Improvements in Oil Cans.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th Apr., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by ORBIS H. WARREN, residing at Syracuse, in t
County of Onondaga, State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Oil Cans.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
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 instrument here described is denominated a Telelain by which is meant an
oiling device which is capable of conveying the oil by means of a force pump to a
considerable distance beyond the oil reservoir to bearings not easily reached by the
ordinary oil can.
Referring to the drawings figure 1 is a sectional view through the centre taken
lengthwise of the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the base of the oil reservoir as shown in figure 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the pump chamber and inlet valve as shown in figure 1.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the pump showing the handle in place with the spring
attached as shown in figure 1.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sections of the coupling joint at the discharge tip attached to the
delivery pipe.
Fig. 7 represents a modified form of the telelain adapted to oiling bearings
overhead.
Fig. 8 represents the oiler adapted to heavy stationary machinery, and locomotives.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate like parts in all the figures. .
The terms designating relative position refer to the instrument when held upright,
as shown in Fig. 1 with the discharge tip at the top and the handle below, although
in use the instrument is often inverted, or reversed, to reach downward as well as
upward, in which position it works equally as well as in any other position in which it
can be held.

page_text: "
The three principal parts or divisions of the structure are designated as follows:
First, the "body" by which term I designate the cylinder which extends from the
handle H to the delivery pipe e and which may include the oil reservoir and serves to
support the conducting tube herein described; second, the " delivery pipe" or
" nozzle e; the same being that unsupported portion of the conducting tube which
is above the body and attached thereto; third, the handle H beneath and attached to
the body. To these parts thus named the various parts of the apparatus for forcing
the oil from the oil reservoir to the point of discharge are attached. The body, as
above defined, I make in sections described as follows:-
The oil-chamber, A, Fig. 1, may consist of a shallow oil vessel of any convenient
shape. As here described it is shaped tubular with the lower part expanded out
laterally at its base, as seen in the drawing-Fig. 2, the chamber being of sufficient
diameter and length to be conveniently handled and to contribute materially to the
length of the body and yet to bring the bulk of the oil near the base.
To the top of the cylindrical tube or oil chamber A, is attached a coupling box B',
by which box another section, B, of the body is affixed to the top of the oil chamber
with a packing between the parts. To the opposite end of section B is attached
another coupling box B", by which it is connected with another section, D, also
constructed with a coupling box attached to each end. The sections thus constructed
may be of any length and number desired, and the top section may be made tapering
as shown in Fig. 1. The several sections united constitute the body or pole of the
instrument as above defined.
Under the base-plate of the oil chamber (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) the pump barrel F
is affixed horizontally by means of a coupling plate, with which the pump barrel is
combined. This pump barrel is closed at its outer end by a screw cap. A partition, J,
divided the chamber into two parts, with a hole or ports, through the center of the
partition, which forms a valve seat. At its entrance, the pump barrel is enlarged in
the bore, with a beveled shoulder at the junction, and into this enlargement a collar, I,
fits with its inner end similarly beveled to form a V shaped recess, into which a
proper packing is put around the piston F¹. This piston (which is the size of the
bore of the pump) projects beyond the barrel of the pump, and is terminated by a
thumb-piece at its end, by means of which it is pressed inward. To the inner end of
the piston is affixed a stem that passes through the port in the partition J, and has a
valve, K, made upon its end so that when the piston is drawn out by the spring O,
hereinafter described, the valve K is brought up to its seat and closes the port in
partition J.
Around the pump barrel, as represented by Fig. 1 a frame is fastened to the base,
to which the handle H is affixed below the pump barrel. There is a fulcrum pin, P,
in this frame, around which a spring, O, is coiled. The two ends of this spring bear
against the collar I, one on each side, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, and after two or three
turns around the fulcrum pin P the loop forming another arm of the spring is brought
up and made to bear against the projection on the outer end of the piston, so as to
force it outward against the resistance of the collar I; upon which collar the ends of
the spring bear, holding the collar in place and making by means of the packing, an
oil tight joint around the piston.
In the base of the oil chamber A are two valve chambers one on each side of the
partition J. The inlet-valve chamber L opens into that part of the pump chamber
nearest the end. The outlet-valve chamber M is connected by a valved orifice with
that part of the pump chamber containing the piston. A conducting tube, C, is
connected with the valve chamber M and extends up to the coupling box B, where it
is affixed to an orifice, in the center of the coupling.
