Improved Apparatus for Lubricating Piston Rods, Slide-valve Rods, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Lubricating Piston Rods, Slide-valve Rods,
and the like.
I, JAMES KERR of 24 April Grove Tue Brook, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to bo as
follows:-
.
The object of my present invention is to provide improved apparatus for lubricating
piston rods, slide-valve rods and the like, simultaneously at a number of points
symmetrically disposed round their circumference, and it is especially serviceable when
applied to marine engines in which case the said rods unless efficiently lubricated all
round their circumference are liable to become heated and bent by reason of unequal
expansion and contraction.
According to my present invention I construct such apparatus as follows:-
I provide an elastic tube of metal or other suitable material preferably of elliptical
or approximately elliptical cross-section, both ends of which are closed.
•
This tube is bent into a circular hoop, the longer axis of the cross-section of the
tube being perpendicular to the plane of the hoop, and the internal diameter of the
hoop, when the ends are joined, being slightly greater than that of the rod which is to
be lubricated.
The ends of the tube are joined by a hook or a clasp formed somewhat after the
manner of a buckle and the hoop requires to be sprung inwards in order to clasp the
ends so that its elasticity will prevent the ends from becoming unintentionally
unclasped. The hoop possesses sufficient elasticity to permit of it being sprung open
in order to place it in position encircling the rod which is to be lubricated-after which
the ends are clasped.
Assuming for the purpose of description that the hoop is applied to a vertical piston
rod and that its plane is therefore horizontal, I drill a number of small holes through
the inner wall of the hoop close to the upper edge thereof so that if the tube forming
the hoop be filled with oil or other suitable lubricant under pressure the latter will issue
in the form of spray or a number of fine jets and will be delivered on to the rod
encircled by the hoop.
In order to supply the lubricant to the hoop I provide a small force pump in a
convenient situation, which is connected on its delivery side to the hoop by a connecting
pipe. This connecting pipe is attached to the hoop by means of a union so that it can
be readily detached when it is desired to remove the hoop from the rod, and the hoop
may be supported in position by the connecting pipe or by a bracket, as may be
preferred.
When it is desired to lubricate the rod, the pump is operated, which draws the
lubricant from a supply tank and forces it through the connecting pipe into the
hoop from which it issues as spray or fine jets and is delivered on to the rod.
The hoop may be of any desired cross-section provided it is sufficiently elastic to be
sprung over the rod; and instead of being formed of one tube with its ends closed it
may be made in two pieces with open ends connected by unions at opposite ends
of a diameter of the hoop. Also, instead of merely piercing the hoop with small
holes a number of small nozzles may be fitted to direct the flow of the lubricant on
to the rod.
In order to prevent waste of the lubricant it is necessary that the latter should only
flow through the holes or nozzles whilst under pressure, and it is for this reason that
the holes or nozzles are placed near the top of the hoop, so that when the pressure is
removed the lubricant which fills the hoop will simply lodge therein.

page_text: For a similar reason if the supply pipe is so led from the pump as to expose the
hoop to a pressure due to the hydrostatic head of the lubricant I fit a spring loaded
non-return valve in the said connecting pipe as close as possible to the hoop
so that the lubricant cannot pass into the hoop unless under a greater pressure than that
due to its head."
Where several rods have to be lubricated each is fitted with its own hoop and
connecting pipe, the hoop being placed in the case of a piston or slide valve rod, close
to the gland thereof so as not to foul the cross-head.
In such a case several or all of the connecting pipes may be supplied by the same
pump, a suitable cock or cocks being fitted so that the lubricant may be directed along
any one of the connecting pipes at the will of the operator. The force pump herein-
before referred to may be of any ordinary style, single or double acting and. may be
operated by hand or otherwise.
Instead of fitting a pump to propel the lubricant, the latter may be contained in a
closed receiver, the connecting pipes communicating therewith through suitable cocks,
and a pipe being fitted for the admission at will of steam or any other available fluid
under pressure to propel the lubricant and so operate the apparatus.
"
Or the supply tank may simply be placed at a sufficient height so that the "hoad"
of the lubricant will give sufficient pressure and the lubrication will then be effected
by opening the stop cock communicating with the appropriate connecting pipe. In
this case the spring loaded non-return valve, if fitted, must be loaded to such a pressure
that it will open under the pressure due to the total "head"-but will not open under
the pressure due to the "head," if any, between it and the stop cock.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1889.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Lubricating Piston Rods, Slide-valve Rods,
and the like.
