IMPROVE- MENTS IN LUBRICATORS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors,
6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LUBRICATORS" (A communication from abroad by Samuel Reid of
Chicago in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America,
Mechanic) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in lubricators in which a column or other
pressure of water is employed to overcome the pressure of steam against the flow
of oil, which lubricators, are provided with a glass tube more commonly termed
a "sight-feed," so that by the eye the amount of oil being fed may be determined.
The objects of the invention are to successfully employ compressed air in a sight-
feed tube and thereby maintain the transparency of the tube, and utilize the elastic
characteristics of the air for establishing an equilibrium of pressure in the sight-feed,
notwithstanding marked variations in the steam pressure; to provide a lubricator
with a novel form of valve and nozzle controlling the flow of and directing the oil
from the reservoir to the sight-feed; to facilitate the removal of the nozzle when
its oil passage is obstructed by foreign substances; to render the piston of a pump
employed for injecting air to the sight feed; an auxiliary in closing the sight feed
against an exit of compressed air contained therein.
A cylindrical oil reservoir constructed of suitable material adapted to withstand
the required pressure is provided with a stem tapped into the top of the reservoir
closed by a stopper and adapted for filling purposes, and to form a connection.
between the reservoir and the sight-feed by means of a pipe or branch.
Entering one side of and about the centre of the reservoir is a stem provided.
with two independent passages the first passage leading from the stem of a bull
condenser and forming a water duct in connection with a pipe.leading from the.
lower end of the stem of the condenser to near the bottom of the reservoir for the
purpose of supplying water to the reservoir to displace and cause the oil to flow in
its proper channel to the steam pipe, a valve being provided to regulate the flow of
water to the reservoir,

page_text: The stem is screw-threaded upon its outer end for the purpose of joining a short
pipe by means of a collar and suitable packing, said pipe connecting the lubricator
with the steam pipe of an engine or other device to which the lubricator is attached,
and affording a chamber for a projecting oil tube forming a continuation of the
second or oil passage.
This passage extends downwardly and thence upwardly to the oil tube to adapt
it for the operation of a screw threaded valve controlling the flow of oil to the oil
tube but used more especially to shut off the steam until the pump is operated, and
the desired quantity of air is supplied to the sight-feed for operating the lubricator
and to admit steam when desirable to blow out the oil passages, said valve having
a tight joint formed by a cap and packing.
In the stem and leading to the steam pipe are two passages from which
passages extend up into the bulb of the condenser two tubes, one tube opening in a
plaue below the other tube for the purpose of drawing off the water to prevent it
from choking the other tube, and stopping the operation of the lubricator.
For clearness in description it may be well to add, that the second tube operates
as a steam supply to the condenser until the water rises to its level, after which
the water owing to its gravity and the pressure of the steam from the other tube
descends to the steam pipe or other device of attachment, whence it is carried off,
and by this means a permanent steam chamber is formed in the condenser, the
steam in which materially augments the force of the column of water to displace
the oil in the reservoir.
Tapped in the bottom of the reservoir is a centrally perforated plug in which
works on an inclined seat formed in the plug, a valve or cock provided with a
transverse perforation, a longitudinal perforation and an annular groove on the
circumference opposing the transverse perforation forming a convenient means for
drawing off water in the reservoir preparatory to again filling the reservoir with
oil, while the plug serves the purpose of removing sediment and other heavy
accumulations.
The casting in which the connection between the reservoir and sight-feed is
formed when taken separate from the stem is of a T-form, hollow and screw-threaded
on its lower end to receive a cap containing a suitable packing and connecting it
with, and forming a tight-joint for the glass tube which is the sight-feed, said tube
being also jointed in a similar manner at its bottom by another cap containing the
usual packing to the upper end of a stem which projects into the reservoir and
contains a continuation of the oil passage above mentioned, opening into the sight-
feed at the lower end thereof.
