Improvements in or connected with Lubricators.
Year: 1889

page_text: ate of Application, 16th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1889-Accepted. 14th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Lubricators.
I, ROBERT WILLIAM ANDERSON of 77 Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to
be as follows
My invention has for its object to construct an oil cup or lubricator which will be
certain in action, simple in construction, readily adjusted, and easily taken to pieces
for cleaning.
"2
As an example of my invention I will describe my improvements as applied to that
class of oil cup known as a sight feed the usual form of which consists of a metal
cover and bottom with a glass body connected by means of a central tube.
My Improvements relate more particularly to means hereafter described for filling,
regulating, indicating, and disconnecting or shutting off a lubricator of the above
type.
According to my invention I construct the central tube, which may be of parallel
or tapered form, (preferably the latter, and cast in one piece with the cover) with a
plug fitted to work therein. The tube or shell forms the seat for the plug, and has air
and oil holes near the bottom in communication with a passage or passages in the
plug, the end of which is formed as a nozzle and enters a discharge hole or passage
formed through the shank of the lubricator.. This hole or passage is of sufficient
capacity to allow a large portion of oil to pass through, (as in the case of a hot bearing)
by withdrawing the plug. At another part of the tube, preferably just beneath the
cover there is a hole which communicates with a port and passage through the top of
the plug and through which oil is poured into the oil cup in filling. A portion of the
body of the plug is reduced in size so as to form an air chamber having passages at
the top for air, and at the bottom to drain away any surplus oil which may lodge in
the air passage and tend to impair the correct working of the oil cup.
The top of the plug is constructed with a flange and cap, which overlap a
projecting portion on the cover; this projecting portion has a groove bayonet
joint or shoulder in which works a projection to keep the plug in position and. at
the same time allows the plug to be withdrawn from the tube for flushing or
cleaning purposes. The opening in the top of the plug for supplying the oil to
the cup, is provided with a stopper, and the plug or the cover is provided with
an indicator or pointer, which will indicate the position of the plug, namely, for
filling, flushing, and closing the cup.
The improvements under my invention are applicable to oil cups or lubricators
with or without "sight feed."
ROBERT WILLIAM ANDERSON.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Lubricators.
I, ROBERT WILLIAM ANDERSON, of 177, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention has for its object to construct an oil cup or lubricator which will
. 027

page_text: be certain in action, simple in construction, readily adjusted, and easily taken to
pieces for cleaning.
As an example of my Invention I will describe my improvements as applied to
that class of oil cup known as a "sight feed " one, the usual form of which consists
of a metal cover and bottom with a glass body connected by means of a central
tube.
My Improvements relate more particularly to means hereafter described for
filling, regulating, indicating and disconnecting or shutting off, a lubricator of the
above type.
According to my Invention I provide the central tube, which may be of parallel
or tapered form, (preferably the latter, and cast in one piece with the cover) with a
plug fitted to work therein. The tube forms the seat for the plug, and has air and
oil holes near the bottom in communication with a passage or passages, in the plug,
the end of which is formed as a nozzle, and enters a discharge hole or passage
formed through the shank of the lubricator. This hole or passage is of sufficient
capacity to allow a large flow of oil to pass through it by withdrawing the plug:
this provision is for the purpose of rendering it possible to supply a largo
quantity if oil in emergencies, such as in the case of a heated bearing. At
another part of the tube, preferably just beneath the cover there is a hole which
communicates with a port and passage through the top of the plug, and through
which oil is poured into the oil cup in filling. A portion of the body of the
plug is reduced in size so as to form an air chamber having passages at the top
for air, and at the bottom to drain away any surplus oil which may lodge in the
air passage and tend to impair the correct working of the oil cup. The top of
the plug is constructed with a flange and cap, which overlap a projecting portion
on the cover. This projecting portion has a grooved bayonet joint or shoulder, in
which works a projection to keep the plug in position, and at the same time
allows the plug to be withdrawn from the tube for flushing or cleaning purposes.
The opening in the top of the plug for supplying the oil to the cup, is provided
with a stopper, and the plug or the cover is provided with an indicator or pointer
which will indicate the position of the plug, namely, for filling, flushing, and
closing, the cup.
The improvements under my Invention are applicable to oil cups or lubricators
with or without "sight feed."
In the drawings which serve to illustrate my Invention, I show as an example
a sight-feed lubricator, and also a modified form thereof; it must be understood
however that it is not intended to confine the Invention to the method of con-
struction described with reference thereto, nor to the apparatus as a whole, but
what I claim to be novel is specified or set forth in the claiming clauses concluding
the Specification.
In the drawings the same letters and figures of reference are used throughout
the views to denote the same or corresponding parts wherever they occur.
Figure 1 shows the apparatus in sectional elevation, with most of the apertures,..
passages and ways of its plug, and the corresponding apertures in the tube being
shown in order to illustrate them in one view as far as possible, and to show the
points at which they are disposed vertically; and Figure 2 includes four views being
cross sections through the plug and tube at the several lines denoted on them, and
shows the various apertures, passages, and ways of the plug, and the apertures of the
tube in their correct relative positions, radially.
Figure 3 shows the outside view of the lubricator; and Figure 4 shows it in
plan.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate in elevation a slightly modified form of plug in elevations:
the Figures represent the plug from two points of view at 90° from each other. .
Figure 7 shows the modified construction of the case of the lubricator.
With reference to the drawings generally, a is the case made of glass and held in.
position between metallic seats at the top and bottom (às hereinafter described); tis
the plug tube, forming in this case part of the cover of the case; c is said cover; p is

