US1910599A - Lubricating device - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1933. c c FARMER 1,910,599

7 LUBRIGATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVE OR CLYDE QFARMER ATTORNEY May 23, 1933. c. c FARMER I LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed 001. 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y R E O 2 w R%A R 4 OQWM ME w Mum 8 W2 ill Patented May 23, 1933 PATENT FM-1E CLYDE o. FARMER, OFIVPIT-TSBURGI-I, PENNSYLVANIA, Assieiion, To THE WESTING- nousn AIR BRAKE COMPANY, or WILMERDI/NG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA LU'BRICATING 'D-EVICE Application filed October l, 1928. Serial no. 310,309.

This invention relates tolubricating devices of thetype adapted to automatically feed the lubricant to the several parts of engines, fluid compressors, pumps, and the like.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a lubricating-device of the character mentioned wherein the lubricant is forced to the several parts of the mechanism bymeans operated by the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating device for a cross compound steam driven air compressor wherein the lubricant is forced to the several parts of the compressor by means actuated by the means for compressing the air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a force feed lubricating device for machines having reciprocating parts, which device is actuated by the reciprocation of such parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricatingdevice having a reciprocating plunger for forcing the lubricant to the several parts of ama'chine having reciprocatingparts wherein the plunger is operated siniultane'ously by means actuated by the reciprocation of the parts of the machine;

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of lubricating device of the character mentioned which is relatively simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service. I

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of which is composed, as will be hereinafter more'fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section of across compound steam driven air compressor showing the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of F ig. 1'; Fig. 3 is a vertical section r taken on the line 83 of Fig. *2; F ig; 4 is a similar view taken on'the line 44 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5' 5' of Fig.9. i r

With the usual fluid pressure brake system employed onsteam railroad trains,the locomotive is equipped with an air compressor for supplying the main reservoirs of the train with compressed air.

Some difficulty has heretofore been experience'd in properly lubricating the moving 'to be incorporated with an air compressor and to be operated thereby to supply the requisite amount of lubricant to the several parts of the compressor.

Obviously, the lubricating device which I have provided can be applied to any type of engine, compressor or the liketo which it is pressure piston of the compressor. However,

it should be noted that in actual practice, it has been found of advantage to utili'ze'the power from the low pressurev steam piston, because high pressure flu-id provides an excess of power for operating the lubricating device. v

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus may comprise a lubricating device 11 adapted to be driven by an engine 12, which is operated by fluid supplied from an air comprossor 13 ina manner to be described.

The lubricating device 11 may be of any approved type. In the present instance, it

is shown as comprising a casing formed with a chamber 14: for receiving a quantity of lubricant.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, thecasing contains a plunger 15 which is sl dably mounted in a bore 16 formed in a boss 17 disposed within the chamber 14, is normally maintained ele- Vated by an eXp'ansible coils p'ring 18 mounted in the bore 16 and bearing against the bottom of the plunger.

The chamber 14 is in communication with the bore 16, through a passage 19, normally closed by a ball check valve 20, and a passage 21.

On the other hand, the bore 16 is connected to a discharge pipe 22 through a passage 23 which is normally closed by a ball check valve 24, and a passage 25. The ball check valve 24 is pressed toward its seat by a small expansible spring 26.

Bearing against the top of the plunger 15- and retained in contact therewith by the spring 18, is an arm 27, which is fixed to one end of a rockshaft 28.

The rockshaft 28 is operated by the engine device 12 heretofore referred to, and the end of the rockshaft opposite to the end carrying the arm 27 is disposed within a chamber 29 formed in the casing of the engine 12, being held in contact with a seat 30 by means of an expansible coil spring 31. This construction provides for ample longitudinal movement of the rockshaf't 28 to compensate for wear, and also seals the chamber 29, as will be readily understood.

Keyed to the portion of the rockshaft 28 within chamber 29, is an arm 32, the opposite endof which is pivotally connected to one end of a link 33 by means of a pin 34.

The link is adapted to be oscillated in a substantially vertical path. Therefore, in order toprevent any lateral swinging there of, it is connected intermediate its length to a bar 35 by means of a pivot pin 36.

The bar 35 is disposed in parallel relation with the arm 32, and in order that the bar can move in unison with the arm, the end of the bar opposite to pivot-pin 36 is loosely mounted on a pin 37 carried by the casing of the engine 12 (see Fig. 2).

