Improvements in Automatic Lubricators for Horizontal Shafting and Rotary Axles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
Improvements in Automatic Lubricators for Horizontal Shafting and
Rotary Axles.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES ALFRED WESTERVELT, Superin-
tendent of the Royal Clay Manufacturing Company, Manufacturers of
Fire-clay Products, and JAMES PIERCE WALTERS, Machinist, both of
Uhrichsville, in the State of Ohio, United States of America.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the Firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1 Queen Victoria
Street in the City of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for "Improvements in automatic lubricators for
horizontal shafting and rotary axles," 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 means for "automatically and
economically lubricating horizontal shafting, including countershafts and the like,
and the rotary axles of railway locomotives carriages and wagons, and in devices
for rendering such lubricators automatic by providing for the employment of a
suitable oil or other liquid lubricant, hereinafter termed the oil, and for keeping
such oil in circulation within the bearing or box while the shaft or axle is in motion,
and effectively applying the same to the surfaces to be lubricated, by utilizing
centrifugal force for the elevation of the oil and providing for its flow inward toward
such surfaces.
The present invention consists in the combination with an oil-elevator, revolving
with the shaft or axle, of a housing for such oil-elevator having pockets within it
at its sides on a level with such shaft or axle into which the oil is thrown
centrifugally by said oil-elevator, and horizontal or substantially horizontal passages
leading from such side-pockets through which the oil flows to the shaft or axle, and
in certain other novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth
and claimed; also in certain improved journal-bearings for line-shafting and the
like embodying the leading combination of parts above stated, and in an improved
axle-box for railway vehicles embodying said leading combination of parts, as
hereinafter described and shown on the accompanying drawings.
The objects of the invention are to keep the shaft or axle thoroughly and equally
well lubricated as long as the minimum supply of oil remains in the bearing or
box; to do this without the aid of capillary attraction, or of wicks or packing of
any description liable to fray or disintegrate; to adapt the lubricator to work
effectively at both high and low speeds, and to this end to obviate elevating the o.l
to an unnecessary height within the bearing or box; and to avoid the employment
of unnecessary parts, and otherwise to facilitate the manufacture of the improved
journal-bearing or axle-box.
The manner in which the invention is performed is illustrated by six sheets of
drawings, hereto annexed as part of this Specification; the figures on which are
numbered from 1 to 20 inclusive. Like letters and numbers refer to like parts in
all the figures.
On Sheets 1 and 2, Figure 1 is an end view, half in section, of a journal-bearing
for line-shafting and the like embodying within it an automatic lubricator
constructed according to the present invention;

page_text: represents a 101
Section Urough the Shen UT
bearing and its brass on the line 2-2 Figure 1, and an elevation of the shaft and
oil-elevator; showing the plane of section in Figure 1 at 1-1;
Figure 3 represents a cross-section at 3-3 Figure 2 ;
Figure 4 represents detail views of the upper part of said shell;
Figure 5 detail views of the lower part of said shell;
Figure 6 detail views of said brass; and
Figure 7 detail views of said oil elevator.
The shell of said improved journal-bearing shown on Sheets 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings is composed of suitably recessed upper and lower shell-
parts A and B, and it is furnished internally with a "brass" C, of a suitable alloy,
and an oil-elevator D, which is shown as made in two parts united by bolts, in the
fcrm of a double paddle.
The shell-parts A and B may be castings of iron or other suitable metal, and
clamped together in any approved way within a hanger or pedestal or upon the
frame of any piece of machinery; and the oil-elevator D may be fastened on the
shaft E by any suitable means.
When the parts are united, as in Figures 12 and 3, the shaft E carries the
oil-elevator D within a housing which is preferably formed by end-enlargements ]
and 2 on the respective shell-parts, and the brass C is supported within the lower
shell-part B upon shoulders 3 and an end-bolster 4. A supply of oil may be
introduced through an oil-inlet 5 in the top of the shell-part A, communicating
directly with the bore 6 of the bearing, and, by way of a bore-enlargement 7 at
the rear end of the bearing and an end-space 8 in communication with said enlarge-
ment at the rear end of the brass C, with an oil-well 9 beneath the brass; from
which the oil flows through an aperture 10 in said bolster 4 into an oil-chamber a
within said housing at bottom.
