US2497822A - Lubricator - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 195.0

E. MARTIN ETAL 2,497,822

LUBRIcAToR Filed Sept. 5, 1945 JNVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Patented Feb. 14,

LUBRICATOR Eugene Martin, Weslcyville, and Joseph B. Mac- Kenzie, Erie, Pa., assignors to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1945, Serial No. 614,482

i `7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an automatic lubricator and particularly to a 'lubricator for use'in connection with engines, especially adapted to deliver lubricant to the steam cylinder of a reciprocating steam engine.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved lubricator of the type automatically responsive to pressure di'erentials that is simple and compact in construction, thatis positive `and eilici'ent in operation and While capable of use with reciprocating pressure liuid operated en` gines generally is specially `adapted for use with engines operated periodically. An engine typical of this type and' with which my improved lulorin cator is particularly adapted, is vshown lin United States Letters Patent No. 1,747,899 issued to Francis Hogg, February 10,1930.. y

In engines of the type described, it has been customary to provide a lubricator inthe pressure eld line leading to the engine cylinder. Since in such installations, some oil is dissipated in theV piping and some oilescapes through drain valves customarily used, an excessive amount of oil is required and frequent relling of the lu-v bricator reservoir is necessary. 4It is, therefore, another object of theinvention to eliminate these and other deciencies by providing a 'lubricator and engine arrangement wherein the lubricator is in direct communication with the engine cyl-` inder and delivers a positive vand predetermined charge of oil directlyv to the cylinder oneach stroke of the cylinder piston.

Additional objects, advantages and` features of' invention reside in the con-struction, arrangement and combination 'of parts, Vas lwill be 'understood from the preferred andpractical embodiment of the invention hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, iii-which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view' with partsin section showing an application oi invention Ato an engine of the type described;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the lubricator shown in Figure 1` inl its normal or closed position; and

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view through the lubricator in its open or lubricant supplying position.

Referring to Figure 1 of 'the drawings, a `periodically operated engine, designated by the vletter E, comprises a `cylinder I il, a piston I I mounted for reciprocation therein, aported rear Vcylinder head I2 and a ported front cylinder head I3. Secured to the piston 'II is 'the piston rod I4 `which passes through a su-itablestuiing box opening int-o the lubricant reservoir 26.

(not shown) in the front cylinder head -It an`c`l 55Vv 2 transmits the power developed by the engine E' ior'performing any suitable operation, as for eX- ample operating a locomotive tender coal pusher y such as shown in Hogg Patent 1,747,899, referred to abo-ve. A portion of such a coal pusher is shown at I5.

The piston II is actuated preferably by steam which is admitted to the cylinder It) through ports (not shown) in the cylinder heads I2 and I3 from the steam lpipes I6 and I'I. Preferably the piston II is normally at the rearmost end of the cylinder I0 and operation thereof is governed by a control valve I8. In the normal position of the piston II, the control valve I8 is in its uppermost position, being held there by the action of spring I9, in which position of the valve IS steam is admitted from the main sup-` ply lead 2U to the supply lead I'I, and thence through the ported front cylinder head I3 into the cylinder lil. In Figure l the valve I-has been depressed against the action of the spring I9, thereby admitting steam from the main .supply lead 2il to the supply lead I6, through the ported rear cylinder head I2 into the cylinder Iii, inA

consequence oi which the piston I I is moved from the rear to the front of the cylinder Ill. A Valve 23, in the main supply lead 2li, is provided for interrupting the flow vof steam to the contr-ol valve I8.

Intermediate its ends, the cylinder I0 is pro-` vided with a threaded opening 2i arranged to receive a lubricator, generally indicated at L, for

lubricating the cylinder walls 0i the engine E.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the lubricator L comprises a lubricator body 25 enclosing a mai-n lubricant containing reservoir 26. The lower end of the body 25 is provided with a threaded boss 2'I having a central passageway 28 there through The lower or outer end of the passageway 28 is enlarged to form a valve cage 29, which containsa ball check valve 30, the function and oper-ation thereof being hereinafter described.

A cylinder 31 is `threaded on the boss 2'! and' is provided in its vbottom wall 32 with an opening 33 which provides communication with the providing an auxiliary reservoir "3d, as shown 1in Figure 2. The sleeve 34 is provided in itsV inner or upper end vwith an opening 3S registering with the enlargement or `valve cage 29 of the passage" way 28, permitting lubricant to pass from the main reservoir 26 to the auxiliary reservoir 35 when the ball valve 3D is in the position shown in Figure 2. A pin 3l' extending through the upper end of the sleeve 34 and its opening 36 retains the ball valve 30 in the valve cage 29.

