Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Heating of Bearings.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Heating of Bearings.
I, LAWSON BUCKMINSTER STONE, of Marblehead, in the County of Essex, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOURNAL THERMOSTATS," 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 "Thermostats," the essential feature of which is embodied
in a coiled, flattened metallic tube adapted to contain an expansible fluid and arranged
to automatically operate an electric circuit; the activity of said circuit being caused
by any increase of temperature affecting the tube sufficiently to actuate the latter.
My invention, in the present instance consists primarily in improvements in the
general construction and arrangement of "Journal Thermostats," so called, whereby
any undue heat caused by friction through lack of proper lubrication or otherwise in
the journals of shafting can easily and readily be detected, and the danger resulting
therefrom be greatly lessened, or entirely obviated. In my improvements either
terminal may be insulated, and made adjustable with respect to the other and non-
insulated terminal; thus the thermal temperature, causing activity of the thermostat
may be regulated to suit the requirements in the position of the apparatus.
Secondly in the employment in a thermostat, of a "Bourdon Spring" affixed at
one end to a central post, or tube and enclosed for greater protection within a suitable
box or case. This post or tube is to be located upon a journal-box, or bearing, or
elsewhere, and serves not only as a support for the thermostat, but likewise acts as an
oil-duct and a heat transmitter, since the lower end of said tube enters the journal-box
and resting in close proximity to the shaft receives any undue heat generated therein
and by convection thereof operates the Bourdon spring and causes the apparatus to
serve as a "Thermostatic Alarm."
Thirdly in the arrangement within the case, which encloses the Bourdon spring, of
an adjustable spring upon which is mounted and properly insulated therefrom one of
the terminals, or contact points of an electric circuit. Or, as before alluded to, the
Bourdon spring may be insulated and its activity regulated by adjustment of a
screw, forming the other terminal and which is in metallic contact with the case.
Hence in either instance the motion of the Bourdon spring is unimpeded and it is free

page_text: to be actuated its full extreme of movement dependent upon the temperature; while
its sensibility may be increased or diminished by the adjustment of the spring mounted
terminal, or the screw as a terminal, whichever the case may be, a greater or less
distance from the free end of the Bourdon spring, when the latter is in an inactive
position. Thus the thermal or Bourdon spring may be compelled to move
correspondingly before the circuit can be closed and an alarm sounded.
The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Fig. 1 a vertical central
section and Fig. 2 a sectional plan of a journal thermostat embodying my invention.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the manner of mounting the adjustable terminal,
while Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing a modification; Fig. 5 is a horizontal
section, wherein the Bourdon spring is insulated, as a terminal, Fig. 6 is a modification,
as applied to a normally closed circuit.
In said drawings A represents a piece of shafting suitably mounted in the bearing B;
upon the latter is affixed the journal thermostat, which consists primarily of a
hollow, circular metallic box, or case C surmounted by and covered with the
cap D.
Centrally located thereof and secured to said box is a hollow post or tube E, which
extends outwardly and is of a length to suit requirements or the location of the
thermostat. In the present instance this tube is fitted into the journal-box and
approaches very closely the periphery of the shaft; in order to make a close metallic
connection, the more readily and efficiently to convey to the thermostat the heat from
said shaft and bearing should it at any time become excessive, I have longitudinally
kerf-ent or split said tube at a, and hence, when it is thrust into its proper position in
the bearing, the sides of the tube are compressed and thus brought into close contact
with the surrounding metallic surface.
By the use of a hollow post the thermostat can readily embody in its construction
an oil-cup, since the lubricant supplied from the cup F, which is secured to and
surmounts the cap D of the thermostat, is conveyed downward through the bore b of
the tube E and thence to the journal-bearing and its shaft; thus, while the thermostat
supplies the oil, it is in readiness to announce at any time, whether the bearing is
properly lubricated or not.
The portion of this apparatus, operated thermally, consists of a Bourdon spring c (the
construction and operation of which is well known among those skilled in the art) one
end of which is firmly soldered to the upper part of the hollow post E; directly opposite
the free end or extremity d of this Bourdon spring is disposed the adjustable terminal e
in an electric circuit. This terminal is mounted upon a plate spring f, which is
secured to the case C, exteriorly of the Bourdon spring and bent to conform somewhat
to the curve of the box, within which it is contained. The free end of this plate
spring is bored to admit a hollow sleeve g securely fastened thereto; said sleeve is
made of any suitable insulating material interiorly screw-threaded to receive and hold
the metallic terminal, pointed interiorly and which terminates exteriorly in a binding
post h.
Furthermore the enclosing box or case C is bored at i to permit unimpeded movement
of the terminal e and its insulating sleeve g; while arranged diametrically opposite, and
in metallic connection with said case is affixed a second binding post ', the terminal
of which is the free end d of the Bourdon spring.
Thus the wires (not shown) connecting with the posts may extend to any
suitable or convenient place or room in which the alarm is to be given and are constantly
in place to be electrically induced, so that when the two terminals d and e are united
by the movement of the Bourdon spring, due to increase in the temperature, which
actuates it, the circuit is closed and the thermostatic alarm apparatus performs its
office.
Hitherto in the arrangement of thermostats, of the class before premised, the
activity or range of movement in said Bourdon spring, or the thermal temperature
at which the circuit will be operated has been dependent upon the coefficient of
expansion of the contents of the spring, or on the strength of the material composing
said spring; in some instances the free end of the spring has been encumbered in

