AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC AND ADJUSTABLE FEED LUBRICATOR
Year: 1884

page_text: I RICHARD JAMES THRELFALL of No 23 Union Lane Gateshead in the County
of Durham Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED AUTOMATIC AND ADJUSTABLE FEED LUBRICATOR" to be as follows:-
This lubricator is specially adapted for the motion bars of locomotives but is
applicable to other engines and machines and automatically supplies the lubricant
when required only in quantity adjustable to the requirements.
It consists of an oil cup screwed into the motion bar or corresponding part
having in it a ball resting in a slightly concave seat and closing the oil channel
when at rest but when in the case of a locomotive the engine is running the shaking
motion causes the ball to roll in its concave seat opening the oil channel inter-
mittently to the oil surrounding the ball.
The feed is adjusted by means of a conical plug inserted in the oil channel
(preferably at right angles thereto) so as to entirely close it or to open it to an
extent regulated to a great exactness by a screwed thread on the plug in a
corresponding thread or lubricator; suitable marks indicating the quantity say in
drops per minute and a "jam nut" fixing it at any rate of feed.
The oil cup has a cover screwed in with a feed hole in it which is covered by a
sliding piece to exclude dust a small pin hole admitting air only.
When the quantity of feed is not required to be variable the oil channel may be
fitted with a needle working loosely in it resting on a seat at lower end where
grooves may be cut across to allow the oil flowing down around it to pass but
I prefer the adjustable conical plug. This form of lubricator will act automatically
on any engine or machine on which it can be placed vertically and where the
motion or vibration is sufficient to cause the ball to roll about in its seat.
Dated this 24th dow of Anmil 1004

page_text: »
I RICHARD JAMES THRELFALL of N° 23 Union Lane Gateshead, in the County
of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention of "AN
IMPROVED AUTOMATIC AND ADJUSTABLE FEED LUBRICATOR and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly ascertained and described in and by
the following statement :-
This lubricator is specially adapted for the motion bars of locomotives but is
applicable to other parts of locomotive or other engines and machines and
automatically supplies the lubricant, when required only, in quantity adjustable to
the requirements.
It consists of an oil cup screwed into the motion bar, or corresponding part,
having in it a ball resting in a slightly concave seat and closing the oil channel
when at rest, but when, in the case of a locomotive, the engine is running, the
shaking motion causes the ball to roll in its concave seat opening the oil channel
intermittently to the oil.
The feed is adjusted by means of a conical plug inserted in the oil channel so as
to entirely close it or to open it to an extent, regulated to great exactness, by a
screwed thread on the plug in a corresponding thread on lubricator; suitable marks
indicating the quantity, say in drops per minute, and a "jam nut" fixing it at any
rate of feed.
The oil cup has a cover screwed in with a feed hole in it which is covered by a
sliding piece to exclude dust, a small pin hole admitting air only.
When the quantity of feed is not required to be variable the oil channel may
be fitted with a needle working loosely in it, resting on a seat at lower end where
grooves may be cut across, to allow the oil flowing down around it to pass, but I
prefer the adjustable conical plug. This form of lubricator will act automatically
on any engine or machine on which it can be placed vertically and where the
motion or vibration is sufficient to cause the ball to roll about in its seat.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
L
The accompanying drawing illustrates the form in which I propose to carry out
my invention but modifications, as to details may be made without affecting the
principle of its action as an automatic lubricator."
Figs 1. 2 3 and 4 shew, full size, a lubricator such as used for the motion bars of
a locomotive engine. Figure 1. is a vertical sectional view through line A B and
Figure 2. is a vertical sectional view through line C: D of Figure 4, which is a plan
of interior of lubricator with cover and valve case removed. Figure 3 is a plan
of cup of lubricator, with cover screwed in.-1. is the oil chamber of the lubricator
the lower part 2. of which is cast solid and has formed in it the sunk portion 3. to
receive the concave seat 4. of the ball valve 5.-This concave seat I prefer to make
of a piece of steel, or other hard metal and is concave to an extent sufficient to

page_text: diminished when required (answering the same purpose as the "trimming" in an
ordinary lubricator) to meet varying conditions of fluidity of oil and other
circumstances.
When the feed is not required to be adjustable my screwed plug may be
dispensed with.
The ball valve 5. is covered by a case 11. screwed into sunk portion 3., round the
valve seat 4., and from top of this case a tube 12. extends up to and through the
cover 13. of lubricator by means of which tube oil may be supplied direct to the
valve seat and thence down the channel 7. without the control of the plug 9. or
of the action of the ball valve and this provision is very important in certain
emergencies when plentiful lubrication is temporarily required.
The top of tube 12. is covered in by a sliding flap 14. which also closes the
supply or feed hole 15. in cover and excludes all dust only leaving a very small air
channel 16. to cause the oil to flow.
As I consider the needle arrangement of much less importance I have not
illustrated it but it will be readily understood how it may be applied.
Having now fully 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 An automatic and adjustable feed lubricator consisting of the parts enumerated
and illustrated constructed and operating substantially as shewn and described.
2 For the purpose of automatic lubrication the use of a ball rolling in a concave
seat, intermittently opening and closing a supply channel when in motion, and
entirely closing such channel when at rest, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1981
Witness:
T. J. DANSON, F. Inst. P.A.
RICHARD JAMES THRELFALL.
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Newcastle on Tyne.
W. Lloyd Wise,
Per F. J. Brougham,
Applicant's Agent.