Each section of the body, as B and D &c., that may be attached incloses the small
tube c, which is affixed at each end to an orifice in the coupling box so that when the
sections are properly connected with the small tubes c c form a conduit for oil from
the valve chamber M to the opposite end of the body.
To the top of the body is joined the delivery pipe or nozzle e, forming a continuation
of the oil conduit, the connection being made by means of a union coupling, u, which

page_text: permits the delivery pipe e to be adjusted and held in position (after the several
sections of the body have been joined together) in the proper position in relation to
that of the handle H. The delivery pipe is curved as shown in the drawings, and to
its upper end is attached an adjustable discharge tip, N, for the purpose of changing
the direction of the discharge of oil as may be desired at any instant while the
telelain or shaft is being used. For this purpose I use a coupling which will allow
the discharge tip to be turned about quickly on its axis around the center joint without
interrupting the oil passage.
This coupling is made as follows:-On the end of the delivery pipe e, I affix a
disc, V, (Fig. 6), having an annular groove cut in its face around a boss projecting
from the center. Into this groove the delivery pipe opens through an orifice at the
side. The discharge tip N has a counter disc, W, similarly grooved, which fits to the
center boss and is forced up against section V and held in place by a center screw, W¹,
that unites them. By placing the discharge tip against a shaft, a hanger, an oil box
or in the entrance of an oil hole it may be turned instantly, simply by manipulating
the instrument by the hand in which it is held while in the process of oiling, to any
angle desired.
Within the oil reservoir or at its base, a device is constructed which I denominate
an oil-retainer, the function of which is to retain a temporary supply of oil in contact
with the suction inlet or foot valve of the pump. When the telelain is used in an
inverted position, or tipped downward the oil, unless retained, would all flow away
from said inlet or valve. As shown in Fig. 1 this oil retainer is formed by attaching
a diaphragm E to the wall of the oil vessel at a convenient distance from the bottom,
above the valve L; through which diaphragın there is an opening for the admission
of oil in the side of the vessel opposite the inlet of the pump. Thus constructed my
telelain can be used to oil in any position, and the quantity of oil discharged by the
pump may be determined by the adjustment of a set screw, S, under the barrel of the
pump, regulating the stroke of the piston. When the piston is thrown outward by
the spring O the valve K closes the port in partition J between the chambers of the
pump and cuts off the flow of oil between them, thus preventing any flow from the
discharge tip when it is extended downward, except as the oil is discharged by action
of the pump..
This telelain is made seven feet (more or less) long with perfect action, and can be
lengthened or shortened by varying the length or number of the sections used to form
it all the working parts of the telelain can readily be uncovered and separately
detached. The removing of the pump from the base uncovers valve L and M, and
unscrewing the cap of the pump uncovers the valve K, which can then be disconnected
from the piston. Thus all the parts of the pump may be separated without disturbing
the oil reservoir or tube sections. The sections can be disjointed for packing for
transportation or for extending or decreasing the length of the instrument without
disturbing its parts.
j
Fig. 7 represents a modified form of the telelain, adapted simply to the oiling of
bearings overhead, not requiring the instrument to be used in an inverted position.
In this form the base section, A, as shown in Fig. 1, is dispensed with, and the
section B is extended downward as far as may be desired, forming a tubular rod,
which is capped at the bottom and made to serve the purpose of an oil fountain. Near
the lower end H (which serves for a handle) the pump barrel is fixed transversely
through the tubular rod, or section B, so as to open externally thereto at each end
one end receiving the collar I and the piston in the same manner as in Fig. 1, and
the other end being covered with the screw-cap s. The two valves, L and M, are
placed in chambers at the end of the barrel next to the screw-cap, by which they are
enclosed and by the removing of which they may be uncovered. From the inlet-valvo
seat a suction tube, x, extends downward to near the bottom of the oil fountain, or
section B; and the conducting tube c is attached to the outlet-valve chamber and
extends upward to the coupling box B. In this construction of the instrument the
spring is held in position by a boss attached to the tubular rod just above the
mouth of the pump barrel, and hollowed out at the under side to receive the spring.

