US1128449A - Feed-regulator for lubricators. - Google Patents

Description

G. S. EOGVER.

FEED REGULATOR EOR'LUBRIGATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

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G. S. HOOVER. FEED REGULATOR FOR LUBRIUATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1914.

1, 1 QSAQQO Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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GEORGE S. HDG'VEB, UF THPECANOE, OHIO, ASSIGNQR GNE"FOURTH'T0 HARRY G. BONIQ'ELL AND (ENE-FOURTH 1'0 JAMES B. GALLAHER, BOTH OF TIPPEGANGE, OHIG.

FEED-REGULATOR LUBRICATOBS.

Specification of Letters )Latent.

r tested Feb. is, reset Application filed may 8, 1914:. Serial No. 837,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1., Gnonon S. Hoovnn, citizen of the United States, residing at Tippecanoe, in the county of Harrison and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Regulators for Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in feed regulators for lubricators of fluid pressure engines, particularly steam engines, the primary object of my invention being the provision of an improved form of regulator for use with lubricators from which the lubricant is forced by steam pressure, the regulator being so arranged that flow of lubricant will be automatically cut oil upon cutting off of steam between the boiler and engine cylinders. 'I'

A further object of my invention is to provide a regulator of the above described character which may be readily adjusted to vary the flow of lubricant from the lubricator.

A still further object of.my invention is to construct a regulator in such a manner that although normally operating to automatically out off the flow of lubricant upon the cutting off of the flow of steam to the engine cylinders, it may be operated to permit continued passage of lubricant, if desired. And a still further object of my invention is to construct aregulator in such a manner that it may be employed in regulating two or more lubrioators, if desired, and further so constructed that the lubricant may be fed from the lubricators at diiierent rates of speed, if preferred.

With these and otherobjects in View, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

then speoifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of my invention applied to a conventional; locomotive engine, the pipe leading from the boiler, to the en: ginecylinders being all of the locomotive structure shown; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the regulator shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of the regulator structure shown in Fig. 1, the lubricator valve stem and bracket being shown in section; Fig. at is a view corresponding to the view shown in Fig. 3, but illustrating a somewhat modified forin of regulator construction and also illustrating the employment'of the regulator in controlling How of lubricant from two separate and independent lubricators; Fig. 5 is a view of the form of regulator shownin Fig. 4 in use, this figure corresponding to the showing in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of the three-way valve employed in the bypass as shown in Fig. 5..

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My invention, in its simplest form, as

shown in Figs .1 to 3 of the drawings, in-

cludes a cylindrical casing 10 having a pipe 11 leading from one end to one 'of the pipes 12 leading to the engine cylinders of a locomotive, steam being supplied to the pipe 12 through a pipe 13 leading from the boiler and passage of steam through. this pipe being controlled by a throttle valve 14 having an. operating rod 15f.v Reciprocally I mounted in the cylinder 10 is a piston'16 having a piston rod 17 which extends through that end of the cylinder opposite the pipe 11 and which iscontinued and notched to provide a rack bar 18. Normally the piston 16 is held against that end oi the cylinder from which the pipe 11 leads by means of a helical spring 19 surrounding the piston rodand bearing between the pis ton and opposite end of the cylinder. An

adjusting screw 20 is threaded through that end of the cylinder head through which the piston rod extends in such a manner that it may be turned to bring its inner end at any desireddistance from the opposite end of the cylinder and so limit the amount of movement of the piston 16 against the action of the spring 19. 1

I have indicated a conventional form of fluid pressure lubricator by the numeral 21, lubricant being fed *from this lubricator though a pipe 22 leading to the parts of the I mechanism to be lubricated and iiow of lubricant through this pipebeing controlled by a valve of the rotary type hat-ing a valve stem 23. A pipe 24'leads from the steam pipe 13 at any point between the boiler and throttle valve to the lubricator 21 to supply the necessary pressure for proper feeding of, the lubricant, this pipe being preferably provided with a manually operable cut-oi valve 25. The valve stem 23 carries a spur gear 26 which meshes with the teeth of the rack bar 18, this rack bar being held at all ,times in proper engagement with the teeth of the gear by means of .a stirrup 27 the bight portion of which supports the rack bar and the ends of which are mounted upon the valve stem, one above and one below the gear 26.

The operation of the above mechanism will be readily understood from reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be clear that if the throttle valve 14 is closed there will be no steam passing through the pipe 12 and consequently no steam assing through the pipe 11 because of which the iston will be held in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. As soon,- however, as. the throttle valve is opened to permit passage of steam to the locomotive cylinders and consequent movement of the locomotive, a portion of the steam will pass through the pipe 11 and into the cylinder 10, forcing the piston through the cylinder until it engages-the regulating screw 20. This movementof the piston causes the rack bar 18 to turn the gear 26 and consequently the valve stem 23 to open the valve and perinit flow of lubricant under pressure of steam in the pipe 24, to the parts to be lubricated. It will of course be clear that the extent to which. the lubricator valve will be opened depends upon the amount of movement of the piston and consequently upon the posi- -tion of the adjusting ,screw 20.

