Improvements in Lubricating Devices Especially Applicable to
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 25th Jan., 1887.
RESERVE
[Communicated from abroad by RUDOLPH FAAS, residing in the City of Chicago,
County of Cook, and State of Illinois, and United States of America.]
Improvements in Lubricating Devices Especially Applicable to
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
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 usual method of lubricating car axles is by filling the axle box with cotton
waste and oil, the saturated waste coming in contact with the journal. This method
is not only wasteful but liable to convey to the journal sand or other foreign matter
causing increased friction and frequently fails to provide sufficient lubricant. Ignition
and combustion follow under certain conditions not necessary to explain in this
specification. The objects of these improvements are first to provide a continuously-
lubricated axle-journal second to economize in the consumption of the lubricant and
third to confine and protect the lubricant from accumulations or deposits of sand dust
or other foreign matter. I attain these, objects by the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which ;-Fig. 1. is a vertical cross section of a car-axle box
showing the relation of this device thereto and to the journal. Fig. 2 is a plan view
of frame and roller removed with end broken to show details in construction.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional end view on line 3 fig. 2 exhibiting the roller bearing upon
the spiral spring. Fig. 4 is a perspective end view of the roller in its adjustable
bearings.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A is the journal of the car-axle.
B is the car-axle journal box.
Cis the journal-bearing.
DD is a metal frame containing the roller.
E is the roller of cork naner leather falt or other material

page_text: G is a self-adjusting cover, which has one side fastened on the upper edge of the
roller-frame D D, and extends over upon the apron or roller-guards.
His the extension of the frame to the opposite side of the journal-box, which
serves the double purpose of securing the roller-frame firmly in its position, and enables
me to place a cover over the lubricant and inclosing it.
K is a loose metal cover over the frame H.
O is the lubricant in the journal-box proper, and inclosed in the roller-frame D D
and extension H and cover K.
a a are aprons or guards partially inclosing the roller E.
c is a receptacle for the blocks d d.
dd are the blocks which enter the receptacle.c, and on which rests the roller E.
e e are grooves in the ends of roller-frame D D, from which the frame is constructed
by the sides H to the opposite side of the journal box, thus inclosing the lubricant.
xx are set screws which engage in the flanges y y.
yy are the flanges on the end of the roller or spool.
is a rod with a thread on each end connecting the flanges y y..
In the construction of my device I place the roller E about two inches (more or less)
above the bottom of the car journal box, and when not submerged in the lubricant
relying upon the motion of the wheel to agitate the lubricant against the roller E,
which is protected on its upper half circle by an apron or guards, a a, which may
consist of any metal, the same being for the purpose of keeping the roller E in position,
and allowing a segment of the roller to be presented to the journal A of the car-axle,
thereby economizing in the amount of the lubricant served to the journal, the roller E
and its covering or apron a a being combined and together resting on a frame, D D of
any desired metal, said frame D D being placed in the journal box B at either side, or,
if two lubricators are preferred, one on each side of the journal A in the journal box B,
thus allowing the roller E to bear upon the journal's periphery at an angle of about
forty-five degrees (more or less) from the frame of my device, the bottom of the
frame D D being open, allowing the roller E to play freely in the lubricant O
underneath it, or to come in contact with it by agitation.
Attached to the roller E, by the set-screws, are the square blocks d d, the said
blocks working freely in their receptacles C in the frame D D, surrounding the
roller E, operating somewhat as a block would work in a link in the link-motion, only
we obtain the pressure upon the blocks by means of the spiral springs F, thus keeping
it constantly in contact with the journal of the axle. The blocks d d are countersunk
sufficiently to receive the spiral springs F and to embed themselves therein, thus
preventing them from being crushed.
The roller E may consist of cork, paper, which is porous and firm, leather, felt or
other compact fibrous material, or any other substance having a capillary attraction
sufficient to raise and hold the lubricant and serve the journal A, as described. The
reason I desire a porous roller, or one having capillary attraction, is to hold in the
pores of the roller more or less of the lubricating material after the supply in the box
is exhausted, which may then be served to the journal.
In the use of one in place of two lubricators of my construction, I protect the
lubricant O in the journal box B, Fig. 1, from receiving dust and other foreign matter.
In order to accomplish this, I make a groove, e, in each end at the bottom of my
lubricator frame, allowing me to construct therefrom a box or covering for the
lubricant, simply by forming a square frame H, Fig. 1 the two end pieces connected
with a similar piece parallel with the axle A or my Inbricator frame, but bearing upon
the opposite side of the axle-box at o, Fig. 1, to which my frame is attached, thus
enabling me to use a light covering K, of sheet iron or any other material I may
desire to use, placed upon the described frame. This excludes all dust or foreign
matter, and will prevent the lubricant from being shaken out of the journal box or
displaced. It will be understood that the cover K is free and readily removed when
necessary to replenish the lubricant or for any other purpose. Instead of swinging
the roller E upon an ordinary axis in said frame, I place two blocks, d d, playing in
corresponding receptacles, through which blocks I place set screws xx, engaging in

page_text: the flanges y y of the roller proper, the flanges y y being centered and countersunk for
that purpose, thereby enabling me to take up any lost motion that may occur to the
roller E. The rod or spindle, having a thread on each end, connects the flanges y y.
On the top of the roller frame D D, Fig. 1, is fastened a metal self adjusting cover, G,
with its one edge resting on the apron or roller guards a a which incloses the elevated
portion of the roller E and frame D D, and with the cover K lying underneath the
journal A on the frame H, completely incloses the lubricant O in the journal-box B.
I am aware that prior to this invention lubricators have been made by having
rollers operate against the journal, and therefore I do not claim such a combination,
broadly; but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is
1. The combination of the roller E with the metal frame D D, open upon the bottom
to permit the roller E to play in or receive the lubricant which is then served upon the
journal A, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the roller E, consisting of cork, leather, felt, cloth, paper, or
other porous substance for receiving, holding, and serving the lubricant to the
journal A, with the metal frame D D and extension H H, substantially as above
described and set forth.
3. The combination of the roller E, partially covered and protected by the guards
or aprons a a bearing upon the blocks d d, resting upon the spiral springs F F,
operating upon the journal A, substantially as described.
4. The combination of the roller E with the frame D D and extension H H, with
the cover K and adjustable spring cover G for the purpose of keeping the journal
continuously lubricated and of protecting the lubricant from dirt, sand, or other
foreign material, substantially as set forth and described.
5. The combination of the roller E, having capillary attraction with the apron or
guards a a, the blocks d d, the set screws, the flanges y y, centered and counter-
sunk, the rod, the spiral springs F F, the frame D D and H H, and covers G and K,
substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
6. The combination of the roller E on its frame D D, its adjustable bearing, and
protected with its apron, or guards, as above described, with the device resting upon
the bottom of and in the lower corner of the journal box B, Fig. 1, which allows the
roller E to engage with the journal A at an angle of about forty-five degrees, (more
or less) as above described, thereby allowing the journal to play freely in the journal
box and upon my device, without injury to my roller and frame, substantially as
set forth.