US273312A - Lubricator - Google Patents

Description

NITED STATES` PATENT Ormes.

SAMUEL REID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,312, dated March 6, 1888.

Application filed June '1, 1881.

- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL REID, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and'State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Lubricators, ot which the following is a description, reference being had'to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a front View of a lubricator embodying my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

The object of my improvement is to provide a simple, compact, and cheap, but etficientlubricator, readily attachable to the pipes, cylinders, and other portions of a steam-eu gine,

d for supplying` oil in an even, constant, and perfectly regulated quantity under all conditions and circumstances.

My invention consists,rst, in providingthe condensing chamber or tube of a lubricator with means for'producing'a constant circulation ot' steam therein, whereby with the slow-v 'or passage from the oil-cham ber to the glass y tube or chamber, with a screw-plu g at or near the lower part thereot`whereby the lubricator can be readily blown out and cleaned by the passage ofsteam through either portion thereof', either through the condensing-pipe and oilchamber or through the glass tube or chamber, as desired; and, fourth, in theprovision ot a'detachable nozzle to the passage from the oil-chamber to the water-chamber at the lower end ot' the latter, and held in place by an outer nut, together with packing, and through which the oil is fed into and through the water in the glass, all ot' which will be hereinafter morefully described, and pointed outdetinitely in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents the oil chamber or reservoir, formed, in the usual manner, of brass or other suitable metal. l

The stopple B, screwed into the central portion of theupper end of the chamber A, is chambered within, so that when screwed into (No model.)

place it forms within an elevated' portion of the chamber A, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The shank C is screwed into the side of the chamber A at c. It is also provided with a passage or water-duct, c, preferably cast in it by a core. Into the inner edge of the passage c is screwed the short pipe c', extending upward within the chamber in the stopple B.

Within the upper portion of the shank C, at its outer end, at c2, is screwed the condensin g-tube D. To present the greater condensing-surface, the tube D is expanded at the top into the form of a globe, and in the preferable construction this globe is a separate piece, d, screwed upon the top of the tube D at d', as

shown in the drawings, apartition, d2, eXtending across the top-ot' the tube D. The` partition cl2 is provided with an aperture, d3, for the passage ot' steam or water from the globe into the tube below. This aperture is closed, when desired, by the valve d4, of which the valve-stem d5 passes up through an aperture in the center of the upper portion ot' the globe and terminates in a knob or other suitable handle.

rlhe outer end of the shank C is bored out at E, forming an extension in thetorm of a tube, and its end is provide-d with an exterior screwthread, upon which is screwed the nut e, attaching to the shank the short flanged tube E', the outer edge of which is also provided with al1-exterior screw-thread.V

In attaching thelubricatorthe nut e 'is first slipped over the short tube E', and the latter is then screwed into place into the steam pipe or cylinder. then brought into contact with the outer end of the tube E, an annular packing-ring being interposed between them, and the nut c is then lscrewed upon the tube E, thus uniting the tube D, and through an aperture in the partition d2 into the globe d, thus forming with the passage c3 a continuous steam-duct from the The iianged end of the tube E is rco source of supply ofthe steam to the condensing-chamber and tnbe. In the form of construction illustrated in the drawings a second tube, F', 0f smaller size, is inclosed within the tube F, thus forming a second or vdouble steamduct leading from the source of supply. The upper end ot` the tube F projects a short distance above the upper end ot' the tube F, as illustrated in the drawings. The lower end of the tube F also preferably extends a short distance outward beyond the end ot' the passage c3.

