IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF LUBRICATING MACHINERY AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPA- RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47. Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF LUBRICATING MACHINERY AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." - A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th January 1853.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF LUBRICATING MACHINERY, AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of rollers supported by
weighted cams or levers for the purpose of lubricating journals of
all kinds. Beneath the journal to be lubricated is placed a reservoir
or trough of oil, or other lubricating liquid, and in this reservoir is
fitted, partly immerged in the lubricating medium, a roller or
cylinder of wood or metal, and having a grooved or plane surface for

page_text: raising the oil. This roller bears against the under side of the journal,
and receives a rotatory motion therefrom. The axis of the roller
works in vertical slots, and is supported by a small weighted cam or
lever, so as to be kept constantly pressed against the journal to be
lubricated. By this arrangement the lower brass will require to be
cut away to make room for the roller. This arrangement is
obviously applicable to lubricating the axles &c. railway carraiges
and trucks, as well as the, bearings of working journals generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 25th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman; send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did; for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 METHOD OF LUBRICATING
MACHINERY, AND IN THE MECHANISM OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
being a communication to me from abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by a
an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe

page_text: 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry 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, reference being had to the accoin-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:
The said Invention relates to an improved system or mode of
lubricating all shafts, spindles, or axles working horizontally, cither
in fixed bearings or on anti-friction pulleys, by means of a hollow OI.
light cylinder revolving within an oil reservoir, and pressed in
contact with the journal to be lubricated by the combined action of
the pressure of the displaced lubricating material, and that of a
suitable counterpoise. Figure 1, on Sheet 1, of the Drawings, re-
presents a vertical longitudinal section of a railway axle-box, with
the improved lubricating apparatus applied thereto. Figure 2, is a
corresponding vertical section taken at right angles to Figure 1,
shewing the lubricating cylinder in end elevation. At A is the
journal of the axle to be lubricated. It is retained in its place in
the axle box B, by the brass C, fitted over its upper surface. The
lower surface of the journal, is kept in continual contact with the:
lubricating cylinder or roller D, which is pressed against it by the
combined pressure of the displaced oil in the reservoir E, and the
two weiglited levers F, F. These levers or counterpoises oscillate
on the fixed centres G, G, and abut at one of their extremities H, H,
beneath the ends of the axle I of the lubricating cylinder, which is
plainly indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. The axle of the
cylinder is guided and kept in position by the vertical slots J, J, in
the partitions of the oil reservoir. In order that the lubricating
cylinder, which may be made of wood or of very thin sheet metal,
may take up a sufficient quantity of oil to effect the proper lubrica-
tion of the journal, its outer circumference is surrounded by a piece

page_text: of felt or other soft and absorbent material. The oil reservoir E is
cast in one piece, and is composed of four compartments K, K,
which are united or connected by suitable openings in the partitions
of the interior. It is connected to the axle box by two bolts, which
enter the bolt holes L, L, and thus retain it firmly against the
under side of the axle box, which projects a short distance inside the
reservoir to prevent any accidental loss of oil over the edge when in
motion. A channel M is formed in the bottom of the reservoir,
which slopes slightly towards the front of the axle box in order that
the waste or impure oil which sinks to the bottom may be run off
occasionally by the opening for that purpose at N. It will be
obvious to the practical man that this lubricating apparatus may be
applied with facility to all existing axle boxes, of whatever shape
they may be constructed. The revolution of the journal transmits
a corresponding rotatory movement to the cylinder D, which thereby
gives a constant supply of clean oil to the part to be lubricated, the
waste oil sinking into the channel M, as before described. The oil
is introduced into the reservoir by the mouth O, which is closed by
a lid P, kept open or shut, as the case may be, by the blade spring Q
Figure 3, on the same Sheet of Drawings, represents a transverse
vertical section of a plummer block fitted with the lubricator; and
The
Figure 4, is a corresponding longitudinal section of the same.
corresponding parts of the Figures in both Sheets of Drawings
are indicated by the same letters, which are employed in Figures 1
and 2. In this modification an arrangement precisely similar to that
above described is employed. The lower brass C₁ is cut away to
allow of the contact between the journal A, and the lubricating
roller D. The reservoir E, in place of being attached to the bearing
by bolts, is simply supported by two ledges K, K, cast inside the
hollow of the plummer block B. By this arrangement the reservoir
may be entirely removed, if required, and cleaned or replenished
with oil with great facility, being merely slidden in or out on its
fixed supports. Figure 1, on Sheet 2, of the Drawings, represents
a vertical longitudinal section of another modification of the lubri
cator,
also applied to a railway carriage axle box, the corresponding

page_text: parts being lettered as before. In this case the lubricating roller D
is carried by the bridle piece R, which is jointed at S to one end of
the vibrating lever T. This lever oscillates on its fixed centre U,
in the oil reservoir, and is fitted at its opposite extremity with a
counterpoise V, to keep the roller is constant contact with the
journal A. Figure 2, represents a plan of the reservoir alone;
Figure 3, is a transverse section of the axle box and lubricator; and
Figure 4, is a front view of the oil reservoir, shewing in vertical
section an arrangement for indicating the exact level of the oil in
the interior. This portion of the apparatus consists of a cork
float W, which works in a small vertical cylinder X, on one side of
the main reservoir. A spindle Y is attached to the upper surface
of the float, and this spindle is guided by the vertical fixed guide Z.
The upper end of the spindle carries a small graduated inverted cup
or bell a, which shews distinctly the level of the oil, the surrounding
edge of the cylinder X serving as an indicator.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do
not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements
which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations
may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or
main features of the said Invention. But what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
-
First, the general arrangement and construction of lubricators for
horizontal journals in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Second, the application and use of a revolving lubricating cylinder
or drum, which is kept pressed against the surface of the journal to
be lubricated by the combined buoyant action of the lubricating
fluid, and a suitable counterpoise, for the purpose herein-before
described.
Third, the application and use of the counterpoises or weighted
levers in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described.

page_text: Fourth, the application and use of a floating indicator for shewing
the level of the lubricating material as herein-before described.
And, fifth, the application and use of a sloping channel formed in
the bottom of the lubricating reservoir in the manner and for the
purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said. John Henry Johnson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.