As the oil-elevator D revolves, it carries upward the oil from the oil-chamber a,
and discharges it centrifugally into oil-pockets b, hereinafter termed "side-pockets,"
at the sides of said housing, which extend across the plane in which the oil-elevator
revolves on a level with the shaft, and receive a considerable and sufficient amount
of the oil, so elevated, directly from the oil-clevator D, without any deflection
thereof. Another large portion is thrown against the internal top of said housing,
and flows down its declivities into one or the other of said side-pockets. From
such side-pockets the oil flows toward the bore of the bearing through "horizontal
passages c, which, in common with said side-pockets b, are open-topped, and
conveniently formed within the end-enlargement 2 of the lower shell-part B.
Said horizontal passages c discharge at their inner ends into a transverse
oil-receptacle 11, within an end-projection formed on the brass C, from which a
distributing groove 12, in the same plane, extends longitudinally of the brass, and
brings the oil into contact with the bottom of the shaft; said end-projection
being that portion of the brass C which rests upon said bolster 4 within the shell-
part B.
The upper shell-part A, face and end views of which are represented by Figure 4,
comprises said end-enlargement 1, forming the arched hood d of said housing of
the oil-elevator, including its internal top as above described, and covering said
oil-chamber a side-pockets and horizontal passages c within the lower shel!-
part B also said oil-inlet 5, the upper part of the main bore 6, and said
bore-enlargement 7; and is constructed with deep joint-flanges 13 to coact with
like joint-flanges 14 on said shell-part B to prevent the escape of oil at the front
and sides of the bearing. Said bore-enlargement 7, in addition to its primary
functions as above, serves in connection with said end-space 8 beneath it to prevent
the escape of oil at the rear end of the bearing. See Figure 2.
The lower shell-part B, face and end views of which are shown in Figure 5, in
addition to said end-enlargement 2 provided with said oil-chamber a side-pockets b
and horizontal passages c, and in addition to said brass-supporting shoulders 3 and
bolster 4, and said oil-well 9 oil-passage 10 and joint-flanges 14, is constructed

page_text: with an oil-escape guard 15 external to its front wall, connected with said
chamber a
by a return passage 16, and with lips 17 at the inner ends of said
horizontal passages c to overhang the edges of said end-projection of the brass C
containing said oil-receptacle 11, so as to insure the flow of the oil into the latter.
See Figure 3.
The brass C, face end and edge views of which are shown in Figure 6, is
constructed, in addition to said oil-receptacle 11 and oil-distributing groove 12, with
lateral projections 18 to rest on said shoulders 3 within the lower shell-part B,
and with an end-projection 19 to coact with the rear wall of said shell-part B, as
in Figure 2, to form said end-space 8, and to keep said end-projection containing
the oil-receptacle 11 beneath said overhanging lips 17.
The oil-elevator D, side and edge views of which are shown in Figure 7, is
composed of a pair of metallic pieces, preferably of one and the same shape,
which form together a shaft-embracing collar, marked 20 in this figure, a pair
of radial blades 21, and a pair of lap-joints 22, fastened by clamping bolts 23,
by way of illustration.
Revolving oil-elevators of other forms may be substituted for the specific
oil-elevator D above described in connection with the remainder of the improved
bearing represented on Sheets 1 and 2 as above; the line 1--1 Figure 2 may
represent the middle plane of a double-ended bearing constructed on the same
principle with one or more oil-elevators D at mid-length and a space 8 at each end;
the external shape of the bearing may be varied to suit different forms of hangers,
pedestals, etc., or as different manufacturers may prefer; and other like
modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.
