Improvements in and relating to Lubricators, and more particularly to Lubricators for Steam Cylinders.
Year: 1891

page_text: Jate of Application, 13th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Lubricators, and more particularly
to Lubricators for Steam Cylinders.
We, JAMES EDWIN TOTMAN, and MARTIN ERICKSEN, citizens of the United
States of America, residing at La Crosse, County of La Crosse, State of
Wisconsin, one of the United States of America, gentlemen, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
.
Our invention relates to lubricators, and more particularly to those adapted for
lubricating steam cylinders, and has for its object to atomize the oil and distribute
it to the cylinder equally over all its parts, whereby a superior effect is
accomplished and the oil is used economically. To this end the invention consists
in the improved construction and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter
particularly set forth.
In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numeral indicates
similar parts:
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of our improved device, and so much of a
steam engine as is necessary to show its application and use, and
Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one portion of it, and
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of another form.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a cock which is provided
with the usual valve 2 which regulates the flow of oil from the reservoir 3 to which
the cock is connected in any convenient manner. The cock is provided at the exit
or discharge with an extension 4 which leads into or connects with the steam pipe 5
leading to the cylinder.
The extension is provided with two channels or passages, 6 and 7, one of which,
6, is preferably made round and is for the passage of the steam from the steam
pipe into the interior of the other channel near the valve 2. The other channel, 7,
is a continuation of the channel through the cock, and is of irregular cross-section,
and is provided with an inclined surface, 8, leading from the valve, 2, or inlet into
the channel, 7, and is located directly under the inlet of the channel, 6. At the
foot of the incline is placed a plug, 9, the inner end of which is made hollow and
provided with small perforations upon its upper surface and projects into the
channel, 7 which at this point is preferably made perpendicular.
A thin plate, 10, provided with small perforations is placed at or near the end of
the hollow portion of the plug which will assist in breaking up or vaporising the
oil as will be hereinafter more fully explained. From the end of the plug the
channel, 7, extends in a straight line to the inner end of the extension and
terminates in a downwardly extending pipe, 11, in the steam pipe. The lower end
of this pipe is closed by a plug, 12, and is provided with small perforations just
above the plug.
The extension can be made separate and be attached to the cock in any suitable
manner, or it can be cast integral therewith, and the channels through it formed in
the most convenient way, an enlarged oil chamber, 13 being formed above the
inclined surface, 8, and the opening, 14, for the insertion of the plug, 9, being
preferably provided with screw threads for the insertion or removal of the plug.
In operation, the channel through the cock is opened by raising the valve, 2,
which will permit the passage of the oil from the reservoir which may be connected
with the steam pipe by a small pipe, 15, which will force the oil through the cock.
As the oil enters the extension it is cold and sluggish and flows down the inclined
murface, 8. But it hardly starts down the incline until it passes under the inlet or

page_text: opening of the channel, 6, which is curved so as to cause the steam to strike the
incline almost perpendicularly. The hot steam entering through the channel, 6,
heats the oil to nearly steam heat and vaporizes. it within the oil chamber, 13.
From here the oil and steam pass through the small perforations, 16, into the
interior of the plug, 9, and from whence they pass through the perforated plate, 10,
into the straight portion of the channel. In the passage through the perforations.
in the plug and the plate, the oil is very considerably broken up and mixed with
the steam which also heats it to a great extent. From the channel, 7, the steam
and oil pass through the fine perforations in the end of the pipe or tube, 11, out
into the steam pipe, 5, and is thoroughly commingled with the steam that is passing
to the piston and thereby carried directly into the cylinder. By this time the oil
is completely broken up, or atomized and is evenly distributed to every part to
which the steam is admitted. In this manner we find that a very small quantity of
oil is needed, and that it is applied in such a manner that the most satisfactory
results are obtained.
Although we have shown the plug, 9, provided with screw threads for securing
it in the extension, and having a head or shoulders for the reception of a wrench,
it could be made without them and any other ordinary means adapted for securing
it in the extension. And the hollow in the inner end may be dispensed with and
the perforations be passed entirely through it, or if the hollow is retained, the
perforations might be extended entirely around the plug, as the object of the
perforations is to break up the oil, and they can be arranged in any manner which
will best accomplish that object, without obstructing the passage of the oil. And
the plate, 10, may be provided with shoulders, 17, and be fitted into a slot 18, cut
near the end of the plug so that it may be easily removed for cleaning, or for
repairs.
Another form of atomizer is shown in Figure 3, and consists of a plug, 19,
which is connected with the oil reservoir in any suitable manner and is provided
with small perforations, 20, near its inner end. At any convenient point within
the tube a valve seat, 21, is formed, upon which rests a valve, 22, the stem of
which passes beyond the perforations, 20, and is provided with a head or piston, 23,
which fits the chamber or bore of the tube at that point. Now it is evident
that when the engine is in operation, the pressure of the steam upon the head, 23,
which is of a larger area than the valve, 22, will force the valve off its seat against
the pressure of the oil from the reservoir, and let the oil flow through the tube
and be driven ont through the perforations, 20, and commingled with the steam
that is passing to the engine. As soon as the steam pressure is shut off, as in
stopping the engine, the pressure of the oil upon the valve will force it upon its
seat and thus automatically shut off the flow of oil and prevent any waste which
would occur if it continued to flow after the steam had shut off.
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. In an attachment for lubricators for steam cylinders, the combination with a
body provided with an enlarged oil conduit, and having an inclined surface a
portion of its length, a perforated plug in the conduit beyond the inclined surface,
and a steam conduit leading from the steam pipe, and communicating with the oil
conduit opposite to and discharging upon the inclined surface, substantially as
described.
2. In an attachment for lubricators for steam cylinders, the combination with a
body having two channels, each communicating with the steam supply pipe, and
one of them with the oil supply, and a perforated plug across one of the channels,
said channel being formed with an inclined surface and an oil chamber above the
plug, substantially as described.
3. In an attachment for lubricators for steam cylinders, the combination with a
body provided with a channel for the passage of the oil and a second passage for

page_text: the entrance of steam thereto from the steam pipe, and a plug in the passage, the
inner end of which is hollow and provided with perforations, and a perforated plate
in the end of the plug, substantially as described.
4. In an attachment for lubricators for steam cylinders, the combination with a
body provided with two passages, each communicating with the steam supply pipe,
and one of them with the oil supply, a perforated plug across the oil passage
beyond the entrance of the steam passage, and a perforated tube at the end of the
oil passage projecting into the steam supply pipe in the direction of the passage of
the steam to the cylinder, and a removable plug in the end of the tube, substan-
tially as described.
Dated this 13th day of October 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.