The lower end of this stem is bored out so that a portion of its metal is inter-
posed between the bored out portion and the sight feed, and the bored out portion
is internally screw-threaded for the attachment of the barrel of an air pump
preferably provided with a piston having a dove-tail packing and a rod carrying a
pin towards its outer end adapted to be locked in a catch secured to a cap screw
threaded on and closing the lower end of the barrel and forming a bearing for the
piston-rod.
1
This cap is adjustable on the barrel so that after sufficient air is injected to the
sight feed by screwing up the caps after setting the pins in the catch, the piston is
held by the catch and pin tight against a ring packing in the upper end of the
pump barrel, and caused to operate as an auxiliary to the valve in preventing
exit of air from tlie sight-feed..
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Communicating with the bored out portion or chamber of the stem is a tube
which projects up into the sight-tube a sufficient distance to prevent incoming air
from disturbing the flow of the oil or scattering it upon and discoloring the tube,
and seated in the upper end of the pump barrel is a check valve, air being admitted
to said valve through a small opening.
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The T-shaped casting connecting between the reservoir and sight-feed receives a
plug which may be screw-threaded or otherwise secured, and is perforated
connect the passage in the casting with the glass of the sight-feed, and, internally

page_text: screw-threaded to receive the stem of a valve and externally screw threaded for
a cap holding a packing, and forming a tight joint between the plug and the
valve stem.
This valve is for shutting off and regulating the supply of oil from the reservoir
through the sight feed to the steam-pipe or other destination, and involves novel
and important construction in that it has formed in continuation of it, a nozzle
provided with a transverse passage intersecting with a vertical passage, and
extending down into the glass a sufficient distance to afford a full view of the oil
passing from it through the glass to its destination.
When this valve is closed the horizontal opening has no connection with the oil
passage, but if the valve be elevated the horizontal passage will then connect the
nozzle with the passage of the T-connecting casting and the oil forced out of the
reservoir will flow through the horizontal and vertical passages, and thence drop
through the glass to oil passage below when it will flow to its destination. It
frequently occurs that the nozzle of the lubricator becomes stopped up and in
former constructions it is necessary that the plug and valve should be. removed
before removing the nozzle to remove the obstruction, but by the construction above
described the valve and nozzle are simultaneously removed, hence much time and
labor is saved, and the removal of the nozzle correspondingly facilitated.
DL121"
11 1
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page_text: "
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS' THOMPSON, of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors,
6 Lord Street Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Fellow of the Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LUBRICATORS (A communication from abroad by Samuel Reid of
Chicago in the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America,
Mechanic) 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.. improvements in lubricators in which a column or
other pressure of water is employed to overcome the pressure of steam against the
flow of oil, which lubricators are provided with a glass tube more commonly.
termed a "sight-feed" so that by the eye the amount of oil being fed, may be
determined.
The objects of the invention are to successfully employ 'compressed air in a
sight feed tube, and thereby maintain the transparency of the tube, and utilise the
elastic characteristics of the air for establishing an equilibrium of pressure in the
sight-feed, notwithstanding marked variations in the steam pressure; to provide a
lubricator with a novel, form of valve and nozzle controlling the flow of and
directing the oil from the reservoir to the sight-feed; to facilitate the removal of
the nozzle when its oil passage is obstructed by foreign substances; to render the
piston of a pump employed for injecting air to the sight feed, an auxiliary in
closing the sight-feed against an exit of compressed air contained therein.
These objects are attained by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a lubricator embodying the invention.
Figure 2 are enlarged sectional views of the combined valve and nozzle respec-
tively controlling and conducting the oil to the sight feed tube.
Figure 3 a sectional view of the condenser, taken on the line x x of Fig. 1, and
showing the valve regulating the flow of steam to the condenser.
