Improved Method of Lubricating the Stern-tube Bearings of the Propeller Shaft of Steam-ships.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Lubricating the Stern-tube Bearings of the
Propeller Shaft of Steam-ships.
PETER HADEN and HADEN HERBERT BALES both of Palatine House 109 Stoke
Newington Road London N. in the County of Middlesex Engineers we do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention consists essentially in a method of lubricating the propeller shaft
bearings in the stern tube of screw steam ships, by conveying oil, or other lubricant
between the shaft and bearings by means of any pressure of steam as usually
applyed, to overcome the external water pressure, and to allow the oil to flow into the
bearing.
We employ a cylinder or other vessel to contain oil or other lubricant through the
upper part of which passes a divided tube the outside of one or both of these tubes
is provided with a thread and lock nut, or other suitable means to allow adjustment
to be effected.
The lubricant will be injected into the outlet tube by a jet of steam passing into the
lubricator, and the quantity of lubricant supplyed in a given time can be adjusted by
altering a valve or by bringing the tubes nearer or further apart.
We provide a valve or cock in the upper part of the lubricator for the purpose of
refilling the lubricator and an ordanry gague glass on the outside for the purpose of
ascertaining the quantity of lubricant in the lubricator from time to time.
We also employ a pressure gague connected to the outlet or other convenient place
which gague will indicate the external water pressure and will also show when the
lubricator is feeding and to what extent.
Dad thin Thirty first day of January 1890
PETER HADEN.
HADEN HERBERT BALES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Lubricating the Stern-tube Bearings of the
Propeller Shaft of Steam-ships.
PETER HADEN and HADEN HERBERT BALES of Palatine House 109 Stoke Newington
Road London N. in the County of Middlesex, Engineers 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 :-
Our invention consists essentially in a method of lubricating the propeller shaft
bearings in the stern tube of screw steam ships, by conveying oil or other lubricant
between the shaft and bearings, by means of a pressure of steain as usually applied,
(through a pipe or tube from the main boilers or other convenient source of steam
pressure) to overcome the external water pressure, and to allow the lubricant to flow
into the bearings.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the stern tube bearings.
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section, of lubricating apparatus illustrative of
the nature of our said invention.
In Figure 1, S indicates the propeller shaft, which working in the bearings V and V1
requires lubricating. To effect this we convey oil or other lubricant from the oil
chamber G Figure 2 through the "sight-feed" glass D and connecting pipe F into
the sea pipe O and space R, between the shaft S and the stern tube, T from whence it
will spread to the bearings V and V1.

page_text: The external water pressure is overcome and the lubricant made to flow into the
stern tube by means of a pressure of steam, which pressure is conveyed into the oil
chamber G Fig. 2, by the pipe M, and valve M¹. This pressure acting upon the lubri-
cant N forces it through the passage X and regulating valve K into the "sight-feed" D
(consisting of a glass tube containing water through which the lubricant may be seen
rising, in the manner common to "sight-feed" lubricators) from which it passes by
the connecting pipe F, and sea pipe O into the bearings V and V', from whence it
escapes (after having acted as a lubricant) under the check ring C into the external
water.
When it is necessary to clean out the pipes F O and the space R, the valve U can
be opened and the steam allowed to pass outside the lubricator to the space R by way
of the pipe Q, thus effecting a thorough blow-through.
The valve F can be closed, when it is required to shut off the connection between
the interior of the stern tube and the lubricator.
We provide the oil chamber G with a stop cock G₁ surmounted by a funnel G³,
by means of which, the lubricant may be supplied to the chamber, and we also fit
its lower part with a cock or valve W for the purpose of letting out condensed
steam, when it is required to refill the oil chamber.
The steam pipe M on entering the oil chamber G is by preference carried in a
downward direction (see M2 Fig. 2) to within a short distance of the bottom of the
oil chamber, but it is obvious that the invention might be practiced by conveying a
steam pressure into the oil chamber at any point, and by dispensing with the
pipe M
"We connect the pipe F leading from the lubricator, on to the existing sea pipe O,
(and so utilize that pipe, without the necessity of fitting an independent, or extra
pipe for the purpose of conveying a lubricant to the bearings) between the shaft-
tunnel bulkhead A, and the sea-cock J.
It will be seen that the lubricant, after being forced into the stern tube, will collect
in the space or chamber R, and will be picked up by the revolving shaft S.
In our improved method of lubricating the propeller shaft bearings in the stern
tube a large amount of friction, and wear will be prevented, and in fitting our
lubricators to steam ships, no alteration is necessary in the existing arrangements
of the bearings, or stern tube, neither is docking necessary.
Another advantage of our method of lubrication is, that, should it be necessary
the water can be admitted into the bearings in a few moments by shutting off the
lubricator at the valve F2, Fig. 2 and opening the sea cock J.
We have described one form of apparatus that may be used for carrying out our
invention, but it will be readily understood that the same results can be attained by
other devices and arrangements of pipes or chambers, and we do not bind ourselves
to the exact method as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described method of lubricating the stern tube bearings of screw
propeller shafts, consisting in the use or employment of steam pressure, for forcing
a lubricant through the apparatus into the said bearings, against the external water
pressure.
2. The herein described method of lubricating the stern tube bearings of screw
propeller shafts, consisting in the combination of the existing sea-pipe O Fig. 1;
(leading from the interior of the stern tube T to the shaft-tunnel, and known as the
sea-pipe) with lubricating apparatus for forcing a lubricant into the said bearings.
3. The herein described method of lubricating the stern tube bearings of screw
propeller shafts, consisting in the combination of the valve or cock F; with the
existing sea-pipe O, for the purpose of shutting off the lubricator from the pipe O,
when it is required to disconnect the lubricator for any purpose.
4. The herein described method of lubricating the stern tube bearings of screw

page_text: propeller shafts, consisting in the use or employment of the valve U and pipe Q, for
the purpose of allowing the steam to pass outside the oil chamber G when it is
required to blow out the connecting pipes F O, or the space R.
5. The herein described method of lubricating the stern tube bearings of screw
propeller shafts, consisting in the combination of the regulating valves K and M';
with the oil chamber G and draw off valve W.
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PETER HADEN.
HADEN HERBERT BALES.