.
I, JAMES KERR formerly of 24 April Grove, Tue Brook, Liverpool, but now of
20 Thorndale Road, Waterloo, near Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, 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 -
The object of my present invention is to provide improved apparatus for lubricating
piston rods, slide-valve rods, and the like, simultaneously at a number of points
symmetrically disposed round their circumference, and it is especially serviceable when
applied to marine engines, in which case, the said rods unless efficiently lubricated all
round their circumference are liable to become heated and bent by reason of unequal
expansion and contraction.
According to my present invention I construct such apparatus as follows;
1.provide an elastic tube of metal or other suitable material preferably of elliptical
or approximately elliptical cross-section, both ends of which are closed.
This tube is bent into a circular hoop, the longer axis of the cross-section of the tube
being perpendicular to the plane of the hoop, and the internal diameter of the hoop,
when the ends are joined, being slightly greater than that of the rod which is to be
.lubricated.
The ends of the tube are joined by a hook or a clasp and the hoop requires to be
sprung inwards in order to clasp the ends so that its elasticity will prevent the ends
from becoming unintentionally unclasped. The hoop possesses sufficient elasticity to
permit of its being sprung open in order to place it in position encircling the rod which
is to be lubricated, after which the ends are clasped.
Assuming for the purpose of description that the hoop is applied to a vertical piston

page_text: rod and that its plane is therefore horizontal, I drill a number of small holes through
the inner wall of the hoop close to the upper edge thereof so that if the tube forming
the hoop be filled with oil or other suitable lubricant under pressure the latter will issue
in the form of spray or a number of fine jots and will be delivered on to the rod
encircled by the hoop.
In order to supply the lubricant to the hoop I provide a small force pump in a
convenient situation, which is connected on its delivery side to the hoop by a connecting
pipe. This connecting pipe is attached to the hoop by means of a union so that it can
be readily detached when it is desired to remove the hoop from the rod, and
the hoop may be supported in position by the connecting pipe or by a bracket, as
may be preferred.
When it is desired to lubricate the rod, the pump is operated, which draws the
lubricant from a supply tank and forces it through the connecting pipe into the hoop
from which it issues as spray or fine jets and is delivered on to the rod.
14
The hoop may be of any desired cross-section provided it is sufficiently clastic to be
sprung over the rod; and instead of being formed of one tabe with its ends closed
it may be made in two pieces with open ends connected by unions at opposite
ends of a diameter of the hoop. Also instead of merely piercing the hoop with
small holes, a number of small nozzles may be fitted to direct the flow of the lubricant
on to the rod.
In order to prevent waste of the lubricant it is necessary that the latter should only
flow through the holes or nozzles whilst under pressure, and it is for this reason that
the holes or nozzles are placed near the top of the hoop,- -so that when the pressure
is removed the lubricant which fills the hoop will simply lodge therein.
For a similar reason, if the supply pipe is so led from the pump as to expose the
hoop to a pressure due to the hydrostatic head of the lubricant, I fit a spring loaded
non-return valve in the said connecting pipe as close as possible to the hoop so that
the lubricant cannot pass into the hoop unless under a greater pressure than that due
to its head."
Where several rods have to be lubricated each is fitted with its own hoop and
connecting pipe, the hoop being placed in the case of a piston or slide valve rod, close
to the gland thereof so as not to foul the cross-head.
In such a case, several or all of the connecting pipes may be supplied by the same.
pump, a suitable cock or cocks being fitted so that the lubricant may be directed along
any one of the connecting pipes at the will of the operator. The force pump berein-
before referred to may be of any ordinary style, single or double acting and may be'
operated by hand or otherwise.
Instead of fitting a pump to propel the lubricant, the latter may be contained in a
closed receiver, the connecting pipes communicating therewith through suitable cocks,
and a pipe being fitted for the admission at will of steam or any other available fluid.
under pressure to propel the lubricant and so operate the apparatus.
