AN IMPROVED GREASE FOR LUBRICATING THE FRICTIONAL SURFACES OF MACHINERY
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Nicolas Leroy, of Paris, (Passy), in the
Empire of France, a Mechanician, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
GREASE FOR LUBRICATING THE FRICTIONAL SURFACES OF MACHINERY."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Nicolas Leroy
at the Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th January 1861.
I, CLAUDE NICOLAS LEROY, of Paris, (Passy,) in the Empire of France, a
Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED GREASE FOR LUBRICATING THE FRICTIONAL SURFACES OF MACHINERY," to
be as follows:-
My improved grease will be composed of the following matters :---In about
the proportions given, namely, tallow 252 parts, a good lubricating oil 333
parts, soda 14 parts, potash 12 parts, and water 389 parts. The potash to be
first dissolved in the water, the soda then introduced, and finally the oil and
tallow to be kneaded with it. When used for lubricating axle bearings or
bearings of fixed machinery, it may be applied in small copper or tin funnels,
which when filled will lubricate perfectly for two or three months, according
to the speed at which the engine is worked, and will require little supervision.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Claude Nicolas Leroy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLAUDE
NICOLAS LEROY, of Paris, (Passy), in the Empire of France, a Mechanician,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thonsand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Claude Nicolas Leroy, Her special licence that I, the said Claude Nicolas Leroy,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Claude
Nicolas Leroy, my executors, administrators, and 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, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED GREASE
FOR LUBRICATING THE FRICTIONAL SURFACES OF MACHINERY," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Claude Nicolas Leroy, my executors or
administrators,-by-an-instrument-in-writing-under_my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be 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 I, the said Claude Nicolas Leroy, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The greases or fatty matters in general use for lubrication leave much to
desire, some from their high price, some because they melt too readily, and
others because they harden too quickly, and form coom or gome. By using
the grease or fatty matter forming the subject of my Invention a constant and
regular lubrication requiring little supervision of the lubricating apparatus, will
be obtained, the parts of machinery will be kept clean, and there will be a
great decrease in the consumption of lubricating matter.
My improved lubricator, which I term "Leroy's grease," is composed as
follows, namely:-Tallow 252 parts, a good lubricating oil 333 parts, soda
14 parts, potash 12 parts, and water 389 parts. The potash is first dissolved

page_text: in water, the soda then added, and the grease and 'oil mixed or kneaded with
it. These substances well mixed form a very white fat and softening grease,
which, without deterioration to the surfaces, may be used to grease the moving
parts of machinery, axles of vehicles, bearings, spindles, or wherever it is
desirable to lessen friction. Its use is very easy, as it may be applied in small
copper or tin cups or funnels without altering the existing apparatus. These
cups once filled with grease will lubricate perfectly without any further care or
attention for one or two months, according to the greater or lesser speed at
which the machinery is driven, instead of greasing once or twice daily, as is
now the case. I have found in practice that grease in the composition of
which enters 25 parts of blacklead is best for certain purposes, and I therefore
sometimes introduce that quantity into my composition.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise relative proportions herein
given (as the constituent parts of this grease may be modified in their com-
bination, according to requirement) the constituting elements forming the
characteristic part of my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude Nicolas Leroy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
C. N. LEROY. (L.S.)