A piston 38. provided at one end with a large head 39 adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder 3l, and at the other end with a small head 40 adapted to reciprocate in the cylindrical sleeve 34, is normally retained in the position shown in Figure 2 by action of the spring 4I. A bore 42 extends through the piston 38, and is restricted at the inner or small end 40 of the piston 38 providing a seat 43 arranged to receive the ball check valve 44. At the outer or large end 39 of the piston 38, the bore 42 is threaded to receive a plug 45. The outer end of the plug 45 is provided with a nozzle 46 having a plurality of diverging orifices 4l communicating at their inner ends with a circumferential groove 48, which in turn communicates with the interior of the bore 42 through a passage 49 in the plug 45. The ball valve 44 is normally held against the seat 43 by action of a spring 50 disposed in the bore 42 between the plug 45 and the ball valve 44.

In operation, assuming the piston lI to be in its normal position at the rear of the cylinder I with the valve 23 in the main steam supply lead 20 closed, then the control valve I8 will be in its uppermost position, as opposed to the position shown in Figure 1, and the lubricator piston and valves will be in the position shown in Figure 2. rlhe operator first opens the main steam valve 23, causing steam to pass through the control valve I8 into the steam pipe I1 and thence through ported front cylinder head I3 into the cylinder I0. When a predetermined pressure has been built up in the cylinder I0, the lubricator piston 38 will move from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, it being understood that a spring 4I of such strength is selected as to resist movement of the piston 38 until the desired predetermined pressure is reached. Upon such movement of the piston 33, the pressure exerted on the lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir 35 first forces the ball check valve 30 against the seat 5I closing the passageway 28, and then forces the ball check valve 44 away from its seat 43 against the action of spring 5D, whereupon the lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir passes into the bore 42, then through passageway 49 into the circumferential groove 48, from which it is discharged through the oriiices 41 of the nozzle 46 against the interior wall of the cylinder I0. From the operation thus far described, it is evident that a charge of lubricant is delivered to the walls of the cylinder I0 in advance of the movement of the piston II in the engine cylinder, thereby insuring a lprotective lm of oil for the cylinder prior to operation of the engine.

The operator having opened the main steam valve 23 permitting a charge of lubricant to be delivered to the cylinder I0 by lubricator L as described, he then depresses the control valve I8 against the action of spring I9, to the position shown in Figure 1. Steam will then pass from the main steam supply lead 28 through the control valve I8 to the steam pipe I6, thence through the ported rear cylinder head I2 into the cylinder l0 at the rear of the piston l I. In the depressed position of the control valve i8, steam in the cylinder l0 forward of the piston II exhausts through pipe ILthrough the control valve I8 and thence to exhaust pipe 52. Upon reduction of the pressure in the cylinder I0 at the forward side of piston Il, action of the spring 4I causes the piston 38 to resume the position shown in Figure 2, whereupon ball check valve 44 will be seated by action of spring 50 and ball check valve 30 will be unseated by gravity, permitting a charge of lubricant to enter the auxiliary reservoir 35 through passageway 28 from the main lubricant reservoir 26.

Now, when the piston I I has moved toward the forward end of the cylinder a distance sufcient to clear the opening 24, the pressure of the steam rearward of the piston II will again raise the lubricator piston 38 and as described above a charge of oil will be discharged from the auxiliary reservoir 35 through the nozzle 46 to the walls of the cylinder I0. When the piston I I has reached the forward end of the cylinder IU, the operator may reverse the direction of the piston I I by releasing the control valve I8, the action of spring I9 against a handle (not shown) raising the control valve to its upper position. The pipe I'I then becomes the live steam pipe and pipe I6 becomes the exhaust pipe. Live steam entering the cylinder I0 at the rear of the piston I I moves the piston toward the front of the cylinder, and as before a charge of lubricant will be admitted to the cylinder when the piston I I clears the opening 24.

From the above description it will be evident that a predetermined charge of lubricant is automatically and directly delivered to the motor cylinder on each stroke of the piston and also prior to initial movement of the piston, thereby insuring a protective iilm of oil for the engine cylinder walls at all times. The supply of lubricant may be replenished by removing a screw plug 53 in the top of the lubricator body 25.

