Improvements in Oil Feeders or Apparatus for Supplying Lubricant to Steam Engines and other Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Feeders or Apparatus for Supplying Lubricant
to Steam Engines and other Machines.
I, JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, of the Firm of John I. Thornycroft & Co., of
Church Wharf, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex, Steam Yacht and Launch
Builders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this invention for improvements in oil feeders or apparatus for
feeding lubricant to steam engines and other machines is to produce an efficient oil
feeder, adapted for lubricating working parts of marine and other steam engines, and
other machines, and which will stop and start with the engine or machine to which
it is applied, will vary its rate of feed with that of such engine or machine when
a change in velocity occurs, and which shall be simple in construction and
operation.
In an apparatus for the purpose according to my invention oil contained in a
vessel is lifted by a moving surface higher than one side of the vessel, from this
point it flows into a small groove or grooves in an inclined piece extending over the
side of the vessel. Into such a groove oil will flow even against the force of gravity,
because the surface tension of the liquid reduces the pressure in the groove; and,
with such an arrangement as indicated, the groove or grooves being so inclined as to
deliver the oil over the side of the vessel it will be evident that by adjusting the
size and number of grooves used any particular rate of feed can be arranged, wbich
adjustment will continue until a change is required, because the grooves can be
cleaned without danger of changing the capacity to convey oil. But although the
maximum amount of oil that can be fed is naturally determined by the size and
number of grooves employed, it will be evident that the rate at which the lifting
surface moves may be so adjusted as to reduce the flow by only bringing up the oil
at a rate less than that necessary to fill the groove or grooves, and in this way a
feeder may be made to vary the supply given with the speed of the engine or
machine, and to stop at once with the motion of the engine or machine.
I prefer to use a cylinder, partly immersed, as the moving surface; on this a
number of grooved pieces may partly rest and serve for as many separate feeders
for different parts of an engine or machine.
Dated this 25th dro of Nozombor 1802
JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oil Feeders or Apparatus for Supplying Lubricant
to Steam Engines and other Machines.
I, JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFT, of the Firm of John I. Thornycroft & Co., of
Church Wharf, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex, Steam Yacht and Launch
Builders, 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 object of this invention of improvements in oil feeders or apparatus for
feeding lubricant to steam engines, and other machines, is to produce an efficient oil
feeder, adapted for lubricating working parts of marine and other steam engines, and
17

page_text: other machines, and which will stop and start with the engine or machine to which
it is applied, will vary its rate of feed with that of such engine or machine when
a change in velocity occurs, and which shall be simple in construction and
operation.
In an apparatus for this purpose according to my invention, oil contained in a
vessel is lifted by a moving surface to a point above the oil delivery outlet; from
this point it flows into a small groove or grooves in an inclined piece (hereinafter
called for distinction an oil conveyor) extending over the oil'delivery outlet. Into
such a groove oil will flow, as long as the surface of the oil in the groove is concave,
even against the force of gravity, because the surface tension of the liquid in this
case reduces the pressure in the groove or grooves, and, with such an arrangement
as indicated, the groove or grooves being so inclined as to deliver the oil over the
oil delivery outlet, it will be evident that by adjusting the size and number of
grooves used, any particular rate of feed can be at all times assured, because the
grooves can be cleaned without danger of changing their capacity to convey oil.
But, although the maximum amount of oil that can be fed, is naturally determined
by the size and number of grooves employed, it will be evident, that the rate at
which the lifting surface moves, may be so adjusted, as to reduce the flow by only
bringing up the oil at a rate less than that necessary to fill the groove or grooves,
and in this way, a feeder may be made to vary the supply given, with the speed
of the engine or machine, and to stop at once with the motor of the engine or
machine.
I prefer to use a cylinder, partly immersed in the oil to be fed, as the moving
surface; on this a number of grooved oil feeders may partly rest and serve for as
many separate feeders for different parts of an engine or machine, as I will now
proceed to explain by reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 shews in vertical section; and
Fig. 2 in sectional plan, one construction of oil feeding apparatus according to this
invention.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show respectively in cross section, in longitudinal section, partly
in elevation, and in front view, a modified construction of such apparatus.