Figure 4 a detail cross section taken on the line y y of Fig. 1, and
Figure 5 a sectional view of a modification of the means employed for supplying
an excess of air to the sight feed.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
A represents a cylindrical oil reservoir constructed of suitable material adapted
to withstand the required pressure, and provided with a stem 1 tapped into the
top of the reservoir, closed by a stopper 2 and adapted for filling purposes, and to
form a connection between the reservoir and the sight-feed by means of the pipe
or branch 3.
Entering one side of, and about the center of the reservoir is a stem B provided
with independent passages 4 and 5, the passage 4. leading from the stem of a bulb
condenser C and forming a water duct in connection with pipe 6 leading from the
lower end of the stem of the condenser to near the bottom of the reservoir for the
purpose of supplying water to the reservoir to displace and cause the oil to flow in
its proper channel to the steam pipe, a valve D (see Fig 3) being provided to regulate
the flow of water to the reservoir.
Stem B, is screw threaded upon its outer end for the purpose of joining a
short pipe 7 by means of a collar 8 and suitable packing, said pipe connecting
the lubricator with the steam pipe of an engine or other device to which the

page_text: lubricator is attached, and affording a chamber for a projecting oil tube 9, forming,
a continuation of the oil passage 5.
The passage
5 extends downwardly and thence upwardly to the oil tube to adapt
it for the operation of a screw threaded valve C¹ controlling the flow of oil to the
oil tube but used more especially to shut off the steam until the pump is operated,.
and the desired quantity of air is supplied to the sight-feed for operating the
lubricator and to admit steam when desirable to blow out the oil passages, said
valve having a tight joint formed by a cap 10 and packing.
In the stem B, and opening into the joint 7. and hence into the steam pipe are
passages 11 and 12 (see Fig 4.) the latter of which is shown in dotted lines in.
Fig 1, from which passages extend up into the bulb of the condenser two tubes 13
and 14 (see Fig. 3), tube 14 opening in a plane below 13, for the purpose of drawing
off the water to prevent it from choking the tube 13, and stopping the operation
of the lubricator.
For clearness in description it may be well to add, that tube 14 operates as a
steam supply to the condenser until the water rises to its level, after which the
water owing to its gravity, and the pressure of the steam from the tube 13,
descends to the steam pipe or other device of attachment, whence it is carried off,.
and by this means a permanent steam chamber is formed in the condenser, the
steam in which materially augments the force of the column of water to displace
the oil in the reservoir.'
Tapped in the bottom of the reservoir is a centrally perforated plug E, in which
works on an inclined seat formed in the plug, a valve or cock F, provided with a
transverse perforation 15, a longitudinal perforation 16, and an annular, groove 17,
on the circumference opposing the perforation 15, forming a convenient means for:
drawing off water in the reservoir preparatory to again filling the reservoir with
oil, while the plug serves the purpose of removing sediment and other .heavy
accumulations.
:
The casting in which the passage 3 is formed when taken separate from the:
stem 1, is of a T-form hollow and screw-threaded on its lower end to receive a.
cap 18, containing a suitable packing and connecting it with, and forming a tight-
joint for the glass tube G which is the sight feed, said tube being also jointed in a
similar manner at its bottom by a cap 19, containing the usual packing to the.
upper end of a stem H, which projects into the reservoir is joined to, stem B, and
contains a continuation of the passage 5, opening into the sight-feed at the lower,
end thereof.
The lower end of stem H, is bored out as shown at 20 so that a portion of its
metal 21 is interposed between the bored out portion, and the sight feed, and the
bored out portion is internally screw-threaded for the attachment of the barrel 22
of an air-pump I, preferably provided with a piston having a dovetail packing 23,
and a rod 24 carrying a pin 25 towards its outer end adapted to be locked in a
catch 26, secured to a cap 27 screw threaded on, and closing the lower end of the
barrel and forming a bearing for the piston rod..
Cap 27 is adjustable on the barrel so that after sufficient air is injected to the,
sight feed by screwing up the caps after setting the pins 25 in catch 26 the piston
is held by the catch and pin tight against a ring packing f in the upper end of the
pump barrel and caused to operate as an auxiliary to the valve b, in preventing an
exit of air from the sight-feed.
