US1724865A - Automatic variable-adjusting means for lubricators - Google Patents

Description

c. D. ALLEN 1,724,865

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICATORS Aug. 13, 1929.

Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N EY 1929- c. D. ALLEN 1,724,865

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICATORS Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Au 13, 1929. c, D, ALLEN 1,724,865

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICA'IORS Filed Dec. 19, 1927 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 13, 1929. c ALLEN 1,724,865

' AUTOMATIC VARIABLE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRICATORS Filed Dec. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR A'ITORNEY katented Aug. '13, 1929.

meets Parser orrica.

CHAUNGEY D. ALLEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC VARIABLE-ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LUBRIGATORS.

Application filed December s, 1927. Serial No. 241,195.

The present invention relates to the art of force feed lubricators of the mechanical type, particularly adapted for locomotives,"

stationary and marine engines.

Lubricators of this type now in use receives power from a convenient moving or oscillatory element of the valve gear of the engine. At present such lubricators, prior to service, are manually adjusted for the purpose of governing the supply of lubricant to the various parts to be lubricated, namely the cylinders, valves and guides and the like. The movements of this oscillatory element are transmitted to a form of pump or plunger-arrangement, which provides for a lift or opening, to ermit of a predetermined supply of lubrlcant to the parts as enumerated above, that is according to the manual adjustment of the lubricator.

From the above it is quite obvious that the great fault with such lubricators,'namely the force feed type, is that no provision whatever is made for the variation in steam pressure used in the valves and cylinders. Therefore it is also obvious that when a locomotive is operating under full capacity, that is working hard .under a heavy load, possibly due to pulling a steep grade, a greater quantity of lubricant is necessary, and when the locomotive is working under a light capacity or drifting, a lesser quantity of lubricant may be required.

As previously stated su'ch lubricators are adjusted prior to service, and furthermore there are certain railroad regulations or laws for prohibiting the engineer or fireman from climbing out on the engine while the cylinder, valves, guides and the like will,

'in motion to manually adjust the lubricators.

It is therefore the purpose of thepresent invention to provide a new and useful automatic variable adjusting means for locom'otive lubricators, such as will vary the supply of'lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like, according to the variation in steam pressure, that is to say, when the locomotive is working hard or under full capacity, the cylinders, valves, guides and the like will accordingly receive the requisite supply of lubricant, and when thelocomotive is .working under a light capacity, or drifting, a smaller supply of lubricant will reach the cylinders, valves, guides and the like. In fact the supply of lubricant into in every instance, correspond with the variation of the steampressure.

Another purpose is to provide, in an auto- -matic variable adjusting means for force feed lubricators, which is simple, practicable and durable in construction, and can be applied without any extensive alterations to the present type of force feed lubricators, and will not require manual adjustment.

As previolsly stated the present type of force feed lubricators include a pump or plunger arrangement, which is adapted for a lifting or opening movement for the purpose of supplying lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like, and hence another purpose is to provide means so op' erably associated with such plungers, and actuated in any manner, namely through the medium of any application of fluid pressure, or thermostatic pressure, possibly as a result of the use of a diaphragm expansion chamber, whereby according to the variation in steam pressure, the plunger arrangement can be correspondingly actuated,

' to vary the supply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like of the locomotive. It is obvious that such operating means. as may be used may be applied in any manner, and arranged vertically or on any angle, in fact in any position or location.

At present the plungers as now used are governed in their movements for supplying lubricant through the medium of elements or devices, namely such as screws which are manually adjusted prior to the locomotive leaving the yard, to limit the plungers in their movements, or to limit headers (which are used in some types of lubricators) in their movements, therefore it is a further purpose to provide means operable intermediate such screws or devices and the plungers or headers, and furthermore to provide any means whatever, automatically op- 1 enable to actuate said intermediate means.

