IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING COMPOUNDS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Robert Johnson, of No. 1, Dean Terrace,
Chapel Road, Ealing, in the County of Middlesex, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING
COMPOUNDS."
Sealed the 7th November 1871, and dated the 23rd May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Robert Johnson.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd May 1871.
I, JOHN ROBERT JOHNSON, of No. 1, Dean Terrace, Chapel Road,
Ealing, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING
COMPOUNDS," to be as follows:—
My Invention consists in improvements in the manufacture of com-
pounds used for lubricating machinery, and particularly of those used
for lubricating the axles of railway carriages. It is well known that

page_text: for the most part the grease made for this purpose contains water in
large proportion, the compound being a solution of a more or less perfect
soap in which a solid fat is suspended. Such compound fuses at a low
temperature and runs out of the ordinary axle boxes when most required,
that is as soon as from extra friction or the action of the sun's rays,
the temperature of the axle rises to the melting point of the grease,
that is to about 90° or 100° Fahrenheit. Now, find that this evil
quality of the grease may be remedied by the introduction of sufficient
of one of the silicates or aluminates of the alkalies to convert the water
used in the compound into the condition of a syrup before being mixed
with the other ingredients. Such addition having the effect of greatly
enhancing the lubricating properties of the compound and raising its
melting point, and also of causing the compound when melted to have
the consistence of a thick magma, instead of that of a comparatively
limpid fluid.
I formerly obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent No. 2677, in the
year 1863, for a means of remedying the same defect in railway grease
by the substitution of certain oleates and stearates not before used for
that purpose. Now I find that the same effect may more advantageously
be produced by the substitution, either wholly or in part, of the silicates
and aluminates of the alkalies instead of the stearates and oleates
aforesaid.
In some cases, in place of using the silicates or aluminates of the
alkalies, I employ gelatinous silicates or aluminates of the alkaline
earths.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Robert Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ROBERT JOHNSON, of No. 1, Dean Terrace, Chapel Road, Ealing, in the 30
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-

page_text: fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Robert Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Robert Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Robert Johnson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LUBRICATING COMPOUNDS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Robert Johnson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Robert Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :—
My Invention consists in improvements in the manufacture of com-
pounds used for lubricating machinery, and particularly of those used
for lubricating the axles of railway carriages. It is well known that for
the most part the grease made for this purpose contains water in large
proportion, the compound being a solution of a more or less perfect
soap in which a solid fat is suspended. Such compound fuses at a low
temperature and runs out of the ordinary axle boxes when most required,
that is as soon as from extra friction or the action on the sun's rays,
the temperature of the axle rises to the melting point of the grease,
that is to about 90° or 100° Fah. Now I find that this evil quality
of the grease may be remedied by the introduction of sufficient of one
of the silicates or aluminates of the alkalies to convert the water used
in the compound into the condition of a syrup before being mixed
with the other ingredients. Such addition having the effect of greatly
enhancing the lubricating properties of the compound and raising its
melting point, and also of causing the compound when melted to have

page_text: the consistence of a thick magma instead of that of a comparatively
limpid fluid.
I formerly obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent No. 2677, in the
year 1863, for a means of remedying the same defect in railway grease
by the substitution of certain oleates and stearates not before used for
that purpose.
Now I find that the same effect may more advantageously
be produced by the substitution, either wholly or in part of the silicates
and aluminates of the alkalies, instead of the stearates and oleates
aforesaid.
In some cases in place of using the silicates or aluminates of the
alkalies I employ gelatinous silicates or aluminates of the alkaline
earths.
I find by experience that the best way of carrying out my im-
provements is to make the grease by the use of soap, tallow, palm oil,
and water, in the usual way as is well understood, with or without the
addition of an alkali or its carbonate, and to such mixture while still
in the melted state to add the silicate or aluminate, preferring for such
purpose the silicate of potash made by fusing together at a red heat fine
sand, flint powder, or other silicious mineral with potashes, as is well
understood by chemical manufacturers; five per cent. of such silicate
will produce a change in the compound, rendering it less fusible at a low
temperature, but ten or even fifteen per cent. of such solid silicate may
be added when dissolved in an equal weight of water, each addition up
to that quantity continuing to improve the grease and render it less
fusible. Instead of the silicate of potash, silicate of soda may be used,
but this will be found to greatly harden the grease and render it unfit
for use, unless accompanied by some substance which will prevent such
hardening.
I find glycerine the best for this purpose, adding one pound of crude
glycerine for every two pounds of the silicate added. A saturated
solution of carbonate of potash may also be used for the same purpose
in the like proportion.
For the commoner greases, such as those used for trucks and
waggons, an insoluble silicate of one of the earths may be used, such
silicate being obtained by first adding a soluble silicate of the alkalies
to the one and then a soluble colt of lime on

page_text: The earthy silicate is then precipitated in a gelatinous form and
blends with the grease to form one of less fusibility, and better fitted for
lubricating the wheels of vehicles of heavy traction.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robert Johnson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.