Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1897--Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
I, ALBERT DALLIS HOMARD, of Massillon, in the County of Stark, State of
Ohio, and United States of America, Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improvement in lubricators for
dispensing or using flake graphite on locomotive valves and cylinders. As a
lubricant for steam valves, in locomotives the flake graphite referred to is a very
superior article, but it has been found difficult to use it, and very unsatisfactory
results have been obtained with the various lubricator cups now in use because of
the inevitable tendency of the graphite to settle in a solid mass in the bottom of
the cup of said lubricators.
By using the lubricator which is the subject of the present invention, the
difficulties referred to have been overcome, and Hake graphite may now be used
for steam valves such as those named, with the very best results.
In order to make the invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the
accompanying drawing certain means for carrying the same into practical effect,
without, however, intending to limit my invention to the particular construction,
which, for the sake of illustration, I have shown.
The drawing shows a vertical section of the lubricator.
The letter, A, designates the cup or receptacle to contain the graphite; a
stationary feed tube, B, is secured in the bottom of the cup and projects upward
at the center. At the top this tube has an internal screw-thread, and an inlet-
nozzle, c, is fitted therein, and is vertically-adjustable. The space, t, above the
inlet-nozzle will be filled with flake graphite, and by vertically-adjusting this
inlet-nozzle the said space may be reduced or increased, and thereby the quantity
of graphite that will accumulate over the nozzle to be fed may be regulated.
A piston, D, fits within the cup and on its rim has a packing ring, e, to make it
fit steam tight; the center of the piston on its lower side has an enlargement, f
something like a hub and is bored to fit and slide on the central feed tube, B.
The piston has a suitable packing gland, L, to make a steam-tight fit around the
feed tube, B. The construction of this gland is plainly shown in the drawing.
The flake graphite is to be placed in the cup, A, upon this piston which latter
serves as a movable bottom; when steam is admitted below the piston, as
hereinafter described, the piston will be lifted and the entire bulk of lubricator
above the piston will also be lifted.
A cover or head, G, has a rim-flange, h, which internally screw-threaded and
fits down around the top rim of the cup and screws thereon. This cover has on
its lower surface pendent lugs, 2, which serve as stops to limit the up-movement
of the piston as indicated by broken lines. The cover on top and at the center
has a boss, j, in which is an opening, j, that is screw-threaded, and a plug, K,
closes this opening.
In the bottom of the cup is a drain cock, m, to enable all the water and steam
under the piston to be drawn off.
A stem, N, is attached below the cup and its lower end has a screw-thread, o,
by which it may be connected with the steam-chest of a cylinder or to auy
intermediate coupling, as N', which can be attached to the steam-chest. The

page_text: stem has two passages, p, q, one of which opens into the bottom of the cup below
the piston, and is for the admission of steam, while the other, q, connects with the
lower end of the feed tube, B, and is for the outlet or down feed of the graphite.
The steam passage has a valve, pl, by which it may be entirely or partially
closed, or entirely opened: The graphite feed passage, q, has a similar valve, q',
for the same purpose.
Both passages are fitted at the lower end with a valve-bushing, r, r, and
a check-valve is in each bushing though the two valves check in opposite
directions; the check-valve, s, for the steam passage, opens to allow the steam to
enter the cup below the piston, but closes to prevent the back movement of the
steam. The check valve, s', in the graphite feed passage. opens to allow the flake
graphite to pass from the tube, B, downward' into the coupling,, N', and thence to
the steam-chest, but closes to prevent the steam passing upward into said graphite
passage. The check-valves should preferably have three wings.
When
The operation is as follows: When the engine is working the steam pressure will
raise and close the check-valve, s', and thus close the graphite feed passage and at
the same time will raise and open the check-valve, s, and allow the steam to pass
to the cup below the piston, and thereby cause said piston to move upward and
force the flake graphite to fill the space at, t, above the inlet nozzle, c.
steam is shut off the steam check valve, s, will drop to its seat and thus retain the
pressure below the piston; at the same moment the graphite check-valve, st, will
unseat and by the suction action of the locomotive valve and piston, the graphite
in the space, t, will be drawn through the feed tube, B, passage, q, and through the
unseated check-valve, s', into the locomotive steam-chest and cylinder.
This operation will be repeated each time the steam is used and shut off by the
engineer. The graphite will be fed or be drawn down only when suction caused
by the steam takes place.
In case a coupling, such as N₁, is employed a branch pipe U may connect with
said coupling and serves for attachment of a pipe leading from the sight-feed
oil-lubricator that is usually located in the locomotive cab. This is a provision for
an oil-pipe to supply oil in connection with the graphite.
This coupling, N', is no part of my present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion; and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a lubricator for flake graphite, the combination of a closed cup; a
stationary feed tube secured in the cup; a piston fitting in the cup and also around
the said feed tube, and forming a space above the piston for the lubricant material
and a space below the piston for steam; a stem below the said cup and having a
steam passage communicating with the said space below the piston and provided
with a check-valve to prevent the back movement of the steam, and a lubricant
outlet passage from the lower end of said feed-tube and provided with a check-valve
to prevent steam passing into the said graphite space, as set forth.
2. In a lubricator for flake graphite, the combination of a closed cup; a stationary
feed tube secured in the cup; a piston fitting in the cup and also around said feed
tube, and forming a space above the piston for the lubricant material and a space
below the piston for steam; a steam passage to supply steam below the piston, and
force said piston and the lubricant upward; a lubricant outlet passage connected
with the lower end, of said feed-tube; and a check-valve in said lubricant outlet
passage, which is closed by pressure of steam.
Dated this 4th day of January 1897.
ALBERT DALLIS HOMARD.