AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING LUBRICATOR FOR CYLINDERS AND SLIDE BOXES OF LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Heinrich Kessler, of Oberlahnstein, Germany, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING LUBRICATOR FOR
CYLINDERS AND SLIDE BOXES OF LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES."
Sealed the 5th March 1867, and dated the 17th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Heinrich Kessler ät
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th October 1866.
I, HEINRICH KESSLER, of Oberlahnstein, Germany; do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for " AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING LUBRICATOR FOR
THE CYLINDERS AND SLIDE BOXES OF LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES," to
be as follows:
This self-acting lubricator is more especially adapted for cylinders and slide
boxes of locomotives, and marine, steam engines, but may also be applied to
other engines, and is designed to oil the said cylinders and slide boxes when
the steam is shut off or when the communication between the boilers and the
cylinders is intercepted, and the engine runs dry in consequence of the force
received and according to the law of inertia.
The apparatus, is self-acting, that is to say, it begins to oil when the steam
is not allowed to enter the cylinders and the engine runs without steam, and it
ceases to oil when the engine is stopped or when it runs with the steam up;
the apparatus also regulates the quantity of oil or tallow used in proportion to
the number of miles run by the engine. If the engine runs a short time the

page_text: apparatus oils less than if it were running a longer time. The apparatus also
cleans the oil, tallow, or other lubricating material used from sand or other
injurious substances, and causes the cylinders, pistons, slide boxes, and slides
to wear much longer than when oiled in the ordinary manner.
The accompanying Drawing shows vertical sections of the apparatus, which
is screwed on the top of the cylinder or slide box.
Figure 1 shows the position of the valves when the engine is stopped ;
Figure 2 shows the position of the valves when the engine runs with steam;
Figure 3 represents the position of the valves when the engine runs without
steam and the apparatus works.
In the Drawing a is the channel through which the oil or other lubricating
material is introduced into the cylinders or slide boxes. The oil, tallow, or
other lubricating material is contained in the vessel A; from this vessel it is
sucked over by the wicks B in the tube C; this tube slides smoothly in the
cylindrical part A¹; at the lower end of C is the valve D. In the tube C,
which is the conducting part of the valve D, are small holes b, through which
the oil passes; these holes are protected by a small network of wire, which
network prevents any impurities obtaining access to the valves. The valve. D
is in communication with a second valve E by the spring G; the valve E
slides smoothly with its conducting part Es in the part A² of the vessel A. The
Loil passes through the holes 6 into the space H, between the two valves,. then
through the holes & into the space F, and from the space F through the hole 'e
into the channel a. The vessel A has a cover or lid K, which is screwed on.
The object of the apparatus is to oil when the engine runs without steam, and
to prevent oiling when it is stopped or when it has the steam up. In case the
engine is stopped the valve E is opened by the action of the spring G, and the
valve D is shut by the action of the same spring, and no oil, tallow, or other
material can enter from the apparatus into the cylinder or slide box. In case
the engine has the steam up the valve E is shut by the pressure of steam,
as shewn in Figure 2; the valve D is. also shut by the action of the said
spring. If the lower valve should be opened and shut with every stroke of
the piston the valve D is all the time shut as long as the engine has the steam
up, and no oil or tallow is permitted to enter the cylinder and slide box, nor
can the steam enter the apparatus to condense and produce water. In Figure 3
the apparatus is shown working, that is to say, it is shown at the time when
the engine runs without steam. If there is no steam in the cylinder and slide
box there will be no pressure; both valves are therefore submitted to the action.
of the piston and open and shut with every stroke, and in this way the oil is
conducted by suction into the cylinder and slide box. The valves D and E