Figs. 6 to 14 inclusive are detail views illustrating modified forms of oil conveyors
according to this invention.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a receptacle, of circular form in plan, for the
oil 2 to be fed. This receptacle is formed internally with a number of tubular
extensions 3 that serve as oil delivery outlets into which oil is fed by the oil
conveyors, as hereinafter described, and to the lower end of each of which is secured
a pipe 4 for conveying the oil to the place where it is to be used. 5 is a cylinder
mounted to rotate partly within the oil in the receptacle 1 so as to raise oil upon its
cylindrical surface to a point above the top of the outlets 3. This cylinder may be
driven in various ways. In the example now being described, it is loosely mounted
at its ends upon two discs 6 and 6ª carried by a driving shaft 7, supported in
bearings 7, 7 in the wall of the receptacle 1. The disc 6 is fixed to the said shaft,
so as to rotate therewith, and to it is fixed at 8, one end of a coiled metal strip or
spring 9 adapted to fit the interior of the cylinder. The other disc 6 is loosely
mounted upon the shaft 7, and is prevented from rotating therewith, by a
projection 10, that is carried by the said disc, and enters a recess 11 in a fixed
part 12 of the receptacle. This disc 6 has also fixed to it, at 8ª, a coiled metal
strip or spring 9, arranged to fit the interior of the said cylinder. 13 is a ring or
annular flange, fixed to the interior of the cylinder, between the inner ends of the
two coiled strips 9, 9ª. The outer end of the driving shaft 7 is provided with an
arm 14 with pin 15 by means of which a rocking motion can be imparted to the
shaft by means of an eccentric and rod not shown. By this arrangement, when the
driving shaft is rocked in the direction of the arrow a, the coiled metal strip 9 will
be caused to expand and grip the interior of the cylinder 5, so as to partly. rotate
the cylinder, which then slides in contact with the coiled strip 9 in a direction to
contract such strip. When the shaft is rocked in the opposite direction, the coiled

page_text: strip 9 will be slightly contracted, so as to release the cylinder, which will then be
prevented from rotating backward with the disc 6 and shaft, by the coiled strip 9ª,
which will expand, and tightly fit the interior of the cylinder, when the cylinder
tends to move backward with the disc 6. Thus an intermittent rotary movement
will be imparted to the cylinder.
16 (Fig. 1) is an oil conveyor formed with a hook 17 by which it can be partly
supported by a rod 18, so as to rest in an inclined position, upon the outer surface
of the cylinder 5, as shown in Fig. 1. In the arrangement of apparatus now being
described there would be three such oil conveyors, one for each oil delivery outlet 3.
Each oil conveyor, which may consist of a short metal bar, is according to this
invention, formed at one, or at each of its flat sides, with an oil groove 19 that
extends lengthwise of the conveyor, and is in proximity to the surface of the
cylinder, so that when the conveyor is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the
cylinder 5 is rotated in the direction of the arrow a, that is to say, in a direction
towards the upper end of the oil conveyor, oil will pass from the part of the surface
of the cylinder upon which the conveyor rests, to the groove or grooves, even
against the force of gravity, so long as the surface of the oil in the groove is concave
as seen in cross section, because the surface tension of the liquid, in this case,
reduces the pressure in the groove or grooves as hereinbefore stated and as will be
readily understood. The groove or grooves being downwardly inclined, the oil
entering it or them will flow to the lower end of the conveyor and drop into the oil
delivery outlet 3. below whence it will pass by the corresponding pipe + to the part
to be lubricated. By the construction and arrangement described the required rate
of feed of oil can be obtained in a very accurate manner.
Oil conveyors adapted to operate as described may have the oil groove or grooves
formed and arranged in various ways. In the example shown in side elevation in
Fig. 6, and in cross section in Fig. 7, the oil conveyor is formed with two small
separate and similar oil grooves 19, one at each side of the piece of metal of which
the conveyor is made.
In the example shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the oil groove at one side, is made wider
and deeper than the one at the other side, with which it may be connected, as
shown, by a transverse groove 19".
In the example shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the oil conveyor consists of a number
of thin plates 16* secured together at the ends and arranged a short distance apart
so as to form a number of oil channels 19 open at the top.
The grooves, instead of being formed at the sides of the oil conveyor, may be
formed in the bottom thereof, but I do not consider this so advantageous a position
as the others because the regular flow of oil is liable to be interfered with by air
bubbles that might enter the grooves and which, in such a construction, could not
readily escape. Also the oil conveyor, instead of being made in one piece of metal,
or other non-absorbent material, or of a number of thin plates arranged side by side,
might be otherwise constructed. Thus it may consist of two or
more wires
arranged sideways in relation to each other, and either in contact or at a short
distance apart.
