IMPROVEMENTS IN TEETH GEARING AND IN LUBRICATING BEARINGS APPLICABLE TO HORSE-POWER ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cyrus Avery, of Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN TEETH
GEARING AND IN LUBRICATING BEARINGS APPLICABLE TO HORSE-POWER
ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 7th July 1874, and dated the 10th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cyrus Avery at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th January 1874.
I, CYRUS AVERY, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN TEETH GEARING AND IN LUBRICATING BEARINGS APPLICABLE TO HORSE-POWER
ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in teeth gearing and in
lubricating bearings applicable to horse-power engines and other
purposes, and consists in the peculiar arrangement and combination of

page_text: the gearing whereby are obtained, amongst other advantages, more
motion in a given space and a great reduction of friction, also in form-
ing grooves or channels in the axles or bearings, and inserting therein
wicks for the more ready and effectual lubrication of such axles and
bearings.
The following is the nature of the Invention as applied to a horse-
power engine:-The bed of the engine is formed of stout timber or
other suitable material. The main wheel (which is placed by preference
in a horizontal position) consists of a deep rim without arms or boss,
and with two sets of teeth around its inner circumference, thus practi-
cally forming two wheels, the lower one of which is made of larger
diameter on the pitch line than the upper. Within the cylindrical
casing thus formed by the main wheel nearly the whole of the gearing
of the engine is enclosed. The upper part of this main wheel projects
so as to form horns for the insertion of the moving arms or levers by
which motion is imparted to the main wheel, the lower set of teeth of
which gear into pinions (by preference two) turning on vertical axles
securely fixed to the bed of the machine: These pinions have formed on
or attached to their under sides larger wheels, which, on the one hand,
project under the rim of the main wheel, and, on the other hand, gear into
a centre pinion attached to a hollow vertical spindle bearing at its lower
end in a step formed in a cross plate attached to the bed of the machinc,
and at its upper end steadied by bearings formed in a plate crossing the
top of the main wheel. At a height just above that of the said pinions
this hollow central spindle has attached to it two lateral arms, one above
the other, one end of which arms bears a pinion gearing into the upper set
of teeth of the main wheel. As this pinion is carried round by the central
hollow vertical spindle it also receives a rotary motion on its own centre
by reason of its gearing into the teeth of the main wheel, which rotary
motion is imparted to a wheel attached to or formed on the under side
of the said pinion. This wheel on the one hand projects below the
teeth of the main wheel and on the other hand gears into a centre
pinion attached to a vertical spindle, which passes through the before-
mentioned hollow vertical spindle, and bears at its lower end in a step
formed in a suitable part of the bed of the engine, and at its upper end
is steadied by a collar formed on the inner circumference of the outer
hollow spindle, which, turning in the same direction, greatly reduces the
friction on the inner spindle. The outer hollow spindle is cut away

page_text: between the said two lateral arms to allow of the said pinion being
attached to the inner spindle, the said lateral arms being connected by
side pieces outside of the circumference of the said pinion.
Motion may be taken from both the central pinions as one may project
beyond the other, and such motion may also be taken from either ends
of the said spindles.
The lower edge of the main wheel has formed on it a rim which bears
on a collar formed on the first-mentioned intermediate wheels, which
project beyond it, and as they revolve in the same direction as the main
wheel act as antifriction rollers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Cyrus Avery in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CYRUS
AVERY, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Cyrus Avery, Her special license that I, the
said Cyrus Avery, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Cyrus Avery, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TEETH GEARING AND IN LUBRI-
CATING BEARINGS APPLICABLE TO HORSE-POWER ENGINES AND OTHER PURPOSES,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Cyrus Avery, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
"

page_text: same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Cyrus Avery, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in teeth gearing and in
lubricating bearings applicable to horse-power engines and other
purposes.
According to my Invention I so combine and arrange teeth gearing as
to obtain a higher rate of speed of revolution in a given space and from
a given number of teeth than has been done heretofore, and at the same
time greatly reducing the friction. I also cut or otherwise form grooves
or channels in the axles or the bearings of machinery, and insert therein 1
suitable flexible absorbent material for the more effectual lubrication of
such working parts.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with the
aid of the accompanying Drawings, referance being had to the figures 2
and letters marked thereon, and in which Figure 1 is a plan of a horse-
power engine constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2, a
vertical central section; Figures 3 and 4, sectional plans on the lines
a, b, and c, d, respectively of Figure 2; and Figure 5, views of detail;
Figures 6 to 9 illustrate different methods of applying wicks of flexible 2
absorbent material for lubricating bearings according to my Invention.
The same letter of reference indicates the same or similar part or parts
of the apparatus in all the several Figures.
A, A, are the sides of the framing or bed of the machine. These are
made of strong timber or other suitable material, and are fastened firmly a
together by means of the cross pieces A¹.
B is the main wheel, having two sets of teeth B' and B' on its inner
circumference, the lower set B¹ forming, as shewn, a wheel of larger
diameter than does the upper set B² (see Figure 2). This wheel B has a
flange Bs formed on its lower exterior edge, whilst its upper portion is a
suitably formed with horns B' for receiving and holding the arms or

