IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BEARING FEELERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Alley, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BEARING FEELERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Alley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st October 1875.
I, STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BEARING FEELERS," to be as
follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to apparatus of the kind described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to the present applicant and
dated 26 September 1873 (No. 8148), such apparatus, now well known
as "bearing feelers," being designed to prevent injuries from the over-
heating of bearings or parts of machinery requiring lubrication by
indicating the attainment of a predetermined degree of abnormal heating

page_text: at any part, so as to attract the attention of the engineer or person in
charge; and in some cases by also automatically supplying to the
heated part an additional quantity of lubricant.
The present Invention comprises various modifications in the manner
of combining or constructing the minor details of bearing feelers to t
render their application more convenient and advantageous in par-
ticular cases, the essential features described in the said earlier Speci-
fication being however retained in most cases.
In one improved arrangement an inverted bell is fixed on the vertical
tube containing the rod and helical spring, with the cavity at its lower 1
end for the fusible plug, the pinion to be acted on by the rack teeth on
the rod being inside the bell, together with the tappet wheel and clapper
details. A light cover is fixed over the mouth of the bell, or the bell
may be fitted as the cover of a cup containing the other details. An
oil cup is fixed on the tube beneath the bell, this cup being by pre- 1
ference formed with a central tube for the feeler tube to pass through,
and with a lateral tube leading into the central tube for the oil to
pass by.
In a second arrangement the rod, which is pushed down by a spring
when the fusible plug melts, or which may be pushed up by the
expansion of mercury or other suitable substance, liberates the detent
of a small alarm clock train, the spring or weight of which has been
wound up by a key. This arrangement is well adapted for factories or
places where on account of prevalent noise it is desirable that the
striking of the bell should continue for a time, to make more sure of
attracting attention.
• In a third arrangement the fusible plug is pressed on by a rod, tube,
or sliding piece, which is connected to or acts on a lever having a bell
attached to its outer end. When the fusible plug is entire the bell is
in such a position that its clapper is clear of a projection or wiper
fixed on the shaft; but when the plug melts the bell moves nearer the
shaft by its weight, or by the action of a separate weight or spring, and
its clapper is struck repeatedly as the shaft rotates. In one very com-
plete modification of this arrangement the fusible plug is made tubular,
and the oil or lubricant passes down a central tube extending through
the plug and passing through the slide which rests on the plug. This
slide ordinarily supports the oil cup or closes one or more apertures in

page_text: the bottom thereof, such apertures being additional to that for the
ordinary supply, and when the slide descends because of the melting of
the plug it leaves the oil cup resting on the fixed part or uncloses the
additional apertures, thereby allowing an extra supply of lubricant to
pass down.
In a fourth arrangement a lever with a bell to be acted on by a pro-
jection on the rotating shaft is kept out of range by a spring until heat
acting on mercury or other suitable substance confined in a tube or
cavity causes expansion, which acting on a slide or plunger connected
to the bell lever overcomes the spring and puts the bell within range.
In a fifth arrangement the part containing a fusible plug to be
melted by extra heat, and thus permit a spring to act, or containing
mercury or other substance in a confined space to be expanded by extra
heat, is fitted on the shaft or revolving body, or on a connecting rod
end or other moving piece of machinery, and a bell is fixed in a position
near the shaft or moving part, so that its clapper may be acted on
whenever a rod striker or projection of any convenient kind carried by
the moving part is thrust within range through the action of extra heat
on the fusible plug or confined expansible substance.
In a sixth arrangement the projection or striker is fitted so as when
set outwards through the action of extra heat to form an electric contact
with an insulated metal spring or pad connected with an electric bell.
In a seventh arrangement the indicating apparatus, whether it be
the bell to be acted on by the rotating shaft or any other of the con-
trivances for calling attention as distinguished from the part on which
extra heat acts directly, is connected to a plunger, piston, or diaphragm
resting on the lubricant in a chamber formed in the bearing piece or
in a piece connected thereto, so as to be set in action by the exhaustion
of the lubricant.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Stephen Alley, Her special licence
that I, the said Stephen Alley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen Alley, 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 AND CONNECTED WITH BEARING FEELERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Stephen Alley, 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 Stephen Alley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to apparatus of the kind described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated 26 September
1873 (No. 3148), such apparatus, now well known as "bearing feelers,"
being designed to prevent injuries from the overlicating of bearings or
parts of machinery requiring lubrication by indicating the attainment of
a predetermined degree of abnormal heating at any part, so as to attract
the attention of the engineer or person in charge, and in some cases by
also automatically supplying to the heated part an additional quantity
of lubricant.
My present Invention comprises various modifications in the manner
of combining or constructing the minor details of bearing feelers, such
modifications being designed to render the application of the bearing
feelers more convenient and advantageous in particular cases, the essen-

