Improvements in Automatic Lubricating Devices for the Piston Rods, Crossheads, and Crankpins of Steam Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Lubricating Devices for the Piston
Rods, Crossheads, and Crankpins of Steam Engines.
I, JAMES WILLIAMSON of Shakespeare Terrace, Sunderland in the County of
Durham Engineer 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 lubricating arrangements for steam
engines, chiefly of the marine or inverted cylinder type and the object is principally
to provide an automatic "swab " for lubricating the piston rods of these engines.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings which show the mechanism applied to the lubricating of the piston rod,
cross-head and crankpin of a marine engine.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism and Fig. 2 a plan whilst Fig. 3 is a
section through the revolving ring hereinafter referred to.
"
or
The
In these A is the piston rod and B a portion of the crosshead of the engine.
Near the gland of the steam cylinder I support a plate C preferably by means of
the gland bolts or by other special means. This plate is made of any suitable
material and is shaped to carry one or more oil reservoirs D and a rotatable ring E.
The ring E-a section of which is shown in Fig. 3-is preferably made in two
pieces or halves which may be connected together in any suitable manner such as
by plates or pieces e. The plate C is also divided in a similar manner and
connected together in any convenient way, or as shown, by means of the nuts c¹ on
the gland bolts. At the upper side, the ring E is provided with a flaring flange e¹
and at the middle portion with an annular recess into which is placed a "swab
lubricating packing d. This may be in one or more pieces but in any case a little
space is left between the ends to allow any water, which may drip from the stuffing
box, to escape down the rod without accumulating between the flaring flange e¹ and
the piston rod and thus washing over the oil being supplied to the swab."
packing is also sufficiently large to just touch the piston rod. To prevent the
ring E moving vertically small projecting pieces el are cast to it at the portion
beneath the plate C. The oil reservoirs D are shown fixed to the plate C but they
may be made readily removable therefrom if desired. They are constructed to
contain a sufficient quantity of oil to last for a considerable time and may be
provided with hinged or other form of covers to prevent dirt or dust entering them.
The oil is passed down a tube d¹ in each case by means of a little wick and is
conducted to the swab by a small pipe d". In order that the oil may be equally
distributed around the piston rod, the ring E is made rotatable. This I accomplish
by casting a flange el to the ring and forming thereon ratchet teeth as shown.
The ring is rotated intermittently one or more teeth at a time by suitable
mechanism. I preferably employ a lever F pivoted to the plate C and provided
at one end with a spring controlled pawl f, engaging with the ratchet_teeth, and
at the other with a bent arm f¹ as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. To actuate
the lever a light clamp G is fixed to the piston rod and this clamp carries an
arm g which engages with the arm f¹ and pushes the latter sideways each time
the crosshead B approaches the top centre. As the crosshead recedes the lever F
is forced back in readiness to take another tooth by a suitable spring such as f";
meantime the ring E is prevented moving back by a spring catch or pawl
such as F¹.
In addition to lubricating the piston rod the mechanism may also be adapted
to lubricate the crosshead and crankpin of the engine. Means for doing this are

page_text: shown in Fig. 1. H, is a pipe fixed inside each oil reservoir and is supplied
with oil in the manner herein before referred to in connection with the pipe or
tube d¹. The oil passes through the lower end of the tube and drips onto a little
wick h, held by a small clamp h, and from which it drops into the oil cup on the
end of the crosshead. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that similar means are
adopted with regard to the lubrication of the crank pin, the oil dripping from the
wick into a small receptacle h", attached to the upper end of the connecting rod,
and from which it is led to the crankpin by a small pipe 411 as shown.
The advantages derived from the use of such an apparatus as described are that
constant and regular lubrication of the piston rod is ensured, consequently there is
less wear and tear on both rod and packing, that it dispenses with the hand swab
or oil feeder, thus doing away with the oiler's periodical visits and ensuring
cleanliness by preventing the dripping of oil on the platforms and gratings of the
-engine room.
In conclusion I would have it understood that the details of the invention may
¡be modified to suit special cases, without in any way departing from the essential
features of my invention.
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. An automatic oiling or lubricating arrangement for the piston rod, crosshead
and crankpin of the class of steam engine referred to, constructed and arranged
substantially as described.
2. The automatic oiling or lubricating arrangement constructed and arranged
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes set forth.
Per pro EMMOTT & CO., LIMITED,
ROBERT WOOD, Secretary,
2, New Bridge Street, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.