page_text: levers C to which the horse power is applied. The wheel B has also
formed across it at its upper side a bar or cross piece D.
E, E, are intermediate wheels turning on upright spindles F, F, which
spindles are securely fixed into cross bars of metal G and H fixed to the
upper and lower sides respectively of the cross pieces A³ of the framing
or bed of the machine. These intermediate wheels E have cast or fixed
to their upper sides pinions I, which are made to gear into the lower set
of teeth B¹ of the main wheel, whilst the intermediate wheels E gear
into the centre pinion J, which is keyed or otherwise attached to the
upright hollow spindle K. This spindle K bears at its lower end in a
step formed in the cross piece G, and at its upper end in a bearing
formed in the cross piece D.
At a height just above the pinions I, and thence upwards, the spindle
K has formed on or attached to its sides lateral arms L bearing at one
end a spindle M, on which turns another intermediate wheel N, having
cast or attached to its upper side the pinion O, which pinion gears into
the upper set of teeth B2 of the main wheel, whilst the intermediate
wheel N gears into the centre pinion P attached to the vertical spindle
Q. This spindle Q bears at its lower end in a step formed in the cross
piece H, and at its upper end is supported by the outer hollow spindle
K, which, revolving in the same direction as though at a different speed
to the spindle Q greatly reduces the friction of the rubbing surfaces.
Between the arms L the hollow vertical spindle K is cut away to
allow of the pinion P being attached to the vertical spindle Q, the arms
L being joined by side pieces R.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Power being applied to the
levers C, the main wheel B is caused to rotate, thereby imparting a
rotary motion to the pinions I, into which it gears, and consequently
also to the intermediate wheels E, which, gearing into the centre pinion
J, imparts motion to it, and thence to the hollow vertical spindle K to
which it is attached. This spindle in its rotary motion carries round
with it the arms L, and consequently the pinion O, which, gearing into
the upper set of teeth B2 of the main wheel B, receives in consequence a
rotary motion on its own axle M, which rotary motion is imparted to the
intermediate wheel N and thence to the centre pinion P and vertical
spindle Q. The spindle Q being provided with a suitable pulley or
pulleys, the motion may be taken therefrom as required, and this may

page_text: be done from either the upper or from the lower end. A second motion
may also be taken from the vertical hollow spindle K by continuing it
above the cross piece D or below the cross piecc G, and placing suitable
pulley or pulleys thereon.
.
The main wheel B bears at its lower flanged edge on collars or bosses
formed on the upper sides of the intermediate wheels E, E, which
wheels as they revolve act as antifriction rollers. Antifriction rollers
T are also fixed on the sides of the machine so as to take on to the flange
B³ of the main wheel (see detail at Figure 5) and so help to steady the
main wheel in its rotary motion.
Figures 6 to 9 illustrate different methods of applying wicks of flexible
absorbent material for lubricating bearings according to my
Invention.
U is the wick, which is composed of any suitable flexible absorbent
material, such, for example, as cotton, hemp, or flax, which may be
braided, twisted, or otherwise used. It is placed in a groove cut in the
direction of the axle, and either in the axle or in the bearing, and
touches the rubbing surface as it revolves. One or both ends of the
wick is or are allowed to dip into the lubricant, and as, therefore, the
supply thereof is obtained by the capillary action of the wick just the
quantity required is drawn from the reservoir.
When only one end dips into the lubricant any excess of oil intro-
duced to the bearing may be caught from the other end by turning it
down into the oil reservoir or into any other receptacle, thus avoiding all
waste; mineral or vegetable flour possessing the greasy character of
soapstone or graphite may, when desired, be incorporated with the wick
to act as a part lubricant.
In Figures 6 and 7 the wick is shewn placed along a groove formed
in the upper side of the bearing, and with one end turned into the oil
cup, Figure 6 being a transverse sectional view, and Figure 7 a longi-
tudinal vertical central section.
Figure 8 shews the wick placed in a groove formed in the under side
of the bearing, and with a further length lying in the oil reservoir
underneath the views, being plan, transverse section, and longitudinal
vertical central section respectively under one another. Figure 9 shews
two wicks let into the joints of the bearings, which wicks are oiled in
the usual way. Other forms of applying this novel Invention of

page_text: lubricating will readily suggest themselves, varying according to the
nature of the particular bearing.
In the horse-power engine illustrated the course of the wicks may be
readily followed in the several Figures.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may be per-
formed, I claim as my Invention to be secured by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent,-
First. The combination and arrangement of teeth gearing described
and illustrated.
Second. Forming the intermediate wheels in internal teeth gearing
with two sets of teeth, each set forming a wheel, the two wheels thus
formed being of different diameters, and the smaller wheel gearing into
the main wheel, and the larger one into a centre pinion
Third. Casting or otherwise forming grooves in axles or bearings and
inserting therein flexible absorbent material to facilitate in lubricating
the bearings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cyrus Avery, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Third. Casting or otherwise forming grooves in axles or bearings and
inserting therein flexible absorbent material to facilitate in lubricating
the bearings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cyrus Avery, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
CYRUS AVERY. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN WM. GRAY, C.E.
Office for Patents,
16, Southampton Buildings, W.C.