Or the supply tank may simply be placed at a sufficient height so that the "head" of
the lubricant will give sufficient pressure and the lubrication will then be effected by
opening the stop cock communicating with the appropriate connecting pipe. In this
case the spring loaded non-return valve, if fitted, must be loaded to such a pressure that
it will open under the pressure due to the total "head "--but will not open under the
pressure due to the "head," if any, between it and the stop cock.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is an elevation showing the general arrange-
ment of my invention as applied to a three cylinder marine screw engine having three.
piston rods and three valve spindles. Fig. Il is an elevation to a larger scale, partly.
in section, showing the tubular hoop, the spring loaded valve and the arrangement for
adjusting the position of the hoop. Fig III is a sectional plan on A A of Fig. II.
Fig. IV is an elevation, partly in section, and Fig. V is a plan showing the pump and
the arrangement for directing the flow of the lubricant onto the desired rod.
Fig. VI is a plan of the six-way cock 13. Fig. VII is a plan of the combined cock-
handle and index 19.

page_text: Throughout the drawings similar parts are indicated by the same reference figures.
1 is one of the piston rods to be lubricated, 2 is the gland, and 3 the stuffing box.
4 is the tubular hoop having holes 5 at its inside upper edge; the hoop is clasped.
at 6 and is permanently attached to the tube 7 which is secured by the union 8 to the
screwed tube 9. The tube 9 screws into the bracket 10 and can be so raised or lowered
to adjust the height of the hoop 4; when this is done the tube 9 is secured by a
pinching screw 11. 12 is the spring-loaded valve.
The upper end of the pipo 9 is connected to the pump, the elevated containing vessel
or to the closed vessel containing the lubricant under pressure, as the case may be ;
when however as in the arrangement shown there are more rods than one to be
lubricated each rod is fitted with the apparatus shown in Figs. II and III and the
upper end of each of the tubes 9 is connected by a suitable pipe to one of the outlet
branches of the multiple-way hollow-plug cock 13.
The inlet branch of the cock 13 leads to the centre of the hollow plug which has a
single port 25 which, by turning the plug, may be put into communication with any
one of the several outlet branches.
The plug of the clock 13 is connected to the pipe 14 by a suitable union, and the
pipe 14 is prevented. from turning relatively to the plug by a projecting pin 15.
The lower end of the pipo 14 is connected to the delivery pipe 16 of the pump,
the connection being made by a gland 17 and stuffing box 18 which permit of
the pipe 14 turning relatively to the delivery pipe 16. Integral with the stuffing
box 18, which is secured to the pipe 14, is a four armed handle 19 carrying
pointer 20 which moves over the index plate 21 carried from the pump 22 as
shown. The handle 19 carrying the pointer 20 being rigidly connected to the plug
of the cock 13, the index plate is so engraved that the position of the pointer in
relation thereto determines which outlet branch of the cock 13 is in communication
with the port 25 in the plug; in this way any particular rod may be lubricated.
The pump 22 is of ordinary construction and is carried by a bracket 23 which
also serves to support the tank 24 from which the pump receives the supply of
lubricant.
When a viscous lubricant is used it is desirable to form a small projecting lip under
each of the holes 5 in the hoop 4 the lips inclining down and nearly touching the
rod so that any of the lubricant remaining about the holes after the pump stroke
has been made will flow down the lips on to the rod.
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. In apparatus for lubricating piston rods, slide valve rods and the like, a
tubular hoop surrounding the rod to be lubricated and having holes at regular
intervals in its inner wall, with means for supplying the said hoop as required with
lubricant under pressure, substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus for lubricating piston rods, slide valve rods and the like, an elastic
tubular hoop of approximately elliptical cross-section capable of being sprung over
the rod to be lubricated and subsequently clasped, baving holes in its inner upper edge,
together with means for supplying the said hoop as required with lubricant under
pressure, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. A tubular hoop as herein set forth in combination with a force pump, the pump
being so connected to the hoop that the lubricant may be propelled into the hoop and
issue therefrom in a series of jets on to the rod to be lubricated, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
4. A number of tubular hoops as herein set forth in combination with connecting
pipes, a multiple-way cock, a force pump, containing tank and directing arrangement
whereby the lubricant in the tank may be propelled into any one of the several hoops
as required and issue therefrom in a series of jets onto the rod to be lubricated, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: 5. The improved apparatus for lubricating piston rods, slide valve rods and the like
substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1889.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.