page_text: the
the plug is the base of the case into which the lower end of the tube t is screwed,
and upon which the foot of the case a rests, joints being made at this point, as well as
upper point of connection of the case and metallic cover, by interposed packing or
joint rings e, of leather, vulcanized fibre, or other suitable material; and f is a screwed
end on the base by which it (the base) is secured to a mounting, bracket or screwed
into the cap on a bearing.
i
Now with reference to the plug p and tube t, and the operating and controlling
parts connected therewith, it will be seen the plug is provided with a hood h, and the
tube, t,
provided with a flange over which the hood fits under ordinary conditions,
and by means of an inwardly projecting piece j, which lies under the flange i, is held
in position; but in order to enable the plug to be placed in its tube, and removed, as
described, a gap is provided in the flange, and by turning the hood round to the point
at which the gap lies directly over the hood, the plug can be placed in position, or
removed; an index for this is provided and hereinafter described. Means for operating
the hood and plug consists of a milled edge h¹ formed on the hood h.
With respect to the apertures, ways, and passages of the plug and tube, by which
the vessel a is charged, air admitted, and oil discharged from it, 1 is the passage of
the plug and 2 is the hole in the tube through which oil is introduced into the
case, the mouth of the vertical part of the passage 1 being provided with a plug
stopper 14. A hole 18 and a groove 1° in the plug affords the necessary outlet
for the air in the process of filling. At 3 the plug is cut away at the side, the space
existing between the plug at this part and the internal surface of the tube, t, forming
a passage, which passage constitutes the air inlet to the plug. It will be seen the
diameter of the plug is diminished between the passages above specified and those
below for the inlet of air into the case above the oil, and the outlet for oil. The air
introduced into the annular space surrounding the plug passes through the tube t into
the case above the oil by the hole 4, and this hole is controlled by the projecting
ledge, 5, of the plug said ledge being carried about three quarters round the plug
leaving one quarter of the circle of the plug at this point without the ledge; and
when air is to be admitted to the case the plug is moved so that this portion comes
opposite the hole 4, it thereby being uncovered. Directly below the hole 4 is
another hole 6 in the tube, and also a tapered groove 7 in the plug, which lie directly
under the space i.e. the gap between the two ends of the ledge 5, hence when the
gap in the ledge 5 is opposite the hole 4 (which is then uncovered), some part of the
groove 7 will be opposite the hole 6, and on the other hand when the ledge 5 covers
the hole 4, the hole 6 is covered by the solid part of the plug. The groove 7 com-
municates with a central hoie 8 in the end of the plug p by a radial hole 9, and from
the hole 8 the oil drops from the plug to the point of application.
As previously stated the various sections under Figure 2 show the correct relative
radial positions of the various holes, apertures, and passages, in the plug p and
tube t.
To fill the lubricator the plug is moved so that the hole 1 and passage 2 are opposite
each other, the stopper is removed, and oil poured in the hole 1, the air displaced by
the oil introduced escaping by the hole 1° and groove 1B; when the plug is in this
position no oil can escape by the oil feed hole 8. Now to operate the plug so that oil
is fed from the lubricator, it is turned so that the groove 7 comes opposite the hole 6,
and accordingly as the part of the groove opposite said hole is larger or smaller, so the
quantity of oil fed will be greater or smaller. The air which takes the place of the
oil so fed out of the apparatus enters by the passage 3 and descends to the level of
the hole 4, through which it passes, and then rises to the surface of the oil in globules.
By these means, it will now be evident, the feed may be regulated to any desired
amount, the rate of feed being indicated by the air bubbles.
In the event of a bearing becoming "hot," by withdrawing the plug p, the tube
then forms a funnel, down and through which any quantity of oil can be rapidly
passed.
In plan in Figure 4 I show the means by which the radial position of the plug can