On Sheets 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, Figure 8 represents a vertical
longitudinal section through all the parts of another journal-bearing for line-shafting
embodying another improved lubricator; Figures 9 and 10 represent cross-sections
on the lines 9-9 and 10-10 respectively; Figure 11 represents detail views of
the upper shell-part; Figure 12 like views of the lower shell-part; Figure 13
detail views of the brass, and Figure 14 detail views of either part of the
oil-elevator.
In the arrangement represented by these figures, the improved bearing, in
common with the one above described, comprises upper and lower shell-parts A
and B, a brass C supported within the lower shell-part B, and a revolving oil-
elevator D clamped on the shaft E. It further comprises in common with said
bearing above described a housing for said oil-elevator formed by end-enlargements 1
and 2 on the respective shell-parts, having side-pockets 6 within it on a level with
the shaft into which the oil is thrown centrifugally by said oil-elevator, and horizontal
passages c, leading from said side-pockets, through which the oil flows to the shaft ;
also an oil-chamber a at bottom and a hollow hood d at top, forming together a space
within which said oil-elevator freely revolves with the shaft, and which incloses
the same together with said side-pockets b; also an internal partition 4, corre-
sponding in position and in function as a partition with the bolster 4 of the bearing
above described.
In order to locate the side-pockets somewhat above the plane of the axis of
the shaft E, and more particularly for feeding the oil to the shaft at about
midlength of the brass C, said side-pockets are in this arrangement located
within the upper shell-part A, and the horizontal passages c are formed by
external pipes leading from said side-pockets to ports in the sides of the upper
shell-part, shown at c in Figures 8 and 9. Intersecting with these ports, are a
pair of vertical oil-inlets 5, to receive the stems of sight-feed lubricators or the
like, extending inward to the main bore 6 of the bearing, and at the rear end of
the bore is a bore-enlargement 7 within the upper shell-part, and an end-space 8 in
communication with said enlargement within the lower-shell-part, as in the
arrangement first described; but in the present arrangement the oil does not flow
directly from the oil-inlets through said bore-enlargement 7 and end-space 8 into
an oil-well at bottom, but is distributed lengthwise of the bearing by internal

page_text: grooves 24, Figures 9 and 11, and further distributed by the shaft itself to every
portion of said main-bore and the corresponding surface of the brass C, finding its
way gradually into the space 9 at bottom corresponding with said oil-well before
described, and from thence through a channel 10, corresponding with the
oil-passage 10 before described, and through a nipple 25, communicating with
said channel, into the interior of the wheel-shaped oil-elevator D, as in Figure 5, to
be discharged centrifugally by the latter into the side-pockets 6, and from thence
to flow through the horizontal passages c to the sides of the shaft at said oil-inlets,
to be again distributed in like manner.
The upper-shell part A, face and end views of which are represented by
Figure 11, in addition to its parts above described, is constructed with the upper
half of a circumferential oil-escape recess 15, corresponding in function with the
oil-escape shield 15 above described.
The lower shell-part B, face and end views of which are represented by
Figure 12, in addition to its parts above described, including the lower portion of
said oil-escape recess 15, and a hole 16 connecting this recess at bottom with said
chamber a, is constructed with a concave step 26 for a central hemispherical
foot 27 on the brass C.
The brass C, a top view and a cross-section of which are shown at Figure 13,
apart from said foot 27 is simply constructed of lune shape in cross-section and of
the required width and length.
The oil-elevator D, of either part of which edge and side views are shown in
Figure 14, is composed of two such parts as aforesaid, forming together an annular
recess 28 open at one side to admit the nipple 25, and with T-shaped radial
partitions 29, extending inward to said lateral opening, and separating at their
outer ends pairs of oil-escape holes 30, through which latter the oil is discharged
centrifugally as above. An inner collar 31, having perforated lugs 32, provides
for clamping the oil-elevator on the shatt as above described.