Mounted in a cylinder 38 formed in the casing of the engine beneath the chamber 29, is a double end piston 39.

A slot 40 is formed in the piston body intermediate the ends thereof. This slot provides a guide for a roller 41 mounted on the lower end of the link 33.

As shown in Fig. 3, the profile of the slot 40 is such that when the piston 39 makes one stroke, two strokes will be imparted to the link 33. and therefore the rockshaft 28 will be oscillated in both directions While the piston 39 is reciprocating in one direction.

The air compressor 13 comprises a high pressure steam piston 43 contained in cylinder 44, said piston being connected by rod 45 with low pressure air piston 46 contained in cylinder 47, while the low pressure steam piston 48, contained in cylinder 49, is connected by rod 50 with high pressure air piston 51 contained in cylinder 52.

A steam distribution valve controls the admission and exhaust of steam to and from the steam cylinders and may comprise a series of piston heads 53, 54, 55, and 56 and a differential piston head 57 having a greater area than the other piston heads, the piston head 53 having a lesser area than the intermediate piston heads 54, and 56.

A. reversing valve 58 is provided for con trolling the movement of the main steam distribution valve and is adapted to be actuated in theusual manner by the movement of the high pressure steam piston to the end of its stroke.

With the steam distribution valve in the position shown in Fig. 1, steam supplied through pipe 59 and passage 60 flows to the space between piston heads 53 and 54 and thence through passage 61 to thechamber below high pressure steam piston 43, thus causing said piston to make its up stroke.

When the high pressure piston reaches the end of its stroke, the reversing valve 58 is shifted to its upper position, in which passage 62 is uncovered, so that steam is supplied from valve chamber 63 to the outer face of piston head 57.

Since the outer face of piston head 53 is open to the atmosphere through passages 64 and 65 and. pipe 66, the unbalanced steam pressure acting on piston head 57 operates to shift the steam distributing valve to the left. 7

Live steam is now supplied to the upper side of piston 43 from the space between piston heads 56 and 57 and through passage 67, so as to cause the high pressure steam piston 43 to move downwardly.

Exhaust steam from the chamber at the lower face of piston 43 is also admitted to the chamber below the low pressure steam piston 48 through passage 61, space between piston heads 54 and 55, and passage 68.

The space above piston 48 is connected to the exhaust through passage 69, space he tweenv piston heads 55 and 56, and passage 65 and the low pressure steam piston is therefore moved upwardly by the exhaust steam from the high pressure steam cylinder 44. When the high pressure steam piston 43 reaches the end of its down stroke, the reversin valve 58 is shifted to its lower osition, in which, as shown in Fig. 1, the chamber at the face of piston head 57 is connected to the atmosphere through passage 70, cavity 71 in the reversing valve 58, and parsages 72, 64 and 65.

The unbalanced steam pressure now acting in the space between piston heads 56 and 57 on the differential area of piston head .15 then operates to shift the steam distribution valve to the position shown in Fig. 1, so that live steam is admitted to the lower side of piston 43 through passage 61 while exhaust steam from above piston 43 is supplied to the upper side of low pressure piston 48, through passage 67.

The air pistons 51 and *46 are thusoperated by the steam pistons '48 and 43 to compress air, the low pressure P1813011 46 taking" air fromthe atmosphereand comfipressmg the same into t-he highpressure air cylinder in the'usual manner.

The operation above described corresponds with that of "the "compoundcompressor referred to in the above mentionedlpatent, but

according to my present invention, the com- "pressor is provided With additionalpassages 73 and 74.

"Passage =73 opens into 'the 'top of the 'loW pressure st'eam cylinder 49, Wl'rilepassa'ge-74 is connected to passage '68'hereto'fore'referred A pipe connects pa'ssage 74 of the air compressor' With a-port 76,:in'the' engine device 12, near 'one "end of cylinder 38,"Whi=le a pipe :77'connects passage 73 with a port 78, in the engine device 12, near'theopp'osite "end ofcylinder 38 having port 76.

Connected'to port '78is apassage 79 containing a ball check valve '80'Whi'eh norm-ally closes the passage 79 from a chamber"81 at the left of piston =39.

lVhen piston 48 of the air" compressor is at the upper end of its stroke,as'shown in Fig. 1, piston'39 Will be disposed at the left end of cylinder 38, the head of the piston covering port 78, and chamber82 to the right of 'piston'39 will be connected tothe atmosphere through port 76, pipe 75, passages 74 and 68, the space between piston'heads 54 and 55 and'passage 65.