The oil-chamber A is provided at its lower end with a central opening, a', into which is screwed one end of a curved tube, Gr, preferably cast of metal, with the passageYY therein formed by the insertion ot' a core. A short passage is made through the metal at the end ot` the tube G, where it is inserted in the end ot' the chamber A, for the purpose ot' draining the chamber when required. This passage is closed by the screw-plug g. A tube, H, is also screwed through the metal, closing the inner end of the tube G, and extends upward to at -or near the top of the chamber A, as shown in the drawings. ThetubeGiscurved around so as to bring the top of its outer end preferably at or -nearly in a plane with the bottom of the chamber A. This outer end is formed with an interior annular recess, itted to contain the lower end ot' the detachable nozzle I. The form of the nozzle I is plainly shown in sectional view in the drawings. Its base is provided with an annular recess, z', upon its upper side, which permits ot' the insertion loosely of the lower end of the glass tube J, and it is held in place by the annular nut g2, screwed upon the exterior ot' the outer end ot' tube G, an annular packing-ring, i', being interposed between the nutand the outer flange upon the base of the nozzle I. The glass tube J is inserted at its upper end in a circular recess, c, in the lower side of the shank C, and is held in place by a similar annular nut and packing-ring to those used at the lowerend ot' the tube. The glass tube J is ofsueh size and length that it stops slightly short ot' touching the metal at both ends, and is held at the sides by the pressure ot' the packing-rings, thus permitting its free expansion and contraction under the iniiuence of heat and relievingit from undue strain.

The advantage ot' constructing the detachable nozzle I plain, as described, with the screw upon the nut, and exterior to the pipe G, instead of upon the nozzle, is that in putting the lubricatortogethcr the nuts and packing-rings are Iirst slipped upon the glass tube and thel nozzle inserted in its lower end. The upper end of the tube is then thrust into the circula-r recess c, to the top thereof, when the "lower end of the tube, together' with the base struction is thus secured than when the nozzle I is screwed into place and the glass tube afterward inserted; and,moreover,in my construction the nozzle I can be made of any desired length without increasing the diliiculty of inserting it in place.

A screw-plug, K, is inserted in the lower side ofthe tube G, and by its removal either side of the lubricator may be cleaned by blowing the steam from the source ot supply through thatside and out through the passa ge fitted by the screw-plug K.

A short tube, c5, is screwed into the outer end of the passage c6, which extends through the shank U from the upper end of the glass chamber through to the outer end ofthe shank C into the tube E, as shown in the drawings.

A valve and screw-valve stem, L, (shown in Fig. 1,) is fitted into the passage cG at c7, by turning which the passage cG may be closed when desired.

In the operation of my improved lubricator it is first attached to the steam pipe or cylinder, as hereinbefore set forth, and the chamber Ais filled nearly full with oil andthe stopple B inserted in place. The glass chamber J may be filled with water, either by previously pouring it into the tube II or by opening the valve at c7 and permitting the steam to enter and condense therein until the chamber is full of water. The valve d4 is also opened and the steam from the source of supply enters through the tubes F and Fl into the globe (l, and is rapidly condensed into water,which ills the tube D. This water, owing to the weight ot'its column in the tube D, is forced through the passage c and tube c into the chamber A,vand, owing to its superior gravity, it then falls to the bottoni of the chamber, displacing an equal quantity of oil, which is thus forced through the tubes II and Gr and nozzleI into the glass chamber J, whence, owing to its lighter specitc gravity, it rises, usually in drops, through the column of water, in visible feed, and, passing through the passage c6 in the shoulder G and the projecting tube, itis delivered into the steam pipe or cylinder at the plaeedesired. The quantity ot' oil thus l'ed through the nozzle I is regulated by the amount ot' opening given to the valve at c7. When the oil is nearly or quite exhausted in the chamber A the valves are closed and the screw-plug g opened, when the water is drained oli', and the chamber is then filled with oil, as before, the stopple B having been removed. The passage c in the single shank C is given an upward turn by the insertion of the pipe c', to prevent theoil from passing through and upward into the pipe D, where it is not wanted, and this passage is placed in the single shank (J, containing also the passages c3 and c6, Jfor simplicity, compactness, and cheapness of construction.

The tube H is preferably terminated at its upper end at or near the top ofthe chamber A, as shown in the drawings, that the lighter impurities in thc oil may ascend above into ICO IIO

e'fale v s the recess or chamber in the s-topple B, while the heavier impurities descend to the bottom of the chamber and are drawn ofiL1 when the cup is drained of its water.

