IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRI- FOR LUBRICATING THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Aerts, of the Place Verte, Anvers, Belgium,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRI-
Sealed the 5th September 1861, and dated the 12th March 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Aerts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
March 1861.
I, AUGUSTE AERTS, of the Place Verte, Auvers, Belgium, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon former Patents granted
to Paul François Aerts, respectively dated the 19th March 1858, No. 563,
and the 18th June 1859, No. 1475; and the present improvements consist,
first, in connecting the axle boxes of railway carriages loosely to or with the
bearing or weight springs thereof instead of rigidly as heretofore practised. This
I propose to effect by making two or more grooves in the top of the axle
boxes in the direction of the length of the axle; these grooves are intended to
receive projecting ledges formed on plates which support the several springs
of the carriage to which they are affixed. The edges of these said plates are
formed with flanges which embrace each axle box, and thus keep it steadyina
direction crosswise of the axle, so that the body of the carriage can only move
[Price 8d.]

page_text: or slide along the top of the axle boxes in one direction, the intention being
to prevent the wear of the brasses against the shoulders of the journals of the
axle which now occurs by having the body of the carriage rigidly connected
by springs to the axle boxes.
Another improvement consists in forming a conical recess in that side of
each of the naves of the running wheels of the carriages which is situate
next the axle box to receive the leather collar described in the Specification
of the aforesaid Patent of 1859, numbered 1475, the intention being to
exclude dust more effectually from the journals of the axles on which the
running wheels are fixed.
Another improvement consists in adapting a thin steel spring around
the before-mentioned leather collar to ensure close contact of said collar
around the axle.
The fourth improvement consists in adapting a spring catch to the lid of
the axle box, or that part at which the lubricant is introduced, by which I
keep said lid closed, and prevent the entrance of dust and grit.
Another improvement consists in adapting a partition to the pierced gutter
or spout, described and referred to in the Specification of the aforesaid Patent
of 1859, numbered 1475, for the purpose of compelling the water propelled by
the revolving disc to pass over the axle iustead of said water being also thrown
in another direction, as was the case in the former arrangement described in
the said Patent of 1859. I also propose to simplify the construction of the
valves employed to discharge the dirty water from the axle boxes and other
minor details of construction. For the purpose of rendering the axle boxes
less costly I propose to adapt the foregoing improvements to the moving parts
of stationary engines, shafting, and other revolving machinery previously
described in the Specification of the aforesaid Patent of 1858, numbered 563.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Auguste Aerts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
September 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTE
AERTS, of the Place Verte, Anvers, Belgium, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said Auguste Aerts, Her special licence that I, the said Auguste
Aerts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Auguste Aerts, 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
APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I,the said Auguste Aerts, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 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 Auguste Aerts, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon former Patents granted
to Paul François Aerts, respectively dated the 19th March 1858, No. 563,
and the 18th June 1859, No. 1475, and the present improvements consist,
first, in connecting the axle boxes of railway carriages loosely to or with the
bearing or weight springs thereof, instead of rigidly as heretofore practised.
This I propose to effect by making two or more grooves in the top of the axle
boxes in the direction of the length of the axle. These grooves are intended
to receive projecting ledges formed on plates which support the several springs
of the carriage to which they are affixed; the edges of these said plates are
formed with flanges which embrace each axle box,and thus keep it steady in
a direction crosswise of the axle, so that the body of the carriage can only
move or slide along the top of the axle boxes in one direction; the intention
being to prevent the wear of the brasses against the shoulders of the journals
of the axle, which now occurs, by having the 'body of the carriage rigidly
connected by springs to the axle boxes.
Another improvement consists in forming a conical recess in that side of
each of the naves of the running wheels of the carriages which is situate.next
the axle box to receive the leather collar described in the Specification of the
aforesaid Patent of 1859, numbered 1475; the intention being to exclude
dust more effectually from the journals of the axles on which the running
wheels are fixed,

