Improvements in Sight Feed Lubricators for Steam Engines.
Year: 1895

page_text: .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sight Feed Lubricators for Steam Engines.
I, ALFRED DRAPER OTTEWELL of the Brass Foundry, Traffic Street, Derby
in the County of Derby, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to diminish the number of parts used in, and
improve the working of, sight feed lubricators.
In carrying out my said invention I provide a solid casting composed mainly of
two parts, the lower and the upper. The lower is used as an oil reservoir or
receptacle for the lubricant and is of any convenient construction, supported by
any suitable means in any convenient position. This reservoir is provided with a
feed opening for oil at the top and an opening at the bottom for draining water or
condensed steam. Screw or other suitable plugs being inserted therein when
the apparatus is being used. The upper part of the casting is placed a short
distance over the lower and serves as n condenser proper, or reservoir for
water and outlet for the oil or lubricant. These two parts are connected by two
vertical tubes, one of which is part of the solid casting and serves as an addition to
the condenser and water reservoir, the other tube being mainly of glass. The
former tube conveys the water from the condenser to the oil reservoir while the
latter tube conveys the oil from the oil reservoir to and through a passage leading
to a branch cast on the side of the condenser. This branch also contains a passage
or bent tube for the purpose of conveying steam to the condenser, the latter
passage or steam inlet being somewhat above the former, or oil outlet.
To prevent the escape of water from the water reservoir when the oil reservoir is
being emptied a "water valve" is placed between the former and the latter.
;
Between the glass tube and the aforesaid branch an "oil valve" is placed that
can be closed to allow a broken glass to be replaced or a dirty glass to be cleaned
a plug being inserted above the glass tube to allow of such replacement or cleaning.
The joints or connections between the sight feed glass and upper and lower part
of casting are effected and packed in any suitable manner. Concentric with, and
at the bottom of the sight feed glass the oil delivery nozzle is screwed or otherwise
fixed at the top of the oil reservoir and immediately below this is placed a regulating
valve to control the amount of oil or lubricant delivered or required.
A gauge
glass will also be provided when desired to indicate the amount of oil in the
reservoir.
The condenser will preferably be made large enough to condense rather more
steam than will be necessary for the greatest flow of lubricant required, thus
keeping the level of the water in the condenser constant.
Where the lubricator is placed close to a steam pipe or live steam the casting is
screwed direct into the steam pipe or chamber by means of the before mentioned
branch cast on the side of the condenser.
Where the lubricator has to be attached into a steam chest cover or to the top of
a horizontal steam pipe the before mentioned branch is screwed into the side of an
angle piece which piece is connected to said cover or pipe by means of a vertical
tube. The angle piece is provided when desired with a small air or gas escape
valve, or vent.
Where the lubricator has to be placed at some distance from the live-steam
main, the before mentioned branch is screwed into a piece, by the upper tube, of

page_text: which live steam is conveyed to the lubricator, and by the lower tube oil and excess
of condensed steam, from the lubricator.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Steam is admitted into the condenser
by means of the before mentioned passage or bent tube inserted in the branch cast
on the side of the condenser. This steam condenses, filling or nearly filling the
condenser with water and maintaining it in this condition. The oil reservoir being
filled or partly filled with oil, the filling plug and drain valve being screwed down
or closed, and the water valve, regulating valve, and oil valve before mentioned
being open, the steam entering the passage in branch cast on the side of the
condenser, condenses and passes down the vertical tube, and thence by another
vertical tube in line with the former, nearly to the bottom of the said oil reservoir
where by its superior specific gravity, displaces the oil and causes the said oil or
lubricant to rise and pass through the regulating valve and delivery nozzle rising
vertically therefrom drop by drop through the water in the sight feed glass from
which it escapes through the before mentioned passage leading to the branch in the
condenser and thence to the cylinder or other part of the engine to be lubricated.
It will thus be seen that the water flows vertically down from the condenser in a
column to the bottom of the oil reservoir and the oil which it displaces rises
vertically (except when passing through the regulating valve) through the delivery
nozzle to the sight feed glass, to and through the passage leading to the branch in
the side of the condenser and away to the valves, cylinder or other part to be
lubricated.
It must be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact arrangement
which have described, this being merely a description of my apparatus in the
form which I at present generally prefer. It can be varied in many ways; for
example; the lubricator described is fitted with an oil valve, to close in case of
fractured or dirty glass, but I omit this valve when steam can without loss be shut
off from and outside of the lubricator.
Dated this 8th day of November 1905
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.
1, ALFRED DRAPER OTTEWELL of the Brass Foundry, Traffic Street, Derby
in the County of Derby, 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 :—
The object of my invention is to diminish the number of parts used in and
improve the working of sight feed lubricators.
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section on line a. a. of Figures 2 and 4 of my improved
sight-feed lubricator adapted for use as a single connection lubricator.
Figure 1 is a vertical section shewing an attachable part which may be screwed
on to the single connection lubricator and thus transform the latter into a double
connection lubricator.
Figure 1 is a vertical section shewing an attachable part which may be screwed
on to the single connection lubricator and thus transform the latter into a valve
chest lubricator.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan on line b. b. of Figures 1 and 3.
Figures 2 and 2B are sectional plans of the attachable parts for double con.
nection and valve chest lubricators respectively shewn in vertical section on
Figures 1 and 1B.