In operating lubricators provided with the single steam duct or tube F, leading from the source of supply of steam` to the'condensing chamber or tube, I found that under some circumstances the lubricator ceased to act, appearing-to be clogged from some cause. To discover the-nature of the dilculty, I constructed a lubricator in which the globe dand tube- D were made of glass, that I might, by close observation, discover the cause of the stoppage. I found that under conditions in which condensatiorrtook place more rapidly than required to displace the oil, either when the condenser was placed in a very cold room or when a very slow feed was employed, the

water in the globe d rose above the aperture in the upper end ofthe tube F, and the steam, rising through the water, was still more rapidly condensed until the globe was entirelyr h'lled with water, when-I observed that it gradually filled the tube F in a .downward direction from the top, in an analogous form to the accretions to an icicle, until the tube F Was illed with a column of water, when, the pressure of the two water columns heilig equalized, the lubricator ceased working. Having thus discovered the nature of the difficulty, I wholly overcame it by devising means which should produce aconstant circulation of steam in the condensing chamber, thereby insuring at all times steam-pressure upon the top of the watercolumn in the tube D, and consequently a continuous movement of this water column, even with the slowest feed and in the coldest room. This constant circulation of steam may be produced in a variety of ways and by acombination of tubes or steam-ducts, either exterior or interior to the tube D, or both. The most simple and what I deem thebest form ofconstruction is illustrated in the drawings, in which thesmaller tube F is inserted within the tube F, as hereinbefore described. In operating this form of construction the steam from the source of supply passes upward through both the tubes F and F and condenses until with a slow feed or in a very cold -roomthe condensed water rises to the level of the aperture in the upper end of the tube F.' Steam then continues to pass through the aperture in the upper end of the tube F', above the upper end of the tube F, and rondenses, as before; but the surplusv water formed passes down through the tube F and is conveyed to the general source of steam-supply, so that the water in the condensing-chamber never rises so as to check the fiow of the steam through the tube F. As an experiment, the valve d4 may be tightlyclosed, stopping the feedof the lubricator altogether, and constant circulation of steam in the globe d will be maintained, the water of condensation being continually drained off by the tube F, thus demonstrating the perfection of the process.

It will be observed that the lmain portions of the lubricator-the chamber A, the sha-nk G, the tube D, and globe d-.are each so centered that the work to be done upon them in fitting and finishing themv can readily be done upon a lathe with few changes in position, which is an important element in cheapness of construction.

The lubricator herein described is simple, compact, economical in construction, and a uniform, perfectly-regulated, and never-failing supply o'f oil is thereby afforded to the parts vsought to be lubricated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hydrostatic-column lubricator, the combination of a condensing chamber or tube with two open independent ducts extending fromthe source of steam-supply to the condensing chamber or tube and opening therein at dierent heights, substantiall y as described.

2. In a hydrostatic-column lubricator, the combination of a condensing chamber or tube with three ducts opening therein at different heights-viz., the lower one for conducting the condensation-water to the oil-cup, the upper one for admitting steamy uninterruptedly to thepconden sing-chamber, and the intermediate one for admitting steam to the condensingchamber when the level of the water therein is below the intermediate opening, and 4allowing the surplus water, when its level is at or above such opening, to flow directly back to the source of steam-supply-substantially as described.

3. A sight-feed lubricator having a single shank or stem for attachment to the machinery to be lubricated, and combining in its construction the following elements, viz: an oilpassage from the oil-cup and sight-feed glass, through said shank to the steam source, two separate passages through said shank to the condensing-chamber, and a water-passage from the condensing-chamber to the oil-cup, substantially as described.

4. In a sight-feed lubricator, the combination of the sight-feed glass and the duct leading from the oil-cup thereto witha ,anged detachable nozzle 'seated loosely in the end of said duct and extending into the sight-feed glass, a compressible packing-ring surrounding the glass and resting on the iiange ot' the nozzle, and a screw-ring inclosng` the compressible packing and serving to tighten it against both the glass and the flange of the nozzle,

whereby thejoints can be readily and perfectly packed, and the parts can be easily detached when desirable, substantially as described.

SAMUEL REID.l

Witnesses:

T. S. E. DIXON, C. T. HALL.

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