Instead of the above described mechanism, I may employ the form of feed regulator disclosed in Figs. 4 to- 6 of the drawings.

In these figures, the cylinder 10 is replaced by a compound cylinder, indicated as a whole by the numeral 28 and including a main cylinder 29 and a smaller-supple mental cylinder 30, these cylinders being preferably of equal length but in anyevent of diiierent diameters'and so connected as to communicate with each other as shown in Fig. 4. A pipe 31 leads from the steam pipe 13 at any point between the boiler and throttle valve 14 to the outer end of the smaller cylinder 30, while a pipe 32 leads from the outer end of the lar er cylinder to the pipe 13 at any point between the throttle valve and the pipes 12. A piston-33 is m n for r cipro ati n in the larger throughrthat end 0 the larger cylinder 29 opposite the pipe 32 in order to limit the movement of the piston 33 and consequently of the piston 35. v

It will of course be clear that when the throttle valve 14: is closed, the piston 35 will be subject to boiler pressure because of the passage of steam through the pipe 31 into the smaller cylinder whereas the piston 33 will not be subject to pressure as there will be no steam passing through the pipes 21 and consequently no steam supplied to the pipe 32. For this reason both pistons will occupy the position shown in Fi i. As soon, however, as the throttle va ve l i is opened, the-steampressure will be equal in.

the pipes 31 and 32 and this steam pressure acting against, both the, pistons 32 and 35 will cause'them to moveuntil the piston 33 engages the adjusting stirew 36, this action being due'to the difference in piston area exposed to the pressure of the steam. As soon as the throttle valve is again closed, passage of steam through the pipe 32 will .becut off and the steam pressure in the cylinder 30 will return the pistons, and consequently the piston rod, to their original position. It will of course be clear that this piston rod 34 may have its outer end con-' structed in the form of a rack to mesh with the spur gear 26 of the lubricator 21. How ever, this form of lubricator regulator may be employed, as may the form previously described, to afegulate the flow of lubricant from a numberof lubricators. Such an arrangement is disclosed inFig. ,4: in which the free end of the piston rod carries a pin 37 extending through the slotted ends of operating levers 38, each of which is provided with a plurality of pin receiving openings 3g). These levers are pivoted for swinging movement by means of pivot pins 40 passed through any one of the openings 39 and into supporting brackets, not shown.

'It will of course be clear that the extent to,

levers-rue slotted to receive pivot pins 41 mes es carried by rack bars 4:2, these rack bars being supported in the stirrups 27 of the valve stems of a pair of lubricators 21, the lubricatorsnot being shown in this figure as 4 they have been previously shown in Fig. 1.

though the engine proper is not being driven by steam pressure inits cylinders. For in stance, upon locomotives in exceptionally hilly countries where the trains coast or drift for miles with the throttle valve closed, it might be highly important to provide means for insuring a constant flow of lubricant to certain bearings even when the engine was not running. For this reason, I have shown a slight modification in Figs. 5 and 6 consisting of the provision of a threeway valveeil inserted in the pipe 32 and from which a bypass pipe 44 leads to the pi e 31. This valve, as best shown in Fig. 6, includes a valve casing 45 having ports 46 and 47 in alinement with each other for connectibn in the pipe 32 and the third ort 48 for connection with the ,pipe 44. ounted for turning in this casing, is a valve 49 having a diametric passage 50 to establish communication between the ports 46 and i7 and the branch passage 51 which, upon proper turning of the valve, may be utilized to establish connection between the pipe 44: and that portion of the pipe 32 leading into the cylinder 29. Ihe valve is, of course, provided with a valve stem 52 by means of which it may be manually tur ned to either position.

Aswill be readily understoodby reference to Fig. 5 and to the valve disclosed in Fig. 6, turning of the valve to such position as to establish communication between the pipe and cylinder 29 will, at alltimes, insure the same pressure in both cylinders 29 and 30 and consequently hold the pistons in such a position as to keep the lubricator valves open.

Although I have illustrated and described the employment of one type of regulator to controls. single lubricator and another type to control a number of lubricators, it will be understood that either type may be employed to control a single lubricator or to control a number of lubricators. It will further be understood that the bypass valve 43 and pipe 4% may or may not be employed as deemed advisable. In other words, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details and combination of details as various minor changes, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made at any time without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of m'v invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is z 1. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the

combination with a lubricator having a rotary lubricant controlling valve and valve stem, of a gear carried by the valve stem, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston and operatively engaging tlie gear, and means for supplying pressure to the piston in the cylinder.

