AN IMPROVED LUBRICATING APPARATUS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Addy Hopkinson and Joseph Hopkinson, both of
the Firm of J. Hopkinson & Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Engineers, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED LUBRICATING APPARATUS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Addy Hopkinson and
Joseph Hopkinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th
June 1880.
JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the Firm of
J. Hopkinson and Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers.
AN IMPROVED LUBRICATING APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE CYLINDERS
OF CONDENSING STEAM-ENGINES."
"
Our Invention relates to an improved apparatus chiefly designed for lubricating
the cylinders of condensing steam-engines, that is to say, cylinders in which a
vacuum or partial vacuum exists during a portion of the time occupied by each
stroke of the engine.
Our said apparatus is constructed with a suitably shaped receptacle or vessel for
containing the oil, tallow, or other lubricating matter, and preferably provided with
a screw neck, whereby it can be secured in the cylinder or cylinder cover, or in
some part connected therewith. At the bottom of this vessel is formed an orifice
or passage which extends through the said neck, and is provided with a valve so.
constructed and arranged as to seat itself by its upward movement, which will be
caused by pressure in the cylinder, or by a spring, or both, and to leave its seat
when there is a vacuum therein. Therefore at each stroke of the piston, and while
there is a vacuum in the cylinder, this valve will open the orifice, and the
atmospheric pressure acting on the lubricant in the said receptacle will force the
same through the said orifice or passage into the cylinder.
We also provide our improved apparatus with means for regulating the quantity
of lubricating matter admitted to the cylinder when the said valve is opened us
above described. For this purpose we place in the orifice or passage above the

page_text: valve a small rod or pin which partially closes the said orifice but does not
interfere with the action of the valve. By means of this regulating rod or pin the
quantity of lubricating matter supplied to the cylinder can be regulated as desired,
and by the removal of the said pin from the orifice the flushing of the cylinder
may be effected in the same manner as with an ordinary tallow cup.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Addy Hopkinson and Joseph Hopkinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th November 1880.
JOHN ADDY HOPKINSON and JOSEPH HOPKINSON, both of the Firm of
J. Hopkinson & Co., of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Engineers.
"AN IMPROVED LUBRICATING APPARATUS CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR THE CYLINDERS
OF CONDENSING STEAM-ENGINES."
Our Invention relates to an improved apparatus chiefly designed for lubricating
the cylinders of condensing steam-engines, that is to say, cylinders in which a
vacuum or partial vacuum exists during a portion of the time occupied by each
stroke of the engine.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is an exterior elevation of the said apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts in both Figures.
Our said apparatus is constructed with a suitably-shaped cup or receptacle a for
containing the oil, tallow, or other lubricating matter, and is preferably provided
with a screw-neck, as at a', whereby it can be secured in the cylinder or cylinder
cover, or in some part connected therewith. At the bottom of this vessel is formed
an orifice or passage which extends through the said neck, as clearly shewn in
Figure 2, and is provided with a valve 6 so constructed and arranged as to seat
itself by its upward movement, which will be caused by pressure in the cylinder,
or by a spring arranged as shewn at c, Figure 2, or by the combined action of such
pressure and spring, and the said valve will leave its seat when there is a vacuum
in the cylinder. Therefore, at each stroke of the piston, and while there is a
vacuum in the said cylinder, this valve b will open the said orifice or passage, and
the atmospheric pressure acting on the lubricant in the said receptacle will force
the same through the said orifice or passage into the cylinder.
We also provide our improved apparatus with means for determining or
regulating the quantity of lubricating matter admitted to the cylinder when the
valve is opened as above described. For this purpose we place in the orifice or
passage above the valve a small rod or pin d which partially closes the said orifice
but does not interfere with the action of the valve.
To provide for the passage of the oil or other fluid when the said pin is in place
we may make the part d' of this pin smaller than the hole or orifice, or the pin on

page_text: one or more of its sides may have flat surfaces or channels. The difference between
the size of the pin and of the orifice, or the extent to which the said pin is flattened
or grooved, must be according to the amount of oil or other lubricant to be supplied
to the cylinder or other part to be lubricated. By means of this regulating device
or pin the quantity of lubricating matter supplied to the cylinder can be regulated
as desired, and by the removal of said pin from the orifice the flushing of the
cylinder may be effected in the same manner as with an ordinary tallow cup.
Having thus fully described our said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we claim,―
The improved apparatus consisting of the oil vessel or receptacle provided with
the valve and the regulating device, substantially as shewn in the accompanying
Drawing, and so arranged that when applied to the cylinder of a condensing steam-
engine or the like, the said apparatus will operate to lubricate the same in the
manner above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Hopkinson, for myself and on behalf
of the said John Addy Hopkinson, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
JOSEPH HOPKINSON. (L.S.)