' A still further purpose is to provide an operating mechanism which is readily accessible, self-indicating and positive in action, and so constructed that accidental op-i eration or failure thereof, is practically impossible.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitive, and that while still keeping within the scope e1"- the invention, eny desired modification of details and proportions may be made in the construction of the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1-is a view in elevation of a portion of the valve gear of a locomotive, and illustrating a force feed lubricator applied, the latter including the automatic variable 'means for regulating the supply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like, according to the variation of steam pressure.

Figure 2is a perspective view of same chanical locomotive lubricator, showing the cover thereof open and illustrating the automatic variable means applied.

Figure 3is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2, with the cover closed, showing the intermediate means between a plunger and the adjusting screw.

Figure 4is a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 2, through a cylinder wherein its plunger is still actuated, but in turn operat-' ing a reciprocating bar which carries the intermediate members or} wedges for regulating the position of suclriwedges or intermediate devices which 311 turn govern the the limiting screws, illustrating a pressure gauge of any approved construction operatively connected to and actuating said rotating element.

Figure 8is a plan view of Figure 7 showing the cover open.

Flgure 9's an enlarged detailed view in perspectiveof the rocking element in Figures 7 and 8, for actuating said wedges or mostatic expansion diaphragm for operating a rod 89, and also showing the wedges Referring to the drawings, l identifies a conventional or approved type of valve gear and 2 is an approved valveless mechanical locomotive lubricator of which its operating arm 3 is operatively connected as shown at 4: to the valve gear, so that power may be transmitted to the lubricator through the medium of said valve gear.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 7, the lubri cator includes a plurality of plungers 5, which are actuated by any approved means .for permitting supply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like. This lubricator as shown in Figure 3 is of an approved construction now in use, and located within its oil reservoir are separate valveless pumps for each of the feed outlets 6 and 7. These plungers 5 are capable of vertical and slight rocking movements. In fact each plunger, in its highest and lowest position automatically opens and closes the oil inlet opening and oil outlet opening, through the medium of a turning movement of the plunger.

The plunger thus replaces the suction and discharge valves, therefore this type of pump may be termed a valveless construction.

The casing of the lubricator includes what is known as a. ratchet shaft 8 of approved construction and capable of rotating movement through any well known approved mechanism such-as indicated'at 9.

This shaft carries a crank disc. 10, which has an opening 11 eccentrically positioned,

and receiving the ball or spherical member 12 of an arm, which iscarried by a collar or sleeve 13 mounted upon a reciprocating shaft 14. The sleeve or collar has a second arm 16 also provided with a ball 17, which operates in a slot 18 of the plunger. This slot 18 is so constructed as to enable the ball 17 to have vertical movement therein and to permit the plunger to raise and lower and at the same time have a slight rocking movement, the rocking and vertical movements of the plunger enables the oil inlet opening and the oil outlet opening to open and close, enabling the supply of lubricant to reach, the cylinders, valves, guides and the like. The fact is the'slot devices. 7 1

Figure 10is an enlarged, detailed view of a ,portion of lubricator, of a type using a header and a header carrier, with a ro tating element for actuating wedges between an adjusting screw and a header, which header cooperates in any well known approved way with a plunger, which governs the supply of lubricant to the cylinders, valves, guides and the like. I Figure 11.;is a detailed view of a theris in the enlarged circular top portion of the plunger, thereby termed the cross head. This slot in the cross head is such that on the upward or suction stroke of the plung-i er, the scillatory motion of the smaller arm (which carries the ball 17) will leave the plunger free to push upward through the medium of the spring 19 below the cross head. On the downward or pressurestroke the ball end of the smaller arm contacts with the bottom of the slot pressing the plunger down. As the elongated slot is seated on the periphery of the cross head, the reciprocating 'nrotion of the shaft 14 causes the plunger to oscillate and the turning movement thus produced caused a groove or opening in the plunger to register with the chamber or. passage 21 on the up stroke and with the-discharge chamber 7 on the down stroke. The amount of the upward motion of the plunger is limited by contacting with an adjusting screw 23 and the extension rod 24 of the plunger. The action. of the plunger can be visually inspected and the extension rod raised and lowered, through the open chamber beneath the adjusting screw and formed in the screw carrier or plug 25 by the mere lifting of the cover at the top of the reservoir 26. The amount of motion may be varied from full stroke to zero by positioning of the screw 23.