Therefore, When the steam distribution valve is shifted, '1nthe manner heretofore-"de- '-scribed,'to" the" position shown inFi'g. 1, fluid under I pressure delivered" from T cylinder 44, through Jpassage' 67, "space {between piston heads-55 iand 56 and passage 69, 'into' the-top of cyl ind'er- 49, Will fiovv through passage 73,

pipe77, port 7 9,"unseat*the'ball 'ch'eclr valve 80, and outer chamber 81 through restricted passage83,"thereby forcing piston 39 to the right.

WVhen port 78 is uncovered, due to this movement 'of the-piston'39, and'in View of the fact that chamber 82'i's open tothe atmosphere, as has been pointed out, -unrestricted pressure Will be-admittedinto chamber 81 to drive the pistonrto'the right, as

-shoWnin'Fig. 3. *Thismovement of the piston -39 precedes the downwardstroke off p1ston '48, "because: su'fiicient "pressure Will not have been built up in the top of cylinder'49 "to cause the downward strokeofpiston :48

I exhaust.

z'lh-rough the movement of piston. 39 -fro1n heads 55 and-56, and passage 65.

left to right,the link 33 will be reciprocated "andthis movement of the'link will be trans mitted through arm 32, rockshaft 28, and

arm '27 to the'plunger 15, whichwill be like- Wiserecip-rocated against the pressure eX- erted by spring 18.

- Piston 39 Willremain at the right of cylinder 38 until the position of the steam distribution valve is'shifted to thele ft'to cause the direction of the stroke of piston 48 to be reversed. 'Whereupon fluid will flow :through passage 61, space between'piston heads '54 and 55, passages 68 and '74, pipe 75, port 76,passage85,. past ball check valve 84, and through restricted passage 86,into chamber 82. I

The fiuid'entering' chamber 82 will force piston '391t0 the left, and when port 76is uncovered, unrestricted pressure Will'be admitted into chamber 82 to drive the piston to the left.

lVhenthe-steam distributingvalve of the air compressor is shifted to the left for the purpose heretofore described, chamber '81 will be open to the atmosphere through port 78, pipe 77, passage-73, the upper portion of cylinder 49,'passage 69, space betweenpiston 7 Therefore pressure in chamber 81 Will be-relieved and hencepiston3-9 Will be free to move to the left.

WVhen port 78 is covered by :piston 39,a

pressure built up Will0CC11I','bIlDg111g the pistonito 'rest Without sho'clg asball check valve. 80 Will preventany'further'exhaust.

The movement of piston39 to the left Will also impart reciprocatory movements to the plunger 15 similartothose heretofore described when the piston'39 is moved from left to right.

From the for'egoingitvvill be-noticed that the engine 12 is so connect-ed to-the' air com- "pressor 13 that the-exhaust steam is utilized for driving-the "engine to cause the sameto operate the lubricating device 11.

WVhen the-plunger15- i'sreciprocated in the manner :her'etofore "described, lubricant will 'bedrawn from chamber '14 and :forced past ball check valve 241into=the discharge pipe 22. "In the present instance, the pipe 22 is "shown connected to a plurality of branch pipes87, 88,"'89-and 90,- leading tothe several 'pa'rts of theair compressor requiring frequent lubrication. v p

As shown, pipes87' and 88 are'designed to deliver a qua-ntity of the lu'bricant'to tl'ie high and' :loyv pressure "cylinders respectively, While pipe 89 is connected to the steam sup- "plyfpipe 59 so as to inject a suitable am'ount of lubricant into the steam entering the com pressor, and pipe 90isconnected to chamber *63of the reversing valve 5 8. Cylinder 44 of the high pressure steam piston 43' is supplied With lubricantibymeans of a passage'91 cons nccted to pipe and passage 90,

As the steam in cylinder 44 will contain a quantity of the lubricant, when the steam flows through the steam distribution valve and. into cylinder 49, this valve and the walls of this cylinder aswell as the piston will be properly lubricated, as will be readily understood, and as thesame steam which is delivered to the low pressure cylinder a9 is also delivered to the cylinder 38 of engine 12, the piston 39 and associated parts of the engine will thus be automatically lubricated.

