Year: 1896

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
heing date of first Foreign Application (in 25th Apr., 1898
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 5th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
I, ALBERT LEMUEL IDE, of 1515 North Third Street, in the City of Springfield,
Sangamon County, State of Illinois, United States of America, 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 invention relates to steam, gas or other engines, and more particularly to that
class of engines wherein the parts having frictional contact are automatically supplied
with lubricating oil from a common source or reservoir by some moving or rotating
portion of the engine. Such an engine may be of the horizontal stationary type
having two crank disks, said crank disks, connecting rod, cross-head, and the various
other parts associated therewith being contained and completely enclosed within a
continuous horizontal casing supporting the bearings of the crank shaft at one end
and the cylinder at its opposite end. Å pocket or reservoir is provided in the casing
below the crank disks in which the lubricating oil is confined, the crank disks dipping
for a slight distance into the oil. The rotating crank disks deliver the oil from said
pocket to the various points of application by centrifugal force.
A difficulty which is met with in the system of lubrication in engines of the above
described class lies in the fact that the water which is condensed in the casing of
the engine from the steam escaping from the cylinder through the stuffing box
becomes mechanically united with the oil being churned, agitated and mixed there-
with by the crank disks and reciprocating parts of the engine whereby the oil is
caused to thicken, its function as a lubricant being thereby impaired. The oil when
thus mechanically united with water sometimes becomes too thick to flow freely to
all of the bearings, especially when oil having a vegetable or animal constituent is
employed.
It is the object of my present invention to provide means whereby the water
may be separated from the oil before it becomes thoroughly mingled therewith
and to remove the same from the engine casing without wasting any portion of
the oil.
My invention may be generally described as consisting of a pocket or receptacle
placed beneath the stuffing box of the cylinder in a position to receive the water
which escapes from the stuffing box, and the oil cast forward by the crank disks,
the water, having greater specific gravity, sinking beneath the oil. When the water
reaches a certain height in this pocket, it is drawn off through a siphon vent, while

page_text: the oil is caused to flow, back to the reservoir beneath the crank disks through
channel-ways placed alongside the cross-head guides. To separate the water and oil
more perfectly, I provide partitions in the pocket adapted to prevent the too rapid
return passage of the oil which is thrown forward by the crank disks in large
quantities, whereby sufficient time is given for the complete separation of the oil
and water.
My invention further consists in matters hereinafter described and pointed out
in the claims and will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a self-lubricating engine built in
accordance with my present invention;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof on line 2-2, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion thereof on line 3-3, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with some of the parts omitted, the oil and water
being removed to show the disposition of the partitions;
Fig. 5 is an elevation partly in section of a portion of the engine;
Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the siphon vent.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the different views.
The casing a supports the cylinder & and the bearings c'e' of the crank shaft cat
its ends. Upon the crank shaft and between its bearings are provided two crank
disks d d which are adapted to rotate within an enlarged portion of the engine
casing. Upon the crank pin d' secured to the crank disks is journaled one end of
the connecting rod e, the other end whereof is journaled upon a wrist pin f¹ secured.
to the cross-head to which is also secured the piston rod g.
The cross-head is adapted to be reciprocated in longitudinal guides ff which are
curved to conform in contour to the bearing surfaces of the cross-head. That portion
of the casing which supports the cross-head guides is preferably of cylindrical form.
The lower portion of the wall of the tubular part of the frame is extended beneath
the crank disks to form a pocket or reservoir adapted to contain the lubricating oil
or other lubricant in which the peripheries of the crank disks are immersed. A
removable hood or cover forms a part of the casing of the engine and is provided
to permit of the assembling and inspection of a portion of the parts of the
engine.
In the normal operation of the engine the crank disks are turned in a direction
to cast the oil forward by centrifugal force towards the cylinder head and other parts
of the engine as indicated by arrows in Fig. 1; the oil being deposited upon the
various points of application and lubrication, to be hereinafter specified. The parts of
the engine contained within the casing are thus constantly and copiously supplied with
lubricating oil during the operation of the engine.
The cross-head is constructed as shown, the head of the connecting rod being
journaled thereto and provided with an oil receptacle i communicating with the
bearing surface of the wrist pin and adapted to receive a portion of the oil supplied to
the upper guide of the cross-head by the rotating crank disks through a passageway i¹
provided in said cross-head.
The cover his provided with transverse trough-like receptacles kk adapted to
receive a portion of the oil cast from the rotating. crank disks and to supply oil to
oil receptacles kk', from which the oil passes to bearings.
Preferably near the cylinder head and beneath the piston rod stuffing box I provide
a receptacle which extends a considerable distance below the lower cross-head
guide. This receptacle coinmunicates with the reservoir beneath the crank disks,
preferably by channel-ways 'm m located upon the sides of the lower cross-head guide
and slightly below the bearing surface thereof, the oil that is cast forward by the
crank disks being readily returned to the reservoir by said channel-ways. The
water that forms at the stuffing box drips into the receptacle and, being heavier than
the oil, sinks to the bottom thereof.
To prevent the accumulation of water from becoming too great, I provide means
whereby, when the height of water in the receptacle extends above a predetermined

