Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1886
Specification Accepted, 28th June, 1887.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE FONDU of Vilvorde Belgium, Manufacturer, 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 present invention has for its object, Firstly: An improved system of automatic
lubricators with steam chambers and at high temperature, operating intermittently
and furnished with a valve distributing, the lubricant regulated at will the whole
applicable to the lubricating of steam cylinders distributing, slide and other valves as
well, as for high and low pressure engines, axles, movements and engines in general in
which the lubricators remain stationary. Solid grease or tallow is used, rendered
liquid by steam conveyed to the apparatus by suitable tubes, and it is discharged or
distributed by capillary action. The melting of the grease may also be affected by
any other suitable means, by gas, hot water and the like.
In lubricators applicable to the cylinders of locomotives and other engines, the
steam is introduced in a chamber arranged in or around the apparatus. The steam
will effect a pressure on the valve and prevent all back action, it will heat the
apparatus instantaneously to melt the grease so that the latter may be discharged by
capillarity so that the lubrication takes place before the starting of the engine and
while the starting lever is closed. Thus the mixing of the lubricant with the steam
and its decomposition is prevented. In locomotives the lubrication is affected during
the shunting i.e. while the engine approaches the train to be coupled.
After the engine has been started to back against the train the steam is shut off,
the vacuum takes place in the cylinder and the lubrication is effected, provided
the lubricant has been heated by the previous introduction of the steam into the
cylinders.

page_text: Lubrication may also be effected during the running of the train as soon as the
starting lever is closed, either in going down an incline or in approaching a station.
This system effects a notable saving over the older ones, the lubricant not being
decomposed, nor carried away in pure loss by the steam.
Sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings contains the representation of a lubricator
of this kind applicable to steam cylinders. Fig. A-B represents an elevation of the
lubricator Section A B is a section through A-B of the former figure; C D is a
section through C D₁ of section A B; and E F is a section through E-F¹ of
section C D.
The hollow chamber G is the reservoir for the grease, H is a tube into which is
placed a linen or cotton wick hanging over into the reservoir G and the lubricant it
contains.
The opening serves to let the steam enter into the chamber 2, it will immediately
melt the lubricant contained in the passages and the reservoir. At the same time the
steam will press on the valve 3 and thus prevent lubrication while the pressure in the
cylinder lasts. As soon as the starting lever is closed and the pressure subsides in
the cylinder the lubrication is effected instantaneously and all parts are perfectly
lubricated.
This system prevents wear and tear and requires less force for the operation than
with the older systems in which the lubricant mixes with the steam, is decomposed and
carried away by the latter, thus rendering the lubrication nearly nil. The tube H is
provided with the wick overhanging into the lubricant and sucking up moderately the
lubricant during the strokes of the piston.
The lubricant contained in the reservoir G is thus drawn into the passages 4 and 5
which fill themselves up to the conical part of the valve 3. This latter prevents a
discharge of the lubricant into the cylinder while the pressure lasts therein. As soon
as the vacuum occurs the atmospheric air will enter into the reservoir G through the
hole in its lid or cover 11 and will press on the lubricant and force this, lifting the
valve 3 not now under pressure, through the passages 4 and 5 into the chamber 2 and
thence through the passage 1 into the cylinder.
The curved slot 6-7 will carry the lubricant to the passage 5 in case the passages 4
and 5 do not exactly register because of the screwing. The ring 10 of soft copper or
other suitable material forms a steam tight packing or joint for the chamber 2.
The end 9 is conical and screw threaded as is also the opening in the cylinder in
such a manner as to avoid pressure on the bottom 91 and thus prevent breakage in the
screw-threaded end.
The handle 12 serves to close the upper end of the lubricator:
The heating and melting of the lubricant can be accelerated further by arranging
a steam chamber 13, directly under the reservoir G, and supplied with steam by the
passage 14.
The steam may also be taken direct from the boiler leaving out the passage 14 and
all the lubricators be in one circuit as represented on sheet III.
The screw 15 serves to regulate the induction of the steam into the chamber 2 as
also the discharge of the lubricant. It only wants unscrewing to enlargen the passage
and then fixing by means of the nut 16. The discharge of the lubricant in the above
described arrangement may also be effected by the screw 17.
By means of a pipe 18 attached to the lubricator A B and taking the lubricant
from the pipe H, to carry it to an apparatus fig. J sheet II and III, with a single
reservoir the cylinder and the cylinder cover or else both the cylinders may be
lubricated, which arrangement reduces the cost of manufacture.
The arrangement and working of these apparatus J is easily understood by reference
to the drawings, they are also operated by valves like 3 and the discharge of the
lubricant is regulated by the screw 19.
The ring 20 Figs. Ja Jb serves to regulate the size of the chamber 21.
The cylinders and cylinder covers can also be lubricated by means of a simple
reservoir L (fig. O) without any wick and constructed as indicated in by lines 22.