page_text: Another improvement consists in adapting a thin steel spring around the
before-mentioned leather collar to ensure close contact of said collar around
the axle.
The fourth improvement consists in adapting a spring catch to the lid of
the axle box, or that part at which the lubricant is introduced, by which I
keep said lid closed, and prevent the entrance of dust and grit.
Another improvement consists in adapting a partition to the pierced gutter
orspout,described and referred to in the Specification of the aforesaid Patent
of 1859, numbered 1475, for the purpose of compelling the water propelled
by the revolving disc to pass over the axle instead of said water being also
thrown in anot her direction, as was the case in the former arrangement,
described in the said Patent of 1859. I also propose to simplify the con-
struction of the valves employed to discharge the dirty water from the axle
boxes, and other minor details of construction for the purpose of rendering the
axle boxes less costly. I propose to adapt the foregoing improvements to the
moving parts of stationary engines, shafting, and other revolving machinery
previously described in the Specification of the aforesaid Patent of 1858,
numbered 563.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon respectively as follows:-To adapt my improved
lubricating apparatus to the axle boxes of railway carriages I propose to make
the box in four pieces, as follows:-first, the body of the box; second, an
upper part A, A, which covers a reserve grease box B (Figure 1); third, a
plate in front as at C, C, (Figures 1 and 2). Into a groove D made in the
plate C,C,and india-rubber strip is placed, which when the bolts are fastened
forms a water-tightjoint to prevent leakage of water. Fourth, an outside back
plate E, E, connected to the body of the box by bolts (Figure 1); on the end
of the axle a cast-iron conical disc Fis firmly fixed, working in a reservoir of
water G (Figures 1 and 3). The lubrication of the journal of the axle com
mences as soon as the carriage is put in motion by the disc F turning round
with the axle, which as it rotates raises the water to the upper part of the box
- where it is discharged into the spout H (Figures 1 and 3), which conducts
the water over the axle, and thus lubricates the bearing completely and con
tinually. The quantity of water raised for lubricating the bearing increases
in proportion to the velocity of rotation of the axle, since the faster the dis
turns the greater the quantity of water carried up by it. The pierced gutter

page_text: or spout H, the shape of which is easily seen, freely moves itself into a groove I,
so as to produce no additional pressure to its weight, which is sufficient to
bring to the upper part of the box all the water propelled by the disc, and by
means of a splash plate K (Figure 1), the water is prevented being thrown to
the opposite side of the cast-iron bearing L (Figures 1 and 2). The water is
caused to lubricate every part of the journal of the axle by passing through a
longitudinal groove made in the bearing for that purpose. B is a reserve
grease box intended to operate if by any accident the water should run out of
the box. In order to prevent the leakage of water through the nave of the
wheel a small cast-iron collar M is placed immediately behind the journal,
and fixed thereto by means of a key inserted therein, said key sliding in a
groove N made in the axle, as at Figure 1. The collar M is made slightly
conical inside, and can easily be removed by means of a chisel put in a split O,
made in the nave, as at Figure 4. I also form the outside of the said collar
of a conical form, so that by these means, and the centrifugal force, the water
is thrown away from the point P, where it has a tendency to escape, and is
thus returned into the box.
I would here remark that in order to keep the water in the axle box whilst
the carriages are passing round the curves of a line of railway whereby the
carriages assume an inclined position towards the centre ofgravity,and would
have a tendency to throw the water out of the boxes, I propose to obviate
this objection by sliding on the collar M a leather collar Z, which is fixed in
the cast-iron disc Q by means of eight little brass rivets.
I also place
around the leather collar a small tempered steel spring a (Figures 1, 7, and 8),
which exercises a gentle and uniform pressure, thereby causing complete
adhesion of the leather. Finally, I complete the closing by an india-rubber
ring Y let into a groove in the inside face of the cast-iron disc Q. This ring
being pressed against the interior part of the body of the box by the outside
back plate E, and with the bolts R, R, (Figure 4), makes them a water-tight
joint all round it. The lower part of the box is formed inclined in order
that the solid particles contained in the water may pass to the hole S, and
thus preserve the lubricating agentas pure and free from extraneous matters as
possible,and further,as it is sometimes necessary to wash out the box, I propose
for shutting and opening the said hole S to have a malleable cast-iron valve a
(Figures 1 and 3), fitted with an india-rubber washer one inch in thickness,
which when compressed forms a perfectly tight joint. Rust being undeniably
greatest cause of destruction in most of the systems of lubrication now in
I propose to prevent oxidation of the metal within the box, and the
entrance of dust, first, by closing the aperture where the lubricating materials
the
use

page_text: are introduced by means of a lid T (Figures 1, 3, and 15), the hinge of
which is so constructed as exhibited that dust cannot enter whilst opening the
lid; secondly, by forming a frame all round the orifice, and rivetting a piece
of leather m to the inside of the lid, as at Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5; thirdly, by
means of a spring & fixed in front of the box, as at Figures 1, 3, 4, acting like
the lock of a door, so that the lid cannot possibly open when the carriages are
running, an objection common to axle-boxes as heretofore constructed;
fourthly, by putting the central part of the disc Q into a conical recess turned
in the Eave of the wheel, as at Figures 1 and 6, thus protecting the collars M
and Z from premature wear and tear. By this arrangement, as soon as the
train is put in motion, not only does this protective nave prevent dust falling
directly upon the journal of the axle, but in the event of dust having by any
means obtained admittance thereto, the centrifugal force causing a draught of
air would drive any dust away that had entered. Upon some railways the
carriages are made extremely ilong, and consequently the wheels are far
distant from each other, the result of which is that the boxes being kept in a
fixed position by the axle guards and springs as ordinarily practised, it is
impossible to run round the curves of a line of railway without exercising
considerable friction against the flanges of the wheels and the ends of the
bearings at the shoulders of the journals of the axles, and so considerable is
the amount of friction that any lubrication whatever interposing itself.between
the wearing portions, the bearings soon wear hollow, and an inevitable over-
heating thereof takes place. In order to obviate this objection, and to
grease of
prevent the
before-mentioned reserve grease box melting on
account of the heat caused by the friction, I allow the boxes to move freely
with the wheels and axles in the direction of the length of said axles, and I
give them room both in ratio to the radii of the curves and the distance between
the wheels from centre to centre. To effect this I make in the longitudinal
upper part of the box two grooves d, d, as far as possible from each other,
and place therein slides 7 (Figures 2, 4), and as these slides can retain a
certain quantity of oil a very easy sliding movement is thus obtained. The
piece of leatherf (Figures 1, 2), under the crest of the spring is intended to
prevent dust falling into the grooves d, d. Now, I would observe that the
water or lubricant which has already been raised falls again into the reser-
voir, and is constantly brought over and over the journal of the axle, so that
its level does not perceptibly vary during a very long time of running, and if
allowance be made for a small leakage through the nave of the wheel by
'means of a slight pressure exercised by the steel spring around the leather
collar, said collar will be kept always 'wet, and premature destruction thereof
my

