Improvements in Oil Cups.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Cups.
1, WILLIAM HANDFORTH WILKINSON, of Main Street, Medway, Norfolk
County, State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Oil Cup Manufacturer,
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 improvements in oil-cups, particularly that class in
which the valve is controlled by a rocking lever.
My invention is embodied in the construction of the valve-lever, whereby the
regulating screw designed to adjust the oil-supply is positively locked when the
valve is open or in operation. By means of my invention no check-nuts are
required, and the correlation of the valve-lever and the regulating screw is such
that no movement of the latter can take place when the valve is open; in other
words, when the proper flow of oil is determined upon no jar or vibration can
possibly change the position of said regulating-screw.
The drawings represent in
Figure 1, a vertical sectional elevation of an oil-cup embodying my invention.
showing the lever down and the valve closed.
Fig. 2 is a view in part of the oil-cup with the lever upright.
Fig. 3 is a plan with the lever down.
Fig. 4 is a modification showing the adjusting screw with a hexagonal head.
In said drawings, 2 represents a 66 sight-feed" cup, so-called, with the principal
parts arranged after the most approved method. These comprise a transparent
oil-reservoir 3, which is mounted in a metallic base or support 4, the lower extremity
of which is centrally bored for the discharge of oil and exteriorly screw-threaded
to enable the oil-cup to be attached to the machine where the oil is to be supplied.
A metallic disk or cap 5 surmounts the oil reservoir. Centrally of the reservoir is
a hollow tube 6, which unites the cup with the base, and within this tube is located
the valve 7 provided with a valve-spindle 8, while a coiled spring 9 serves to hold
the valve closed when it is so desired. The valve spindle, in the present instance,
is integral with the valve, but the two may be separate pieces, as in general. Said
valve-spindle projects some distance above and through the cap and is slotted
or apertured in part at 10 to receive a bolt or pin 12 adapted to secure the valve-
lever thereto. The latter consists of a swinging handle portion 13 and a bifurcated
end comprising a pair of arms 14, which are preferably rounded exteriorly and are
flattened upon their inner adjacent portions, in order to fit the upper extremity of
the valve-spindle, which is likewise flattened at this point and of a size to readily
enter between the forked end or arms of the lever. This arrangement thus permits
rocking of the lever; the fulcrum being the top of the cap 5; but the lever,
the valve and the valve-spindle are all united as one piece, these elements being
axially movable, if desired.
In connection with the valve-lever and the valve-spindle is a regulating
mechanism, in the present instance in the form of a screw 15, headed at 16. This
screw is arranged to engage a screw-threaded hole 17, which is longitudinally bored
through the end of the spindle. Thus, when the screw is in position the body
portion extends through more or less into the slot 10, while the head is clasped
between the arms of the lever.
From the above description it will be understood that the lift of the valve can
be regulated by the aid of the screw 15 for the following reasons: The fulcrum of

page_text: the lever is on the cap. Now, should the screw be advanced inwardly until it bears
against the fastening-bolt 12, the lever when moved from the horizontal at once
lifts the valve and greater movement is imparted than when the screw is retracted.
In this latter event the lever must be rocked until the bolt contacts against the end
of the screw and a less movement of the valve necessarily occurs. It is to
be understood that no rise of the valve can take place until the bolt, which is free
to reciprocate in the slotted end of the valve-spindle, is given a bearing or engages
with the screw 15, which constitutes a portion of said spindle.
To avoid the use of check-nuts, which are liable to become loosened through jars
or vibrations of the moving machinery, is one of the objects of my invention.
It will be observed that no check-nuts are employed, and, furthermore, that the
oil-feed is controlled entirely by aid of the screw 15. In order to positively lock
this regulating device, and thus avoid any disturbance of the oil-supply when once
regulated, I have made the dimensions of the head 16 such that the opposite
or corresponding sides of any polygon shall just be able to enter the space between
the arms of the lever. Thus it will be understood that the adjustment can be
regulated by varying the number of the faces on the polygonal head of the
screw 15 that is, by increasing the number the screw may be given a fraction of a
turn and still be in position to be locked by the lever. Hence, when the valve-lever
is upright the arms have clasped the polygonal head of the regulating-screw and
no vibration can disturb said screw. Moreover, the valve, valve-spindle and valve-
lever, together with the screw 15, are now interlocked and all move as a unit, and,
whether these various elements are moved axially or not, no change in the feed can
take place until the lever is thrown down. When this act occurs the valve is
closed. The screw 15 may then be adjusted to alter the oil-supply, which can be
increased or diminished as circumstances dictate.
In order to flush the cup or to allow a full stream of liquid to flow from the
reservoir the valve may be lifted from its seat by a direct pull on the valve-lever
when it is in the position shown in Fig. 2, or the lever may be held temporarily at
an angle of forty-five degrees or thereabout, in which position the corners of the
arms rest on the cap and the valve is then wide open.
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 I
claim is:
1. A valve operating device comprising a valve having a valve spindle slotted at
one end, a valve lever secured to said spindle by a bolt movable in said slot, and
means to regulate the movement of the bolt in the slot to determine the extent of
the movement of the valve, substantially as explained.
2. In combination with a fluid reservoir, a valve having a valve-spindle slotted
at one end, a rocking valve lever secured to the spindle by a bult movable in the
spindle slot, and a regulating device which is positively clasped by the valve lever
at stated times, substantially as set forth.
'
3. The combination with an oil cup, a spring actuated valve, a valve spindle
having a slot therein, and a bifurcated valve lever, of a bolt secured to the lever
and which engages said slot in the valve spindle, and an adjusting feed screw
to serve as a bearing for the bolt, when the valve is to be opened, substantially as
described.
4. A valve operating device comprising a valve, a valve spindle slotted in part at
one end, a feed screw adjustable longitudinally of the valve stem and projecting
into said slot, and a forked valve lever which incloses the feed screw and locks the
same at stated times and provided with a bolt extending into the slotted end of said
spindle, substantially as specified.
Dated this Sixteenth day of November 1895.
WILLIAM HANDFORTH WILKINSON.