 3 and horizontal
passage 4, a part of which latter passage is formed in a lateral projection 5 of the
plug.
}
.

page_text: Passage 4 also extends vertically and has its end closed by a valve 6, the stem
of which is preferably' screw-threaded to work in the end 7 of the plug, B, a tight
joint being formed between the valve-stem and arm by a cap 8 and suitable
packing.
The sight-feed is composed preferably of a glass tube C having an end bearing
against or projecting partially into an arm 5 of the plug B and held by a cap 10
screw-threaded on the arm and provided with suitable packing; the opposite end
of the sight-feed is similarly secured by a cap 11 on an arm 12 of a casting D
having a right angular branch E projecting into the side of the oil reservoir near
its top.
When desirable to confine the ends of the sight-feed tube, the arms 5 and 12 are
bored out so that after inserting one end of the sight-feed in say arin 12 it may be
drawn forward into 5 and tightened as shown, thus providing for a convenient
and ready insertion of the original or of a new tube in place of a broken one.
Communicating with the arm 12 or directly with the bore of the sight-feed, as
the case may be, is a horizontal right angular passage 15 opening into a valve
chamber 16 in casting D, from which chamber leads a passage 18 opening into the
bored out chamber 19 in the arm 20 of the casting D.
A valve 17 operates in passage 16 to control the feed of the lubricant which
must first enter the valve-chainber before escaping through passage 18 to its
destination.
A nipple not shown may be screwed to 20 and tapped in a steam-pipe leading to
the device to be lubricated, which pipe is generally the steam supply-pipe of such
device, but it should here be stated that the lubricator may be attached directly to
the device to be lubricated.
By the construction so far described oil in the reservoir may rise in the passage 3
and flow through the sight-feed to its destination and be regulated by the valve 17
working in passage 16 or be entirely cut off from the sight-feed by said valve, and
it now remains to be shown how the oil is caused to flow to the steam pipe against
the pressure of steam theirin to which the oil is necessarily subjected.
In arm 20 of casting D is a passage 21 in dotted lines which pa-sage leads to a
condenser G which rises above the oil reservoir and operating as a head or source
for the water of condensation employed to force the oil out of the reservoir, for as
will be seen steam entering the condenser G will condense therein, and will form a
head, exerting an upward pressure on the oil in the reservoir, the amount of this
hydrostatic pressure depending upon the height of the condensations or other water
in the pipe.
Opening into the condenser is a water passage 24 in dotted lines and full formed
vertically in casting D and intersecting with a horizontal passage 25 in the branchi E
from which passage 25 extends downwardly to near the bottom of the oil reservoir
a tube 26, the valve 17 working on an inclined seat in passage 24 serving to cut
off or regulate the flow of water from the condenser to the reservoir and a cap 2S
and-packing forming a tight joint between the screw-threaded stem of the valve
and casting D.
In the plug B and opening into the vertical portion of passage 4 is a passage 20
in dotted lines forming a water cut-off to the oil, after entering passage 4, and
continued downwardly to near the bottom of the reservoir by a tube 30 tapped or
otherwise secured in the plug and forming with passage 29 a water induction
passage. The cut-off is preferably inclined to avoid obstructing the flow of the oil
and water, as might be if the water struck the stream of oil at a right to its line of
travel. Valve 17 is provided with a circumferential groove above its operative end
so as to offer the least possible obstruction to the flow of the liquids around it and
in the passage in which the stem operates.
To operate the lubricator when the several parts are in the position shown and
the valve 17 is closed, the plug B is removed and after the reservoir is filled with
oil, is again screwed down to place.