Communicating with the bored out portion or chamber 20 of the stem H, is a
tube a which projects up into the sight-tube a sufficient distance to prevent
incoming air from disturbing the flow of the oil, or scattering it upon and,
discoloring the tube, and seated in the upper end of the pump barrel is a check-
valve b, air being admitted to said valve through the opening c.
The casting in which the passage 3, is formed receives a plug K which may be
screw-threaded or other-wise secured, and is perforated to connect the passage,3
with the glass of the sight-feed, and internally screw-threaded to receive the stem

page_text: of a valve L, and externally screw-threaded for a cap 27 holding a packing, Pand
forming a tight joint between the plug and the valve stem.
Valve L is for shutting off and regulating the supply of oil from the reservoir
through the sight-feed to the steam-pipe or other destination, and involves novel
and important construction in that it has formed in continuation of it, a nozzle M,
provided with a transverse passage 28 (see Fig 1 and 2) intersecting with a vertical:
passage 29, and extending down into the glass G, a sufficient distance to afford a
full view of the oil passing from it through the glass to its destination.
As shown in Fig 1 the valve is closed, hence the horizontal opening 28 has no
connection with the oil passage, but it will be seen that if the valve be elevated
the horizontal passage will then connect the nozzle with the passage 3 and the oil
forced out of the reservoir will flow through the horizontal and vertical passages,
and thence drop through the glass to passage 5, whence it will flow to its destination.
It frequently occurs that the nozzle of the lubricator becomes stopped up, and in
former constructions it is necessary that the plug and valve should be removed
before removing the nozzle to remove the obstruction, but by the construction.
above described the valve and nozzle are simultaneously removed; hence much time
and labor is saved, and the removal of the nozzle correspondingly facilitated.
To operate the lubricator. the reservoir is first filled with oil and having, first
closed the valves C, L and opened the valve D, steam is admitted from the steam
pipe or other device to which the lubricator is attached through passages 11 and 12,
and their respective tubes 13 and 14, to the condenser, from whence the condensed
water entering the passage 4. is admitted by the tube 6, to near the bottom of the
oil reservoir, the superior gravity of the water forcing the oil up into the passage, 3
if not already filled.
The air pump is then brought into action, and air is pumped into the glass tube
in a sufficient quantity to nearly if not entirely fill the same after being compressed
by the column of oil, and the opposing pressure of steam, both of which pressures
are dependent in force, upon the height of the column of water in the condenser,
and the pressure of steam in the device to which the lubricator is attached.
The valve C, is then opened, and next the valve L, the feed of oil being regulated
by the latter, and the result is, that if the passage 5, and oil tube 9, are empty, the
air in them will be forced by the steam into the glass, but as the pressure of oil is
greater than the pressure of steam, the oil will also aid in displacing the air, and at
the same time effectually prevent the.steam from entering the glass.
5
Owing to the tendency of the air to rise, and the less degree of pressure of the
steam as compared with the oil; the excess in volume of air filling the passage
will be forced into the device to which the lubricator is attached, or in other words,
the volume of air, when the lubricator is in full operation will not extend into the
passage 5.
The elasticity of the compressed air in the glass, will establish the equilibrium
intimated even though the pressure of the steam intermittently varies during the
operation of the lubricator for it will be understood that if the pressure of steam
decreases, the air will expand in the glass, and on the other hand, if the pressure of
steam increases, the air will be compressed into a smaller space.
In view of this expansion and compressibility of the air in the sight-feed, it is
obvious that if no air was forced into the feed, the compression of the air already in
there, would be sufficient for practical purposes, that is for a time, if the oil and
steam pressures were not sufficient to compress the air in a space above the nozzle,
in which case the oil would rise in the tube and cover the mouth of the nozzle,
or in other words it is necessary in order to keep the glass free of oil; that
sufficient compressed air to establish equilibrium shall partly fill the glass below
the nozzle.
