An Automatic Thermo-electric Lubricating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
TRUVINIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Thermo-electric Lubricating Apparatus.
A communication from abroad by RUPERT NAPIER COOMBES, of Rocky Bay
Boarding House, North Fremantle, Western Australia, Electrician.
I, JOHN COOMBES, of 41 Grosvenor Buildings, Poplar, London E., Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct an apparatus for lubricating machinery,
so arranged that an increase of the temperature of the bearing, or other surfaces
requiring to be lubricated, is utilised in automatically causing the delivery of the
lubricant to the part requiring the same.
I fit a tank or analogous article for containing the lubricant, (hereinafter for the
sake of brevity called the oil vessel) conveniently near to the bearing or other part
to be lubricated, (hereinafter for the sake of brevity called the bearing). Near to
the bearing I fit a thermometric tube and bulb, charged with mercury. Electric
conductors are connected to the tube at certain points above the normal surface of
the mercury. A pair of electro-magnets are also fitted, having suitable connections
with a battery or batteries. An armature is fitted to or near the magnets,
carried by one end of a scale beam, the other end of the scale beam carries a valve
rod and valve, arranged so that when the beam rises with the rod the valve is raised,
and the lubricant is admitted to the bearing. An annular or other float is fitted in
the oil vessel, carrying a pair of vertical rods, working in guides. Conducting
wires are fitted to the several appliances above mentioned for carrying out the
purposes of this invention.
In case the bearing requires lubricating, and consequently rises in temperature,
the mercury rises in the tube until it comes in contact with a wire communicating
with one of the electro magnets. The armature (which consists of a forked spring)
is then drawn down, whereby the oil valve is opened, and lubricant admitted to the
bearing. When the bearing has again become cool, the mercury falls and cuts
off the connection with the electro-magnets. The armature rises and the valve
closes.
In case oil should be required in the tank the electro-magnets act as above
mentioned, but the mercury continues to rise from the increase of heat in the
bearing. Other wires are thus brought into electric communication, assisted by the
lowering of the float. The magnets also act with increased power upon the spring
armature. The additional descent of the armature causes a connection with an
electric bell, and semaphore, or other appliances for indicating to the attendant that
oil is required in the vessel.
Other indicators may be fitted to show when the valve opens and closes, and other
operations of the apparatus.
Dated 13th December 1802
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.

page_text: A communication from abroad by RUPERT NAPIER COOMBES, of Rocky Bay
Boarding House, North Fremantle, Western Australia, Electrician.
I, JOHN COOMBES, of 41 Grosvenor Buildings, Poplar, London E., Engineer,
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 :--
The object of my invention is to construct an apparatus for lubricating machinery,
so arranged that an increase of the temperature of the bearing, or other surfaces
requiring to be lubricated, is utilised in automatically causing the delivery of the
lubricant to the part requiring the same.
I fit a tank or analogous article for containing the lubricant, (hereinafter for the
sake of brevity called the oil vessel) conveniently near to the bearing or other part
to be lubricated, (herein after for the sake of brevity called the bearing). Near to
the bearing I fit a thermometric tube and bulb, charged with mercury. Electric
conductors are connected to the tube at certain points above the normal surface of
the mercury.
A pair of electro-magnets are also fitted, having suitable connections
with a battery or batteries. An armature is fitted to or near the magnets, carried
by one end of a scale beam, the other end of the scale beam carries a valve rod and
valve, arranged so that when the beam rises with the rod the valve is raised, and
the lubricant is admitted to the bearing. An annular or other float is fitted in the
oil vessel, carrying a pair of vertical rods, working in guides. Conducting wires
are fitted to the several appliances above mentioned for carrying out the purposes
of this invention.
In case the bearing requires lubricating, and consequently rises in temperature,
the mercury rises in the tube until it comes in contact with a wire communicating
with one of the electro-magnets. The armature (which consists of a forked spring)
is then drawn down, whereby the oil valve is opened, and lubricant adınitted to the
bearing. When the bearing has again become cool, the mercury falls and cuts
off the connection with the electro-magnets. The armature rises and the valve
closes.
In case oil should be required in the tank the electro-magnets act as above
mentioned, but the mercury continues to rise in case of an increase of heat in the
bearing. Other wires are thus brought into electric communication, assisted by the
lowering of the float. The magnets also act with increased power upon the spring
armature. The additional descent of the armature causes a connection with an
electric bell, and semaphore, or other appliances for indicating to the attendant
that oil is required in the vessel.
Other indicators may be fitted to show when the valve opens and closes, and other
operations of the apparatus.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, illustrating the application of my invention to the
bearings of an ordinary revolving shaft.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the float, with its guides and other connections,
at right angles to Fig. 1.
4 is an ordinary revolving axle. 5 is the upper brass of the bearing. 6 is a
brass case in which the mercury tube 7 is enclosed. 8 is the mercury the lower end
of which is connected at 8* to one pole of the battery. 9 is a nonconducting
material surrounding the mercury tube, consisting of rubber, vulcanite, or other