Owing to the discharge of the oil from beneath the brass C directly into the
oil-elevating wheel D in this arrangement, the least quantity of oil remaining in
the bearing is actively circulated, and may suffice to keep the bearing lubricated
until the sight-feed lubricators or their equivalents are replenished.
This second form of the improved lubricator may be further modified by
increasing the capacity of the chamber 9 beneath the brass C, or otherwise
providing a sufficient reservoir for oil, so as to obviate the use of sight-feed
lubricators or the like; in which case the oil-inlets 5 would be plugged or capped
after filling the bearing; and in this case a paddle-shaped oil-elevator (Figure 7
above) might take the place of the wheel-shaped oil-elevator D, the nipple 25
being omitted in such case; or the improved bearing, including such sight-feed
lubricators or their equivalent, and a pair of such wheel-shaped oil-elevators back
to back, may be made double-ended if preferred, with the chamber a side-pockets b
and hollow hood d formed in any approved way at midlength of the bearing, and
the pipes c extending longitudinally in both directions from such central side-
pockets.
On Sheets 5 and 6 of the drawings, Figure 15 represents a vertical longitudinal
section through the shell and door of an axle-box embodying an improved automatic
lubricator constructed according to the present invention; Figure 16 represents a
half plan view of the same; Figure 17 represents an end view thereof, showing
what is hereinafter termed its front end; Figure 18 represents detail views of its
oil-holding "cellar" detached; Figure 19 an end elevation of its oil-elevator
detached; and Figure 20 a cross-section on the line 20-20 Figure 19.
A may represent the box proper, or its shell as a whole, which may be composed
of castings of iron or other suitable metal, in any approved way; B' its customary
brass, which, forming no part of the present invention, may be of any ordinary or
improved construction; and C an oil-holding cellar corresponding generally in its
lubricating functions with the single brass forming part of each of the before-
described lubricators.

page_text: In common with said before-described lubricators, the present arrangement
comprises a revolving oil-elevator D carried by the axle E; said oil-elevator is
inclosed by a housing, preferably integral with the shell, forming at bottom an
oil-chamber and provided on a level with the axle with side-pockets b, into which
the oil is thrown centrifugally by said oil-elevator, and from which it flows through
horizontal passages c into contact with the surfaces to be lubricated.
a,
In the present lubricator the body of the shell A is conveniently a single casting,
and its outer or front end, shown at the right in Figures 15 and 16 and in the
front in Figure 17, is formed by a flat end-plate F, provided, in common with said
body of the shell, with lugs 33, through which extend screw-bolts 34 and 35,
provided with screw-nuts, to attach said end-plate oil-tight; said end-plate is
provided with an inlet-opening 36, and with a three-sided frame 37 for a vertically
sliding door G, having a suitable handle 38 by which to lift it to open the box for
the introduction of oil into said chamber a; said pockets and horizontal passages e
are formed at midheight within the one-part body of the shell A ; said horizontal
passages are closed at their inner ends z and provided at bottom with drip-holes 39
which extend through depending projections a for concentrating the drip; and said
projections overhang lateral projections 40 formed on the cellar C to receive the
drip of oil from said horizontal passages c. Said lateral projections 40 are hollow
at top, and communicate with an open-topped end-chamber 41 of said cellar C,
into which the end-flange or button 42 of the axle-journal dips, as in Figures 15 and 17,
and from which the oil flows through an orifice 43 into the open-topped main-
chamber 44 of the cellar. The respective ends of said chamber 44 are formed by
a pair of bridges 45 and 46 Figure 18. The first of these bridges, marked 45, is
provided with said orifice 43; and the two bridges are notched to fit the reduced
axle-journal. See Figure 15. Behind the rear bridge 46, and parallel therewith,
an oil-arresting bar 47, Figure 18, notched to contact with the unreduced portion
of the axle E, and an end-bar 48, notched to clear the axle, are separated from
each other and from said bridge 46 by spaces 49, Figures 15 and 16. These spaces
extend through the cellar C from top to bottom, and serve to return to the
chamber a by way of the recess 50 within the body of the shell A, the oil which
would otherwise tend to escape at the rear opening 51 of the box ; and the
depending projection 52, integral with said end-bar 48, masks said opening 51
at bottom as in Figure 15. Said opening 51 will be closed at top by a suitable
dust-guard, for which a pocket 53, Figures 15 and 16, is provided.
