IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATORS FOR STEAM ENGINE CYLINDERS
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted; 4th Feb., 1887.
I THOMAS BOWEN of the Morriston Tin Plate Works, Morriston, in the County of
Glamorgan, Tin Plate Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATORS FOR STEAM ENGINE CYLINDERS to be as follows:-
My improvements have reference to means for effecting the supply of a lubricant to
steam engine cylinders by the employment of a regulating or self acting displace-
ment principle, so that the discharge of lubricating material may with great precision
be regulated by the magnitude of the lubricating cylinder's condensing capacities as
attained by the size of that condensing chamber.
In carrying out my invention I apply my lubricator, (say). in connection with the
steam-pipe conveying steam to the engine cylinder, by means of a suitable pipe
controlled by a valve and communicating with a grease or oil chamber, or vessel of
lubricant to be displaced and passed to the engine cylinder; from this pipe are two
smaller branches, one passing to and being in communication with the further end of
the lubricant holder and the other branch, having applied to it a valve, communicates
with the nearer end of that holder. At the further end of the holder is an opening
with surrounding cup or lip, formed to receive the contracted neck of, or intercept
condensed fluid from a vessel or condensing chamber of adjusted or suitably adapted
size, the opening of which vessel delivers its condensed liquid into the cupped end of
a tube or equivalent receptacle from which this product of condensation passes out at
the side of the holder or otherwise near its further. end and reenters or is conveyed
to its side near the other end thereof glass being used for the exterior portion so
as to serve as a guage, a copper plate conveying heat to the glass.
The quantity of admitted steam condensed successively in. the condensing chamber
determines by the amount of liquid condensed, the quantity of lubricant displaced and
conveyed out of the oil or store chamber and delivered for conveyance to the engine
cylinder.
By these means great economy of lubricant will be effected and tampering with the
aparatus prevented

page_text: The operation of the means is rendered efficient and its operation is reliable, the
quantity of lubricant fed being uniform and regulated by, the capacity allowed for
condensation and adjusted to requirements.
Any accumulation of sediment or particles of foreign matter which may have
become mixed with the lubricant are prevented from impeding the correct operation of
the device.
The glass guage or indicator enables the rate of operation to be checked and the
copper or metal plate connecting the vessel and the tube enables heat to be conveyed
thereto to preserve fluidity in the case of hard tallow and such like solid
lubricants.
Whilst being capable of operation or adjustment for supply of small successive
quantities of feed, these means also admit of supply "en masse of lubricant at will
by simply opening the valve communicating with the nearer end of the holder which
valve discharges the condensed water previous to refilling.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the said Thomas Bowen.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
'
Improvements in Lubricators for Steam Engine Cylinders.
I THOMAS BOWEN of the Morriston Tin Plate Works, Morriston, in the County of
Glamorgan, Tin Plate Manufacturer 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 :-
My improvements have reference to means for effecting the supply of a lubricant
to steam engine cylinders by the employment of the principle known as displacement
by which water of condensation displaces the lubricant gradually and causes lubricant
to be supplied as displaced to the part to be lubricated.
The object of my invention is to provide means of utilizing this principle of dis-
placement and to make the apparatus self regulating or self acting when adjusted and
readily and simply adjustable by ordinary users, so that the discharge of lubricating
material may with great precision be gauged regulated or controlled by the capacity
of condensation chamber provided to the lubricating cylinder or vessel and the
quantity of liquid of condensation produced therein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a sectional view Figure 2 an external side view and Figure 3 an
underside view of an arrangement of apparatus adapted for carrying my invention
into practical effect with provision for visible indication of rate of displacement going
on and the quantity of lubricant displaced Figure 4 shews another arrangement
applicable where the visible indication of the rate of displacement actually proceeding
is not a requirement.

