IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING MACHINERY
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING
MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Charles Parshall, of Detroit,
State of Michigan, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1880.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
IMPROVE-
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
MENTS IN LUBRICATING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Charles
Parshall, of Detroit, State of Michigan, United States of America.
"
The Invention has for its object the lubrication of the valves and pistons of
locomotives or other steam engines from an easily accessible point and under the
immediate control of the engineer or fireman, and consists in supplying the
dry-pipe or steam inlet pipe of a locomotive or other boiler with oil from a
lubricator or vessel constructed with a visible hydrostatic drop-feed, and provided
with independent steam and oil conduits connecting the lubricator with the dry-
pipe, said conduits being provided with a slip-joint whereby the parts are not
injured by their unequal expansion and contraction. Said slip joint is formed by
a sleeve and packing and may be attached to the shell of the boiler-dome. The
lubricator consists of a lower or oil chamber and an upper or condensing chamber,
and may have the shape of a cylindrical vessel fixed to the boilershell, or to any
other suitable support, the top of the said condensing chamber being in communi-
cation with the steam conduit, while the water of condensation accumulates at the
bottom of the chamber, and. enters through a controlable orifice into a small
internal chamber, from which it descends into a syphon tube situated in the said
oil receptacle, in which it rises again near to the top of the oil receptacle and enters
a glass tube or indicator situated in a recess of the circumference of the oil receptacle
The water of
and communicating at the bottom with the interior of the latter.
condensation which enters through the adjustable orifice drops upon the oil, by
which the oil receptacle and glass tube are partly filled and falls to the bottom,
thereby forcing a corresponding quantity of oil through an opening at the top of
the receptacle into the oil conduit which leads inside the steam conduit into the
dry pipe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
July 1880.
"
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
'IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LUBRICATING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Charles
Parshall, of Detroit, State of Michigan, United States of America.
The Invention relates to an improvement in lubricators, and consists in certain
details of construction and arrangements of parts, as will hereinafter be described and
pointed out in the claims. In the Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the
improved lubricator; Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 show modified forms of construction. In Fig. 1
A represents the oil reservoir, preferably constructed of a metallic shell or cylinder, the
upper end of which is formed with a ground joint, to which is secured the condensing
chamber B, the latter having a ground joint at a and a depending flange b, the
latter snugly fitting over the upper edge of the oil reservoir. The upper end of
the condenser B is provided with a screw-threaded stopper or plug C to admit of
the inspection of the inner portion of the condenser. The bottom or division plate
D of condenser B is provided with an upwardly projecting boss consisting of the
feed water chamber D and stuffing box E. The feed water chamber D is provided
on its outer side with a conically formed passage way c, within which engages the
regulating feed valve d, which latter is connected with a screw-threaded shank
having handle e, and provided with a suitable stuffing box. The stuffing box E
has a central opening e¹ through the upper portion thereof, through which is
inserted the upper end of the steam induction pipe F, the extreme upper end of
which projects into the condenser B any desired distance. Around the pipe F
within the stuffing box is placed any suitable packing material f The packing
ring f is forced snugly around the pipe F, and a water and steam tight joint formed
by means of the feed water pipe G, the upper end of which is screw-threaded