A central spiral spring H, Figures 15 and 17, embracing studs 54 and 55 formed
respectively on the bottom of the cellar C and on the floor of said recess 50,
supports the cellar C, and presses said bridges 45 and 46 and said oil-arresting
bar 47 into contact with the axle E; while the revolutions of the oil-elevator D
and the agitation of the oil within the cellar C by the movements of the
axle-box insure the ample lubrication of the journal as long as the vehicle may
be in motion, provided there is enough oil in the box to be acted on by said
oil-elevator.
66
"
For the purposes of the invention, the revolving oil-elevator D in this as in the
previous arrangement may be of any suitable construction. It is preferably
paddle-shaped as shown, with a pair of diametrically opposite blades 56,
Figures 19 and 20, projecting from an axially drilled hub 57, through which a
tap-bolt 58, Figures 15 to 17, is screwed into the end of the axle-journal to
attach the oil-elevator.
The oil-elevator may be wheel-shaped instead, as above described with reference
to Figure 14 for example; the rear opening 51 may be closed at bottom as well as
at top by a suitable dust-guard; two or more cellar-supporting springs H may be
employed; the spring or springs may be of other approved forms; and other like
modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.
It is considered essential however, in every embodiment of this invention, that
the parts be so constructed and arranged that the oil is thrown directly by
centrifugal force into side-pockets on a level with the shaft or axle, and in no case

page_text: above it, and thence conducted to the shaft or axle in the direction of the centre
of the said shaft or axle; and that the oil be applied to the bottom and sides of
the shaft or axle-journal, and never to its top as heretofore attempted by others.
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) In combination with an oil-elevator revolving with a shaft or axle, a housing
for such oil-elevator having side-pockets within it on a level with such shaft or
axle into which the oil is thrown centrifugally by said oil-elevator, and horizontal
or substantially horizontal passages leading from said side-pockets through which
the oil flows towards the centre of the shaft or axle, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2) In an automatic lubricator for line-shafting and the like, the combination
within upper and lower shell-parts of an oil-elevator revolving with the shaft, a
housing for such oil-elevator having side-pockets within the lower shell-part at its
top into which the oil is thrown centrifugally by said oil-elevator, and passages
leading from said pockets through which the oil flows toward the centre of the
shaft, substantially as hereinbefore specified with reference to Figures 1 and 5 of
the accompanying drawings.
(3) In a self-lubricating journal-bearing for line-shafting and the like, an upper
shell-part provided with oil-inlets and oil-passages including a pair of side-pockets
on a level with the shaft, a lower shell-part having an oil-well and a channel and
nipple leading therefrom, and a hollow centrifugal wheel into which said nipple
discharges and which is provided with internal oil-elevating pockets and peripheral
openings through which the oil escapes into said side-pockets by centrifugal force,
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 8 to 12 inclusive
and Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.
(4) In an axle-box for railway vehicles provided with an improved automatic
lubricator constructed and operating as in Claim 1 above, a spring-supported
cellar, for applying the oil to the bottom of the axle-journal, constructed with
open-topped oil-chambers, and with bridges notched to fit the reduced axle-journal,
and with an oil-arresting bar fitted to the unreduced portion of the axle.
(5) The improved lubricator for line-shafting and the like hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive of the accompanying drawings,
substantially as shown.
(6) The improved automatic lubricator for line-shafting and the like hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 8 to 14 inclusive of the accompanying drawings,
substantially as shown.
(7) The improved lubricator for the axle-boxes of railway vehicles hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 15 to 20 inclusive of the accompanying
drawings, substantially as shown.
Dated this 15th day of January 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.