In the example shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, which are respectively a side
elevation, a cross section and a plan, the oil grooves are formed upon the upper side
of the metal bar forming the oil conveyor, which is slotted at its upper end, as
shown at 19, to permit the oil to pass to the said grooves from the surface of the
cylinder 5 on which it rests and which revolves in a direction away from the said
grooves.
The quantity of oil fed in a given time, by the means described, will vary with
the speed of the cylinder 5, and the cross sectional area of the groove or grooves 19
in the oil conveyor 16, the quantity increasing with an increase of speed of the .
cylinder and with an increase in cross sectional area of the groove or grooves. By
providing a number of oil conveyors with grooves of different cross sectional areas,
any one or more of which can be used at will, different rates of delivery of oil can
be provided for without changing the speed of the cylinder 5.

page_text: In the modified construction of oil feeding apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,
the casing is provided at its front side with an, opening fitted with a plate of glass 21,
through which the rate at which oil is fed by the oil conveyors 16 to the oil delivery
outlets 3 can be readily observed. The cylinder 5 is shown, in this example, as
fixed upon its shaft 7, to the outer end of which is fixed a pulley 14ª, by which it,
and the cylinder 5, can be driven in a continuous manner, if desired, and at any
required rate of speed, from a suitable moving part of the engine or machine to
which the oil feeding apparatus is applied. 22 is a glass tube which serves as a
gange glass to indicate the height of the oil in the said receptacle. This tube is
carried by two extensions 23, 23", the lower of which is in communication with the
interior of the casing, and the upper of which is fitted with a screw 24 that serves
to hold the glass tube 22 in place and has an air hole extending through it.
Washers 25 of suitable material, such as leather or asbestos, may be inserted
between the ends of the glass tube and the parts between which they are held, in
order to obtain a tight joint and prevent fracture of the glass tube. 1 is a holder
for spare oil conveyors.
Two or more oil conveyors 16, of the kind described, may be employed to feed
oil to each delivery outlet 3, these conveyors being so constructed and operated
that one or more of them can be placed in or out of action, according to the rate at
which it is desired to feed oil to the part to be lubricated. In the example shown
in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 there are two oil conveyors 16, 16* to each oil delivery outlet 3.
To enable one say 16ª of each pair to be placed out of action, it is made longer
than the other 16, and below the upper projecting ends of the longer ones, is
arranged a movable wire rod 26, carried by wire supports 27 that are capable of
turning about the fixed bosses 28 within the casing 1, and one of which has
connected to it a handle 29 that, passes through a slot in the front side of the casing.
As will be seen, the arrangement is such, that by moving the wire rod 26 forward,
by the handle 29, it will raise the longer oil conveyors 16ª out of contact with the
cylinder, and so place them out of action, and by moving the wire rod back again,
the said oil conveyors 16" will be permitted to fall back onto the cylinder in
position for use. The handle 29 may be provided with projections 29ª 29b adapted
to engage with the outer front end of the slot through which the handle passes,
and hold the wire rod 26 in its operative, or inoperative position, as may be
required.
When the apparatus is constructed to supply oil to a number of bearings, or
other parts, there may be provided in connection with each supply pipe 4 a
plate or tablet bearing the name, or the initial letter or letters of the name, of
the bearing or part to which oil is supplied by the pipe. Plates or tablets for
this purpose are indicated at 30 in Figs. 3 & 5. By this means, the conveyors
supplying oil to any bearing or part, can be readily determined for the purpose
of enabling the supply of oil to such bearing or part to be regulated.
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. An oil feeder or apparatus for feeding lubricant to steam engines and other
machines, in which a stationary oil conveyor such as 16 inclined to the horizontal
and formed with one or more grooves such as 19 also inclined to the horizontal is
used to transfer oil from a moving surface, such as that of a cylinder 5, which lifts
and moves the oil in a direction opposite to that in which the oil is to be afterwards
delivered to an oil delivery outlet and so that the oil is caused to flow from the said
moving surface into the said inclined groove or grooves against the force of gravity
so long as (owing to the surface tension of the oil reducing the pressure in the
groove or grooves) the surface of the oil in the groove or grooves is concave,
substantially as herein described.
2. My improved oil feeders constructed arranged and operating as hereinabove
described with reference respectively to Figs. 1 and 2, and to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive

page_text: of the accompanying illustrated drawings, whether the oil conveyors be constructed
as there represented or according to either of the modifications respectively
described with reference to and shewn in Figs. 8 and 9, Figs. 10 and 11, or Figs. 12
to 14 inclusive.
Dated this 22nd day of August, 1893.
JOHN I. THORNYCROFT.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.