page_text: limit, the water is automatically drawn off, the oil being constantly returned through
the channel-ways to the oil reservoir. The preferred device for accomplishing this
function is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. wherein I have shown a vertically disposed
chamber extending above the normal level or overflow line of the oil in the
receptacle and communicating with said receptacle at the bottom thereof. Within
the chamber n I provide a duct o, the top whereof is placed a distance below the
bottoms of the channel-ways m m with which the oil in receptacle is normally
level. In practice it has been found that a column of water five inches high,
approximately, balances a column of lubricating oil six inches high, and this relative
specific gravity of the oil and water is taken into consideration in constructing the
apparatus of my invention. If the depth of the receptacle 7 is, for instance, six
inches, I preferably dispose the upper end of duct o one-half of an inch below the
overflow lovel of the oil, whereby three inches of water and three inches of oil may
be accumulated in the receptacle before either the oil or water is caused to overflow.
When three inches of water and three inches of oil are thus contained within the
receptacle a column of water two and one-half inches above the water level in said
receptacle will be contained in the chamber n, the upper surface of said column of
water being level with the top of duct o. This two and one-half inch column
of water serves to balance the three inches of oil contained in the receptacle l.
The oil being constantly thrown forward by the crank disks in copious
quantities, there is a continuous return flow thereof to the reservoir, the oil in
receptacle being thus constantly above its overflow line. As the quantity of water
within the receptacle is increased by the dripping from the stuffing box, the
supporting column of water within the chamber is diminished. The oil supported
by said column, being now heavier in proportion and overbalancing the same,
presses the water from the receptacle / through the overflow duct o until the head of
said column is again increased to a point where it balances the oil. The water that is
added to the receptacle above the predetermined limit is thus constantly passed off
through the overflow duct o. I provide a cork o' for the purpose of withdrawing
all or a portion of the water from the receptacle when desirable for any
purpose.
Before starting the engine, water to the depth of two inches is placed in the
bottom of receptacle which if confined solely within the chamber n would produce
a column of water five inches high, after which sufficient oil is poured into the
receptacle to fill the same and to supply enough oil to the reservoir beneath the crank
disks to immerse said crank disks for about one inch. The oil poured into the
receptacle forces the water into the chamber n to a height of five inches, which is
sufficient to balance the six inches of oil within said receptacle. This five-inch
column of water reaches a point within one-half of an inch of the top of the overflow
duct o. The water in the receptacle is gradually accumulated and displaces the oil
ahove it until the height of the water inside of the receptacle is sufficient, with the
weight of the oil above it, to elevate the water in the chamber n up to the top of the
overflow duct o, whereupon the water will be passed off as it is added to the fixed limit
of water contained within the receptacle as above set forth.
In order that the oil may be more perfectly separated from the water, I provide
longitudinal partitions p p and transverse partitions 9 9 in the path of the oil as it
returns to its reservoir, preferably located as shown, each of which extends above
the top of the oil and about half way towards the bottom of the receptacle, the bottoms of
said partitions extending a sufficient distance above the water line to permit of the
ready flow of oil beneath the same to the channel-ways. These partitions prevent
the oil from being returned too rapidly to the reservoir beneath the crank disks. If
the oil were permitted to return immediately upon entering the receptacle 1, it might
carry a portion of the water from the stuffing box upon its surface to the reservoir
where it would become mechanically united with the oil. The oil before reaching the
reservoir must pass beneath the several partitions, during which passage sufficient
time is given to permit the water to separate from and settle through the oil to the
bottom of the receptacle.

page_text: Referring to Fig. 2, two longitudinal partitions p p are provided which divide the
receptacle into three parts. The middle portion holds the water and oil that have
just become temporarily united. The water in this division of the receptacle sinks to
the bottom while the oil passes beneath the partitions p p. Before passing to the
channel-ways m m the oil must pass beneath the transverse partitions 9 7, any water
that may still be united with the oil separating and settling through the same during
the time that the oil is contained in the portions of the receptacle between the
partitions p p and g g.
While I have described my invention as being applied to engines and to engines of
a particular type, I do not desire to be limited in its application.
Change may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention,
and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the precise construction shown.
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. The combination with an engine, of a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating
oil, a moving portion of the engine being adapted to transfer said oil to bearing
surfaces of the engine, a receptacle adapted to receive the oil after having been
transferred, a channel way or passage through which the oil is adapted to be passed
from said receptacle to the oil reservoir, said receptacle being also adapted to receive
the water that condenses from the engine, and means for withdrawing the water from
said receptacle, substantially as described.
2. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing the working parts thereof,
a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating oil located in said casing, a moving portion
of the engine being adapted to transfer said oil to bearing surfaces of the engine, a
receptacle adapted to receive the oil after baving. been transferred, a channel-way or
passage through which the oil is adapted to be returned from said receptacle to said
reservoir, said receptacle being also adapted to receive the water that drops from the
working parts of the engine, and means for withdrawing said water, substantially as
described.
3. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing the working parts thereof,
a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating oil located within said casing, a moving
portion of the engine being adapted to transfer said oil to the bearing surfaces of the
engine, a receptacle adapted to receive the oil thus transferred, a channel-way or
passage through which the oil from said receptacle is adapted to be returned to the
reservoir, means for retarding the oil in its return from the receptacle to the reservoir,
said receptacle being also adapted to receive the water that condenses from the engine,
and means for withdrawing said water, substantially as described.
4. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing the working parts thereof,
a reservoir located within said casing adapted to contain lubricating oil, means for
transferring said 'oil to portions of the engine having frictional contact, a receptacle
adapted to receive the oil after having been thus transferred, a passage-way through
which the oil is adapted to be returned from said receptacle to said reservoir, a
partition or partitions located in the path of the returning oil to retard its passage,
said receptacle being also adapted to receive water that condenses from the engine,
and means for withdrawing said water, substantially as described.
5. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing the working parts thereof,
a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating oil, means for transferring said oil to parts
having frictional contact, a receptacle adapted to receive the oil after having been
thus transferred, means for returning the oil in said receptacle to said reservoir,
partitions p p located in said receptacle adapted to retard the oil in its return passage
to the reservoir, said receptacle being also adapted to receive the water that condenses
within the casing of the engine, a chamber n communicating with said receptacle, and
an overflow duct o located within said chamber, substantially as described.
6. The combination with an engine, of a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating
oil, means for casting said oil toward and upon portions of the engine having