at g and engages with corresponding screw threads g¹ cut in the inner surface of
the stuffing box, whereby the upper end of the pipe G serves as a gland for the
stuffing box. The lower end of the oil reservoir is formed with an opening H
having a conical seat h, within which is seated the conical end h¹ of the nut I, the
latter having a screw threaded bore which engages with screw threads formed on
the lower end of the pipe G. It will thus be observed that the pipe G serves as a
tubular tie rod to firmly connect the oil reservoir and condenser. The upper end of
pipe G is first screwed into the stuffing box, the condenser is then seated upon the
upper end of the oil reservoir, and the nut I then screwed on to the lower end of
the pipe G serves to firmly secure the parts in position, the conical face of the
nut allowing the parts to adjust themselves to their proper position to constitute
firm and water tight joints. The steam induction pipe extends down and connects
with the steam passage j in the stem J of the lubricator, thereby forming a con-
tinuous steam passage from the steam pipe, with which the stem is connected to
the condenser of the lubricator. To the bottom of the feed water chamber in the
condenser is connected a pipe K which extends downwardly near to the bottom of
the oil reservoir, the lower end of said pipe K entering a pipe L, the lower end of
which is closed and rests loosely upon the bottom of the oil reservoir. Pipe L is
of any desired length, its purpose being to form a water trap to prevent the oil
from flowing into the condenser from the oil reservoir. The stem J is provided
with a screw-threaded coupling ; which engages with a screw threaded collar k
formed on the lower end of the oil reservoir. K is an oil regulating valve which
seats in a valve seat k¹ formed in the oil passage extending transversely through
the stem, and connecting with an inverted syphon pipe L attached to the lower
side of the stem; M is a glass cylinder or tube connected with the underside of the
stem, and secured in place by an open work or skeleton guard m made of metal or

page_text: other material desired, the upper end of which is secured to the screw threaded
bara m³ on the stem, while to its lower end is attached a chambered follower nut N,
the latter being provided with a stop cock O for the purpose of drawing off the
contents of the glass tube when desired. P is an oil feeding conduit in the stem
of the lubricator, one end of which connects with the upper portion of the glass
tube or cylinder M; a glass indicating tube Q is connected with the side of the
lubricator as follows, and serves to indicate the height of oil in the reservoir:-To
the lower end of the oil reservoir is attached an elbow pipe coupling q within the
upright portion of which is seated the lower end of the glass tube and firmly
secured by the follower nut q'. R is a stop cock located in the pipe q for drawing
off the contents of the oil reservoir when necessary. AT-pipe coupling S is secured
into the lower portion of the condenser and connects with the upper portion of the
oil reservoir, a chamber S¹ being formed in the under side of the lower division.
plate of the condenser to insulate the chambers of the condenser and oil reservoir, and
yet allow of the attachment of the pipe S to the shell of the condenser. In the lower
limb T¹ of the T coupling S is received the upper end of the glass tube, which is firmly
secured in place by the follower nut t. The upper limb T of said coupling is made
outwardly flaring or of funnel form to facilitate the introduction of the oil. U is a
stopper screw-threaded to be attached to the portion F2 of the coupling, said stopper
being provided with an elongated chamber u in order to insure a vertical column
of oil which will extend above the surface of the condensed water in the condenser,
and thus insure a steady and certain flow of oil. The operation of the improved
lubricator is as follows:-Steam enters the stem of the lubricator and flows
upwardly through the central steam pipe and discharges into the upper portion
of the condenser. The shell of the condenser serves to condense the steam, and
the lower portion of the condenser is thus kept filled with condense water. Oil
is admitted to the oil reservoir through the funnel shaped pipe above the glass
indicating tube, and flows through the passage way v leading to the oil reservoir.
