IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF LUBRICATING, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1864

page_text: Sealed the 24th March 1865, and dated the 14th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his l'etition, on the 14th
October 1864.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF LUBRICATING, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME," to be as follows;-
The improvements forming the object of the present Invention consist,
1st, in obtaining considerable economy in the amount of grease employed for
the lubrication of frictional surfaces, while the water which I use in the
manner herein-after described prevents the hardening of the grease or the for-
mation of a crust, and preserves it in a fluid state; in this manner the grease
will last for a considerable time, its consumption being almost imperceptible.

page_text: 2ndly, in considerably diminishing the loss of power caused, by friction;
the lubrication being effected under the most favorable conditions the
frictional parts become no longer heated, while after a few days; application
of this improved mode of lubrication a perfect polish will be produced on the
frictional surfaces unobtainable by the ordinary methods.
3rdly, in preventing the wear of these surfaces, which is a consequence of
the means employed.
These improvements are applicable to all frictional surfaces, but parti-
cularly to rotary engines. The principle is the same in all cases, which
consists in the simultaneous application of grease and water to the shaft,
journal, or axle; the fatty matters employed may consist of lard, suet, or other
lubricating substance. The effect of the rotation is to cause the grease and
water to intermix and form an unctious compound, which is ground between
the frictional surfaces and adheres thereto, the fatty matter especially never
or seldom becoming detached, the water alone having a tendency to run out
at bottom. Thus the grease box will require feeding but rarely, while the
water on the contrary should be supplied almost continuously, although but in
small quantity; a slight but continuous leakage will also prove very advan-
tageous. The water reservoir is supplied from time to time in the usual
manner of feeding oil reservoirs. The water which falls to the bottom may
be allowed to escape if desired. There is, however, greater advantage in con-
fining it at the lower part of the axle box, as the small quantity of fatty
matter there collected will float on the top of the water. The presence of the
water below the rotating axis also tends to prevent its heating, as also the
bearing and when the lower reservoir is full, the fat which floats is again
passed between the shaft and the bearing. This mode is particularly appli-
cable for the lubrication of locomotive and other wheel axles.
I will now proceed to describe the details of construction of this improved
apparatus, which 1 have represented in the accompanying Drawing.
A, Fig. 1, is the water reservoir of any suitable form or material; B, pipe
for introducing the water; C, wick, one end of which is immersed in the
water and received in pipe B, by this means a continuous supply of water is
obtained, or any other equivalent may be employed; D. ordinary grease box;
E, brass of bearing F; G, journal. The above is the simplest arrangement,
and accords with the first method herein-before described.
Fig. 2 represents a grease box as ordinarily employed for carriage axles.
1, D, are two openings down which the grease passes while the vehicle is in
motion K, grease box; 1, opening for the introduction of oil.

page_text: The improvements according to this Invention may be applied without making
any alteration in the above arrangement, except that I dispose a chamber A in
reservoir K, which may be of zinc or other material forming a water reservoir.
This chamber occupies about two-thirds of the space in K, the remaining
portion being reserved for receiving the grease. The chamber A contains
water, as also a pipe B, either vertical or inclined, furnished with a, wick C.
The water is conducted to the journal through one of the openings. D while
the grease passes down the other similar opening. The water covered with
the thin layer of grease occupies the lower part of the box H; J, collar or
washer of leather or other material for preventing the escape of liquid at the
rear end of the journal. The opening I serves as a means of access to the
lower part of the axle box.
Thus it will be seen that these improvements may be readily applied to
existing axle boxes by the simple addition of chamber A, furnished with pipe
B and wick C, as also collar J; while, if especially constructed according to
these improvements, the compartment. K would be divided into two parts, one
for the oil and the other for water.
Fig. 3 shows the water chamber as applied to the side of the bearing.
a chamber of tin, copper, or other material containing about one quart of
water, but for small shafts revolving at low speeds half that quantity will
suffice for one week's allowance; b, aperture for the introduction of grease;
c, space at the lower part of the box containing water, with a supernatant layer
of grease which has dropped from the shaft, and in which the brass of the
bearing is immersed up to a level with its lower surface, the water always
keeping at the same level; is taken up by the shaft being supplied from
chamber a; as the air enters the water "descends, and so maintains a constant
level. From the foregoing it will be seen that no alteration is required
except at the lower part of the bearing, which is otherwise the same as in
ordinary.
I would observe that the examples herein given are sufficient for ordinary
purposes, although the form of the accessory parts may be varied as desired
without departing from the principle of the Invention. The Invention thus
consists in improvements in lubricating apparatus, with a view to the
simultaneous application of grease and water thereto for the purpose
described.

