Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in lubricating devices for axles,
shafts and the like, and comprises a closed casing arranged to correspond with
the bearings of the axle or shaft which it is desired to lubricate; the casing pre-
venting waste of oil or other lubricating material, and lessening the possibility
of an accident occurring to the person entrusted with the care of the machine or
appliance to be lubricated, owing to the lubrication being effected automatically.
A preferred form of construction according to this invention will be described.
The apparatus consists chiefly of a metallic casing, which encloses the mechan-
ism for the automatic distribution of lubricating material; which casing is
preferably secured to the supports of the bearings of the axle or shaft to be
lubricated.
The casing consists of three parts, a cover, a body, and reservoir or base. The
cover is provided with an orifice closed by a stopper, through which orifice the
lubricating material is introduced into the casing, and which orifice should be
arranged as corresponding with a conduit or lubricating passage in the bearings,
so as to allow of direct lubrication in case of an accident to the automatic lubri-
cating device. On the cover may also be placed a glazed window which enables
the attendant to examine the working of the apparatus. The lower edge of the.
body on to which the cover is applied fits securely in or over the upper edge of
the reservoir. The body carries a feeding conduit or guide and a protecting
shield, plate or cover, the use of which will be described hereafter. On the side
walls and fitting around the shaft are fixed the plates arranged over the toothed
rings on the shaft. The reservoir may be of various forms according to the
dimensions of the shaft and of the support on which the box or bearing rests.
This reservoir contains the lubricating material, and its bottom extends below the
bearing supports, round the screws of which the bottom of the reservoir is con-
veniently fitted; the reservoir also collects the oil that is wasted in ordinary
lubricating devices. Into this reservoir a finger or projection made fast on the
shaft is adapted to extend as the latter rotates. This finger may be of various
dimensions and shapes according to the requirements of each case and preferably
is formed with or carries at its free end a device shaped like a little spoon, which
dips at each rotation of the shaft into the lubricating material contained in the
reservoir, from which it takes up a small quantity and discharges it into the
feeding guide as it rotates. The feeding guide is bent slightly at its side to
form a gutter, and is fixed to the side of the body of the casing and is inclined
towards the upper orifice forming the lubricating passage of the bearing into
which the guide drops the lubricating material thrown into it by the rotating
finger. The quantity of lubricating material discharged into the bearings through

page_text: the lubricating passage increases with the increase of the rotatory movement,
and hence the heat of the shaft, since at every rotation of the shaft the finger
dips into the lubricating material so that there is therefore no danger of over-
heating. In order to better insure a regular and abundant lubrication in cases
of great rotatory velocities, whereby a portion of the liquid taken up by the
finger might be thrown beyond the lubricating guide against the walls of the
casing a protecting shield or plate is arranged above the guide, fastened to the
walls of the casing inclined and coming to a point above the lubricating passage,
this plate catching and dropping into said passage all the lubricant that otherwise
would have been thrown against the cover or top of the casing. From the above
it will be seen that lubrication is automatic, continuous and always more than
sufficient. Inasmuch as but an infinitesimal part of the lubricant thus carried
into the bearings, is used up in the work and the excess might escape along the
shaft, discs preferably with toothed edges are fixed on the shaft near the side of
the casing by which means the liquid is retained within the case the teeth of
said discs greatly assisting in that purpose. These discs, and the spaces in the
casing for the passage of the shaft are, moreover protected by cap or plates which
prevent any possible loss from drops that might have been thrown off by the
discs. These caps consist of two metallic plates connected to the side wall of the
casing and enclosing between them a metallic screen or arch secured in place
only at the side and fitting around or embracing the shaft, thus preventing the
liquid from escaping at the side, without producing friction.
In cases where these discs and caps cannot conveniently be fixed inside the
casing, they are placed outside by providing the lower part of the casing with a
shield corresponding to the caps, which shield communicates with the interior
of the reservoir through a discharge passage. To facilitate the return to the
reservoir of the lubricant that might eventually be thrown against the walls
of the casing, the latter is provided with ledges, channels or guides inclined
towards the bottom of the reservoir. One of the sides is preferably provided
with a glazed hole extending below the normal level of the lubricating liquid,
which thus shows, at a glance, the quantity of lubricating liquid in the reservoir.
When required, the reservoir may be emptied through a discharge outlet.
Of course, the above described device only represents an example of how such
a casing may be constructed; and it should be observed that as regards this
automatic lubricator the construction is not limited as regards form or dimensions,
the material used, the relative proportion of the parts composing it, nor as
regards the form or shape of the component parts. Whilst some of the parts
described whilst being convenient and useful are not always absolutely necessary.
Dated this 4th day of March 1899.
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Lubricating Devices for Axles, Shafts,
or the like.
A communication from SIMONE GALFRE of Berge in the Kingdom of Italy.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and as-
certained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in lubricating devices for axles,

