IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE BEARING SURFACES OF SHAFTS, AXLES, OR OTHER MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Johnson and William Jones, both of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE BEARING SURFACES
OF SHAFTS, AXLES, OR OTHER MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY."
Scaled the 29th September 1871, and dated the 3rd April 1871.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Johnson and
William Jones at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 3rd April 1871.
We, JAMES JOHNSON and WILLIAM JONES, both of Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE BEARING
SURFACES OF SHAFTS, AXLES, OR OTHER MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention relates to improved apparatus for effecting the lubri-
cation of those portions of shafts, axles, or journals which revolve within

page_text: traversing movement may be effected by means of a cam or inclined
collar fixed to or formed on the said spindle or by other suitable means.
Although when describing our Invention we have to avoid repetition
referred particularly to railway axles and axle boxes, it must be under-
stood that it is or the principal parts of it are applicable or may be
adapted to other revolving or reciprocating bearing surfaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Johnson and William Jones in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 3rd October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, JAMES:
JOHNSON and William Jones, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said James Johnson and William Jones, Her special
license that we, the said James Johnson and William Jones, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
James Johnson and William Jones, our executors, administrators, and 2
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, uso, 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 2
LUBRICATING THE BEARING SURFACES OF SHAFTS, AXLES, OR OTHER MOVING PARTS
OF. MACHINERY," upon the condition, amongst others, that we, the said
James Johnson and William Jones, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain tho
nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be 3
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 we, the said James Johnson and William Jones,
do hereby declare the nature of the

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is
to say :-
Our Invention relates to improved apparatus for effecting the lubri-
cation of those portions of shafts, axles, or journals which revolve
within or against bearings or steps, and to the lubrication of slides or
reciprocating sliding surfaces, and especially to cases wherein a bowl
or roller or two or more bowls or rollers is or are arranged to revolve
in contact with the portion of the surface to be lubricated, and by means
of such revolving to transfer the lubricant from the reservoir to the said
surface.
In order that our Invention may be better explained and more readily
understood we will refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
wherein the various arrangements constituting the said Invention are
represented about the full size.
In the said Drawings Fig. 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section
of a railway axle box, and Fig. 2 a vertical cross section of the lower
part of the said box. In this example the oil reservoir a which forms
the lower part of the axle box is cast with two pillars or spring. .cases b, b,
and cach of the said cases is made hollow, or is drilled or bored to
receive a spiral spring c, and upon each spiral spring is mounted a
bearing block d, which is formed with a shank which enters within the
convolutions of the spring, or, if preferred, the said block or a simple
washer may merely rest on the top of the said spring. The said blocks
sustain the two ends of a spindle ẹ, upon which is fixed or formed a
bowl f, a slot being formed on the inner side of each pillar or case to
admit of the ends of the said spindle resting upon the bearing blocks,
the said slots also acting as guides for the said spindle and allowing it to
rise and fall to some extent. The bowl ƒ is pressed upwards by the
spiral springs acting on the bearing blocks, and is thereby maintained in
contact with the journal g of the axle, and as the said axle revolves the
said bowl transfers oil from the reservoir to the said journal. The range
of the spiral springs and the proportions of the spring case and other
parts are made such as that the bowl will continue to be in contact with
the journal until the step or bearing of the axle is "worn out," the
said spring cases acting as guides for and forming an efficient support to
the said springs, spindle, and blocks or washers in their varying positions
of adjustment. If preferred the pillars b, b, may be formed as a separato

page_text: casting and be fixed to the axle box.. In order to check the splashing of
the oil, and thereby to lessen the escape of oil from the axle box, the
reservoir is covered or partly covered with the diaphragm plate h, on
which is fixed or formed the partition h³, the lower end of which dips
into the oil. The bowlf projects through an opening formed in the said
plate, and small perforations may be formed in the said plate to allow
any oil which may fall or be splashed on to the upper surface thereof to
flow back into the reservoir below, but the said perforations are not
essential. A second partition, indicated by dotted lines, or additional
partitions may be fixed or formed on the said diaphragm plate if desired.
A doctor plate i formed with a slot rests on the spindle e, the edges of
the said slot removing the superabundance of oil from off the bowl ƒ, as
the said bowl revolves. A collar j is "shrunk" or otherwise fixed on
the axle in order that any oil which may flow from the journal on to the
axle may be intercepted by the said collar and be discharged by contri-
fugal force into the box or may be prevented by the said force from
flowing on to the portions of the axle situated without the axle box.
The said collar may or may not be employed in connection with the
lubricating apparatus herein-before or to be herein described, as may be
preferred. The upper portion of the axle box may be of an ordinary
construction.
Fig. 3' illustrates a modification of the method of mounting the
aforesaid bowl f, wherein only one spring case is employed, the said
bowl revolving on a stud which projects from a block fitted to slide
within the said spring case, but the arrangement represented in Fig. 1
is to be preferred for most purposes.
Fig. 4 illustrates a further modification, wherein the spring cases are
cast or formed or affixed on or to the under side of the aforesaid
diaphragm plate, the arrangement being sufficiently clear without
further explanation. This arrangement may be preferred to that shown
in Fig. 1, as the lubricating parts can be removed from the axle box by
simply lifting out the said diaphragm plate, and the oil reservoir being
simplified is moro readily made, and may be cleaned out with greater
facility than in the case of the one shewn in Fig. 1.
Another part of our Invention is illustrated by Fig. 5, which repre-
sents the lubricating bowlf as being mounted in or upon a frame k..
The said frame is in this example hinged to a projection formed on the
under side of the diaphragm plate,, this arrangement being preferred,

