Improvements in Lubricators.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lubricators.
I, JOHN ALLEN HOLMES, of No. 39, East 1st South Street, Salt Lake City in the
County of Salt Lake and Territory of Utah, United States of America, Engineer,
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:
My Invention relates to lubricators of that class intended more particularly for
supplying oil or other lubricant to relatively stationary bearings, such as pillow blocks
and hangers of line shafting or boxes of general machinery; and the invention has
for its object to provide a simple, comparatively inexpensive, and efficient lubricator of
this character by using which any desired feed of lubricant may be maintained
without waste of oil and with need of but little attention.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification, in which figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved lubricator,
as adjusted to feed oil to a bearing to which it may be applied. Figure 2 is a plan
view of the lubricator, with the vent-valve swung to one side to open the filling-hole
and with the stem of the main discharge controlling valve in horizontal section on
linex figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the lower central
parts of the lubricator, shewing the main valve adjusted to cut off discharge of oil.
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of the upper central parts of the lubricator, with
the vent-valve partly raised to give vent to assure flow of heavy oils from the
device; and figure 5 is a detail horizontal section through the main-valve and central
tube of the lubricator, taken on line y-y figure 1. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in all the figures.
The wall A of the body portion of the lubricator is of glass, as usual, and is held
preferably between suitable packings a a held respectively in the base B and cap Cof
the device. The base B has a neck provided with one or more side apertures b
giving full view of the flow or feed of oil from the needle valve to and through the
lubricator stem 6' which will be fitted into any stationary bearing or box or part of
a machine to be oiled. In the hollow neck of the base B is placed preferably
between suitable upper and lower packings d d a piece D of glass tubing through
which the oil falls from the needle valve presently described. Above the upper
packing d of the sight feed tube D is placed a removable downwardly-concaved valve-
seat or oilway E in and through the central orifice of which the long tapering
point of the needle valve F passes. The valve seat E is held firmly to place and
the packings d of the sight feed glass D are compressed tightly to said glass by the
lower exteriorly-threaded end of a central tube G which is screwed into threads
formed at the upper part of the recess or bore of the base of the lubricator. The
upper part of the tube G has outside threads on to which the lubricator cap or
cover C is screwed and this cap thus serves as a compressor to tighten the
packings a a to the glass body portion A and between the cap and base to make a
perfectly tight reservoir or chamber H within the glass, to receive the oil or
fubricant which is supplied through a filling-hole c in the cap when said hole is not
covered by a vent valve or plate I which is fitted to screw-threads on that portion of
the tube G which projects above the cap. Should the sight feed glass D not be used,
the removable valve seat or oil-way E would be supported on a shoulder in the base
and would be held to place by the tube G. The lower end of this tube G is preferably
enlarged to form a valve chamber J which is preferably tapered upward and has
communication with the oil reservoir H through a series of apertures g made through
the tube G, four of said apertures being shewn in the drawing.
"
In the chamber J is fitted a round tapering hollow valve K which has a long

page_text: stem which projects upwards through the tube G and at its upper end is made fast,
by a pin or otherwise, to a milled head or finger piece L which, in the preferred
construction, is bored and screw threaded to receive the upper threaded end of the
needle valve F which may slide freely in the valve-stem and valve and by its tapered
inner end enters the orifice of the valve seat E above mentioned. A coiled or helical
spring, preferably placed between the valve seat and a shoulder of the valve K,
normally holds the latter to the walls of its chamber with a fluid tight joint, to prevent
passage of oil from the reservoir H to the interior of the valve K and the needle
valve seat E, when a series of apertures gl made through the side wall of the valve
are moved out of line with the series of apertures g in the tube G, as shewn in
figure 5 of the drawing, but when the valve is turned to bring its holes g¹ to coincide
more or less fully with the tube holes g, as shewn in figure 1 of the drawing, free
passage of oil is allowed from the reservoir H to the interior of the main valve K
and valve seat E around the point of the needle valve from which the oil drops or
flows slower or faster accordingly as the needle valve point is set farther downward
or upward by turning the valve in the relatively stationary head-nut L which as
before stated is fixed to the stem of the main valve K and serves as a finger-piece by
which to turn the main valve to control flow of oil from the reservoir H to the needle
valve. The needle valve F is provided with a fixed collar or finger-piece f¹ by which
it may be conveniently turned in the main valve-nut or head piece L to regulate the
position of the valve-point relatively to the orifice of the seat E to control to a
nicety the feed or flow of oil past the needle valve to the bearing when the tube and
main valve orifices g g¹ coincide and when the needle valve is once set to suit the
nature of the oil or other lubricant, said valve will preferably be positively and
permanently locked to this adjustment by turning a jam-nut M threaded on to its
upper part down on to the head L of the main valve stem.
Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing most clearly shew that the vent-valve or plate I,
which is threaded to the upper end of the tube G above the cap C, is extended to one
side of said tube in eccentric or cam-like form and is provided at its outer part
with an up-turned lip i serving as a finger-piece by which it may be turned on the
threaded tube. It is obvious that when this vent-valve is turned one way or the other
on the tube the pitch of the tube threads will cause the valve to rise and fall
slightly on the tube. When the vent-valve I is turned fully downward or to the
position indicated by the dotted lines in figure 2 of the drawing, the valve will be
drawn very closely by the threads on the tube G down to the lubricator cap C and
will not only exclude dust from the filling-hole c which it then covers but will also
exclude air from the oil-reservoir H; but should it be desirable or necessary in using
heavy oils, to give more or less vent to prevent vacuum in the oil-reservoir and
allow proper feed of the lubricant past the needle valve, this may be done by turning
the vent-valve I a little to the left hand on the threaded tube G to lift it slightly
from the cap C, as shewn in figure 4 of the drawing, to allow passage of more or
less air below the valve and into the oil reservoir H through the filling-hole c which
will still be covered by the valve so as to exclude dust and dirt while giving
necessary vent to assure proper feed of oil from the lubricator. When the oil or
other lubricant is to be replenished, the vent valve I will be turned backward
sufficiently to uncover the filling-hole as shewn in full lines in figure 2 of the
drawing, to allow oil from any vessel to be poured into the reservoir through the
filling-hole.
It will be noticed that the vent valve is not used to bind the cap, glass, and base of
the reservoir together at their packings, as this office is performed wholly by the
cap screwing on to the tube G which is screwed or fastened into the base B of the
lubricator hence this tube G serves not only as a support to the valves K, F, but it
serves also as a stay bolt or device to the entire body of the lubricator. It is also
manifest that the base B of the device may be unscrewed from the tube G to allow
renewal of the lower sight feed glass D or its packings d the spring k¹ and the
concaved or tapering seat E of the needle valve F. The valve-chamber J in the
tube G may be made cylindrical instead of tapering and the valve K would then

page_text: have a correspondingly cylindrical form, but the tapering form of the chamber and
valve is preferred in practice.
An important advantage of this form of lubricator over other oil cups is that
when the needle-valve F is once set by turning it in the main valve head or finger
piece Land locking it by the jam nut M, the feed of oil past the needle valve
will always be uniform when the main valve K is turned to align its apertures g¹
with the apertures g of the tube G; and when supply of oil to the bearing is no
longer needed it is only necessary to turn the valve K until its apertures glare out of
register with the tube apertures 9 which cuts off flow of oil from the lubricator.
When the bearing again needs oil, the valve K will be turned to align the
apertures g g' and oil will flow to the bearing at the precise rate of feed maintained
before the supply was shut off, as will readily be understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In a lubricator, the combination, with a recessed hollow base having screw-
threads at its upper central part and a removable valve-seat or oil way supported on
a shoulder in the base recess, of a central tube provided with oil passages at its lower
part and screwed into the base to hold the valve seat or oil way therein, said tube
having a screw-threaded upper end, a side wall forming with the base a main oil
reservoir or chamber, and a cap screwed on to the upper end of the tube and binding
the main parts of the oil-reservoir together, substantially as herein set forth.
2. In a lubricator, the combination, with a recessed hollow base having screw
threads at its upper central part, a removable sight feed glass placed in the base
recess and a removable valve seat or oil way supported on or from this glass, of a
central tube provided with side apertures at its lower part and screwed into the base
to hold the sight feed glass and valve seat or oilway therein, substantially as herein
set forth.
3. In a lubricator, the combination, with a recessed hollow base having screw
threads at its upper central part a removable sight feed glass placed in the base recess,
and a removable valve-seat or oil way supported by the glass, of a central tube
provided with side apertures at its lower part and screwed into the hollow base to
hold the sight feed glass and valve seat or oilway therein, said tube having an upper
screw threaded end; a side wall on the base and forming with it an oil reservoir and
a cap screwed on to the upper end of the tube and binding the parts of the oil
reservoir together, substantially as herein set forth.
4. In a lubricator, the combination, with an oil reservoir having an upwardly-
projecting central hollow tube provided with side apertures giving communication
with the reservoir, a valve-seat or oil way in the base of the lubricator below the tube,
a hollow main valve fitted in said tube and having side apertures adapted to register
with the tube apertures, said valve having a stem extending through the tube, a head
piece on said valve stem, and a needle valve fitted for adjustment in said head piece
and extending downward to the lower valve seat or oilway to control feed of oil
when the main valve is open to the oil-reservoir, substantially as herein set forth.