page_text: sharts and the like, and comprises a closed casing, arranged to correspond with
the bearings of the axle or shaft which it is desired to lubricate, the casing pre-
venting waste of oil or other lubricating material, and lessening the possibility
of an accident occurring to the person entrusted with the care of the machine or
appliance to be lubricated, owing to the lubrication being effected automatically.
In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of construction according to
this invention is illustrated.
Figure 1 represents a front view, at right angles to the direction of the axle
or shaft;
Figure 2 is a side view of same, and
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section parallel with the shaft;
Figure 4 is a section at right angles to the shaft ;
Figure 5 a plan view of the casing.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of the casing without the lid;
Figures 9 and 13 are respectively a side view and plan of the lubricant dis-
tributor as fixed on the shaft, both on an enlarged scale:
Figures 10, 14 and 15 show a front view, a plan and a side view respectively
of the toothed ring and plates provided to prevent waste of lubricating material;
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively front and side views of a modification in
case the rings and plates cannot be placed inside the casing.
The apparatus consists chiefly of a metallic casing, which encloses the mechan-
ism for the automatic distribution of lubricating material, which casing is pre-
ferably secured to the supports of the bearings of the axle or shaft to be lubricated.
The casing consists of three parts: a cover A, a body B and reservoir or base C,
as shewn in the drawing. The cover is provided with an orifice a closed by a
stopper, through which orifice the lubricating material is introduced into the
casing, and which orifice should be arranged as corresponding with a conduit i
or lubricating passage in the bearings, so as to allow of direct lubrication in case
of an accident to the automatic lubricating device. On the cover may also be
placed a glazed window which enables the attendant to examine the working
of the apparatus. The lower edge of the body B on to which the cover A is
applied, fits securely in or over the upper edge of the reservoir C. The body B
carries a feeding conduit or guide and a protecting shield plate or cover b, the
use of which will be described hereafter. On the side walls and fitting around
the shaft, are fixed the plates arranged over the toothed rings on the shaft. The
reservoir may be of various forms according to the dimensions of the shaft and
of the support on which the box or bearing S rests. This reservoir contains the
lubricating material, and its bottom extends below the bearing-supports round
the screws of which the bottom of the reservoir is conveniently fitted; the reservoir
also collects the oil that is wasted in ordinary lubricating devices. Into this
reservoir a finger or projection 7 made fast on the shaft is adapted to extend as
the latter rotates. This finger may be of various dimensions and shapes accord-
ing to the requirements of each case. and preferably is formed with or carries
at its free end a device shaped like a little spoon, which, as will be seen from the
accompanying drawing, dips, at each rotation of the shaft, into the lubricating
material contained in the reservoir. from which it takes up a small quantity and
discharges it into the feeding guide c as it rotates. The feeding guide is bent
slightly at its side to form a gutter, and is fixed to the side of the body of the
casing and is inclined towards the upper orifice i forming the lubricating passage
of the bearing. into which the guide e drops the lubricating material thrown into
it by the rotating finger. The quantity of lubricating material discharged into
the bearings through the lubricating passage increases with the increase of the
rotatory movement, and hence the heat of the shaft; since at every rotation of the
shaft the finger dips into the lubricating material so that there is therefore no
danger of overheating. In order to better ensure a regular and abundant lubri-
cation in cases of great rotatory velocities. whereby a portion of the liquid taken
up by the finger might be thrown beyond the lubricant guide against the walls
1

page_text: of the casing, a protecting shield or plate 6 is arranged above the guide, fastened
to the walls of the casing, inclined and coming to a point above the lubricating
passage ; this plate catching and dropping into said passage i all the lubricant
that otherwise would have been thrown against the cover or top of the casing.
From the above it will be seen that lubrication is automatic, continuous and
always more than sufficient. Inasmuch as but an infinitesimal part of the lubri-
cant, thus carried into the bearings, is used up in the work, and the excess might.
escape along the shaft, discs r, preferably with toothed edges, are fixed on the
shaft near the sides of the casing, by which means the liquid is retained within
the case, the teeth of said discs greatly assisting in that purpose. These discs
and the spaces in the casing for the passage of the shaft are, moreover, protected
by cap or plates ff, which prevent any possible loss from drops that might have
been thrown off by the discs. As shown in the drawings, these caps consist of
two metallic plates, connected to the side wall of the casing and enclosing between
them a metallic screw or arch m secured in place only at the side and fitting
around or embracing the shaft, thus preventing the liquid from escaping at the
side, without producing friction.
In cases where these dises and caps cannot conveniently be fixed inside the
casing, they are placed outside, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, by providing the
lower part of the casing with a shield y corresponding to the caps, which shield
communicates with the interior of the reservoir through a discharge passage. To
facilitate the return to the reservoir of the lubricant that might eventually he
thrown against the walls of the casing, the latter is provided with ledges, channels
or guides d inclined towards the bottom of the reservoir. One of the sides is
preferably provided with a glazed hole h extending below the normal level of
the lubricating liquid, which thus shows, at a glance, the quantity of lubricating
liquid in the reservoir. When required, the reservoir may be emptied through
a discharge outlet s.
Of course, the accompanying drawings only represent one example of how such
a casing may be constructed, and it should be observed that as regards this
automatic lubricator, the construction is not limited as regards form or dimensions
the material used, the relative proportion of the parts composing it, nor as regards
the form or shape of the component parts, whilst some of the parts described
although convenient and useful are not always absolutely necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, declare that what I claim is:-
1. A lubricating device comprising a casing surrounding the shaft or axle to
be lubricated, a projecting finger secured to the shaft which in each rotation of
the shaft dips into a supply of lubricant at the bottom of the casing, taking up
a portion of same and discharging it into a channel above the shaft along which
it flows and drops into the lubricating passage of the bearings, a shield extending
above the channel plate, a guide on the inner sides of the casing to return the
lubricant to the reservoir and toothed discs protected by caps, on the shaft near
the sides of the casing, substantially as described.
2. In a lubricating device of the kind described, means for preventing the
cscape of lubricant along the shaft substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The complete lubricating device for axles, shafts and the like substantially
as described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of October 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.