IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul François Aerts, formerly of Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, but now residing in London, England, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING
RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY."
Sealed the 17th December 1859, and dated the 18th June 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul François Aerts at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1859.
I, PAUL FRANÇOIS AERTS, formerly of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
but now residing in London, England, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING
RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY," to be
as follows:-
The first part of my Invention has for its object a simple mode of lubricating
the journals of railway rolling stock, and the moving parts of machinery, by or
with water or other liquid, and is more especially applicable for the lubrication
of shafts, &c., rotating slowly. It consists in the application for that purpose
of the well known law in pneumatics, that liquids contained in rotating
vessels acquire a centrifugal force, which creates a continued pressure against

page_text: the bottom of the vessel, as is well illustrated by the simple experiment of
rapidly whirling round a can of water without any being spilled. To apply
this principle to the lubrication of the moving parts of fixed machinery,
I wholly or partially surround the bearing with a water-tight reservoir, and fix
on the shaft, on one side of the bearing, a disc containing one or more
cylinders of convenient size, having their ends open in the direction of the
rotation of the shaft. These cylinders in dipping into the liquid contained in
the reservoir, become filled therewith, the fluid pressing against the closed end
with a force proportioned to the depth of the cylinder and rate of rotation;
and in order to apply this force, I place a short tube at the side of each
cylinder, at or near the closed end, whereby on each cylinder emerging from
the liquid in the reservoir, a continuous jet is obtained tangental to the
<direction of rotation; this jet, which will be most copious at the highest point
of the rotation, can be directly thrown over the shaft when moving in an open
bearing, or when the shaft is closed above, the jet can be collected in a channel
conducting over the shaft. Where water is the lubricator, the shaft-must be
first well greased. To apply the principle as the means of lubricating the.
journals of the axles of railway rolling stock, I make the axle box of suitable
size and properly water-tight, and fix a disc at the end of the axle, similar in
.construction to the one before described, except that each alternate cylinder
should have its open end in opposite direction, so as to be equally effective
whichever way the axle may rotate; thus tubes at the sides at or near the end
of each cylinder will throw jets of water into a channel to be made in or above
the brass, whence it flows or is conducted over the journal.
The next part of my Invention is more particularly applicable to the journals
of the axles of railway rolling stock, and is especially useful where water is
the lubricator. It consists in a peculiar arrangement of the washer, which
I prefer to be of cork (but any other suitable material may be employed).
The washer (which should be first well greased) is made to embrace the axle,
and is kept in position by fitting into recesses in the axle box'; and in order to
preserve its uniform contact with the axle, notwithstanding its partially
wearing away or any change in the position of the axle by the wearing of the
brasses, I employ one or more adjusting screws, made to press against plates
of metal partially embracing the washer at its top, and also, if desired, at its
bottom, and which I propose to be arched, so as to admit of being pressed
against the entire top or bottom of the washer by the pressure of a screw in
the centre. To facilitate the action of the screws in conveying a continuous
pressure to the washer against and around the axle, and more effectually to
prevent any escape of water (or other lubricating material, I prefer to divide

page_text: the washer at or near the centre by a diagonal cut, so that the two cut
surfaces shall easily slide over each other, and contract the lateral diameter
when pressure is applied at top or bottom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Paul François Aerts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PAUL
FRANÇOIS AERTS, formerly of Brussels, but now residing in London, England,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Paul François Aerts, Her special licence that I, the said Paul
François Aerts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,
the said Paul François Aerts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 of "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR LUBRICATING RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND THE MOVING PARTS OF MACHINERY,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Paul François Aerts,
my executors or ad..inistrators, 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 Paul François Aerts, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, forming part of this the Specification of my Invention, and to the
letters of reference marked thereon, which serve to denote the mechanical
parts of each of the combinations, whereof Figure 1 denotes a section in
elevation of an entire axle box, the section being taken through the centre.

page_text: thereof longitudinally, shewing the second washer arrangement in section;
Figure 2, the face or front of an axle box, with a portion removed to show my
improvements; Figure 3, plan of an axle box, with part removed for the same
purpose; Figure 4 shews a plan of the disc; Figure 5, half the disc, with the
exit pipes in plan; and Figure 5*, section of same, to show the projecting
pipes; Figure 6 shews, in elevation, the first arrangement of washer, Figure 7
being the same in section through the centre of Figure 6; Figure 8, the third
washer arrangement in section; and Figure 9, the same arrangement partly
in elevation.
The first part of my Invention has for its object a simpler mode of
lubricating the journals of the axles of railway rolling stock, and the shafting
of machinery moving in fixed bearings (which latter usually rotates with a
slower motion) than has hitherto been employed where liquid, more especially
water, is the lubricator, and is based on the well known law of pneumatics,
that liquid contained in rotating vessels acquires a centrifugal force, producing
a continuous pressure against the bottom of the vessel containing such liquid,
and is well illustrated by the simple experiment of rapidly whirling round a
can of water without any being spilled. In applying this principle to the
lubrication of the moving (rotating) parts of machinery, which principally
rotate slowly, I wholly or partially surround the bearing with a water-tight
reservoir, and fix (with a screw or otherwise) on the shaft, on one side of the
bearing, a disc a (see Figures 4, 5, and 5*, in the Drawing); this disc, made
of any metal or suitable material, contains one or more cavities, buckets, or
cylinders c (of which 4 are shewn), of convenient size, having their open ends d
in the direction of the rotation of the shaft; this disc carrying the buckets or
cylinders aforesaid, causes the latter to dip into the liquid contained in the
reservoir, and become filled therewith, the fluid pressing against the closed end
of the bucket or cylinder with a force proportioned to the depth of the bucket
or cylinder and rate of rotation of the shaft. By rotation the fluid so obtained
from the reservoir is discharged in jets at the openings. In order to apply the
product of this force, I place one or more tubes, as at f (zine or other suitable
material may be used for this purpose) at the side of cach bucket or cylinder
at or near the closed end thereof. On each cylinder emerging from the liquid
in the reservoir and reaching the turning point in rotation, it discharges, by
means of the tubes or pipes f, a continuous jet tangental to the direction of
rotation; the jet being more copious at the highest point of the rotation, is
thrown directly over the shaft when moving in an open bearing, or when the
shaft is enclosed above, the jet is collected in a channel conducting it over the
shaft; these means supply a quantity of liquid for lubrication sufficient to keep