page_text: work as long as the engine runs without steam, at the moment, however, steam
is entering in the cylinder and slide box or when the engine is stopped the
apparatus ceases to oil. The quantity of lubricating material used is regulated
by the number of wicks; if three wicks are put in there is more oil sucked
over from the vessel A into the tube C than if there were two wicks only.
The principal advantages of the apparatus are, first, self-acting and self-
regulated oiling; second, a saving of two-thirds of the quantity of oil, tallow,
or other material used by the ordinary lubricating apparatus; third, cleaning
of the lubricating matter; and, fourth, greater durability of the cylinder,
piston, and slide box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Heinrich Kessler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HEINRICH
KESSLER, of Oberlahnstein (Germany), send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Heinrich Kessler, Her special licence that I, the said Heinrich
Kessler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Heinrich Kessler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
in 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 SELF-ACTING, LUBRICATOR FOR THE CYLINDERS AND SLIDE BOXES
OF LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER STEAM ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Heinrich Kessler, 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 Heinrich Kessler, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings making
a part of this Specification :-
.
This self-acting lubricator is more especially adapted for the cylinders and
slide boxes of locomotive and marine steam engines, but may be also applied
to other engines, and is designed to oil the said cylinders. and slide boxes
when the steam is shut off therefrom, and the engine runs dry or without
steam in consequence of the force received in accordance with the law of
inertia.
The apparatus is self-acting, that is to say, it begins to oil when the steam_
is not allowed to enter the cylinders, and the engine runs without steam, and
it ceases to oil when the engine stops, or when it runs with the steam up;
the apparatus also regulates the quantity of oil or tallow used in proportion
to the number of miles run by the engine. If the engine runs a short time
the apparatus oils less than if it were running a longer time. The apparatus
also cleans the oil or tallow or other lubricating material used from sand or
other injurious substances, and causes the cylinders, pistons, slide boxes, and
slides to wear much longer than when oiled in the ordinary manner.
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus showing the position
of the valves when the engine is stopped; Figure 2 is a similar section showing
the position of the valves when the engine runs with steam; Figure 3 is a
similar section showing the position of the valves when the engine runs
without steam; Figures 4 and 5 are similar sections representing a modification
of the said apparatus. Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the
Figures.
In the Drawing a is the channel through which the oil or other lubricating
material is introduced into the cylinders or slide boxes. The oil, tallow, or
other lubricating material is contained in the vessel A; from this vessel it is
sucked over by the wicks B into the tube C; this tube slides smoothly in the
cylindrical part A¹; at the lower end of C is the valve D. In the tube C,
which is the conducting part of the valve D, are small holes b, through which
the oil passes; these holes are protected by a small network of wire or per-
forated metal, which prevents any impurities obtaining access to the valves.
The valve D is in communication with a second valve E by the spring G ; the
valve E slides smoothly with its conducting part E in the part A² of the
vessel A. The oil passes through the holes 6 into the space H, between the
two valves; then through the holes d into the space F, and from the space F

page_text: through the holes e into the channel a. The vessel A has a cover or lid K,
which is screwed on. The object of the apparatus is to oil when the engine runs
without steam, and to prevent oiling when it is stopped or when it has the
steam up. In case the engine is stopped the valve E is opened by the action of
the spring G, and the valve D is shut by the action of the same spring, and no oil,
tallow, or other material can enter from the apparatus into the cylinder or slide
box. In case the engine has the steam up the valve E is shut by the pressure
of the steam, as shown in Figure 2; the valve D is also shut by the action of
the said spring. If the lower valve should be opened and shut with every
stroke of the piston, the valve D is all the time shut as long as the engine has
the steam up, and no oil or tallow is permitted to enter the cylinders and
slide box, nor can the steam enter the apparatus to condense and produce
water. In Figure 3 the apparatus is shown, working, that is to say, it is
shown at the time when the engine runs without steam. If there is no steam
in the cylinder and slide box there will be no pressure; both valves are,
therefore; submitted to the action of the piston, and open and shut with every
stroke, and in this way the oil is conducted by suction into the cylinder and
slide box. The valves D and. E work as long as the engine runs without
steam, at the time, however, steam is entering the cylinder and slide box;
when the engine is stopped the apparatus ceases to oil.
In the modification of parts illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 means are pro-
vided for regulating the movement of the valves D and E for keeping the
valve E closed when the engine stops for the introduction of the oil or other
liquid lubricant into the vessel A without removing the lid or cover K, and
also for more effectually preventing any possibility of sand or gritty particles
entering the cylinder or slide box. The valve D is provided with a short
stem f, which screws into a cylindrical nut f, and beneath the valve E a ring g
is fitted to screw into the chamber F; by screwing or unscrewing this ring g
and the nut f the extent of the movement of the valves D and E can be
regulated to any required degree, and the supply of lubricant to the cylinder
and slide box is reduced to the most economical point. This object may also
be obtained by increasing or decreasing the size or number of the holes in the
tube C or the threads in the wick B. The spring h below the valve E keeps
the said valve closed when the engine is not at work, and thus causes the said
5 valve to effectually prevent the entrance of any steam or vapor into the
vessel A. The lid or cover K has a hole K¹, through which the introduction
of the lubricant is effected without removing the said lid or cover from the
vessel A; this bole is closed by a lid or stopper Ks; the said lid or cover may
be made cup-shaped to allow the cylindrical portion A¹ of the vessel A and the

page_text: tube C to extend up above the level of the hole K' in the said cover. This
arrangement of the tube C prevents the entrance of the lubricant into the said.
tube except as it passes by-capillary attraction through the wick B.
The principal advantages obtained by the use of my improved lubricating
apparatus are, firstly, self-acting and self-regulated lubrication; secondly, a
saving of at least two-thirds in the quantity of oil, tallow, or other material
used by an ordinary lubricating apparatus; thirdly, cleaning the lubricating
matter, and thereby ensuring greater durability of the cylinder, piston, and
slide box, and other parts of the engine.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same
may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
1st, a lubricating apparatus consisting of the two oil vessels A and A' con-
pected together with the wick B.
2nd, the two valves D and E (connected together by the spring G) in com-
bination with the oil vessels A, A¹, and apertues a, b, and e, constructed, arranged,
and operating for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Heinrich Kessler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
(L.S.) HEINRICH KESSLER.