page_text: suitable material. 10 is a wire, one end of which passes into the mercury tube 7,
the other end being in connection with the magnet 17. Similar wires 11, 12, 13,
14, 15 and 16, are also inserted in the inercury tube 7, and placed a small distance
apart from each other. These wires are all positive wires in direct communication
with the battery, (each wire from a different cell). The wires are insulated and
secured by staples where necessary. 17, 18, are a pair of coils forming an electro-
magnet, enclosed in a water-tight chamber 27, fitted inside the oil vessel 19. 20 is
the forked spring armature, connected to the side by a spring 20* or by other
means. 21 is a rod connecting the armature with the beam 22, the beam being
pivoted at 23. 24 is a regulating rod, screwed into the upper fork of the
armature 20 and passing freely through a hole in the lower fork. 25 is a small
piece of platinum, acting as a contact point, insulated from the rod 24 by vulcanite.
26 is a similar insulated piece of platinum, bracketed to the wall of the chamber 27.
28 is a conducting wire attached to the plate 25, and leading to the indi-
cator. 29 is a positive conducting wire attached to the platinum plate 26 and
leading to the battery; the negative wire going direct from the battery to the
indicator. 30 is a rod pivoted to the beam 22 at its upper end, passing through the
guide 31, and carrying the valve 32 at its lower end.
The brass case 6 is screwed into the bearing 5, as shown, so that the bulb of the
mercury tube may be sufficiently near the axle to receive the effects of an increase
of heat arising from friction.
33 is a float carried by the oil 34. Two rods 35, 35, are attached to the float
passing through guides 36, 36, and 37, 37; the latter being insulated and carrying
insulated platinum plates 38, 38. These plates are fitted with conducting
wires 39, 39, leading to the indicator. The upper ends of the rods carry insulated
platinum plates 40, 40, to which the positive wires 41, 41, from the battery are
attached. 42 is a lid covering or opening for supplying oil to the oil vessel.
Indicator boards or frames are fitted in conspicuous places for observation, having
spaces covered with movable shutters and electric bells for drawing attention to the
opening of the shutters. Each shutter and bell is in connection with a separate
magnet and wire, such as those numbered 11 to 16, whereby the state of the particular
bearing is indicated. The spaces are marked "want attention," "want oil in box,"
&c. If the bearing is cool and properly lubricated, the whole of the shutters
remain closed. But in case the bearing becomes warin the mercury rises in the
tube 7 and touches first one wire, whereby the circuit is completed and the current
passes through the mercury to the wire 10, thereby causing the magnet to attract
the armature 20. This raises the valve 32 and allows a small quantity of oil to
pass to the bearing. The promptitude with which this is effected is usually
sufficient to arrest the heating and cool the bearing, thus saving the waste of oil
which otherwise would arise from want of prompt attention. When the heat has
gone down the mercury descends in the tube and the circuit is broken, the valve 32
closes and the flow of oil is stopped until again required. But in case, from want
of oil in the tank, or any other cause, that the heat of the bearing increases, the
mercury then continues to rise in the tube and connect the wire 11 whereby the
additional power of a second battery is obtained, thus increasing the power of
the magnet, opening the valve wider, and causing a larger flow of oil. In like
manner a further increase of heat will cause the mercury to continue to rise until it
reaches the wire 16 (which may be termed the degree of danger). The valve is
then opened to the fullest extent; at the same time the alarm bell is sounded to
attract the attention of the engineer, and a shutter on the indicator board is opened,
to show that the bearing requires attention; the particular bearing being thereon
indicated.
If attention is required to be called before the mercury reaches the wire 16, it
may be effected by screwing down the rod 24, whereby contact is made between 25
and 26 and the bell sounded on the mercury reaching either of the wires between 11
and 16, as required according to the proximity of 25 and 26 by the adjustment of
the rod 24.

page_text: 43 is a guard over the float rod terminals. This guard prevents the terminals
unduly rising when the oil vessel is full. When the oil vessel requires replenishing
the lowering of the float brings the platinum plates 38 and 40 together, thus causing
the completion of the circuit, the sounding of a bell and opening of a shutter ;
indicating to the attendant that oil is required in the tank.
My invention may be very much modified, both in size and construction to suit
the various parts of machinery to which it is applied. When applied to connecting
rods, eccentrics, and motion bars, the wires are arranged to accommodate the
several motions, and are secured by staples or other fittings, and carried to the
batteries and indicator boards, as required.
The following are some of the advantages of my invention:-
1st. A great saving of oil, as it is only applied when needed.
2ndly. It acts as a constant sentinel, and applies oil at the first indication of
heated bearings, thereby lessening the danger of highly heated bearings.
3rdly. A saving of time and labor, especially on marine engines, where the men
have to climb about the engine room, which is not only laborious, but dangerous,
and more especially when the vessel is rolling in a heavy sea.
4thly. Very little attention is required, and, when required, it is indicated by the
apparatus.
5thly. The apparatus is not liable to get out of order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said iuven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The automatic thermo-electric lubricating apparatus, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 18th August 1894
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.