An Improved Lubricating Compound for the Chains and Bearings of Cycles and for other purposes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH KETCHUM, of 46, Lexington Avenue,
Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
An Improved Lubricating Compound for the Chains and Bearings
of Cycles and for other purposes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
I have discovered that certain metallic chromites, particularly chromite of iron,
produced in the form of an impalpable powder and combined with a suspending or
binding medium, such as glycerine, oil or paraffin constitutes a most valuable and
efficient Jubricator for bearings of all kinds.
The chromites which may be used to advantage for this purpose are those of
harder character, such as the chromite of copper or manganese, but in practice I
have found that the best and most desirable, is the chromite of iron.
This substance does not exist so far as I am aware, in a pure natural state, nor in
a condition which is suitable for my purpose. I therefore produce it artificially
by the following process.
I combine in equivalent proportions bichromate of potash and the sulphate of
the metallic base, preferably of iron, and thoroughly mixed in a finely divided
condition. I place these substances in a fire-clay crucible or other suitable
receptacle and expose them to a temperature which is gradually increased until the
powder reaches a white heat. By this means chromite of iron and sulphate of
potash are formed, the latter of which is readily removed by washing, leaving the
chromite in a chemically pure state.
As thus produced, the iron chromite is in the form of an impalpable powder. I
mix any desired quantity of this powder with a suitable medium for holding it in
suspension or binding it together sufficiently for its proper application as a lubricant.
I use for instance glycerine, mixing with a given quantity of the powder more or
less of the glycerine according to the degree of fluidity that I wish to obtain. I
may use other binding or suspending agents, according to the character of the
lubricant which I wish to obtain or the nature of the work which it is designed to
perform.
I have used this lubricant more especially for the ball bearings and sprocket
chains of cycles, but its use is not limited thereto as my experience shows that its
applicability is general.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. A lubricant composed of a metallic chromite in the condition of an
impalpable powder and a binding or suspending medium for the same.
Second. A lubricant composed of chromite of iron in the condition of an
impalpable powder and glycerine.
Doted this 14th day of October 1801
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.