page_text: but the said frame may be hinged to the side of the axle box or to a
part formed or fixed thereon. A slot is formed in the said. frame, in
which slot the said bowl revolves, the axle of the said bowl resting in
bearings formed on each side of the said slot. The said slot may be
made of such a suitable size and form as that the edges thereof shall
control and regulate the supply of oil to the surface to be lubricated, as
in the case of the doctor plate in Figures 1 and 2. A spiral spring?
is attached by one end to the said frame, and by the other end to a
projection m formed on or fixed to the plate h, the said spring tending
to draw the said frame upwards, and thereby maintaining the bowl in
contact with the surface to be lubricated. The descriptions of spring
employed and the method of application thereof may be varied, and if
preferred the end of the said frame which is to the left hand in the
Drawing instead of being hinged may be suspended or sustained in
the same manner as the opposite end, as indicated by the dotted
lines.
Fig. 6 illustrates another arrangement adapted more particularly for
use in cases where the space below the axle or surface to be lubricated
is limited. In this example the spindle or axle of the lubricating bowl f
is mounted in or upon a spring n, the ends of the said spindle resting in
steps or bearings, one of which is shewn at o, the said bowl revolving
in a slot formed in the said spring. The resilience of the said spring
tends to maintain the bowl in contact with the surface to be lubricated,
and the said spring may be made to act as a doctor, as in the case of the
frame in Fig. 5. Instead of employing a single broad spring formed
with a slot as aforesaid, two comparatively narrow springs may be used,
each spring supporting an end of the said spindle.
Another part of the said Invention relates to a modification of the
form of bowl employed, the bowl being made of an elliptical form on
cach face or side, but turned to a cylindrical form on the periphery, so
as that the said side or face shall form a varying angle with the axis of
the bowl. A bowl so formed as represented at Fig. 7, the dotted lines
representing the bowl as when rotated to the extent of half a revolution.
When so formed the periphery of the said bowl acts so as to have in
effect a to-and-fro motion, which assists in the lateral distribution of the
oil over the surface to be lubricated. A modification of this form of
bowl is represented at Fig. 8. In this example the said bowl is made of
a cylindrical form in order that the sides or ends of the cylinder may be

page_text: "
turned or faced so that they can revolve in contact or nearly in contact
with the sides of the slot in a doctor plate i, a portion of the periphery
of the bowl projecting beyond the general surface, and being formed to
correspond in form with the periphery of the bowl represented by Fig. 7,
so as to have the same effect in assisting in the lateral distribution of the
oil. A similar effect may be, produced by causing a bowl of the form
represented in Fig. 1, and in some of the other Figures, to traverse to
and fro in the direction of its axis. A method of accomplishing this
movement is illustrated by Fig 9. In this example the bowlf is formed
with "bosses," the ends of which are inclined with respect to the axial
line, and the said bowl is fitted to slide to and fro on the spindle p, or
the bowl may be fast on the spindle, and the said spindle may be made
to slide to and fro in its bearings. The ends of the said spindle may
be sustained by any of the means herein described and represented in the
various Figures, the said ends being sustained in the example given 1
by similar means to those represented in Fig. 1. Projections r, r, aro
formed on the spring cases, and the said projections acting on the
inclined ends of the aforesaid bosses as the bowl f revolves cause the
said bowl to traverse to and fro on its spindle in manner as will be
readily understood from an inspection of the Drawing.
When describing our Invention we have hitherto alluded more par-
ticularly to its application to railway axle boxes, but the said Invention
or parts of it is or are also applicable to be used in the lubricating of
shafting and of other revolving surfaces, and of sliding or reciprocating
surfaces.
Fig. 10 illustrates the application of a lubricating bowl mounted in a
manner similar to that represented in Fig. 1. A recess is formed in the
lower part of the said pedestal to contain oil, and the spring cases aro
cast in the said reccss. The aforesaid diaphragm plato is not required in
this case. Fig. 11 is illustrative of the application of a bowl sustained
in the same manner to effect the lubrication of a plane, sliding, or
reciprocating surface. In this example the sliding or reciprocating body
is represented by 8, and a recess is formed in the body on which the
parts slides to contain the bowl f, which is sustained by springs
contained in spring cases, as in the example last described, the said
recess also acting as an oil reservoir.
Although oil has only been herein-before mentioned as a lubricant
ย

page_text: In some cases, as when the journals are of great length or revolve
slowly, it may be desirable to employ in the lubricating of one bearing
or surface two or more bowls mounted substantially according to any
of the methods described and illustrated.
Having now described and illustrated our Invention, and methods of
carrying the same into practical effect, we would have it to be distinctly
understood that we do not claim the use of bowls for the purposes
herein set forth, excepting when of the peculiar nature illustrated by
Figs. 7 and 8, or when mounted in manner according with any of the
methods herein described; but what we claim is, —
-
First. The combination of parts for effecting and regulating the supply
of lubricating matter to surfaces and for checking the waste of the said
matter, and the employment of the methods of mounting, arranging,
and sustaining bowls, substantially as and for the purposes set forth,
described, and illustrated herein and by the accompanying Drawings.
And, lastly. The employment for the said purposes of bowls formed
and acting in manner substantially as herein-before described when
referring to Figs. 7 and 8.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Johnson and William Jones,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Signed and sealed by the said James
Johnson and William Jones, in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent for the Patentccs,
3, Smithy Door,
Manchester.
JAMES JOHNSON. (L.S.)
WILLIAM JONES. (L.S.)