5. In a lubricator, the combination, with an oil-reservoir having a base provided
with upper central screw threads and a valve seat or oil way, of a tube screwed
into the base and provided with lower side apertures and an upper screw-threaded
end;
the reservoir cap being screwed on to the central tube to bind the body
portions of the lubricator together; a hollow laterally-apertured valve fitted into
the lower part of the tube and having a stem extending through the tube, a head
pioce on said valve-stem, and a needle valve fitted for adjustment in said head
piece and extending downward to the lower valve-seat or oil way to control feed
of oil when the main valve is open to the oil reservoir, substantially as herein set
forth.
6. In a lubricator, the combination, with an oil reservoir provided, with a cap
having a filling and vent hole, and a central threaded aperture, of a tube extending

page_text: from the base of the reservoir up through said central aperture and threaded to
engage the threads thereof, a vent valve having a threaded aperture. receiving the
upper projecting end of said threaded tube, and projecting therefrom laterally to
cover the cap filling-hole, said valve having an imperforate area or surface which
overlies the filling-hole when the valve is moved backward and raised slightly by
the pitch of its screw-thread joint, to admit air to give vent to the oil reservoir
while excluding dust therefrom, substantially as herein set forth.
7. In a lubricator, the combination, with its hollow recessed base B having central
screw-threads and a body wall or glass A on the base, of a removable valve-seat or
oil way E supported in the base, a tube G screwed into the base to retain the valve-
seat and provided with side apertures 9 and extending upward through the oil
reservoir, a hollow valve K having side apertures g¹ and fitted in the tube G and
provided with a hollow stem & extending upward through the tube; a screw-threaded
head piece L on the valve stem k, a needle valve F fitted in the valve stem and to
the threads of the head-piece and extending to the valve seat E; and a cap for
the oil reservoir surrounding the tube G, substantially as herein set forth.
8. In a lubricator, the combination, with its hollow recessed base B having
interior central screw-threads and a body wall or glass A on the base, of a sight feed
glass D in the base, a valve seat or oil way E at the upper end thereof, a tube G
screwed into the base and retaining the parts E D and provided with side apertures g
and extending upward through the oil reservoir, a hollow valve K having side
apertures g¹ and fitted in the tube G and provided with a hollow stem k extending
upward through the tube; a screw threaded head piece Lon the valve stem k, a needle
valve fitted in the valve stem and to the threads of the head piece and extending to
the valve seat E; and a cap for the oil-reservoir surrounding the tube G, substan-
tially as herein set forth.
9. In a lubricator, the combination, with its hollow recessed base B having
interior central screw-threads and a body wall or glass A on the base, of a sight feed
glass D in the base, a valve seat or oil way E at the upper end thereof, a tube G
screwed into the base and on to the valve seat E and provided with side apertures g
and extending upward through the oil-reservoir and screw threaded at its upper part,
a hollow valve K having side apertures g¹ and fitted in the tube G and provided
with a hollow steink extending upward through the tube, a screw threaded head
piece L on the valve stem k, a needle valve F fitted to the threads of said head piece
and extending to the valve seat or oil way E, and a cap fitted to the upper exterior
threads of the tube G and clamping the wall A to the base B, substantially as herein
set forth.
10. In a lubricator, the combination, with the base B, tube G, valve K k, and
screw-threaded head piece L, of a needle valve F, fitted to said head piece and
extending through the valve stem to the oil-way or outlet, and a jam-nut M on the
needle valve, substantially as herein set forth.
1
11. In a lubricator, the combination, with the oil-reservoir having a cap provided
with a filling-hole, of a central tube rising above the cap and having exterior screw-
threads, and a vent valve I fitted to said threads and adapted to cover the cap filling-
hole whether said valve be closed to the cap to exclude air or raised to give vent to
the oil reservoir, substantially as herein set forth.
12. In a lubricator, the combination, with the base B, a removable valve seat or
oil way E therein, a tube G screwed into the base over said valve seat and provided
with side apertures g, a valve K having a stem k extending through the tube G and
having apertures g¹; a side wall A on the base B, a clamping cap C having a hole c
and fitted to the screw-threaded upper end of the tube G which projects above the
cap; a head piece L fixed to the valve stem k, a needle valve F fitted adjustably in
the head piece and extending to the oil way E, and a vent-valve I fitted on
the screw-threads of the tube G above the cap C, substantially as herein set
forth.
13. In a lubricator, the combination, with the oil-reservoir having a central tube
apertured at g and a valve-chamber, of an apertured valve K having a stem k

page_text: extending through the central tube, a valve seat or oil way below the valve K, a
spring interposed between the valve K and oil way, a screw-threaded head piece L
on the valve stem k and a needle valve F fitted into said head piece and extending to
the oil-way, substantially as herein set forth.
ambo- 1980
J. A. HOLMES.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.