In practicethere are at least six of these plungers and adjusting screws and screw carriers.

As previously stated these screws 23 are adjusted manually prior to service, and therefore there is no way of regulating the movement of the plungers, that is automatically with the variation of steam pressure in the cylinders, and valves of a locomotive. The fact is when a locomotive is traveling there are railroad regulations" or laws preventing the engineer or fireman from climbing out on the locomotive to adjust the screws, for the purpose of regulating the movements of the plungers according to the variation in the steam pressure in the cylinders and valves.

The present invention consist-s of employing a reciprocating bar 27 which has guide slots 28 and guide screws 29, for the purpose of guiding the bar in itmregiprocating motions. The bar 27 is mounted to reciprocate along the side of the: screw carriers 25 and the end of this bar projects through and beyond the side wall of the lubricator, and attached in any approved manner, for instance as shown at'30 is an extension rod 31, which is provided atits end with an annular groove or channel 32.

The bar 27 is rovided with lateral projections 33 carrying holding screws 34, and 35 identifies a plurality of wedges. These wedges are of the construction as shown in Figure 6, and their reduced flat portions 36 have slots -37, which receive the shanks of the holding screws 34. Obviously by loosening and tightening the holding screws the wedges may be adjusted relative to the lateral projections 33, that is in a direction longitudinally with the bar. The wedges operate through openings .38 in the screw carriers 25, so as to be arranged intermediate the upper ends of the extension rods 24 and the lower ends of the adjusting screws 23. The wedges actuate between the ends of the extension rods and the ends of the screws 23 according to the variation in steam pressure in the valves and cylinders.

To accomplish this result any form or construction of means such as may be actuated thermostatically or hydraulically and which may vary in temperature or in fluid pressure may be provided. As one type of means a cylinder 39 may be supported by ears 40 and securing means 41 to the side of the lubricator casing and mounted in the cylinder is a piston 42 of approved construction having a plurality of the usual packing rings 43. Passing through the piston 42 is a socketed member 44, and carried by the piston is a nut 46. This nut normally rests upon an upstanding portion 47.

of a steam inlet identified at 48, which permits steam under pressure to enter in the direction of the arrow (1 as indicated in Figure 2, whereby the steam may act upon the lower face of the piston 42. The socketed member connects with a ball 49 at the lower end of a piston rod 50, to the upper end of which a nipple 51 is connected. The fact is the nipple is threaded into the rod 50, and in turn to the cylindrical end 52 of a forked connector or couple 53, there being suitable lock nuts 54. and 55 to lock the nipple in place.

The cylinder 39 has a cover 56, which is bolted or otherwise secured at 57 to the upper end ofthe cylinder. Threaded through the cover 56 and in surrounding relation to the piston rod 50 is an adjusting screw sleeve 58, which cooperates with a collar 59 fittingthe interior of the cylinder 39. This collar 59'fits the cylinder, but loosely surrounds the piston .50, and its interior is provided with a series of annular shoulders 60 and 61 in stepped relation.

One face of the piston 42 is provided with a plurality of spaced flanges 62, and located within the cylinder 39 in surrounding relation to the piston rod50 is a plurality of tension springs 63, 64 and 65, which are variable in tension to provide approximately for 125, 150 and 175 pounds pressure. The fact is the outer spring 63 provides for approxlmately.12 5 pounds pressure, the inner spring 65 provides for approximately 17 5 pounds pressure, while the intermediate spring 64 provides approximately 150 pounds pressure. The upper end of these springs vary in the number of convolutions therefore they are in stepped formation and are of diameters corresponding to the stepped formation of the annular shoulders 60 and 61. The outer spring may engage one of the shoulders 60, the intermost springs may be engaged by the shoulders 61, whereas the intermediate spring 64 may be engaged by the intermediate annular shoulder 60. The springs at their lower ends engage between'the flanges 62, therefore holding the springs properly held spaced by the depending flanges 66,

which are carried by the collar 59.