page_text: tial features described in the said earlier Specification being however
retained in most cases.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood I hereunto append two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing
examples of my various improved modifications. In these Drawings
the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a vertical section of one
improved arrangement, in which an inverted bell 1 is fixed on the
vertical tube 2 containing the rod 3 and helical spring 4, with the
cavity 5 at its lower end for the fusible plug, which plug is however not
shown in this Figure. The pinion 6, to be acted on by the rack teeth
on the rod 3, is inside the bell 1, together with the tappet wheel 7 and
the clapper details 8. A light cover 9 is fixed over the mouth of the
bell 1, and an oil cup 10 is fixed on the tube 2 beneath the bell, this cup
being by preference formed with a central tube 11 for the feeler tube 2
to pass through, and with a lateral tube 12 leading into the central tube
for the oil to pass by.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a modification without the oil cup (10),
which may be applied or not with the other parts according to circum-
stances. The cover 9 may form the bell, and the details may be contained
in a cup 1 beneath.
In a second arrangement, a modification of which is shown in eleva-
tion in Figure 3, the rod 3, which is pushed down by a spring 4 when
the fusible plug 5¹ melts (or which may be pushed up by the expansion
of mercury or other suitable substance, as in modifications herein-after
described) liberates the detent of a small alarm clock train, the spring or
weight of which has been wound up by a key. This arrangement is
well adapted for factories or places where on account of prevalent noise
it is desirable that the striking of the bell should continue for a time to
make sure of attracting attention.
In a third arrangement, a modification of which is shown in section in
Figure 4, the fusible plug 5' is pressed on by a rod, tube, or sliding
picco 8, which by lateral projections or otherwise acts on a lever 13,
having a bell 14 attached to its outer end. When the fusible plug is
entire the bell 14 is in such a position that its clapper is clear of a

page_text: projection or wiper 15 fixed on the shaft 16, but when from the heating
of the bearing 17 the plug 5' melts the bell 14 moves nearer the shaft
by its weight (or it might be by the action of a separate weight or
spring), and its clapper is in consequence struck repeatedly as the shaft
16 rotates. In a very complete modification of this arrangement shown
in section in Figure 4, the fusible plug 5' is made tubular, and the oil or
lubricant passes from a cup 10 at the top down a central tube 18,
extending through the plug, and passing through the slide 3, which
rests on the plug. This slide 3 ordinarily supports the oil cup 10, being
mado with a conical cavity at its upper end to receive the conical bottom 1
of the cup, in which one or more openings are made for the passage of
the oil in addition to the central one. These additional openings are
closed by the slide 3, excepting when the plug 5¹ melts from over-
heating, and then as the slide descends it leaves the cup 10 resting on
the fixed part 19 of the apparatus, and thereby encloses the additional 1
openings, and allows an extra supply of lubricant to pass down at the
same time that the bell 14 gets near enough to the shaft to be struck by
the wiper 15.
In a fourth arrangement, a modification of which is shown in Figure 6,
a lever 13, with a bell 14 to be acted on by a projection on the rotating
shaft is kept out of range by a spring 20 until heat acting on
mercury or other suitable substance confined in a tube or cavity 21
causes expansion, which acting on a slide or plunger 22 connected to
the bell lever 13 overcomes the spring 20, and puts the bell 14 within
range. The mercury is by preference confined by a thin diaphragm of
rubber 23, on which the plunger 22 rests.
In a fifth arrangement the part containing a fusible plug to be
melted by extra heat, and thus permit a spring to act, or containing
mercury or other substance in a confined space to be expanded by extra
heat, is fitted on the shaft or revolving body, or on a connecting rod end
or other moving piece of machinery, and a bell is fixed in a position near
the shaft or moving part, so that its clapper may be acted on whenever a
rod or striker or projection of any convenient kind carried by the moving
part is thrust within range through the action of extra heat on the
fusible plug or on the confined expansible substance.
Figure 7 is a section of a modification attached to a rotating shaft 16,
and for acting by means of mercury. A recess 21 for the mercury is
formed in a casting 24 shaped to fit the shaft 16, and fixed thereto by a