page_text: The lubricator is applied, say, in connection with the steam supply pipe conveying
steam to the engine cylinder in such situation that the regulated quantities of
lubricant shall be passed to the surfaces to be lubricated, by means of a suitable.
pipe a which is controlled by a valve b. This pipe a communicates with the grease or
oil chamber or vessel containing the lubricant c, which lubricant is to be displaced
and passed to the engine cylinder. From this pipe a is provided a branch the
course of which is indicated by d, d', d communicating with the end c¹ of the:
chamber c, and conveying the steam for condensation in one direction and serving as
the conduit of lubricant in the reverse direction. The pipe e ele communicates
between the nearer end of the holder c by way of the pipe . hh are two stop valves
for use in shutting off the parts of the tube e leading to the glass portion e¹ of this
tube, in case of that part tube becoming fractured or leaking as by closing the two
stop valves h h Inbrication may go on regularly until the fractured tube should be
replaced. The main object of this tube e and the provision of the transparent
portion el being to afford means of inspecting the rate of consumption of lubricant by
rate of passage of the drops of liquid of condensation therethrough and of judging
by the height of the level of lubricant what proportion of it has been displaced and
carried away and what quantity is left aided if desired by a graded scale.
At the further end of the holder c is an opening with a surrounding wall
forming the concentric well or receiver 2 adapted to receive the condensed liquid as
it is produced and falls from the passage k¹ or passages k¹, k² forming the contracted
or restricted chamber the area of capacity of which forms the gauge of quantity
of condensation liquid to be successively produced to replace the lubricant. These
passages are formed in a removeable screw plug k, which is screwed into the
opening c¹ correspondingly threaded to receive it and o, o are handles for turning
same. is a dished plate held in position at the foot of plug & on to which the
liquid of condensation falls and is diverted from falling directly into the opening c³
and caused to fall into the well thence to flow down the pipe e thence to be
conveyed by the pipe e¹³e and g to the reservoir which the pipe reenters
there.
C
The portion of tube e 1 form by preference double or divided by a division e
or instead I locate therein a flat or other wire thereby to facilitate the passage of the
drops of water of condensation from by easing the respective movements of the
water drop downwards and of the oil displaced passing it, preventing lagging
of the drops. This effect is attained by the divisione in the cross pipe e more
effectually than by a wire but in the upright pipe el the wire e gives satisfactory
results for the saine purpose, the drops of water in practice occupying the wider
division between the glass and the wire in passing down and the oil the other
portion.
The passage k', or passages, k2, according as two or only one are used by their
area serve to regulate the speed of displacement or consumption of lubricant and it
is by the regulation of the area of this passage k¹ or passages and consequently the
amount of condensation and displacing liquid that the rate of discharge of lubricant
arising from that displacement is regulated. The diminishing or enlarging of the
area of this passage k¹. I find can be conveniently effected by the insertion therein
of a wire or wires either of round, half round, wedge or other section and these
wires can be held therein by their own springing if slightly bent before insertion
in the straight passage, or otherwise. From time to time by removing the plug k
the wire may be removed and adjustment effected by change of guage of wire.
The passage or passages communicate with the opening or enlarged passage k³
formed above them in the plug k and into this tapped opening the hollow screwed
stem of cup piece is secured. The cupped washer n of a textile or woollen fabric
or other suitable material is placed in the cup and a retaining stem i passed
therethrough into the tapped hole m¹in the plug k, m² being a hole in the end of
this stemm to turn it by with the aid of a pin or cross piece. This stem m does not
closely fit the interior of the stem of the cupped part and passage outwards
for vapour air or gas arising to a slight degree is afforded and the operation of the

page_text: whole device facilitated and the cup and its cupped piece n form an outlet valve
for regulated emission for a small amount of fluid generated capable of very delicate
adjustment.
The cup is provided for facility of filling the reservoir c when the plug has
been removed, leaving a clear direct opening for pouring in of lubricant.
pis a plate preferably of copper or like material of pliable character and good
conductivity of heat secured to the lubricator vessel and to. the glass guage tube e¹
to convey heat equally, thereto from the vessel and by equallization of the
temperaturo of the two maintain the even fluidity and flow of lubricant and prevent
congealing of lubricant..
C
" is a passage communicating by means of the pipe g with the chamber and
with the pipe a controlled by the valve f so that when the valves h¹ are closed and
passage by way of the pipe ee¹³ is cut off and this valve fis open feed of lubricant
may continue, or when a large quantity of lubricant is desired to be suddenly
thrown into the pipe a the valve may be opened giving free outlet to the
condensed water and then to the lubricant if the opening be maintained sufficiently
long..
Figure 4 shows the modification of the arrangement in which the exterior
channels are dispensed with and the pipe of supply of lubricant from the upper part c¹
of the reservoir to the pipe a is constituted by the pipe.ex.
:
My improved lubricator is characterized by the facilities it affords for regulating or
rendering self acting the principle of lubricating by displacement by the liquid of
condensation so that the discharge of lubricating material can with precision be
accurately regulated to requirement by adjustment of the magnitude of the condensing
chamber by the saving in lubricating material: by the construction of the apparatus
preventing any accumulation of sediment or deposit in the lubricant chamber from
interfering with the steady regulated flow of the lubricant: the maintenance of
fluidity of the lubricant in the guage glass by communication of heat through a plate
of highly conductive metal and, facility of effecting discharge of lubricant en masse
as desired.
"
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.:-
In Lubricators for steam engine cylinders, acting on the principle of displacement
of lubricant by condensed liquid in order to its supply to the part to be lubricated,
the regulation and control of the supply of the oil tallow or other lubricant by
the adjustment of the area or areas of steam condensing chamber or chambers whilst
permitting the passages of the apparatus through which the lubricant and steam and
condensed liquid flow to remain free and open for the feed without constriction for
..such adjustment, thereby obviating risks of choking or impediment, substantially as
set forth.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.