We claim:

1. A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir with a communicating passageway therebetween, a check valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway leading from said auxiliary reservoir, a check valve in said discharge passageway, said check valves adapted for normally opening said communicating passageway and closing said discharge passageway, and a reciprocable mem-v municating passageway therebetween, a checl:

valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway leading from said auxiliary reservoir,I

a check valve in said discharge passageway, said check valves arranged for normally admitting lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, a spring loaded piston movable from its normal position by application of a predetermined external pressure applied thereon at the discharge end of said lubricator for transmitting pressure on the lubricant in said auxiliary reservoir, said check valves being responsive to such movement of said piston for restraining flow of lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and effecting a discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir.

3. A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir, an auxiliary reservoir and a cylinder housing a reciprocable piston, a communicating passageway between said main reservoir and said auxiliary reservoir, a check valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway extending through said piston communicating with said auxiliary reservoir and a check valve in said discharge passageway, said check valves arranged for normally admitting lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, said piston being'movable from its normal position by application of external pressure applied at the discharge end of said lubricator, said check valves being responsive to such movement of said piston for restraining iiow of lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and eiecting a discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir.

4. A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir, an auxiliary reservoir and a cylinder housing a reciprocable piston, a communicating passageway between said main reservoir and said auxiliary reservoir, a check valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway extending through said piston communicating with said auxiliary reservoir and a check valve in said discharge passageway, said check valves arranged for normally admitting lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, said piston being movable from its normal position by application of a predetermined external pressure applied at the discharge end of said lubricator, said check valves being responsive to such movement of said piston for restraining flow of lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and effecting a discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir, and resilient means retaining said piston in its normal position below said predetermined pressure.

`.`"A lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir with a communicating passageway therebetween, a check valve controlling said passageway, a hollow reciprocable piston having a restricted opening at its inner end in communication with said auxiliary reservoir and a threaded opening at its outer end, a check valve at the inner end of said piston controlling said restricted opening and a nozzle threaded in said threaded opening at the outer end of said piston, said check valves arranged for normally admitting lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and restraining discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary through said nozzle, said piston being movable from its normal position by application of external pressure against its outer end, and said check valves being responsive to such movement of said piston for restraining ow of lubricant from said main reservoir to said auxiliary reservoir and effecting a discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir through said nozzle.

6. A lubricator comprising a main body member having a main lubricant reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir with a communicating passageway therebetween, a cylinder secured to said main body member embracing said auxiliary reservoir, connected differential pistons having a large head operating in said cylinder and a small head operating in said auxiliary reservoir, a lubricant discharge passageway extending through said connected pistons communicating with said auxiliary reservoir, a check valve in each of said passageways adapted for normally opening said communicating passageway and closinU said discharge passageway, the outer side of said large piston head being responsive to an external pressure for transmitting pressure on the lubricant in said auxiliary reservoir, said check valves being responsive to the pressure on the lubricant in said auxiliary reservoir for closing said communieating passageway and opening said discharge passageway to effect discharge of lubricant from said auxiliary reservoir through said discharge passageway.

7. In combination, an engine comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, valve controlled means for alternately admitting pressure fluid to and exhausting pressure fluid from each side of said piston, and a lubricator in direct communication with said cylinder between the opposite ends thereof, said lubricator comprising a main lubricant reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir with a communicating passageway therebetween, a check valve in said passageway, a lubricant discharge passageway providing communication between said auxiliary reservoir and said cylinder, a check valve in said discharge passageway, said check valves adapted for normally opening said communicating passageway and closing said discharge passageway, and a pressure iluid actuated piston movable from its normal position when in communication with the pressure side of said engine piston, said check valves being responsive to such movement of said lubricator piston for closing said communicating passageway and opening said discharge passageway.

EUGENE MARTIN.

JOSEPH B. MACKENZIE.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 113,200 Nottingham Mar. 28, 1811 305,678 Dees Sept. 23, 1884 491,224 Poore Feb. 7, 1893 504,178 Snyder Aug. 29, 1893 657,643 Burwell Sept. 11, 1900 958,260 Leyner May 17, 1910 1,186,487 McClelland June 6, 1916 1,540,943 Lester June 9, 1925 1,837,811 Farmer Dec. 22, 1931 1,897,609 Cowles Feb. 14, 1933

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