J
It should here be stated that as the oil globules passing through the glass tube,
and constantly absorbing and carrying off particles of air, and as there is also a
liability of leakage in the joint of the tube, the importance and necessity of the
+

page_text: supply of an excess of air to the tube is obvious for a completely successful employ-
ment of air in such a sight-feed, and by an "excess of air," is meant air in excess of
that normally in the sight feed, and, artificially forced therein.
When such absorption and leakage occurs to a sufficient degree a small portion
of the lower end of the glass may in time be filled with oil, but this oil may be dis-
placed by a few strokes of the pump forcing in sufficient air to that end.
An air column in the sight-feed, offers no obstruction to the flow of oil but keeps
the glass of the feed dry and clean, and by the provisions made and described, it is
impossible for the oil to entirely fill the glass, for the steam to enter the same, or
for either to disastrously vary the temperature of the glass so as to fracture it.
The air pump shown, is a convenient means for introducing an excess of air to
the sight-feed, but it is obvious that the air might as well be supplied from any
other source, as for instance, from the air chamber of a pump, or by means of steam
forced through a pipe of considerable length so as to compress air in a tube and
force it into the glass of the feed.
A. still more convenient means is shown in Fig 5. in which a bulb or chamber N,
is substituted for the pump, and the passage 5 extended down to near the bottom
of the chamber, by means of a tube d, air being admitted to said chamber by &
valve or cock e.
In this construction air is admitted to the bulb and sight-feed through the cock e,
and after closing the same, valve C, opened so that steam entering passage 5 will
condense in pipe d, and rising in the chamber these condensations will force and
compress the air in the sight-feed, after which, by opening the valve L, the oil will
take the place of the condensations, and forcing them back through the tube 6,
and passage 5, will follow them to its destination.
In conclusion it should be stated-that the oil being fed, may be determined by
the flow of water instead of oil through the air in the sight-tube, to do which, only
mechanical skill is required to make the necessary changes in the parts for this
purpose, but while the substitution of a flow of water for oil in the tube is clearly
within the scope of this invention, and an obvious equivalent thereof, it is con-
sidered of inferior merit, for it involves the employment of a side-gauge glass to the
reservoir, and other necessary details of construction not herein employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1 A lubricator sight-feed, the glass of which contains an excess of air under
pressure, substantially as described.
2 A sight-feed lubricator provided with a glass tube containing an excess of air
under pressure in combination with devices for supplying air to and compressing
the same in the sight-feed, substantially as described.
3 The combination with the lubricator, of a sight-feed tube arranged at a point
between the oil reservoir and an oil passage to a steam pipe, said feed-containing
air under pressure, substantially as described.
4 In a lubricator, the combination with a sight-feed, of an oil passage extending
from the bottom of the sight-feed, in substantially direct line to the device to be
fed, substantially as described.
5 A combined nozzle and valve, the nozzle of which is provided with per-
forations intersecting and extending at a right angle to each other, substantially as
described.
6 In a lubricator the combination with the oil reservoir, the passages 1, 3, the
plug A, and its bushing, of the combined and removable valve and nozzle and the
sight-feed, substantially as described.
7 The combination with the sight-feed, of an air supply tube extending up into
the sight-feed, and connected with an air supply, substantially as described.
8 The combination with the sight-feed, and with the projecting oil-nozzle, of. an
air supply-tube extending up into the sight feed, and near the nozzle, substantially
as described,

page_text: 9 The herein described method of feeding oil, which consists in passing oil
through a glass tube filled with an excess of air under pressure.
10 The sight-feed in combination with an air pump provided with a piston
adapted to be tightened in the barrel, so as to prevent an exit of air from the sight-
feed, substantially as described.
11 The combination with the sight-feed, of the pump provided with the
packing, and means for holding the pump piston against said packing, sub-
stantially as described.
.
Dated this 95th day
7804