page_text: strap and bolts. A diaphragm 28 of rubber is fixed over the mercury,
being held in the joint of a cover 25 screwed to the casting 24. The
cover 25 is bored for a plunger or rod 22, and also for a spring which
presses the rod upon the diaphragm. The other end of the rod passes
through a cap 27 screwed on the cover to retain the spring, and acts as
the striker.
15 HAGU
being held in the joint of a cover 25 screwed to the casting 24. The
cover 25 is bored for a plunger or rod 22, and also for a spring which
presses the rod upon the diaphragm. The other end of the rod passes
through a cap 27 screwed on the cover to retain the spring, and acts as
the striker.
Figure 8 is a section of a modification only differing from that shown
in Figure 7 by having the casting 24 shaped for attachment to a flat
surface.
In a sixth arrangement the projection or striker (22) is fitted so as
when set outwards through the action of extra heat to form an electric
contact with an insulated metal spring or pad connected with an electric
bell.
In a seventh arrangement the indicating apparatus, whether it be the
bell to be acted on by the rotating shaft, or any other of the contrivances
for calling attention, as distinguished from the part on which extra heat
acts directly, is connected to a plunger, piston, or diaphragm resting on
the lubricant in a chamber or vessel formed in the bearing piece or in a
piece connected thereto, so as to be set in action by the exhaustion of
the lubricant. Figure 9 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a vertical section
of one modification of this arrangement. The oil or lubricant is con-
tained in a cylindrical cup 28, and has a piston 29 resting on the top of
it, and the piston with its rod 30 descends as the lubricant is used or
passes off from the bottom of the cup, and acts on the indicating or
alarm apparatus when the lubricant is exhausted, or at any predetermined
point in the progress of its consumption.
Figure 10 is an elevation of a modification in which a bell 14 is
attached to the rod 30 to be acted on as in the modifications shown in
Figures 4, 5, 6, herein-before described. The bell (14) acted on by the
rotating shaft (16) need not be close to the bearing to which the other
parts of the "feeler" are applied, but will in some cases be more con-
veniently placed at a distance, and may then also serve for giving
indications or alarms in connection with two or more feelers or bearings.
Thus in the case of the shaft of a screw steamer feelers applied to the
3 several bearings in the shaft tunnel may be advantageously arranged to
act in connection with a bell situated at the end of the tunnel or in the
engine room, as shown in longitudinal vertical section in Figure 11 on

page_text: Sheet 2. The bell 14 (a face view of which is shown in Figure 12) is
fixed on a plate 31 fitted to slide on guide rods 32, and is suspended by
a cord 33, which passes over guide pulleys 34 to the feelers 2 of the
various bearings 17 in the tunnel. One of these feelers 2 is shown full
size in Figures 13 and 14, and its rod 3 is fitted with a pulley 36 at its
upper end, whilst two other pulleys 37 are fitted one at each side of the
tube 2. The cord 33 is led under the latter pulleys 37 and over that of
the rod 3, so that the strain of the weight of the bell 14 presses the
rod 3 down on the fusible plug 5¹. When therefore the plug is melted
by extra heat the cord 33 is slackened, and allows the bell 14 to descend
by its weight, so that its clapper is acted on by a wiper 15 fixed on the
shaft 16. The one cord 33 and bell 14 are made to serve for the several
feelers 2 by an arrangement of the pulleys 34 and cord 33, which will be
easily understood from the Drawing, and which is obviously well suited
for factories, workshops, and for any place where there are a number of
bearings, or where it may be desirable to place the bell at such a distance
as not to have its indications overpowered by noise made in the im-
mediate neighborhood of the bearing.
The arrangement with a cord 33 for transmitting the action of a
feeler to a distant indicator is in Figure 9 shown as applied in connection
with the piston oil cup 28, which acts through the exhaustion of the
lubricant, and not necessarily by extra heat, to which application it is
obviously equally well adapted.
Figure 15 is a modification in which the descent of the slide or rod 3,
as the fusible plug 5' melts, moves a bell 14 into a position to have its
clapper struck by a wiper on the revolving shaft in a slightly different
manner to what is herein-before described with reference to Figures 4
and 5. A pin fixed in the tube 2 projects into a helical groove in the
slide 3, and as this slide descends it turns, and thereby swings round the
bell 14 into position.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described and delineated, but that
what I believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
1. The arranging or combining together of bearing feelers in the
improved manner herein-before described with reference to Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: 2. The arranging of the bearing feeler details so as to cause a bell to
move into the way of a wiper on the revolving shaft when the bearing is
overheated, as herein-before described.
3. The arranging or combining together of the parts of bearing feelers
in the improved manner herein-before described with reference to
Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings, so that an extra quantity of
lubricant is supplied when the bearing is overheated.
4. The constructing of the bearing feeler in the improved manner
herein-before described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying
Drawings, so that the indication or alarm is made by the expansion of a
confined substance, such as mercury.
5. The fixing of the part containing a fusible plug and spring, or
containing mercury or other substance in a confined space, on a rotating
shaft or other moving part, and the arranging of the parts so that extra
heat causes a rod or striker to be moved out into a position to strike the
clapper of a stationary bell, or to form an electric contact with an
insulated spring connected with an electric bell, as herein-before
described.
:
6. The arranging of the indicating or alarm apparatus so as to act
when the supply of lubricant is exhausted or nearly so, whether there
be extra heat or not, as herein-before described.
7. The connecting of one or more feelers with a distant bell or alarm
apparatus, in the improved manner herein-before described with reference
to Figures 11 to 14 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Alley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
0
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
STEPHEN ALLEY. (L.S.)