page_text: order to overcome the tension of a spring terminal, which acts to oppose its
movement.
To overcome these defects and enable the Bourdon spring to be made of material
of any desired strength, and not necessarily fill it with certain easily expansible gas or
fluid, or a combination of the two, in order to regulate its action, I have adjustably
mounted one of the terminals upon a spring, which, by means of the screw & engaged
in the case C, can be caused to retreat or advance, and thus carry the terminal from or
towards the Bourdon spring; consequently it is evident that greater extreme of
movement is permitted the latter and it will be compelled to advance a greater, or less
distance to operate the circuit, either of which movements must be attendant upon or
caused by a greater or less degree of heat.
In lieu of insulating the spring-mounted terminal, as shown, a very practicable
modification is that represented in Fig. 5, in which the plate-spring is omitted and
the Bourdon spring insulated. By this alteration the same adjustment in the thermal
temperature at which the thermostat becomes active is obtained. This variation in the
active thermal temperature is secured by means of the screw 8
engaging in the
thermostat case and which is also in metallic connection with the post ; the Bourdon
spring on the other hand being insulated together with the post with which it is
electrically connected. By either construction, in the expansion of the gas within the
Bourdon spring and the straightening of the latter, sliding metallic contact is effected
between the terminals to operate an electric circuit.
Again, by locating this adjustable terminal opposite the free extremity of the
Bourdon spring, where its action or movement is the greatest any extreme is easily
and readily obtained, if desired, while the action of said spring is unimpeded, and yet
can readily be adjusted.
This thermostat in the present drawings is shown, as constructed to be on an open
circuit, but the alternative construction to operate a closed circuit is equally as practicable,
since by extending the terminals or e with an off-set or bend to place the contact point
upon the concave surface of the Bourdon spring, the two normally in contact, any
expansion or movement of said spring, due to increase in the thermal temperature,
will open the circuit and cause an alarm.
In the present instance I have shown my thermostat, as embodying an oil-cup, but
I do not desire to be limited to this precise arrangement, since the supporting rod, or
conductor E may be solid and the oil-cup omitted; again the hollow post, or rod E
may be replaced by an ordinary screw m, and the thermostat affixed elsewhere. I
consider the gist of my invention is embodied in a thermostat in which either terminal
is insulated; in one instance the insulated terminal is spring mounted and adjustable
with respect to the free end of a Bourdon spring, which forms the other terminal of an
electric circuit; in the converse, the insulated terminal is the Bourdon spring, while
its cooperating terminal is a screw, engaging in the thermostat case. But in both
constructions the distance between the two terminals in the circuit contained in the
thermostat may be regulated and the terminals adjustable.
As before premised, this device may be caused to operate either an open, or closed
electric system, and therefore applicable, as a thermostat to other locations and positions
and especially alarm circuits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In a journal thermostat, the combination with a Bourdon spring, thermally
induced to actuate an electric circuit, of a metallic post to which the fixed end of said
spring is integrally attached, whereby the heat is transmittted by convection, as well
as by radiation to operate the free end of said spring, substantially as herein described.
2nd. The combination of a thermostatic spring and the circuit of which it forms one
terminal with another spring, the other terminal of said circuit attached to said spring,
and an adjusting-screw bearing against one of said springs and regulating the distance
of said terminals from each other."

page_text: 3rd. In combination with the case, the spring affixed thereto and carrying an
insulated terminal of the metallic rod, supporting said case and the Bourdon spring,
affixed thereto, which cooperates thermally with the insulated terminal, substantially
for the purposes herein set forth.
4th. In combination with the post E and case C, the Bourdon spring e, attached to
said post, a spring f, attached to said case, a contact, e, carried by the latter spring,
and an adjusting screws, acting against said spring, substantially as set forth.
5th. In a thermostat composing part of an electric circuit, the combination with a
Bourdon spring, the free end of which forms one terminal, of a second terminal
cöoperating therewith and adjustably mounted, whereby the distance between the
terminals regulates the thermal degree of aların, as and for purposes stated.
6th. A Bourdon spring e, and adjustable terminal, e, opposed thereto, an insulating
sleeve surrounding said terminal, a spring to which said sleeve is attached, and an
adjusting-screw acting against the latter spring to adjust the terminal, substantially as
set forth.
LAWSON BUCKMINSTER STONE.