page_text: by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that 1, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said William
Clark, 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 MEANS
OF LUBRICATING, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," a com". to me from abroad
by Pierre Etienne Proust, retired Gendarme, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said William Clark,
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 immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, referénce being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The improvements forming the object of the present Invention' consist.
1st, in obtaining considerable economy in the amount of grease employed
for the lubrication of frictional surfaces, while the water which I use in the
manner herein described, prevents the hardening of the grease or formation
of a crust, and preserves it in a fluid state; in this manner the grease will

page_text: last for a considerable length of time, its consumption being almost im-
perceptible.
2ndly, in considerably diminishing the loss of power caused by friction.
The lubrication being effected under the most favorable conditions, the
frictional parts become no longer heated, while after a few days' application of
this improved mode of lubrication a perfect polish will be produced on the
frictional surfaces unobtainable by the ordinary methods.
3rdly, in preventing the wear of these surfaces as a consequence of the
means employed.
These improvements are applicable to all frictional surfaces, but particularly
to rotary engines. The principle is the same in all cases, which consists in
the simultaneous application of grease and water to the shaft journal or axle;
the fatty matter employed may consist of lard, suet, or other lubricating
substance. The effect of the rotation is to cause the grease and water to
intermix and form an unctuous compound, which is ground between the
frictional surfaces and adheres threto, the fatty matter especially never or seldom
becoming detached, the water alone having a tendency to run out at bottom.
Thus the grease box will require feeding but rarely, while the water on the
contrary should be supplied almost continuously, although but in small
quantity, a slight but continuous leakage will also prove very advantageous.
The water reservoir is supplied from time to time in the usual manner of
feeding oil reservoirs. The water which falls to the bottom may be allowed
to escape, if desired; there is, however, greater advantage in confining it at
the lower part of the axle box, as the small quantity of fatty matter there
collected will float on the top of the water. The presence of the water below
the rotating axis also tends to prevent its heating as also the bearing; and
when the lower reservoir is full the fat which floats is again passed between
the shaft and the bearing. The mode is particularly applicable for the
lubrication of locomotive and other wheel axles.
will now proceed to describe the details of construction of this improved
apparatus which I have represented in the accompanying Drawing.
A, Fig. 1, is the water reservoir of any suitable form or material; B, pipo
for introducing the water; C, wick, one end of which is immersed in the water
and received in pipe B; by this means a continuous supply of water is obtained,
or any other equivalent may be employed; K, ordinary grease box; E, brass
of bearing: F. G. journal. The above is the simplest arrangement, and
accords with the first method herein described.
Fig. 2 represents a grease box as ordinarily employed for carriage axles.

page_text: D, D, are two openings, down which the grease passes while the vehicle is-in
motion; E, bearing; G, journal; H, bottom of axle box; 1, opening for the
introduction of oil; the improvements according to this Invention may be
applied without making any alteration in the above arrangement, except that
I dispose a chamber A in reservoir K, which may be of zinc or other material
forming a water reservoir; this chamber occupies about two-thirds of the
space in K, the remaining portion being reserved for receiving the grease.
The chamber A contains water, as also a pipe B, either vertical or inclined,
furnished with a wick C; the water is conducted to the journal through one of
the openings D, while the grease passes down the other similar opening. The
water covered with a thin layer of grease occupies the lower part of box H.
J, collar or washer of leather or other material for preventing the escape of
liquid at the rear end of the journal; the opening I serves as a means of
access to the lower part of the axle box.
Thus it will be seen that these improvements may be readily applied to
existing axle boxes by the simple addition of chamber A furnished with
pipe B and wick C, as also collar J, while if specially constructed according
to these improvements the compartment K would. be divided into two parts,
:
one for the oil and the other for water.
Fig. 3 shows the water reservoir or chamber as applied to the side of the
bearing. a, reservoir of tin, copper, or other material, containing about one quart
of water, but for small shafts revolving at low speeds half that quantity will suffice
for one week's allowance; this reservoir is placed at the side of the bearing,
as seen; b, aperture for the introduction of grease; c, space. at the lower part
of box containing water with a supernatant "layer of grease, which has dropped
from the shaft, and in which the brass of the bearing is immersed up to a
level, with the lower surface of said shaft, the water always keeping at the
same level d is taken up by the shaft being. supplied from chamber a; as the
From the
air enters the water descends, and so maintains a constant level.
foregoing it will be seen that no alteration is required, except at the lower
part of the bearing, which is otherwise the same as in ordinary.
I would observe that the examples herein given are sufficient for ordinary
purposes, although the form of the accessory parts may be varied, as desired,
without departing from the principle of the Invention.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what 1 claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in pari recited Letters Patent is, the simultaneous application
of grease and water for Inbricating shafts and other frictional surfaces of

page_text: machinery in the. manner described, as also the improved apparatus used for
the same, without, however, binding myself to the precise form or details
herein described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.