By opening the valve governing the flow of water to the feed water chamber in
the condenser, water is allowed to flow into the pipe depending into the oil
reservoir and fill the trap pipe surrounding the same. Thus, the lower end of
the downwardly projecting pipe in the oil reservoir is always effectually water
sealed at its lower open end, and oil thereby prevented from entering said pipe and
flowing into the condenser. As the water flows over the top of the trap pipe it
sinks to the bottom of the oil reservoir and displaces an equal quantity of oil,
which latter flows into the central oil feeding pipe through the opening w in the
upper end thereof. The displaced oil flows downwardly through the annular space
between the outer surface of the steam pipe and inner surface of the oil feeding
pipe, and is subjected to sufficient degree of heat to cause the oil to readily flow to
the lubricator stem. The displaced oil continues its downward course through the
oil passage in the stem of the lubricator, and through the inverted syphon pipe
situated in the depending glass cylinder. This cylinder is filled with condense
water resulting from its direct connection with the steam pipe, whereby steam is
allowed to flow directly into said glass cylinder and condense therein. The oil
issuing from the lower and shorter limb of the inverted syphon pipe is caused to
flow into the oil conduit of the stern of the lubricator, having within the oil conduit
a check valve if desired, and from thence into the steam supply, owing to the fact
that the column of oil supplying the feed is of sufficient height to secure a greater
pressure than is afforded by the comparatively short column of feed water. The
column of oil extends from the bend in the lower portion of the inverted syphon
pipe to the openings in the top of the oil feeding pipe in the oil reservoir; in fact
the oil column may extend upwardly within the bore of the stopper located in the
funnel shaped pipe through which oil is admitted to the lubricator, whereby the
column of oil extends above the surface of oil in the condenser. The glass tube or
cylinder through which the oil is fed from the lubricator allows the attendant to
watch the rapidity of the feed as the drops of oil ascend through the water, and
the feed can be regulated either by the valve governing the flow of feed water to

page_text: the oil reservoir, or by the valve governing the flow of oil from the oil reservoir
to the glass reservoir. In Fig. 2 the steam pipe projects upwardly into the oil
reservoir, and is provided with a valve chamber K which is furnished with a
conical valve seat. Within valve chamber K¹ is located an upwardly closing valve t
having a stem m which projects through the opening in the upper end of the valve
chamber, and which serves to guide the valve to its seat. The force of the steam
acting against the conical valve raises the latter and forces it snugly against its
seat, and thereby prevents the escape of steam into the oil reservoir. If desired
the valve chamber and valve may be removed from the top of the condensing chamber
and located in the steam passage of the stem, and regulated there by a stopper.
The following provision is made for admitting steam into the oil reservoir chamber
for the purpose of forming condense water to feed the oil to the point to be
lubricated: The lower end of the screw threaded stopper b is recessed at m³ for
the reception of the upper end of the valve stem. In Fig. 4 is illustrated the form
of valve stem in cross section, it being triangular or of any equivalent form, so that
while the valve is guided steam is allowed to flow past the stem into the oil
reservoir. When it is desired to admit steam to the oil reservoir, by simply
turning the screw stopper downward the valve is forced away from its seat and
steam rushes past the valve and through the steam passages on the sides of the
valve stem into the oil reservoir. The amount of steam opening may be regulated
with the greatest accuracy, so that any desired amount of steam may be supplied
to the oil reservoir, the adjustment being effected by varying the adjustment of the
screw stopper. Fig. 5 represents still another form of construction, wherein the
condensing chamber A' is formed separate and distinct from the oil chamber B', and
attached at its lower end to the lubricator stem C. Within the condensing chamber
is placed a steam pipe a¹ which communicates at its lower end with the steam
conduit b¹ in the stem C, said pipe extending nearly to the top of chamber A¹;
c' is a water feed pipe located within the condensing chamber, the lower end of
said pipe communicating with the water feed passage way d' in the stem C', while
the upper end of the pipe is located below the upper end of steam pipe a¹. Oil
reservoir is provided with a glass indicating tube D¹ of the construction herein-
before described, and also with an oil feed pipe e¹, the lower end of which connects
with a passage way f', the latter having the upper end of the inverted syphon pipe
g attached to its lower end; F is a glass cylinder attached to the lower portion of
the stem, and is employed for the same purpose as the glass cylinder in like
situation herein before explained; G¹ is a regulating valve and is provided with an
annular recess h' and a conical end i¹, whereby the valve G¹ serves as a duplex
valve in that it operates to simultaneously open or close both the water feed
passage d' and oil feeding passage f¹. The pipes in the condensing chamber serve
to form a trap to prevent the oil from flowing into the condensing chamber.
Steam flows into the condensing chamber and condensing the water raises therein
and flows into the water feed pipe. The valve G¹ is opened and the feed water
flows into the lower end of the oil reservoir. At the same time the oil feed passage
way fis opened, allowing the oil in the oil reservoir to escape into the inverted
syphon pipe and be fed in drops to the oil exit. It is evident that many slight
changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit of this Invention, and hence the inventor does not limit
himself to the exact construction shown and described.

