Improvements in Journal Boxes, and in Means for Lubricating the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Journal Boxes, and in Means for Lubricating
the same.
I, JOHN WILSON SKILTON, of Daytona, in the County of Volusia, and State of
Florida, United States of America, Mechanical 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 certain new and useful improvements in lubricating
journal boxes for car axles and other purposes and it has for its object to provide
lubricating means by which the journal will be thoroughly lubricated and a sufficient
supply of oil may be carried to adapt the journal to run for a length of time without
being further oiled. It has also for its object to improve the construction of follower
plate by which the packing adjacent to the journal is compressed. It has for a
further object to materially improve the details of construction of the oil reservoirs
and other parts of the box so as to adapt the same for ready application to the
journal boxes now in use and to meet the practical requirements presented in journals
which revolve at a high rate of speed and require a thorough lubrication to prevent
overheating or injury to the parts.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the
following description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out
in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and
in which
Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the journal box;
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the follower plate; and
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the same.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the
drawings.
Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the outer
casing which is similar to the standard journal box now in general use upon cars,
except as hereinafter specified. The outer end of this box is closed by a plate or
cover A¹ which is secured to the end of the casing by screws A² or other suitable
means. The inner end of this casing is provided with a depending flange A³ which
forms an abutment, against the inner face of which the packing B will be compressed
by means of the follower plate C, as shown in Fig. 1.
The follower plate C is formed as an annulus, the opening of which will fit snugly
round the journal J, as shown, while the outer edge of the plate is provided on its
ace next to the packing with a concave projecting flange C. The packing B may be
f any suitable compressible material and the concave flange on the follower plate
vill press the packing inward toward the journal, while the body of the plate will
ccomplish a compression of the packing against the flange A' of the casing. The
esired pressure to adjust and hold the follower plate C in contact with the packing
3 secured by means of rods D which are threaded into apertures in the plate or
ΓΑ

page_text: cover A¹ and at their inner ends are seated in depressions or recesses C² formed upon the
outer face of the follower plate. The outer exposed end of each of these rods is
provided with an angular portion D¹ for the application of a wrench or other
suitable tool to adjust the rods, and bearing against the front plate or cover
at each rod there is located a jam nut D2 to lock and hold the rods in their
adjusted positions.
Upon the upper face of the journal within the casing is the bearing block E and
the wedge block E¹ of ordinary construction which is inserted in the usual manner
to retain the bearing in its proper position. Supported upon the lower portion of
the casing is a lubricating device consisting of oil reservoirs F from which extend
absorbent wicks G of sponge or other suitable material, and against which wicks the
journal bears.
The oil reservoirs F are composed of two compartments F1, one above the other,
each of which is provided with openings, f, through which the wicks extend. The
reservoirs are supported from the bottom of the casing upon elliptical springs F2
which maintain the oil reservoirs and the wicks extending therefrom adjacent to the
under surface and sides of the journal. The reservoirs are formed with inclined side
.walls which are adapted to pass upon the adjacent sides of the oppositely-located
rods D whereby the upward pressure of the elliptical springs serves to center and hold
the reservoirs between the rods D and thus prevent lateral movement of the former.
At the opposite sides of the lower portions of the oil reservoirs, I provide coiled
springs F3 to prevent lateral movement of the lower portions of the reservoirs. The
surface of the reservoir adjacent to the journal is curved upon a line practically
concentric with the periphery of the journal so as to fit neatly and closely about the
same, as shown at f²
The reservoirs indicated in Fig. 2, are illustrated with a space between the meeting
edges of the same, through which space a wick G¹ may be extended to absorb any oil
which may fall into the lower portion of the casing and feed the same to the rotating
journal. By this means any surplus oil may be removed from the casing and the
same kept in a practically dry and clean condition. Although the reservoirs have
been shown as separate, the invention contemplates the connection of the two
together by any suitable means, either at their ends or by joining them together
at their meeting edges so that the reservoirs may be removed or replaced
together.
By arranging the oil reservoir with two compartments, one above the other, the
oil will be evenly supplied to the sides and under surface of the journal and a
continuous feed from the separate compartments assured whereby the oil will be
applied to the journal nearer the bearing block than when a lubricating device is used
only at the bottom of the journal and practically the entire lower half of the journal
is kept in a lubricated condition which effectually prevents heating of the journal
and the collection of any dust thereon. The reservoirs are also readily removable by
removing the cap or cover to the casing so that the compartments can be supplied
with oil. The curved faces of the reservoirs adjacent to the journal provide a con-
centric support for the absorbent wicking so that the same will be held between the
journal and the reservoirs and an extended and close contact of the wicking with the
journal is secured. By the arrangement of the springs beneath and at the sides of
the boxes in connection with the inclined side walls bearing against the rods
the reservoirs are held against any rattling or movement liable to displace the
same.
It is obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction which have
been described in the specification and that such modifications will not be a departure
from the spirit of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with a journal and its casing, of a packing surrounding the

page_text: journal, an annular follower plate bearing against said packing, rods threaded through
a portion of the casing so as to bear against and force said follower plate into contact
with said packing, and a removable oil reservoir having inclined outer faces adapted
to fit between said rods and journal; substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a journal and its casing, of a removable oil reservoir
having independent compartments for containing oil arranged in different planes,
absorbent feeding material extending from said compartments, and yielding supports
for forcing said reservoir into contact with the journal; substantially as specified.
3. The combination with a journal and its casing, of an oil reservoir composed of
independent compartments one above the other, the upper of which is provided with
an inner surface concentric to the lower portion of the journal, and an absorbent
material extending from said reservoir and supported upon said concentric surface in
contact with said journal; substantially as specified.
4. The combination with a journal and its casing, of an oil reservoir yieldingly
supported within said casing and provided with inclined side walls adapted to fit and
wedge between stationary portions of the casing and the journal, and an absorbent
material extending from said reservoir and thereby held in contact with said journal;
substantially as specified.
5. The combination with a journal and its casing, of an oil reservoir provided with
independent compartments, a spring supported beneath said reservoir, a spring
extending between the side wall of said reservoir and the side of the casing, and an
absorbent material extending from each of said compartments into contact with the
journal; substantially as specified.
6. The combination with a journal and its casing, of a packing surrounding said
journal, a follower plate, rods extending from the cover of the casing into contact with
said follower plate, an oil reservoir provided with a curved face adjacent to said journal
and an inclined outer face adapted to fit between said journal and rods, a spring
supported beneath said reservoir, a spring interposed between the side of said reservoir
and said casing, and an absorbent material extending from the reservoir into contact
with said journal; substantially as specified.
7. The combination with a journal and its casing, of an oil reservoir composed of
separate sections having a space between the same, an absorbent material extending
from said reservoir into contact with said journal, and an absorbent material extending
between the sections of said reservoir into contact with the lower portion of said
casing; substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of February 1898.