page_text: prevented. Before fixing the boxes in place the bearings and journals of the
axle should both be well greased to prevent oxydation of the metal by the
water; the water prevents the contact of the two metals as it
passes between
two greased surfaces. In practice the grease is found to solidify after a short
time of running, and forms a sort of varnish of a dark brown color; thus
proving the absence of actual contact between the two metal surfaces, for
were it otherwise the surface of the axle would become polished.
Figures 9, 10, respectively represent a plan and elevation of a small press
intended to make the leather collars; Figures 11, 12, represent a plan and
elevation of a little tool intended to make the steel springs which are placed
around the leather collar.
For applying the above described system to the bearings of the stationary
engines, shafting, and other similar working parts of machinery, it suffices to
fix the cast-iron disc A (Figure 13), on the shaft by means of a screw B.
This disc is made in two parts in order to adapt it to the shafting without
dismounting same. The two pieces are joined together by a screw. The
shafting is then surrounded by a zinc box D, which is fastened thereto by
means of bolts E, E, Figures 13, 14. This box is filled with water. The
spout or pierced gutter G is similar to those used in the railway axle-boxes
before described, and moves freely in a mortise H. With this shape of spout
it is always possible to work from the left to the right, and vice versa. By
this arrangement, as soon as the shaft is set in motion, the disc A raises the
water to the upper part of the box, and discharges it in the spout G, which
conducts it upon the shaft and completely lubricates it. In order to prevent
a great part of the water carried by the disc from being thrown to the oppo-
site side of the bearing, and consequently going down through the hole where
the shaft passes, I fix against the interior of the box, and all round the said
hole, a curved zinc band I, by means of which all the water thrown towards
the aperture follows the circular direction of the band, and thus falls again
into the reservoir (Figures 13, 15). On the outside of the zinc box I place
a small cup
J of the same metal closed by a lid. This cup is intended to
introduce water into the reservoir, and to ascertain the maximum quantity of
water which is to be poured into the box. Before mounting the zinc box it
is necessary to grease both shafting and brass in order to prevent oxydation
of the metal, while the water prevents the contact of the two metals as it
passes between two greased surfaces, as before stated.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for Lubricating the Moving Parts
of Machinery," together with the best means I am acquainted with for car

page_text: rying the same into practical effect, I hereby declare my Invention to consist
in, and I claim,-
First, the mode herein set forth, described, and represented by the accom.
panying Drawing of constructing the axle-boxes of railway carriages as
constituting improvements in apparatus for lubricating.
Secondly, the splash plate K exhibited at Figure 1 of the Drawing, for
carrying a greater quantity of water over the journal of the axle, and pre-
venting same being thrown in an opposite direction.
Thirdly, the valve a exhibited at Figures 1, 3, 4, for closing the orifice at
which the water flows out of the boxes, also the parts marked M, Z, Q, a, at
Figures 1, 3, 4, for preventing leakage of water at the nave of the wheel.
Fourthly, the disc Q at the back part of the box, as at Figure 1; and the
hollow in the nave of the wheel for preventing entrance of dust, and conse-
quent wear of the leather collar and axle.
Fifthly, the slides and grooves at the top of the box for preventing or
lessening friction of the journals of axles against the bearings thereof, and
effectually lubricating the same as described and represented.
Sixthly, the lid and hinge Tat Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5, also the piece of leather
mat Figures 1 and 5, and the spring bat Figures 1, 3, and 4; for preventing
opening of the box when the train is in motion.
Lastly, as regards stationary engines. I claim the piece I at Figures 13
and 15, for preventing leakage of water from the bearing, also the cast-iron
spouts G at Figures 1, 3, and 14, and the cup J for introducing water into the
box, and determining the quantity therein as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Aerts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
AUGTE AERTS. (L.S.)