page_text: 3. In a lubricator, the combination with an oil reservoir and a stem provided
with steam passage of a condenser constructed with a division plate having a
stuffing box formed integral therewith, and a stem pipe connecting its lower end
with the steam passage in the steam of the lubricator, while its upper end extends
through the stuffing box and projects upwardly into the condenser, substantially as
set forth.
4. In a lubricator, the combination with an oil reservoir and a condenser
constructed with a stuffing box formed solid therewith of a steam pipe extending
through the oil reservoir and stuffing box, and an oil feeding pipe which is
arranged to serve as a gland to pack the steam pipe, and also to secure the oil
reservoir to the condenser, substantially as set forth.
5. In a lubricator, the combination with an oil reservoir and a condenser
provided with a stuffing box of a steam pipe for conveying steam through the oil
reservoir and discharging it into the condenser, and an oil feeding pipe surrounding
the steam pipe and serving to convey the oil from the upper portion of the oil
reservoir to the oil regulating valve in the stein of the lubricator, substantially as
set forth.
6. The combination with a water pipe depending into the oil reservoir from the
condenser of a pipe formed with a closed lower end, and arranged to receive the
lower end of said depending water feed pipe, substantially as set forth.
7. In a lubricator, the combination with the oil reservoir and condenser of a
glass indicator provided with a stopper for introducing oil into the oil reservoir,
substantially as set forth.
8. In a lubricator, the combination with the oil reservoir and condenser of a
glass indicator provided with a hollow stopper for admitting oil above the surface
of the water in the condenser, substantially as set forth.
9. A lubricator consisting essentially in the combination with an oil reservoir
provided with a steam pipe which conveys steam into the upper end of said
reservoir and an oil pipe, the inlet opening of which is below the outlet of the
steam pipe, whereby a condensing chamber is formed in the upper end of the oil
reservoir of a transparent cylinder located below the oil reservoir, and provided
with an inverted syphon pipe which connects with the oil pipe in the oil reservoir,
whereby a column of oil is formed to overcome the gravity of the column of water
in the glass cylinder, substantially as set forth.
10. In a lubricator, the combination with an oil reservoir provided with a steam
pipe which conveys steam into the upper end of said reservoir and an oil pipe, the
inlet opening of which is below the outlet opening of the steam pipe, whereby a
condensing chamber is formed in the upper end of the oil reservoir, a transparent
cylinder located below the oil reservoir and provided with an inverted syphon pipe
of an oil supply regulating valve, arranged and adapted to govern the flow of oil
from the oil pipe in the reservoir to the syphon delivery pipe in the transparent
cylinder, substantially as set forth.
11. In a lubricator, an oil reservoir provided with a steam pipe having an
upwardly closing check valve, and means for regulating the extent of opening of
suid check valve, and an independent oil feeding tube, the upper end of which is
below the upper end of the steam tube, thereby forming a steam condensing
chamber in the upper parts of the oil reservoir above the upper end of the oil
reservoir above the upper end of the oil feeding pipe, substantially as set forth.
12. The combination with an oil reservoir provided with independent steam and
oil pipes of a transparent cylinder located below the oil reservoir, and provided
with an inverted syphon pipe, and a valve for opening or closing communication
between the oil pipe in the reservoir and the syphon pipe in the glass or
transparent cylinder, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination with the stem of a lubricator having independent steam
passages therein, an oil reservoir attached to the upper side of said stem, and a tube
for supplying steam to the upper end of said reservoir of a glass cylinder connected

page_text: with the lower side of the stem, and an oil passage provided with a valve, said
passage extending from the upper portion of the oil reservoir to the lower portion
of said glass cylinder, substantially as set forth.
14. A lubricator consisting of independent oil and condensing chambers attached
to the stem of the lubricator, and a glass feeding cylinder communicating with the
oil reservoir and the oil conduit in the stem, substantially as set forth.
15. In a lubricator, the combination with independent oil reservoir, condensing
chamber, and glass feeding cylinder of a duplex valve arranged to regulate the
openings in the water and oil feeding conduits, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, A.D. 1880.