Improvements in the Manufacture of Lubricating Grease and in the Apparatus Employed therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Lubricating Grease and in the
Apparatus Employed therefor.
I, PIERRE PLISSON of 15 rue de Richelieu, Paris in the Republic of France, 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:-
This invention relates to a process of manufacture of mineral grease used for
lubricating parts of machinery or apparatus working under a pressure exceeding one
atmosphere, and also adapted to keep metals in a good condition.
The different kinds of what is known in the trade as "Mineral lubricating grease"
vary in color, and have the consistency of butter, and a density or compactness
enabling them to resist a temperature of from 50 to 100 degrees Centigrade, without
liquefying. Lubricant of this description can escape but slowly and only under a
given optional pressure; it is used to advantage as a substitute for other lubricants
as it does not become sticky, while on the other hand its consistency prevents its
being expelled from the parts it is desired to keep in a proper state of lubrication.
To manufacture such mineral lubricating grease for the trade of a density and
consistency varying between 50 to 100° Centigrade, I submit a suitable mixture of
vegetable and mineral oils to a partial saponification, so as to bring about an
internal molecular process, in a special mechanical apparatus such as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical and transverse sectional
elevation of such apparatus and Fig. 2 is a top view of the same and of the driving
gear employed.
The mixing and stirring apparatus consists of a tub or vat a of metal or masonry
provided with vertical walls and a hollow bottom forming a jacket b, wherein
steam, hot water or hot air or other heating medium may circulate and thereby
heat the substances contained in the vat a. This hollow jacket b is connected, by
a tube c with the pipe which conducts the heating medium to the apparatus, and
it is also provided with another tube d for the discharge of the medium when
cooled down, and of the water resulting from condensation. The vat a is provided
at the top with a flange e projecting inwardly or outwardly and adapted to receive
a removable plate or ring which, when applied to the said flange is held in
position by pins or studs 9 projecting from flange e and fitting into corresponding
holes provided for the purpose in plate f. In the centre of the bottom of the vat a
there is a socket h which receives the lower end of a vertical movable shaft k
whereon the horizontal radial arms or cross pieces k¹¹ are mounted, one of which
is arranged near the bottom, and the other on a level with the top flange e of
the vat. These armis, which move with the upright shaft k form the supports
and guides of other, vertical, bars or shafts. The stationary bar 7 supports two
plates or blades m and m¹ of wood or metal. Blade m serves for scraping the vertical
wall of the vat and for this purpose is fitted to the contour of such wall; while the
other blade m' similarly scrapes the bottom surface of the vat up to a certain level.
The revolving shaft turns in bearings mounted in the ends of the radial
arms kk. Upon this shaft are secured plain or spiral wings n which rotate
between the centre and the vertical wall of the vat or tub, whenever the central
shaft k revolves under the action of the cog wheel i keyed upon shaft and
engaging the annular rack q formed in the inner edge of the movable plate or
ring f. Rotary motion is imparted to the central shaft k by means of a pair of
bevel pinions p p¹, the pinion pl of which is mounted upon shaft o turning in
bearings o integral with the annular plate f which has the before mentioned
rook

page_text: Upon shaft o are mounted the fast and loose pulleys r the fast one r imparting
motion, through the toothed wheels p p¹ to shaft whereby are rotated the
arms at the top and bottom of the vat.
The central shaft k is guided and supported at its upper part by a frame s having
three or more arms or branches, rigidly bolted to plate f
Upon plate fare fixed eyes t to which may be attached a four-fold chain, whereby
plate together with the whole of the working parts m, m² and n supported by
shafts may be raised so as to enable the contents of vat a to be removed and the
blades and wings m m' and n to be cleaned.
Such being substantially the construction of the apparatus I propose to make
use of, for carrying out my process of manufacture of mineral lubricating grease, the
operation is as follows;-
Into vat a vegetable oil, obtained either from fruit or grains, such as olive, cocoa,
palm, castor, or ground nut oil, is first introduced so as only to fill about one third of
the vat. To this a solution in water of some alkali, such as soda, potash, lime, baryta,
calcined magnesia, calcined dolomite, &c. is added. Then a current of steam, for
example, is admitted into jacket b. To assist the even distribution of heat throughout
the mixture, and also the chemical reaction resulting from the addition of the alkaline
water to the oil, shaft k is set in motion, so that all parts of the mixture are
thoroughly stirred by the blades or wings m m¹ and n.
The fatty substance under treatment gradually thickening, retards the motion of
the said wings or paddles, so that as saponification becomes more complete, their
speed decreases. The saponification may, of course be accelerated more or less
according to the nature or quality or consistency of the mineral lubricating grease it
is desired to obtain.
After the mixture has thus been saponified, mineral oil, such as petroleum, or any
hydrocarbon oil, is added to it, without discontinuing either the stirring or the
heating.
When the groase is found to have attained the desired degree of consistency
and to be sufficiently compact to resist a temperature of from 50 to 100° Centigrade
without liquefying the said blades or wings m m² and n are stopped, the admission of
steam into the jacket cut off, and the whole is left to cool.
Plato is then raised from the vat with the assistance of any ordinary lifting tackle,
so as to withdraw the blades and wings m m¹ and n from the grease in order to clean
them, and to remove the contents of the vat a.
I would have it distinctly understood that the proportions of the various ingredients
of the compound used for the manufacture of consistent mineral grease, as described,
are variable, according to the particular quality of such grease it is desired to obtain,
within the following approximate limits;-

page_text: I, however reserve to myself the option of varying the before stated proportions of
alkalies, water and oils, according to the special quality or consistency of the mineral
grease it may be required to produce.
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 1
claim is ;-
"
1. A process of manufacture of mineral grease, mainly consisting in compounding
an alkali, water and vegetable and mineral oils by mixing together and stirring such
ingredients the mixture being suitably heated during the operation, so as to produce a
homogeneous groase of uniform consistency, capable of withstanding as much as
100° Centigrade of heat without liquefying substantially as herein before described.
2. In the manufacture of "mineral grease by the process indicated in the
preceding claim, the application of mechanical mixing or stirring apparatus com-
prising a vat or tub provided with a jacket through which circulates a fluid, either
hot or cold, according to requirements and a series of movable plates blades paddles
or wings arranged within the said vat so as to stir the contents thereof and also to
scrape the walls and bottom of the same, such working parts being removable when
it is desired to clean them or to evacuate the vat or tub the whole constructed and
operating substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
ated this 20th low of Lan1900
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.