page_text: the shaft always covered therewith, or the pipes may be dispensed with, if it
be found desirable so to do. When water is the lubricator, the shafts of
machinery and the journals of axles of railway vehicles must be well greased
at fitting up. To apply the principle to the journals of axles, I use a modifi-
cation of the disc apparatus herein-before described. The axle box being
made of suitable size and practically water-tight, I fix a disc at the end of the
axle similar in construction to the one just described, except that each
alternate bucket or cylinder has its open end in opposite direction, so as to
supply an equal jet or jets whichever way the axle may rotate. Short tubes
or pipes are placed at the bottom, (as at f,) of each cylinder or bucket, and
serve to direct the jets to flow or be conducted over the journal; or these
pipes may be dispensed with, if preferred.
The next part of my Invention is more particularly intended for rendering
the axle boxes of railway rolling stock practically water-tight, and consists in
the application of several combinations of parts serving (when constructed and
put together as herein-after directed) to achieve that purpose, the first of which
consists in an arrangement of the washer, (which is by preference made of cork.
The washer a is made to embrace the axle (see Figures 6 and 7), and is kept
in position by fitting into recesses in the axle box. (This washer should be
well greased before being fitted,) as the material of which it is composed will by
friction wear. I provide for this; and also for any change of position from
jerks or otherwise, by one or more adjusting screws (two are shown in the
Drawing at b. Figures 6 and 7, which represent this washer apparatus) made
to press against a plate of metal c, partially enclosing the washer; I prefer this
plate c should be arched, so as to admit of its being pressed against the entire
top or bottom of the washer by the pressure of a screw in the centre, near
which the washer is divided by a diagonal cut permitting the two-cut surfaces
to overlap when pressure is applied.
Another modification will be seen at Figures 1, 2, and 3, for the same
purpose. It consists of a small wheel a (made of cast iron or other metal),
fixed on the axle by a pin or key in such wise that it must rotate with it.
This small wheel (as will be seen by reference to the diagram, Figure 1) is of
a conical form, so that when a train begins to move onwards by the conicity of
the wheel and the centrifugal force, the fluid is constantly diverted or rejected
from the only point from whence it could escape. A band of leather or other
suitable material is rivetted into the metal collar f, and serves to maintain it in
position, and prevent the friction of two metals one upon another. g shews a
washer, made of caoutchouc or other clastic, or semi-elastic, material, sunk
into the collar f; this washer is. pressed against the interior of the axle box

page_text: by a plate h, made of cast iron or other suitable metal, and bolts i to prevent
leakage at this point. This combination of parts prevents the exudation of the
water or other liquid, and almost all variation in quantity will be the result of
natural evaporation. In order to let the foul water or other liquid ont of the
axle box, I make use of the keyed stopper k, shewn at Figure 1, the unclosing
of which effects that purpose. Immediately on returning the key of the stopper
to its normal position the axle box is effectually closed. The last modification
I use for the purpose of rendering the axle box practically water-tight, is
shewn at Figures 8 and 9, where a represents the axle; b, a cup leather,
(formed or shaped by preference in a mould); c, packing of india-rubber or
other elastic material; d, a ring or collar, made of brass or other metal;
e, brass (or other metal) plate, with flange; f, a metal cap, serving to enclose
the whole when the apparatus is fixed; g, bolts, with nuts and screws;
h, moveable axle guard; i, screw bolts. To fit the apparatus, I pass over the
end of the axle (in the order mentioned) the metal cap f, brass plate e, and
cup leather b. The elastic packing c, encircled by the ring d, is then put
upon the leather b. The bolts g, being passed through the capf and the
inside of the axle guard h, are then screwed up as much as is required, and
this is repeated when from the wear of the leather or other cause it becomes
desirable to tighten the washer. These parts being so secured causes the
elastic packing c, which is confined by the ring d, to press against the back of
the axle-box, and also upon the collar part of the leather b, which, forced out
of its original form, has a tendency to return to its original shape and position,
and the edge (which is cut fine with advantage) exerts a continuous pressure
around the axle, and prevents the escape of the water or other fluid. By
means of the metallic ring d, the whole packing moves with the axle, and
compensates for any change of position or wear of the bearing. Or I use the
conical wheel a described as part of the combination in Figure 3, in com-
bination with the washer (cup leather apparatus) referred to in Figure 8,
modifying the arrangement of packing and rings to suit the shape of the
conical wheel and adjacent parts.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the means by which
I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein given, as such may be varied
without departing from the principle of my improved arrangements, which
I declare to be, and I claim the exclusive use,-
Firstly, of the disc apparatus for lubricating with water or other fluid the
rotating parts of fixed machinery and the journals of railway rolling stock.
Secondly, the apparatus called by me a keyed stopper, for the purpose of

page_text: withdrawing the foul water or other fluid from the axle-boxes of railway
rolling stock.
Thirdly, the arrangements of washers or apparatus herein-before described
or shewn, serving to render axle boxes of railway rolling stock practically
water-tight.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul François Aerts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
JOHN GEDGE, Patent Agent,
4, Wellington Street South, Strand.
P. F. AERTS. (L.S.).