page_text: frictional contact, a receptacle located in the path of the oil as it is being cast from
said reservoir adapted to receive the water as it drips from the engine and also the:
oil, after being thus cast, said oil and water being adapted to be separated in said
receptacle, means for returning the oil from said receptacle to said reservoir and means
for withdrawing the water from said receptacle; substantially as described.
7. The combination with an engine, of a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating
oil, means for casting said oil toward and upon portions of the engine having
frictional contact, a receptacle located in the path of the oil as it is being cast from:
said reservoir adapted to receive the water as it drips from the engine, and also the-
oil after being thus cast, means for returning the oil from said receptacle to said
reservoir, a chamber n communicating with said receptacle and an overflow ducto;:
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. The combination, with an engine; of a reservoir adapted to contain lubricating -
oil, means for casting said oil toward and upon portions of the engine having-
frictional contact, a receptacle located in the path of the oil as it is being cast from.
said reservoir adapted to receive the water as it drips from the engine and also the
oil after being thus cast, means for returning the oil from said receptacle to said
reservoir, means for retarding the oil in its return from the receptacle to the reservoir-
and means for withdrawing the water from the receptacle; substantially as and for
the purpose described.
9. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing working parts thereof, a
crank disk or disks, forming a part of said engine, a reservoir located beneath said
crank disk or disks, adapted to contain lubricating oil, said crank disk or disks being
adapted to cast the oil from said reservoir upon parts of the engine having frictional
contact, a receptacle located in the path of the oil as it is being thus cast from said:
reservoir adapted to receive the water as it drips from, the engine and also the oil
after being thus cast, said oil and water being adapted to be separated in said
receptacle, means for returning the oil from the receptacle to the reservoir and means.
for withdrawing the water from the receptacle; substantially as described.
10. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing working parts thereof, a
crank disk or disks forming a part of said engine, a reservoir located beneath said
crank disk or disks adapted to contain lubricating oil, said disk or disks boing adapted
to cast the oil from said reservoir upon parts of the engine having frictional contact,
a receptacle located in the path of the oil as it is being thus cast from said reservoir
adapted to receive the water as it drips from the engine and also the oil after being
thus cast, means for returning the oil from said receptacle to said reservoir, means for-
retarding the oil in its return from the receptacle to the reservoir, and means for
withdrawing the water from the receptacle; substantially as described.
11. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing working parts thereof, a.
crank disk or disks forming a part of said engine, a reservoir located beneath said
crank disk or disks adapted to contain lubricating oil, said crank disk or disks being
adapted to cast the oil from said reservoir upon parts of the engine having frictional
contact, a receptacle located in the path of the oil as is being thus cast from said
reservoir adapted to receive the water as it drips from the engine and the oil after-
being thus cast, a passage way between said receptacle and reservoir through which
the oil is adapted to be returned to the reservoir, a partition or partitions placed
within the path of the returning oil and means for withdrawing the water from said
receptacle; substantially as described.
12. The combination with an engine, of a casing enclosing working parts thereof, a
crank disk or disks forming a part of said engine, a reservoir located beneath said:
crank disk or disks adapted to contain lubricating oil, said crank disk or disks being
adapted to cast the oil from said reservoir upon parts of the engine having frictional
contact, a receptacle located in the path of the oil as it is being thus cast from said
reservoir, adapted to receive the water as it drips from the engine and the oil after-
being thus cast, a passage through which the oil from the receptacle may be returned
to the reservoir, a partition or partitions located in the path of the returning oil, a.

page_text: chamber n communicating with said receptacle and a vent duct o communicating with
said chamber; substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of October 1896.
ALBERT LEMUEL IDE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.