AN IMPROVED LUBRICATOR
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Allison, of Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, in
the County of York, Brass Founder and Brass Finisher, and George Senior,
of Milusbridge aforesaid, Brass Finisher, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
LUBRICATOR
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Allison and George
Senior at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November
1881.
THOMAS ALLISON, of Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Brass Founder and Brass Finisher, and GEORGE SENIOR, of Milnsbridge aforesaid,
Brass Finisher. "AN IMPROVED LUBRICATOR."
This Invention relates to an improved method of lubricating steam engine
cylinders or valve chests, or other machinery where the lubricant has to enter
against a pressure of steam.
We make use, for the purpose of this our Invention, of the following
appliances We employ a barrel or cylinder fitted with a steam tight ram or
piston, which cylinder contains the oil or other lubricating material. This cylinder
is closed at the top by a screw cup or plug, and is fitted externally around its
bottoni edge with a screw or thread, by which it screws into the bottom of a cup
or vessel containing the oil. A communication is formed from the cup to the
interior of the cylinder for the passage of the oil by one or more holes which are
bored through the cylinder at a suitable distance near the bottom. The cylinder
which is open at the bottom is bored of a suitable size to receive the ram or
piston.
The rain is made of one continuous piece of metal, but is of two diameters, the
smaller diameter exactly fitting the cylinder as above described, while the larger,
which is at least twice the size of the smaller one, forms a shoulder or collar which
comes in contact with the bottom of the cylinder when the piston is at the top of
its stroke. This shoulder or collar is turned truly circular as to its exterior edge,
and itself forms a ram working in another cylinder of the same length as the other
one, but of larger diameter.

page_text: The ram, as above described, has a hole bored through its centre longitudinally
which hole is closed at the bottom by a small inverted or back pressure valve
opening downwards, and at the bottom of the ram there is a catch or stud, or
other mechanical appliance, by means of which the said ram may be drawn down-
wards and released when at the bottom of its stroke. The bottom of the larger
cylinder opens into a box or case of suitable shape, which also contains the catch
or stud above mentioned. The interior of this case is in direct and open communi-
cation with the cylinder, steam chest, or other part of the steam engine which it is
desired to lubricate.
The action of our lubricator is as follows:-The ram is brought down to the
bottom of its stroke by the mechanism for that purpose, and in doing so causes a
vacuum in the top cylinder. Just before the ram comes to the bottom of its
stroke the top part of it sinks below the apertures, communicating with the oil
cup, which being left open the oil flows into the cylinder by atmospheric pressure.
When the ram has reached the bottom of its stroke it is released from the catch
or stud, and being then exposed to the full pressure of steam in the steam engine
cylinder it is forced violently upwards, and forces the oil which is in the smaller
cylinder to pass down the hole in the centre of the ram, through the valve at the
bottom, and so into the cylinder which is required to be lubricated. This it does
because the area of the one cylinder subjected to the steain pressure is larger than
that of the other cylinder in which the oil is contained.
Another arrangement embodying the same principle is to place the catch or
stud between the two cylinders. By this arrangement the steam would be entirely
prevented from entering the box or case.
The-same-effect-would-also-be-produced-if-to-the-cap-or-plug-at-the-top-of-the-
cylinder there were attached another piston or ram projecting downwards into
the cylinder, and of the same diameter as the hole, through the centre of the above
mentioned piston; and again another arrangement, still making use of the hollow
piston, is to bore the piston or ram (before mentioned as projecting downwards
inside the cylinder), with a hole through its centre, the upper or top end being
left open to the cup containing the oil, and the low end fitted with a small back
pressure valve. In this case the apertures before mentioned are dispensed with,
the lubricating matter flowing in at the open end from the oil vessel, and being
drawn through the valve by atmospheric pressure when the larger ram is drawn
down by the catch or stud, as before described. After passing the first valve the
oil is forced into the steam engine cylinder upon the release of the catch, as in the
first case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Allison and George Senior in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th May 1882.
THOMAS ALLISON, of Milnsbridge, near Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Brass Founder and Brass Finisher, and GEORGE SENIOR, of Milnsbridge aforesaid,
Brass Finisher. "AN IMPROVED LUBRICATOR."
This Invention relates to an improved method of lubricating steam engine
cylinders or valve chests, or other machinery where the lubricant has to enter
against a pressure of steam.