page_text: This reservoir is connected by the tube 23, with apparatus as represented in figs. M N
the operation of which is the same as that shewn in A B.
The cover 24 is constructed to receive the pipes 23 and 25. The apparatus shewn
in Figs. M, N, are placed on the cylinders and cylinder covers. The lubricant in the
reservoir L is melted by the steam entering through the pipe 26 in the chamber 27.
The melted lubricant will pass through the pipe 23 which is heated by the steam
entering into the surrounding pipe 25 either by a small tube 28 direct from the boiler
or by a pipe coming from the steam chamber 27.
The pipe 26 connecting the lubricator with the boiler passes the stand of the engine
driver so that the latter can by means of a small valve either lubricate the parts or
let the lubricant solidify when lubrication is not needed. A small return pipe
connects the arrangement again with the boiler to prevent condensation in the
conduits.
It is of course understood that the reservoir L is furnished with as many tubes 30
as it has lubricators M N to operate.
The apparatus as represented in Figure O may serve to lubricate all the movements
of an engine and the discharge can be regulated by the engine driver at will.
The vapour is received through a pipe connected with the boiler near the driver
passing through a valve D (Figure 2 sheet 3) and pipe 26 into a steam chamber 27
where it heats the lubricant contained in the vessel L. The lubricant becomes in a
manner liquid is carried off by the pipe 23 which can distribute it to the different
parts of the locomotive. To prevent the grease from recooling in the pipe 23 it may
be surrounded by a tube 25 to which steam is admitted through a pipe 29. In the
above case the wick tube is not necessary and it is replaced by the bridge 22 under
which the steam enters to heat the chamber L. The wick tube is only employed
when it is desired to lubricate directly by placing the grease on the part to be
lubricated.
The flow of the lubricant is regulated either by the valve 31 or the screw 32.
Figure clearly shows the working of the valve 31. As regards the screw 32 the
extremity thereof is calculated to nearly fill the annular space into which it is shown
to be introduced in such manner as to almost entirely intercept the outlet passage of
the lubricant.
The figures PQRS represent in section front and side elevation and plan of the
lubricators destined for the lubrication of axle-trees guide-bars and the like with solid
grease rendered liquid by means of steam pipes communicating with each other as
described above. These boxes are fixed to the frame by the lugs 33 and a tube 34
attached to the axle bar glides on the end 35 of the lubricator so as to allow for the
vibration of the springs.
By these tubes the lubricant is carried direct to the axle without the use of the
common axle box which has the disadvantage :-
1. That the lubricant decomposes by the action of the air.
2. That the lubricant forms a crust with the dust raised during the journey, thus
necessitating a thorough and expensive cleaning every week.
3. The boxes being often open the rain will fill the box with water and eject the
lubricant.
The above described system obviates all these inconveniences and especially the
danger the machinist undergoes in passing over and under the engine to effect the
lubrication.
On sheet III Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is represented a circuit A B C provided with the
regulating valve D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The employment of a steam chamber as described above and arranged so as to
immediately heat the lubricant and to effect at the same time a pressure on a valve to
prevent the lubricant from being discharged during the steam pressure in the
cylinder.

page_text: 2. The employment in lubricators of any kind of tubes heating by steam, gas or
otherwise the lubricators and passages for conducting the melted lubricant the tubes
being so arranged that the machinist is enabled to regulate the lubrification by opening
or shutting a suitable valve arranged in the circuit.
3. A reservoir for the lubricant connected by tubes with the lubricators of the
cylinders the cylinder covers and the like discharging the lubricant simultaneously to
all the lubricators in connection therewith, the heating tube being provided with means
to shut the steam off at will to stop the lubrication.
4. The employment of the conical screw threaded end 27 of the lubricator enabling
to form a steam tight fastening without joint.
Dated this 19th day of November 1886.
JEAN BAPTISTE FONDU.