Obviously by adjusting the screw sleeve 58 it is possible to regulate the springs according to their respective pounds pressure.

The forked member 53 is operatively connected at 67 to one arm of a bell crank 68,

which is operatively mounted for rocking movement at 69 on the side of the lubricator casing. The other arm 70 of the bell crank has forks 71, which engage in the annular groove 32 of the extension rod 31 of the bar 27.

Obviously when steam passes through the inlet 48 at a point below the piston 42 the piston is actuated in the cylinder 39 and therefore imparts movement to the piston 50 and hence transmits this reciprocating movement to the bell crank, which rocks on its mounting 69 and therefore imparts a reciproeating movement to the bar 27 in the direction of the arrow 1) in Figure 2. When the bar is in the position shown in Figure 2 the larger portions of the Wedges 35 are interposed between the upper ends of the extension rods 24 and the lower ends of the adjusting screws 23, thereby permitting a min- .imum amount of oil or lubricant to feed to the valves and cylinders according to the opening and closing of the oil inlet opening and oil outlet opening of the lubricator. However when the bar 27 is moved in the direction of the arrow 1) in Figure 2, according to the pressure of steam in the cylinder 39, the smaller portions of the wedges 35 assume positions between the upper ends of the extension rods 24 and the lower ends of the adjusting screws 23. The movement of the bar 27 is governed primarily due to the variation in steam pressure in the valves or cylinders and when there is a maximum steam pressure in the valves or cylinders the bar 27 is moved its maximum distance due to the actuation of the piston 42 so that the extreme small portions of the wedges may assume positions between the upper ends of the off, and this pipe 91 is in turn operatively.

connected to and communicative with the heating chamber 92, thereby heating the oil and preventing the same from congealing.

As previously stated any construction or type of device, either thermostatically or hy draulically operated may be employed, and as another example Figure 7 discloses'a pressure gauge 7 2 of any well known or approved 1 type of construction, and which includes an actuator 73 to operate in the direction of the arrow 0. This actuator may connect to any one of the moving elements on the interior of the gauge 72, and the actuator is in turn 0 eratively connected at 74 to a lateral arm 5 carried by the rocking rod 76. This rod is mounted in bearings at the top of the lubricator casing and has a plurality of series of teeth 77, which are engaged by the ratchet end 78 of the wedges 79. These wedges are mounted in suitable guides 80 and are positioned so as to engage in the openings 38 of the screw carriers 25. In Figure 7 the screw carriers are positioned just the reverse as to what they are in Figures 2 and 3, and the wedges are positioned at right angles to those in Figure 2. When the arm 75 is moved in the direction of the arrow (Z it actuates against-the tension of a spring 81, the

lower end of which is attached to the side of the lubricator casing. This'spring operates to return the arm 75 to its normal position, when the .pressure in the gauge 72 decreases. Otherwise the wedges in Figure 7 operate in the same manner and for the same purpose as in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figure 10 it will be noted that a carrier eccentric 82 operates a header carrier 83 so that the latter may cooperate with adjusting screws 84, for the purpose of governing the movements of plungers not shown, which are somewhat similar to those in Figure 3 for feedin lubricant to .the valves and cylinders. lso in Figure 10 wedges 85 operate between the "header carrier and the screw 84 and the wedges are actuated through the medium of a rocking. rod 86 the teeth of which cooperate withthe rack 87 of the wedges. The rocking rod 86 carries an arm 88, which in turn is moved by a piston rod 89 which may in turn be actuated by any approved device similar to those now illustrated as conventional ex-- amples. u 4 i As illustrated in Figure 11 the rod 89 carrying'the actuator 73 j may be operated by means of a rod 89, which in turn may receive motion from any improved type of thermostatic expansion diaphragm identified at 90.

