Improvements in Self-lubricating Loose Pulleys, Sheaves, Wheels, and other Bodies Rotating on Shafts, Spindles, Axles, Pins, or Studs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-lubricating Loose Pulleys, Sheaves, Wheels,
and other Bodies Rotating on Shafts, Spindles, Axles, Pins,
or Studs.
We GEORGE SMITH and EDWIN SMITH of Nene Side Iron Works Thrapston
in the County of Northampton Engineers do bereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide for automatic lubrication in the hubs,
bosses or centres of loose pulleys, sheaves, wheels, and other bodies (hereinafter
included in the general term of "wheel") revolving on shafts, spindles, axles, pins
or studs.
To carry out our invention we fit the centre hole of the wheel with a bush made
of metal or any other suitable material, which has at each end flanges larger than
the main body of the bush, which when fitted into the boss of the wheel forms a
recess or chamber between the bore of the wheel and the external surface of the
busb. This bush is bored internally to fit the shaft or spindle upon which it has
to revolve. The oil or other lubricant is poured into this chamber or receptacle
and is conveyed to the shaft, axle, spindle, or stud by a series of holes or other
suitably shaped perforations made through the main body of the bush. When the
wheel is rotating the lubricant is carried by the centrifugal action to the outside of
the chamber and consequently away from the shaft or axle. As soon as the wheel
is stopped, the lubricant drains into the lower portion of the chamber, except a
small quantity which falls upon the upper surface of the bush, and thence runs
through the holes or perforations that chance to be above the centre of revolution,
and thus lubricates the shaft, axle, or stud.
In some cases we use a plain cylindrical bush with holes or perforations, and
form the chamber or recess in the body of the hub or boss of the wheel.
When the chamber is formed by a flanged bush, we sometimes form upon the
main body of the busb, a series of longitudinal ribs from flange to flange, for the
purpose of trapping a larger quantity of lubricant when the wheel is stopped, and
when the chamber is formed in the body of the hub or boss of the wheel, we some.
times form within it a series of circumferential ribs which when the wheel is
stopped, serve to lead the lubricant down to the holes in bush.
We insert the lubricant through a hole in the boss or hub of wheel, which is
stopped by a screwed plug or any other suitable means.
Dated this 24th day of April 1894
GEORGE SMITH.
EDWIN SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-lubricating Loose Pulleys, Sheaves, Wheels,
and other Bodies Rotating on Shafts, Spindles, Axles, Pins,
or Studs.
We GEORGE SMITH and EDWIN SMITH of Nene Side Iron Works, Thrapston,
in the County of Northampton, Engineers, 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 object of this invention is to provide for automatic lubrication in the hubs,

page_text: bosses, or centres of loose pulleys, sheaves, wheels, and other bodies (hereinafter
included in the general term of "wheel") revolving on shafts, spindles, axles, pins
or studs.
To carry out our invention we fit the centre hole of the wheel with a bush made
of metal or any other suitable material, which has at each end flanges larger than
the main body of the bush, which when fitted into the boss of the wheel forms a
recess or chamber between the bore of the wheel and the external surface of the
bush. This bush is bored internally to fit the shaft or spindle upon which it has to
revolve. The oil or other lubricant is poured into this chamber or receptacle and
is conveyed to the shaft, axle, spindle or stud by a series of holes or other suitably
shaped perforations made through the main body of the bush. When the wheel is
rotating the lubricant is carried by the centrifugal action to the outside of the
chamber, and consequently away from the shaft or axle. As soon as the wheel is
stopped the lubricant drains into the lower portion of the chamber, except a small
quantity which falls upon the upper surface of the bush, and thence runs through
the holes or perforations that chance to be above the centre of revolution, and thus
lubricates the shaft, axle, or stud.
In some cases we use a plain cylindrical bush with holes or perforations, and
form the chamber or recess in the body of the hub or boss of the wheel.
When the chamber is formed by a flanged bush, we sometimes form upon the
main body of the bush a series of longitudinal ribs from flange to flange, for the
purpose of trapping a larger quantity of lubricant when the wheel is stopped, and
when the chamber is formed in the body of the hub or boss of the wheel, we some-
times form within it a series of circumferential ribs, which, when the wheel is
stopped, serve to lead the lubricant down to the holes in bush.
We insert the lubricant through a hole in the boss or hub of wheel which is
stopped by a screwed plug or any other suitable means.
The accompanying drawings show our invention carried out in several ways, the
different figures being modifications of similar bushes. In these figures the same
reference letters indicate the same or corresponding parts.
Figs. 1 and 2 show wheel with bush in front and sectional elevation respectively,
the bush having flanges a fitted into the boss or hub of the wheel, c is the
chamber to contain the lubricant which finds its way to the shaft through
perforations d.
Fig. 3 is a modified form of bush detached, with a central flange e for the
purpose of conveying an extra supply of lubricant from the top of chamber
to the perforations. In further modifications two or more of these flanges are
fitted.
Fig. 4 shows a bush similar to the one in Fig. 2. with the addition of a circular
groove at each end and holes g leading from these grooves into the chamber c.
The object of these grooves and holes being to arrest any escaping lubricant, and
convey the same back into the chamber c. These grooves although shown applied
only to this particular modification of bush, can, if desired, be applied to any of
the other forms shown.
Figs. 5 and 6. show another modification of Fig. 2. with longitudinal plates h
extending from flange to flange for the same purpose as flange e in Fig. 3, but more
particularly applicable to slower running machinery.
Fig. 7 shows the chamber c formed in boss or hub of wheel, the bush being
plain. We also show one circumferential rib e which may or may not be used.
Fig. 8 shows the chamber c cored out of the solid boss or hub of wheel, there
being no bush.
Fig. 9 shows a slight modification of Figs. 2 and 7, the end walls a of the
chamber c being formed partly by internal ribs of boss and partly by the flanges.
In the above figures we have shown the bushes perforated as applied to wheels
running on a horizontal axis.
Fig. 10 shows a modified form of perforations suitable for wheels running on a
vertical axis.
In this case the upper end only of the bush is perforated, so that

page_text: the lubricant may drain into, and be retained in the lower portion of chamber o
when the wheel is at rest.
also
In the above views we have shown our invention as applied to loose pulleys,
wheels, sheaves &c., but we wish it to be distinctly understood that we may
apply it to any other bodies rotating wholly or partially on shafts and the like, or
in any case where there is sufficient movement to keep the lubricant away from the
shaft by centrifugal force when working. We have shown an application in
Fig. 11, to the crank pin end of a connecting rod fitted with a bush in accordance
with our invention.
In the above views the bush is shown in one piece but it may be constructed in
halves for split loose pulleys, wheels and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Constructing bushes for loose pulleys, wheels, sheaves &c. having external
flanges to form lubricating chamber in combination with perforations, to allow the
lubricant to reach the shaft substantially as described.
2. The combination of an oil chamber having perforations in its inner walls with
longitudinal ribs as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
3. The combination of a chamber formed in boss or hub of wheel, pulley &c.
with a plain cylindrical perforated bush, substantially as described.
4. The modification shown in Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings and
substantially as described.
5. The construction of automatic lubricating, pulleys, wheels, sheaves and the
like, substantially as described and shown in accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of June 1894.
ORADOR SMITH
GEORGE SMITH
EDWIN SMITH.