page_text: This boss has an armature extending downward a proper distance from the mouth of
the pump barrel, and is so situated as to form a stop for the piston in its outward
motion. The set-screw S¹ for regulating the stroke of the piston, passes through a
nut in the end of the piston; and at its outer end is a disc which serves as the
thumb-piece for actuating the piston, and on the inside of which bears the arms of the
spring O, pressing outward against the thumb-piece.
Fig. 8 represents an instrument especially adapted to heavy stationary machinery
and to locomotives, where less reach is required but where the bearings are in positions
not easily reached by the ordinary hand oilers. In this instrument the oil-retainer
consists of a shallow base-reservoir A attached to the bottom of the upright reservoir,
and communicating with it, in such manner that when the instrument is held in an
inverted position a supply of fluid is held in contact with the suction-tube C⁰ of the
pump. In this form of the instrument the retainer may be conveniently made, as here
shown, by forming in combination with the bottom of the oil vessel an oblong
chamber, y, extending from side to side of the oil vessel and communicating with the
upright reservoir through an orifice y'. In this instrument, the pump is inserted into
the side of the oil-vessel immediately above the handle H, with the pump barrel F
opening externally, and the piston F projecting in conveniont position to allow it to
be actuated by the thumb of the hand in which the instrument is held. The piston is
pressed inwardly against the spring 0, which, in this construction may be coiled
about the piston with one end of the coil resting on the collar I and the other end
pressing outwardly against the thumb-piece at the outer extremity of the piston
Communicating with the oil-retainer, on the side opposite the orifice y', is a suction-
tube, C connecting the retainer and the pump-barrel F. This tube, passing through
the closed end of the pump-barrel, extends along the cavity of the barrel and the
hollow piston F¹ as far as is desirable, and at its extremity the suction or foot valve L
of the pump is placed. By this construction the valve is put where it can be uncovered
simply by removing the piston from the barrel. From an outlet orifice in the pump-
barrel, the conducting tube C extends upward to the coupling-box B¹, where in a
chamber formed between the two parts of the coupling-box, the outlet valve Mis
placed. This valve may be uncovered by disjoining the coupling. From the
coupling B the tubular rod or nozzle, with the conducting tube C enclosed, as
described in Fig. 1 is carried upward as far as may be desired.
In this instrument the valves are held in position by springs of sufficient tension to
prevent the flow of oil by gravitation when the instrument is inverted.
Instead of the union coupling as shown in Fig. 8, the device shown in Fig. 9 can be
used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First A telelain, for oiling machinery, having the body thereof, as herein defined
and as set forth in Fig. 1, made in sections united by separable couplings, substantially
as set forth.
Second-The combination of each sectional part of the conducting tube c c with the
coupling-plates or boxes of the corresponding body section, so that the contiguous
sections of the body and of the conducting tube, respectively, are united by the same
coupling-joint, substantially as set forth in Fig. 1.
Third The combination of the pump with the oil reservoir A by means of a
coupling-plate covering the valves of the pump, so that by detaching the coupling-plate
the valves of chamber I. and M are uncovered, substantially as set forth in Fig. 1.
Fourth The combination of the collar I and spring O with the pump-barrel,
packing and piston, substantially as shown in Fig. 1 and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth The valved port J situated between the inlet and outlet valves of the
pump, and controlling the passage between them by means of a valve actuated by the
movement of the piston, substantially as shown in Fig. 1.
Sixth The pump-barrel placed transversely across or below the base of the oil-

page_text: vessel with which it is connected, having its piston contiguous to the handle and
pressed outwardly by means of the spring O, substantially as shown and for the
purpose set forth.
Seventh-In an oiler provided with a force pump for the ejection of oil, an oil
retainer communicating with the pump chamber through a passage controlled by
the foot valve of the pump, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth The adjustable tip, capable of turning radially on the axis of its coupling
joint without interrupting the oil passage in combination with the nozzle or delivery
pipe, substantially as described.
Ninth-The combination of the adjustable tip as herein specified with the pump, oil
conduit and the oil retainer at the base of the oil receiver, substantially as set forth.
Tenth The section tube x extended into the cavity of the hollow piston F (see
Fig. 8) in combination with the suction valve L, for the purpose here specified, and
in the manner described.
A
1
1000