page_text: Steam is now admitted to condenser G, which may be provided with a suitable
valve for that purpose, and as soon as sufficient condensation have accumulated in
the pipe, the valve 17 is opened to admit the water of condensation to the reservoir,
where by its superior gravity and its head in the condenser, it exeris an upward
pressure on the oil and rising in tube 30 passes through the cut-off passage 29 and
passage 4 into the sight-feed.
At the same time the water immediately takes an onward course followed by
the oil in a globular form, through the sight-feed and passage 15 to their
destination..
The water passing up tube 30 and passage 29 is subject to the same upward
pressure as the oil, but owing to the superior gravity of the water and its tendency
to divide oil on a comparatively non-saturable surface, the water escaping from the
passage 29 operates as a cut-off to the oil flowing through passage 4, and as a result
the oil is divided into a globular form before entering the sight-feed a portion of
water following each globule of oil so that there is a continuous feed of alternate
oil globules and water through the sight-feed during the operation of the
lubricator.
The terms "globular" and ". globule" are here used. more as expressions of
quantity than form, for as a matter of fact the water assumes more of a spherical
form than the oil, which is slightly concaved at each end owing to its lightness as
compared with water, and the tendency of the oil to adhere to the glass, which
tendency is constantly and effectively resisted by the water.
In this connection it may be stated that for an effective feeding through the
sight-feed of oil in globular quantities, the bore of the sight-feed should not have
a diameter in excess of that of a maximum-sized oil globule in its normal
condition,
Feeding water with oil through the exit passages of the reservoir of a lubricator
to the device to be fed is the most important feature of this invention and of its
results, for by this flow of water a positive and effective vehicle for, the oil is
provided to insure a reliable and uniform feed of oil, and all of the passages
including the sight-feed are thoroughly washed before and after each globule of oil
passes through them, so that the accumulation of sediment and adhering of
gummy substances in them, which would obstruct a free flowing of the oil is
entirely avoided and besides the sight-feed is maintained perfectly transparent at
all times.
Clean passages diminish the friction of and hence promote a steadiness in the
flowing of the oil and besides result in a material saving in time and expense
otherwise incurred in stopping the operation of the lubricator to blow it out, which
operation is liable to fracture the sight feed and involve a further loss of time and
expense in replacing it with a new one.
In a plug 31 at the bottom of the reservoir is a valve 32 for drawing off whatever
oil or water or both is in the reservoir, the latter and the water cut-off may be
blown out, when the reservoir is empty by opening the valve 17 and admitting steam.
A further advantage accruing to the invention is that of providing for readily
and successfully reducing to and maintaining at an operative consistency oil
congealed or heavy from cold, or 'normally too thick to flow freely, which reduction
is attained by the employment of a continuous flow through all the passages and
into the reservoir, of water-condensation which retains sufficient heat to thin the
oil and maintain the several parts of the lubricator at a temperature sufficient for
keeping the oil in liquid condition.
The invention herein involved may be attained by a widely different construc-
tion and arrangement of parts from that shown and hereinbefore described, as for
instance instead of locating the cut-off as shown it may be located at some other
point or angle in relation to the oil passage from the reservoir, and instead of
having the water for the cut-off pass through the induction pipe 30, such pipe can
be dispensed with and the water be taken from the condenser G by a suitable pipe
leading to the plug B and communicating with the oil passage 4 by a suitable

page_text: opening corresponding to cut-off 29, but leading inside, in relation to the oil
passage.
•
The valve may be arranged to work at a right-angle instead of in line with the.
present passage and the several passages may be varied in their relative positions.
to each other and to the condenser, which, latter may be connected to the steam
pipe from its lower end as in other lubricators now in use, and it would not involve
inventive skill to shift the position of the sight-feed from a horizontal to a vertical
line or to operate the reservoir at a right-angle to the condensing-pipe or parallel
with the sight-feed.
The plug B and casting.D, may also have a different form and arrangement
relative to each or to the reservoir and the stopper B be inserted in a filling
aperture directly in the reservoir.
Having now described the invention, as communicated to me, what I claim and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1st The combination in a lubricator of a sight-feed tube filled with alternately
arranged parts of oil and water during the operation of the lubricator, and means
for supplying said stream to the sight-feed, substantially as described.
2nd The combination of the sight-feed of a lubricator with oil passages leading
from the reservoir and a water eduction passage intersecting with said oil passage
or passages, substantially.as and for the purpose described.
3rd. The combination of the sight-feed of a lubricator with intersecting oil and
water eduction passages and a valve controlling one of said passages, substantially
as described.
4th The plug B provided with passages 3, 4 and a water cut-off passage, in
combination with an oil reservoir and means for conducting the oil and water to
said passages and the device to be lubricated, substantially as described.
5th The combination with the "sight-feed" and the oil passage leading thereto
of the angular passages 15 and 18 and a valve working in said passages at their
intersection, substantially as described.
6th-The reservoir, the casting D provided with passages 24 and 25, valve 17,
induction pipe 26 and eduction 30, in combination with plug B, cut-off passage 29,
passage 4, valve 6 and sight-feed tube C, substantially as described.
7th The casting D provided with the passages 24, 25 and 15, 18, induction
pipe 26, valve 27 and the reservoir, in combination with the plug B provided with
passages 3 and 4, cut off 29, eduction pipe 30 and a sight-feed tube, substantially as
described.
Sth The reservoir, the casting D and plug B constructed as described, induction
pipe 26, eduction pipe 30 and valves 6 and 17, in combination with the sight-feed C,
condensing pipe G, steam pipe H and nipple 21, substantially as described.
9th The herein described method of lubricating, the same consisting in con-
tinuously feeding a stream composed of alternate portions of oil and water through
a passage or passages leading to the device to be lubricated.
10th. The herein described method of lubricating, the same consisting in con-
tinuously feeding a regulated stream composed of alternate portions of oil and water,
in desired variable proportions through a passage or passages leading to the device
to be lubricated..
11th. The combination with a lubricator of a single valve controlling the.flow
of the oil and water, substantially as described.