We make use, for the purpose of this our Invention, of the following
appliances: We employ a barrel or cylinder fitted with a steam tight ram or
piston, which cylinder contains the oil or other lubricating material. This cylinder
is closed at the top by a screw cap or plug, and is fitted externally around its
bottom end with a screw or thread, by which it screws into the bottom of a cup
or vessel containing the oil. A communication is formed from the cup to the
interior of the cylinder for the passage of the oil by one or more holes, which are
bored through the cylinder at a suitable distance near the bottom. The cylinder,
which is open at the bottom, is bored of a suitable size to receive the ram or
piston.
The ram is made of one continuous piece of metal, but is of two diameters, the
smaller diameter exactly fitting the cylinder, as above described, while the larger,
which is at least twice the size of the smaller one, forms a shoulder or collar which
comes in contact with the bottom of the cylinder when the piston is at the top of
its stroke. This shoulder or collar is turned truly circular as to its exterior edge,
and itself forms a ram working in another cylinder of the same length as the other
one, but of larger diameter. The ram, as above described, has a hole bored through
its centre longitudinally, which hole is closed at the bottom by a small inverted
or back pressure valve opening downwards, and at the bottom of the ram there is
a catch or stud, or other mechanical appliance, by means of which the said ram
may be drawn downwards and released when at the bottom of its stroke. The
bottom of the larger cylinder opens into a box or case of suitable shape, which also
contains the catch or stud above mentioned. The interior of this case is in direct
and open communication with the cylinder, steam chest, or other part of the steam
engine which it is desired to lubricate.
And in order that our said Invention may be clearly understood, reference is
made to the accompanying Drawings, showing one mode of carrying out the same,
and in which Drawings similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
the several Figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the
same; and Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation, with the pistons reversed.
m is the large cup or receptacle which contains the oil or other lubricating
material. Two cylinders a and a' are fitted therein in a vertical position, as shewn,
attached to the bottom of the cup m, and the interior of the cylinder a communi-
cates with the oil in the cup. The cylinder a is open at the top, and is fitted with
a ram or plunger b, the top or head of which plunger is forined into a number of
teeth to form a rack, into which the small toothed wheel c works. The lower part
of the cylinder is perforated around its circumference by a number of holes, as at d,
to allow the oil to enter it from the outer vessel. It is also in connection with the
steam engine cylinder, which is to be lubricated by means of the channels e.
These channels are fitted with one or more back pressure valves, as at f, in order to

page_text: prevent the oil from being drawn back into the cylinder by the vacuum caused in
it by the condensation of the steam. The other cylinder al acts merely as a guide
to the piston rod g which is attached to the piston n working in a third cylinder h,
as shewn. The top part of this rod is attached to a sleeve, which is also cut into
a rack, and works in the small toothed wheel c in a similar manner to that upon b.
The cylinder h is in communication with the steam engine cylinder to be lubricated
by means of the passage e', and the whole apparatus is attached to the cylinder of
the steam engine by means of the screw p shewn at the bottom. The cylinder h is
of much larger internal diameter than the cylinder a.
Attached to the rack or toothed slide upon g is a bracket at j.
This is acted
upon and depressed by a cam or tappet shewn by the dotted lines at k in such
manner that it is released when the piston arrives at the bottom of the cylinder h.
The cam or tappet is worked by a worm and ratchet and lever, as represented
at 1, Fig. 1, or otherwise, and motion is imparted to it from some convenient part
of the engine.
The action of our said lubricator is as follows:-The upper part of both piston
rods being in gear with the small toothed wheel c, it is evident that as one ascends
the other must descend, and the larger piston, which is fitted in the cylinder h,
remains at the top until driven to the bottom against the pressure of the steam by
the action of the cam or stud upon the bracket j. When in that position the oil
can run into the cylinder a through the apertures provided until the continued
movement of the cam or stud releases the bracket j. upon which taking place the
force of the steam raises g upwards and the ram b downwards. The oil is thus
forced into the steam engine cylinder through the channels at e.
Having thus particularly described_and_ascertained-the-nature-of-our--said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details of construction
shewn, as it is obvious that many modifications of each part may be made, but
what we consider to be new, and claim as our Invention is,―
The method of forcing the lubricant to enter the steam engine cylinder by
means of the action of the steam itself upon a piston of larger area than that
which acts upon the lubricating material in the manner substantially as herein
before described and shewn on the Drawings, or any mere moditication thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Allison and George Senior, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
THOMAS ALLISON. (L.S.)
GEORGE SENIOR.
(L.S.)