Theinvention having been set forth, what is claimed is: a,

1. In an automatic variable adjusting means for engine lubricators, the combination with a lubricator including a plurality of plunger elements to permit supply of lubricant to the valves and cylinders, of dominant devices for regulating the movements of the plunger elements, and auxiliary means automatically operable according to the variation of steam pressure in the valves and cylinders for regulating the.

movements of the plunger elements auxiliary to the dominant devices.

4. Ina lubricator as set torth, dominant means for controlling the feeding of lubricant to the valves and cylinders according to the variation of steam pressure in the latter.

3. In a lubricator as set forthfdominant means comprising movable plunger elements and limiting adjusting devices for governing the feed of lubricant to the valves and cylinders of an engine, an auxiliary moving member operable between the devices and plunger elements, and means automatically operable for actuating the auxiliary moving member to vary its position according to the variation in steam pressure in the valves and cylinders.

4. In a lubricator as set forth, a plurality of dominant elements and adjusting devices for regulating the feed of lubricant to the valves and cylinders of a locomotive, a plurality of members movable between the elements and the adjustingdevices for governing the movements of the elements, and means automatically operable according to the variation in steam pressure in the valves and cylinders for actuating said members.

5. In a lubricator as set forth, a plurality of dominant plungers, and adjusting screws, the latter being manually adjusted for regulating the movement of-the plunger elements, a plurality of members movable between the adjacent ends of the plunger elements and the screws, means for actuating said members, and means for operating the last named means according to the variation in steam pressure in the valves and cylinders, whereby the members may assume variable positions between the ends of the plunger elements and the screws.

6. In a-lubricator as set forth, a plurality of plunger elements operable to permit the feed of lubricant to the valves and cylinders of an engine, dominant regulating screws for governing the movement of the plunger elements, a plurality of members, and means automatically operable variably according to the variation in steam pressure in the valves and cylinders for actuating the members to variable positions between the plunger elements and the screws.

7. In a lubricator as set forth a plurality of dominant means for permitting the feed of lubricant to the valves and cylinders of an engine, a plurality of auxiliary members cooperable with said plurality of means, a movable element for actuating said members, and means automatically adjust-able variably according to the steam pressure in the valves and cylinders, whereby said members may cooperate variably with the force means, for automatically and variably. regulating the lubricant corresponding to the variation in steam pressure.

8. In a lubricator as set forth, a plurality of means for permitting lubricant to feed to the valves and cylinders of an engine, a plurality of wedge members to cooperate With said means, a reciprocating element carrying said members, and pressuremeans operatively associated with the reciprocating element and being self-adjusting variably to the variation in steam pressure in. the valves and cylinders, whereby said members may cooperate variably with the first means for regulating the feed of lubricant correspondingly to the variation in steam pressure.

9. The combination with a steam locomotive having a force feed lubricator, of means for automatically regulating the supply of lubricant to the cylinders and valves, and means for rendering said supply variable according to the variation of steam pressure in the cylinders and valves. 7

10. The combination with a steam engine including a force feed lubricator having plunger elements, of means for changing the strokes of said element-s, and means for causing the change in the strokes to vary according to fluid volume in the cylinders and valves of the engine to regulate the supply of lubricant to the valves and cylinders.

11. The combination with a steam engine, of means for automatically changing the stroke of a movable element of a force feed lubricator on the engine, and means for rendering the change of the stroke automatically variable according to the steam pressure in the engine cylinders and valves, whereby the lubricant thereto is regulated.

12. The combination with a steam locomotive, of a force feed lubricator including a movable element, of means for changing the stroke of the element, with means for causing the change to vary according to the fluid volume in the steam valve chamber of the locomotive, and thereby regulate the supply of lubricant to the various parts and cavities of the locomotive.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

I CHAUNCEY D. ALLEN.

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