Improvements in and relating to Lubricators for Steam-engines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Communicated from abroad by NICHOLAS SEIBERT, of Malden, Massachusetts,
United States of America.]
Improvements in and relating to Lubricators for Steam-engines.
1. WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 that class of oil feeders known as displacement lubricators,
wherein the water, condensation is fed into the oil contained in an oil feeder, and by
reason of its greater specific gravity sinks to the bottom displacing an equal amount
of oil, and this invention consists in the construction and combinations of devices
hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a vertical section through the oil feeder and steam regulating
valve.
Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the steam regulating valve.
Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the pipes or tubes which form the cooling
spaces.
Figure is a perspective view of one end of the steam regulating valve stem.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the improved oil feeder.
Figure 6 represents a vertical section of a modified form of oil feeder.
Figure 7 is a front view of the same.
Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of the check valve and its seats.
represents an oil reservoir of any suitable construction provided at its upper end
with a filling plug A, and screw plug 1.
At the top the oil feeder is also provided with a condenser or steam space C, within
which steam is condensed.
The condenser in the present instance is annular in form and is designed to make
the oil feeder nore compact, and to provide it with a large opening for the lubricant.
A check valve D, in the annular condenser prevents the lubricant being discharged

page_text: when the steam is shut off, but when the oil feeder is in operation it permits the water
of condensation to pass from the condenser through the port U and against the glass S
of the sight feed E into the feeder.
Within the oil feeder is a pipe or tube L through which the displaced lubricant
passes the said pipe having its lower end in communication with a chamber having a
port F' leading to the oil discharge passage M.
F represents a feed valve for closing the passage F, and G represents a globe valve
placed within the steam pipe H leading from the boiler, and communicating with the
steam passage of the feeder. In addition to these valves I employ another valve I
having a valve stem K projecting through a suitable valve seat a said valve having a
projecting end c, cut away on one side to permit the passage of a small jet of steam,
when the valve is released from its seat as shown in Figure 2, P represents the oil and
steam pipe leading to the valves and pistons of the locomotive and Tindicates the usual
waste water valve.
Referring to Figure 1 and to the enlarged section figure 3, W, W, is a pipe cast in
the oil feeder, and through which a second pipe N, of smaller diameter is passed and
made steam tight at both ends. Another pipe N¹ of still smaller diameter having a
collar Y at its lower ends is screwed into a suitable plug X the said pipes N and N
have holes R, at their upper ends for the purpose of permitting steam to pass into and
fill the annular spaces Q, with water. The purpose of this construction is to form a
non-conductor of heat to the oil while it also serves as a cooler to condense steam
more rapidly for the condenser C. I prefer for these purposes but one pipe, but if
increased condensation is required for the condenser C, the shorter pipe may be screwed
into plug X. Instead of water the spaces Q may be filled with other non-conducting
material, such as asbestos, cork or plaster of Paris, but water is preferable because it
is self-supplying.
The operation of this device is as follows :-
As the steam passes through the pipe H, from the boiler, and up through pipes N, N¹
to the condenser, the heat is transferred to the water in the annular water spaces Q, and
forms globules which adhere to the sides of the pipes and as they accumulate pass up
and out through the holes R, in the pipes N N and thus prevent the heat being taken
by the lubricant. Again the steam passing through a pipe surrounded by water
cooler than itself, condenses more rapidly than when it is passed directly into the
condenser itself.
The essential objects of the steam regulating valve I are.
First that it may be
opened in a careless manner and still produce a proper result. Second it will only
admit a certain amount of steam to wash the lubricant on to the valve of the loco-
motive, and yet maintain an even pressure in the oil feeder, thereby causing a uniform
supply of the lubricant, either when the steam is shut off going down grade or when
the steam is on as in going up grade; and third, the valve can be used to shut off the
steam, when the oil feeder is to be refilled whilst the locomotive is running. These
features accomplish by having the stem provided with the end c projecting below the
seat of the valve stem, and made flat as shown, to permit the passage of a certain
volume of steam to carry or wash the lubricant down upon the valves and pistons.
In operating the oil feeder, fill with oil or tallow at A open the valves G, and I
then regulate the amount of lubricant needed. The water of condensation will flow
down from the condenser in and around check valve D) and through the port or water
passage U, where it can be observed as it falls against the glass S, at the sight feed E
drop to the bottom, and expel an equal amount of oil, which will pass through the oil
outlets Land M through pipe P and on to the bearings.
Sometimes the condenser alone will condense sufficient steam to supply the oil
feeder with the water for displacing the oil; and when this is the case, the cooling
chamber and its adjuncts may be omitted.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, A¹ represents a reservoir for containing lubricating
material, and B' is a steam pipe passing preferably through said reservoir, and com-
municating at its lower end with a steam pipe C leading from the boiler. The upper
end of the pipe B', communicates with a chamber or condenser D', on the top of

