An Improved Apparatus for Automatically Greasing the Axles of Coal Tubs, or other Axles which have not Grease Boxes Attached.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Automatically Greasing the Axles
of Coal Tubs, or other Axles which have not Grease Boxes
Attached.
FREDERICK ARTHUR MURPHY 225 Manchester Street Werneth, Oldham,
Lancashire Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The apparatus is intended to be placed in a convenient situation between the
rails of the tramway so that each tub of a train passing over it in either
direction will receive on the journals of each of its axles an adequate quantity
of the grease lubricant, any excess being returned to the reservoir.
It consists of a square or other form of a box, made of cast iron, or other
suitable material containing the lubricant, the upper edge of which is level with
the ground and covered in to keep out dirt or coal dust, except the spaces
through which the escapement wheel and brushes work. The said brushes (which
revolve in the grease) being formed of a circular hub (or stock) of wood or
other suitable material in which are inserted wire bristles.
The axle carrying these circular brushes also carries an escapement wheel
which engages with the axle of the coal tub (or tram) in such a manner that
when the axle of a running coal tub (or tram) comes in contact with one of the
teeth of the escapement wheel, it pushes the escapement wheel forward on its
own axis, and the journals of the coal tub each receive a charge of lubricant
from the brushes-the action of the escapement wheel having now caused the
brushes to revolve, has prepared a fresh lubricating surface to be ready for the
next journal.
If desirable, pulleys may be substituted for the brushes, and the pulleys may
be covered with leather, india rubber, or other suitable material to carry the
Jubricant; in this case the escapement wheel could be dispensed with.
To suit tubs having wheels of different diameters, within reasonable limits, and
so as to avoid any tendency of the escapement wheel or brushes lifting the tub,
the axle carrying the brushes and escapement wheel would be mounted on a bar,
supported on spiral springs & studs, or, upon a flat spring formed of one or
more layers, supported at each end in sockets attached to or cast in the sides of
the box.
But in order to enable the brushes or pulleys, to be further adjusted to suit
wheels varying considerably in diameter, the bars or flat springs carrying the
axle can be readily raised or lowered by means of a screw and nut on the spiral
spring studs.
Did this 12th day of May 1896.
FREDERICK ARTHUR MURPHY.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Automatically Greasing the Axles
of Coal Tubs, or other Axles which have not Grease Boxes
Attached.
FREDERICK ARTHUR MURPHY Engineer Bent Hall, West Street (formerly of
225 Manchester Street Werneth) Oldham in the County of Lancaster 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 apparatus is intended to be placed in a convenient situation between the
rails of the tramway, so that each tub of a train passing over it in either direction,
will receive on the journals of each of its axles an adequate quantity of the
grease lubricant, any excess of lubricant being returned to the reservoir.
It consists of a rectangular, or circular, or other convenient form of a trough,
containing the lubricant, the upper edges of which may be level with or slightly
raised above the ground, and covered in to keep out dirt, or coal dust, except
the spaces through which an escapement wheel, and circular brush, or brushes
work, the breadth of the said brush, or brushes being made suitable to the axle
journal, these brushes which revolve in the grease are formed of a circular hub,
(or stock) of wood, or other suitable material, on the periphery of which are
inserted bristles of wire, or other suitable material, the axle carrying these
circular brushes also carries an escapement wheel which engages with the axle
of the coal tub, (or tram) in such a manner that when the axle of a passing
coal tub comes in contact with one of the teeth of the escapement wheel, it
pushes the escapement wheel forward, on its own axis, and the journals of the
coal tub each receive a charge of lubricant from the revolving brushes, the action
of the escapement wheel having now caused the brushes to revolve, has prepared
a fresh lubricating surface on the brush to be ready for the next journal on its
own side of the line of tubs. If desirable the apparatus may be used without
the escapement wheel, in which case the circular brush would receive its motion
direct from the axle of the passing tub.