page_text: be ascertained and controlled. It consists of an index on the cover c, and a pointer k
on the hood. The total movement of the plug is through 180°, i.e., at one extreme
point, it is so adapted that the lubricator may be filled, whilst at the other extreme,
the parts are so arranged and constructed that it can be withdrawn from the tube t ;
and for a range of about 90° between these two extremes the plug is adapted to feed
oil, blank spaces between this range and the two extremes being provided; and whilst
the pointer is traversing them, or stands over them, all things are inoperative. All
these points are indicated in the drawings by the index, namely, at one extreme
point the word "Fill" is provided, and at the other the words "Lift plug."
the feeding index between these points is marked with the words "Feed" in the
centre, and "Shut" and "Full" at the respective ends; and numerals 1 to 5 denote.
grades of opening of the feed groove 7, or in other words, rate of supply of oil.
Then
The modified form of plug shown in Figures 6 and 7 consists, simply, in the
substitution for the gapped ledge 5, of a cut away portion on the plug, such portion
corresponding with the gap in the ledge; the plug otherwise than at this point being
solid.
The only variation of construction of the lubricator illustrated in Figure 8, from
that shown in Figures 1 to 4, consists in the formation of the case a, it being made
in this case of cup form in lieu of cylindrical, the base & being made small in diameter
to correspond with its lower edge, at which the packing e is provided.
Instead of arranging the index and pointer as above set forth, the converse
thereof may be used, namely, the index may be marked on the hood, and the pointer
fixed on the cover c, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. Also, instead of pro-
viding the filling apertures in the plug p and tube t, a simple plug stopper may he
used and fitted into the cover c.
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. The heroin described improvement in lubricators in respect of supply of oil
therefrom, consisting in providing therein, a tube, and a plug disposed therein, said
parts being provided with means whereby the plug may be readily removed from
said tube for the purposes set forth.
2. In a lubricator of the kind herein before referred to the combination of a tube, t,
a plug, p, said tube and plug being provided with means by which they may
be
locked or secured together in position, and disengaged; substantially as described;
and also said means of securing together and disengaging as constructed with reference
to the drawings.
3. In a lubricator, in which a plug and tube are employed and said plug fits and
works in said tube, the construction by which the oil may he fed to a discharge outlet
or orifice in variable quantities; substantially as described.
4. A lubricator of the kind referred to in claim 3 wherein a groove or channel of
varying capacity (such as 7) in the plug or tube is employed, and by which oil may
be fed to a discharge outlet or orifice in variable quantities; also the construction and
arrangement of said plug and tube, and passages connected with said feed of oil, as
set forth with reference to the drawings.
5. A lubricator having a tube, such as t, and a detachable plug, such as p, for the
purposes set forth.
6. In a lubricator having a tube and plug, such as described, an aperture in said
tube and in the head of said plug (such as 1 and 2) through which the oil may be
introduced into the oil containing vessel thereof, substantially as described; also said
construction in combination with a stopper, 14, as set forth with reference to the
drawings.
7. In a lubricator, the combination of a tube, a plug adapted to operate in said tube
and to control the supply of oil from the lubricator, an index, and a pointer, substan-
tially as set forth for the purpose specified.

page_text: 8. In a lubricator of the kind herein before referred to, the combination of a plug,
such as p, a tube such as t, air inlet controlling means, and oil feed controlling means,
substantially as set forth with reference to Figures 2 (sections at c, c, and d d), 5,
and-6.
9. The lubricator comprising the case a, tube t, plug p, index, and pointer k,
arranged, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as set forth with reference
to the drawings.
Dated this 4th day of November 1889
ROBERT WILLIAM ANDERSON.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Agents.