page_text: the reservoir and surrounding the filling plug E. From this description it is evident
that the steam entering the chamber is condensed, the water of condensation passing from
the said chamber or condenser, through the water passage d, and into the oil reservoir,
and by reason of its gravity sinks to the bottom displacing an equal amount
of oil.
An oil passage e communicates with the oil tubo fin the reservoir, and conveys the
displaced oil to the steam chamber g, whence it is discharged upon the valves and
pistons of the locomotives.
G represents a valve located preferably beneath the lower end of the oil tube 7, and
having a check valve h, a similar valve being placed in the discharge end of the
condenser these valves being designed to prevent the oil from being sucked out of
the reservoir by the suction of the engines, when the steam is shut off from said
reservoir. By thus controlling the feed of oil, it is evident that a uniform lubrication
of the valves and pistons of the locomotive is obtained. A valve H₁ closes the
entrance of the steam pipe C to the steam chamber, and when opened the inflowing
steam not only rises through pipe B₁ to the condenser but also mingles with the oil as
it passes from the passage e, and is forced, through oil and steam pipe K', leading to
the steam chest or valve; represents a valve for controlling the passage of steam
and oil through pipe K' and W represents the usual sight feed, the reservoir is also
provided with the usual valve O' for drawing off the contents of the reservoir. My
oilers are placed one on each side of the steam gauge in the cab, where the light used
for the steam gauge may be directed upon each sight feed of the oilers if required.
The operation of this portion of my invention is as follows;
The plug E¹, being removed, and the reservoir A¹ filled with lubricant, steam is let
on at H, which condenses at D, and the water passes through d, into the oil reservoir,
displacing the oil; the feed valve is now opened to give the required amount of oil;
and the valve L' opened a little, to carry off the oil through pipe K' upon the valves
and pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In an oil feeder, a cooling chamber surrounding the steam pipe which conveys
steam to the condenser whereby more rapid condensation of the steam is effected
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination with the oil reservoir, a condenser communicating there-
with, and a steam pipe leading from the boiler, of a pipe or passage conveying the
steam to the condenser and a cooling chamber surrounding said pipe or passage to
condense the steam, substantially as and for the purpose specified..
Third. An oil feeder, having an oil reservoir, a condenser communicating therewith,
and a steam pipe leading from the boiler, in combination with a pipe or passage
conveying steam from the steam pipe to the condenser, and a pipe in the oil feeder
surrounding said conveying pipe, and containing a non-conducting substance, for
condensing the steam, substantially as described.
Fourth. An oil feeder having an oil reservoir, a condenser communicating there-
with and a steam supply pipe, of a pipe W, a smaller pipe communicating with a
steam pipe and condenser, and forming between itself, and pipe W, a chamber
containing non-conducting inaterial whereby the steam is condensed substantially as
described.
Fifth. An improved oil feeder having a cooling chamber, formed of pipes or tubes
of different diameters, a non-conducting substance between said pipes, and a condenser,
in combination with a steam pipe communicating with one of the smaller pipes of the
cooling chamber, substantially as described.
Sixth. An oil feeder having an oil reservoir, a condenser communicating therewith,
and the pipe W, in combination with the steam pipe H, the pipe or passage N passing
through the pipe W, and having openings in its upper end, and a smaller pipe Ni
within the pipe or passage N, having openings at its upper end, said pipes W, Nand N¹

page_text: forming between themselves spaces for containing a non-conducting substance,
substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination with an oil reservoir, a condenser communicating there-
with, a steam pipe and a cooling chamber between said pipe and condenser, of an oil
outlet the oil passage M, and a feed valve closing the entrance to the oil passage,
substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination with an oil feeder and a steam pipe of a steam regulating
valve having a stem provided with a projecting end c, the said end having one of its
sides flattened to permit the passage of a small jet of steam, substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination with an oil feeder having a feed valve a and a steam supply
pipe, and controlling valve, of a steam regulating valve below the steam pipe and
adjacent to the oil feeder, said valve having a stem cut away or flattened to permit the
passage of the jet of steam substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination with the oil reservoir having an oil and water passage
respectively, and a condenser communicating with the water passage, of an upwardly
moving check valve within the water passage, and a horizontally moving valve within
the oil passage for checking the feed of oil. when the steam is shut off, substantially
as described.
Eleventh. The oil reservoir A' the steam pipe B1, passing through said reservoir and
the water passage d, in combination with a condenser communicating with both the
steam pipe and water passage the oil passage e, and a steam pipe adjacent to the
discharge of said oil passage, substantially as described.
Twelfth. An improved oil feeder comprising a steam pipe B₁, a water passage d,
and an oil passage e formed therein, a condenser communicating with the steam pipe
and water passage, check valves within said water and oil passages. a steam chamber
beneath the oil passage, a steam pipe and controlling valve adjacent thereto, and a
discharge pipe and controlling valve leading from said oil chamber to the valves and
pistons substantially as herein described.
1008
HASELTINE. LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.