To suit tubs having wheels of different diameters within reasonable limits, and
so as to avoid any tendency of the escapement wheel or brushes lifting the tub,
the axle carrying the brushes and escapement wheel would be mounted on a bar,
supported on spiral springs and studs, or upon a flat spring formed of one or
more layers, supported at each end in sockets attached to, or cast, in the sides of
the box, or, the axle of the brush could be carried in the centre of a swinging
frame, one end of which is hinged on the inside face of one side of the box, the
other end of the swinging frame resting upon studs carrying spiral springs, or
the axle of the brush could be carried iu sliding steps fitting in vertical grooves
cast on each inside face of the box, the said steps resting upon studs and spiral
springs, but, in order to enable the brushes to be further adjusted to suit wheels
varying considerably in diameter, the bar or flat springs carrying the axle can be
readily raised or lowered, by means of a screw and nut on the spiral spring studs,
or in the case of the swinging frame, the frame rests upon an adjusting screw
attached to a bar, the said bar in this case resting upon the spiral springs.

page_text: A is a rectangular box containing the whole of the apparatus, fixed between
the sleepers and covered in, except the spaces for the wheel and brushes. B is
a trough, or chamber, containing the lubricant inside the box A. C is the
escapement wheel mounted upon an axle D.
E & El are the two brushes also mounted or fixed upon axle D, and which
revolve in, and convey the lubricant from chamber B to the journals of the tub.
F & F1 are studs fixed to the inside of the rectangular box A screwed and
provided at the tops with lock nuts G & G I underneath lock nuts G & G 1, are
bars H&H1 which are capable of sliding upon the studs F & F1. Upon the
studs F & F1, and underneath the bars H & H 1 are spiral springs J & J1
which force the bars H & H 1 against the lock nuts G & G 1.
Upon the centre of the bars H & H 1 are secured bearings K & K 1, the said
bearings carrying the axle D.
The axle L of the tram or tub coming in contact with the teeth of the escapement
wheel C causes it to revolve in the direction of the arrow 1 Figure 2, at the
same time the brushes E & El convey a charge of lubricant to the journals of
the axle L of the tram. If the wheels of the tubs vary in diameter, the axle D
of the lubricating brushes E & E 1 is depressed thus compressing the springs J & J 1,
this elasticity of the springs thus prevents derailing of the tub (or tram). If the
wheels vary much in diameter the bars, or frames H & H1 carrying the
lubricating axle D may be raised or lowered by means of the nuts G & G 1.
Figures 3, 4, 5 & 6 shew the same apparatus with a substitution of flat
springs M, resting in sockets N & N1, in place of the studs F & F 1, spiral
springs J & J 1, bars or frames H & H 1 in Figures 1 & 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The construction and application of an automatic greasing apparatus in
which a greasing brush revolving in the lubricant is mounted upon an axle with
or without an escapement wheel, in such a manner that by contact with the
axle of a running tub or other wheeled vehicle, it will be so altered in position
that it will allow the axle after being greased, to pass over it and so prepare a
fresh lubricating surface for the next axle of the tub, substantially as described.
Second. The automatic greasing apparatus consisting of a box A and chamber B,
the escapement wheel C, mounted upon an axle D, carrying the greasing
brushes E&E 1, supported on screwed studs F & F 1, with lock nuts G & G 1,
bars H&H 1, springs J & J 1, and bearings K & K 1, shewn in Figures 1 & 2,
or it may consist of a box A, and chamber B, the escapement wheel C, mounted
upon an axle D, carrying the greasing brushes E & E 1, carried in bearings K & K 1,
supported on flat springs M & M 1, the said springs resting in recesses N N
& N 1 N 1, cast in the sides of the box shewn in Figures 3, 4, 5 & 6, or, it may
consist of a box containing the lubricant. Near the upper inside edge of the box
is hinged a frame carrying a brush and escapement wheel on an axis fixed in the
centre of the frame, the other end of the frame resting upon springs and studs,
similar to those shewn in Figures 1 & 2. Or it may consist of a trough, or box,
formed with vertical grooves cast in the middle of two inside faces of the box,
in which slide vertically two steps, carrying the axle of the brush and escapement
wheel, the said steps resting upon spiral springs and studs similar to those shewn
in Figures 1 & 2, the whole constructed, combined and operated substantially as
described and shewn by the drawings.
1007
FREDERICK ARTHUR MURPHY.