page_text: Figure 3 is a vertical section on line c. c. of Figure 4.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan on line d. d. of Figure 3.
In carrying out my said invention I provide a casting composed mainly of two.
parts, the lower and the upper. The lower one A is used as an oil reservoir or
receptacle for the lubricant and is of any convenient construction, supported by
any suitable means, in any convenient position. This reservoir is provided with a
feed opening B for oil at the top and an opening U at the bottom for draining
water or condensed steam. Screw or other suitable plugs F and D being inserted
therein when the apparatus is being used. The upper part T of the casting is
placed a short distance over the lower and serves as a condenser proper or reservoir
for water and outlet for the oil or lubricant. These two parts are connected by
two vertical tubes, one of which E is part of the solid casting and serves as an
addition to the condenser and water reservoir, the other tube V being mainly of
glass.
The former tube E conveys the water from the condenser to the oil reservoir
while the latter tube V conveys the oil from the oil reservoir to and through a
passage G leading to a branch K cast on the side of the condenser. This branch.
also contains a passage or bent tube H for the purpose of conveying steam to the
condenser, the latter passage or steam inlet being somewhat above the former, or
oil outlet.
">
To prevent the escape of water from the water reservoir when the oil
reservoir is being emptied a "water valve W is placed between the former and
the latter.
Between the glass tube V and the aforesaid branch K an "oil valve "O is placed.
that can be closed to allow a broken glass to be replaced or a dirty glass to be
cleaned; a plug C being inserted above the glass tube to allow of such replacement.
or cleaning.
The joints or connections between the sight feed glass and upper and lower part
of casting are effected and packed in any suitable manner. Concentric with, and
at the bottom of the sight feed glass the oil delivery nozzle N is screwed or other-
wise fixed, immediately below this and at the top of the oil reservoir is placed a
regulating valve R to control the amount of oil or lubricant delivered or required..
A gauge glass will also be provided when desired to indicate the amount of oil in
the reservoir. This however not forming any part of my invention is omitted from
the drawings.
The condenser will preferably be made large enough to condense rather more
steam thau will be necessary for the greatest flow of lubricant required, thus.
keeping the level of the water in the condenser, constant.
Where the lubricator is placed close to a steam pipe or live steam the casting is
screwed direct into the steam pipe or chamber by means of the before mentioned
branch K cast on the side of the condenser as illustrated on Figure 1.
Where the lubricator has to be placed at some distance from the live-steam.
main the before mentioned branch K is screwed into the piece shewn ou
Figures 1 and 2 by the upper tube Q of which live steam is conveyed to the.
lubricator, and by the lower tube Y oil, and excess of condensed steam, from the
lubricator.
Where the lubricator has to be attached into a steam chest cover or to the top..
of a horizontal steam pipe the before mentioned branch K is screwed into the side
of the angle piece shewn on Figures 1B and 2B which piece is connected to said
cover or pipe by means of a vertical tube S. The angle piece is provided when
desired with a small air or gas escape valve, or vent P.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Steam is admitted into the
condenser T by means of the before mentioned passage or bent tube H inserted in
the branch K on the side of the condenser. This steam condenses, filling or
nearly filling the condenser with water and maintaining it in this condition.
oil reservoir A being filled or partly filled with oil, the filling plug F and drain
valve D being screwed down or closed, and the water valve W, regulating valve R,.
The

page_text: and oil valve ✪ before mentioned being open, the steam entering the passage H in
branch K on the side of the condenser, condenses and passes down the vertical
tube E, and thence by another vertical tube E' in line with the former, nearly to the
bottom of the said oil reservoir where by its excessive head and superior specific
gravity, it displaces the oil and causes the said oil or lubricant to rise and pass
through the regulating valve R and delivery nozzle N rising vertically therefrom
drop by drop through the water in the sight feed glass V from which it escapes
through the before mentioned passage G leading to the branch K in the side of
the condenser and thence to the cylinder or other part of the engine to be
lubricated.
It will thus be seen that the water flows vertically down (oxcept when passing
through the water valve W) from the condenser T in a column to the bottom of the
oil reservoir A and the oil which it displaces rises vertically (except when passing
through the regulating valve R) through the delivery nozzle N and the sight feed
glass V, to and through the passage G leading to the branch K in the side of
the condenser and away to the valves, cylinder or other part or parts to be
lubricated.
It must be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact arrangement
which I have described, this being merely a description of my apparatus in the
form which I at present generally prefer. It can be varied in many ways for
example; a lubricator with an oil valve has been described to close in case of
fractured or dirty glass, but I omit this valve in many cases when steam can
without loss be shut off from and outside of the lubricator. Nor do I confine
myself to the application of this apparatus to steam cylinders alone, inasmuch as it
is capable of being used for the admission into steam boilers of any liquid of less
specific gravity than water for any purpose such as the prevention of the formation
of scale or the like.
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. In combination with the oil cup A, the condenser T, and the two pipes E
and V connecting the condenser with the oil reservoir, said pipes being inde-
pendently arranged: the steam inlet H, and the oil outlet G, the oil outlet being
with or without valve O: the valve R controlling the connection between the oil
cup and the pipe V and valve W controlling the connection between the oil cup
and the pipe E all substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In combination with the oil cup A, the condenser T, and the two pipes E
and V connecting the condenser with oil reservoir said pipes being independently
arranged the inlet Q and outlet Y, the steam inlet H, and the oil outlet G, the
oil outlet being with or without valve O: the valve R controlling the connection
between the oil cup and the pipe V and valve W controlling the connection
between the oil cup A and the pipe E, all substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. In combination with the oil cup A, the condenser T and the two pipes E
and V connecting the condenser with the oil reservoir said pipes being inde-
pendently arranged the inlet and outlet S and air or gas port P: the steam
inlet H and the oil outlet G, the oil outlet being with or without valve O: the
valve R controlling the connection between the oil cup and the pipe V and the
valve W controlling the connection between the oil cup A and the pipe E, all
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of August 1896.
W. SWINDELL,
Imperial Chambers, Albert Street, Derby, Agent for the Applicant.