2. In a. feed regulator for lubricators, the combination-with a'steampipe leading from a boiler to an engine cylinder, anda-throttle valve in the steam pipe, of a' lubricator having a revoluble lubricant controlling valve and valve stem, 2. gear carried by the valve stem, a cylinder, a pipe communicating between one end of the cylinder and the steam pipe at a point between the throttle valv and engine cylinder, a piston movable in the and extending through the other end of the cylinder, and rack teeth formed on the pispipe at a point between the throttle valve and engihe cylinder. a piston movable in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston and extending through the other end of the cylinder, rackteeth formed on the piston rod and meshing with the gear, and means for normally holding the piston against that end of the cylinder communicating with the steam pipe.

i. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steam pipeleadin from a boiler to an engine cylinder anda t rottle valve in the steam pipe, of a lubricator having a revoluble lubricant controlling. valve and valve stem, a gear carried by the valve stem, a cylinder, a pipe communicating between one end of the cylinder and the steam pipe at a point between the throttle valve and engine cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston and extendin through the other end of'the, cylinder, rac teethformed on the piston rod and meshing with the gear, and means adjustable for limiting the movement of the piston. 5. In a feed reg lator for lubricators, the

. cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston I combination with a steam pipe leading from a boiler to an enginecylinder and a throttle valve in the steam pipe, of a lubricator havinga revoluble lubricant controlling valve and valve stem, a gear carried by the valve stem, a cylinder, a pipe communicating between one end of the cylinder and the steam pipe at a point between the throttle valve and engine cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a piston rod carried by the piston and extending through the other end of the cylinder, rack teeth formed on the'piston leading from the outer end of the larger cylinder to the steam pipe at the other side of the throttle valve, 'and operative connection between the piston rod and a lubricator.

7. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steam pipe and a throttle valve in the pipe, of communicating cyl-. inders of unequal diameters, pistons mounted in the cylinders, a common piston rod for both pistons, a pipe leading fromv the outer.

end of the smaller cylinder to the steanr pipe at one side of the throttle valve, a pipe leading from the outer end of the larger cylinder to the steam pipeat the other side of the throttle valve, and operative connections between the piston rod. and a plurality of lubricators, each of said connections being independently adjustable. I

8. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steam pipe and a throttle valve in the pipe, of communicating cylinders of unequal diameters, pistons-mounted in the cylinders, a common pist n rod for both pistons, a pipe leading from the 50 outer end of the smaller piston to the steam pipe at one side of the throttle valve,-

-a pipe leading from the outer end of the larger cylinder tqlfethe steam pipe 'at the other side of the tliiottle valve, operative connection between the piston rod and lubricator, a three-way valve interposed in said latter pipe, and a bypass leading from the three-way valve to the former pipe.

'9. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a plurality of lubricators,

each having valves adapted to open and closethrough turning T movement of their stems, gears carried by the valve stems,

rack bars meshing with the gears, levers pivotallyconnected to the rack bars and pivotally supported intermediate their lengths, a piston rod pivotally connected to the free ends of all of the levers, and fluid pressure controlled means for reciproeating the piston rod.

10. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a plurality of lubricators,

each having valves adapted to open and close through turning movement of their stems, gears carried by the valve stems, rack bars meshing with the gears, levers pivotally connected to the rack bars and pivotally supported intermediate their lengths, a piston rod pivotally connected to the freeendsof all of the levers, and fluid pressure controlled means for reciprocating the piston rod, said means including a cylinder into which the piston rod extends, a piston carried by the piston rod for movement in the cylinder, and means foradmitting steam under pressure to the cylinder.

11. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a plurality of lubricators,

each having valves adapted to open and close through turning movementof their stems, gears carried by the valve stems, rack bars meshing with the gears, levers pivotally connected to the rack bars and pivotally supported intermediate their lengths,'a piston rod pivotally connected to the free ends of all of the levers, and fluid pressure controlled means for reciprocating the; piston rod, said means including a cylinder into which the piston rod extends, a piston carried by thepiston rod for movement in the cylinder, means for admitting steam under pressure to'the cylinder, and means for reversing the movement of the piston upon turning oif of the steam. 1

12. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with" a plurality of lubricators, each having. valves adapted to open and close through turning movement of their stems, gears carried by the vvalve stems,

rack bars meshing with the gears, levers pivotally connected to the rack bars and pivotally supported intermediate their lengths, a piston rod pivotally connectedto ends of all of the levers, andrfluid pressure controlled means for reciprocating the piston rod, said means includin a cylinder into which the'piston rod exten s, a piston carried by the piston rod for movement in the cylinder, means for admitting steam under pressure to the cylinder, and means for reversing the movement "bf the piston upon turning oil of .the steam, said means including a second cylinder communicating. with thefree the first and of smaller diameter, a second piston carrieidby the piston rod and movable in the second cylinder, and means for admitting steam to the second cylinder.

I 13. Ina feed regulator for lubricators, thecombination with a steam pipe including a valve, of a luhricator, and means controlled by variations in steam pressure in the steam pipe at opposite sides of the valve for controlling the opening and closing of the lubricater.

14. In a feed regulator for lubricators, the combination with a steam pipe including a valve, of a lubricator, a valve for the lubricator, and means controlled byvariations in steam pressure in the steam pipe at 0pgosite sides of the valve for controlling the means including a cylinder connected at opposite sides of the steam pipe at opposite sides of the valve, a plunger mounted in the cylinder, and operative connection between the plunger and valve of the lubrieator.

In testimon whereof I in presence GEORGE S. H Witnesses:

JONAS H. SEPTER, "WILLIAM Rosa.

afix my signature 0 two witnesses.

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