It is well known that low pressure steam contains more moisture than does high pressure steam. Accordingly when the apparatus is constructed in accordance with the present illustrative embodiment of the invention, better lubrication of the parts of the compressor can be obtained, because the available condensation from the low pressure steam is used to lubricate the working parts of the engine l2.

Wiile one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my inventlon, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding receptacle having a valve controlled discharge passage, a plunger for forcing the lubricant through the passage, a cylinder containing a fluid operated piston, said piston having a cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair of arms pro ecting therefrom, one of which engages the plunger, and a link connecting the other arm and having a roller mounted in the cam groove whereby the reciprocation of the piston will be transmitted to the plunger in a direction perpendicular thereto.

2. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding receptacle, means for discharging the lubricant from the receptacle, and means for operating said lubricant discharging meansv including a piston haying a-cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair of projecting arms, one of which actuates the lubricant discharging means, and a link connecting the other arm and the piston and having a roller mounted in the cam groove.

8. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding receptacle, means for discharging the lubricant intermittently from the receptacle, and means for operating said lubricant discharging means including a piston having a cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair of projecting arms, one of which actuates the lubricant discharging means, a link connecting the other arm and the piston and having a roller mounted in the cam groove, and means for alternately supplying fluid under pressure to opposite sides of the piston.

.4. A device of the class described comprismg a lubricant holding receptacle, a plunger for forcing the lubricant from thereceptacle, and means for intermittently operating the plunger including a piston having a cam groove, a rockshaft having a pair of arms projecting therefrom, one of which engages the plunger, and a link connecting the other arm and having a roller mounted in the cam groove. v

5. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage, reciprocating means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a piston, and means operated by the piston during movement of the piston in one direction for operating said reciprocating means in both directions.

6. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage, reciprocating means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a piston, means for supplying fluid under pressure alternately to opposite ends of the piston for operating the same in both directions, and means operated by the piston for operating said reciprocating means in both directions during movement of the piston in one direction.

7. A lubricating device comprising a cham her having an outlet passage, reciprocating means, a member operated by s: id means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a fluid pressure operated piston, and means operated by the piston during movement of the piston in one direction for operating said reciprocating means in both directions.

8. A lubricating device conutn'ising a chamber having an outlet passage, a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a piston, means for operating the piston alternately in both directions, and means operated by the piston during movement of the piston in one direction for causing said plunger to move alternately in opposite directions.

9. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding receptacle, a piston, means for operating the piston, a member, means associated with the piston for reciprocating said member during movement of the piston in one direction, and a plunger operated by said member for forcing lubricant from said receptacle.

10. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding receptacle, a plunger for forcing lubricant from the receptacle, a rocksh aft, means carried by the rockshaft for operating the plunger, a piston, means for operating the piston, and means operated by the piston during movement of the piston in one direction for actuating the rockshaft in both directions.

11. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage, a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an arm carried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a fluid pressure operated piston, and means connecting the rockshaft and piston for operating the rockshaft in opposite directions during movement of the piston in one direction.

12. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage, a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an arm carried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a fluid pressure operated piston, and means connecting the rockshaft and piston for oscillating the rockshaft in both directions during movement of the piston in one direction.

13. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage, a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an arm carried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a spring urging the plunger against said arm, a fluid pressure operated piston, and means connecting the rockshaft and piston whereby one stroke of the piston causes the rockshaft to move alternately in opposite directions.

14. A lubricating device comprising a chamber having an outlet passage, a plunger for forcing lubricant through the passage, a rockshaft, an arm carried by the rockshaft and engaging the plunger, a piston, means for alternately supplying fluid under pressure to the opposite sides of the piston for operating the same, and means connecting the rockshaft and piston for alternately operating the rockshaft in reverse directions during movement of the piston in one direction.

15. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding chamber having a valve controlled discharge passage, reciprocating means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a fluid operated piston, and means operated by the piston during movement of the piston in one direction for causing said reciprocating means to reciprocate.

16. A device of the class described comprising a lubricant holding receptacle having a discharge passage, reciprocating means for forcing lubricant through the passage, a cylinder containing a double headed piston, means for alternately supplying fluid under pressure to the heads of the piston, and means operated by the piston for causing said reciprocating means to reciprocate during movement of the piston in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 1st day of October, 1928.

CLYDE C. FARMER.

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