US981544A - Lubricator-valve for steam-chests. - Google Patents

Description

P. W. EDWARDS. LUBRICATOR VALVE FOR STEAM OHBSTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1908. v

' Patented Jan-10, 1911.

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ATENT FFIQE.

FRANK W. EDVIARDS, OF LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGO LUBRI- CATOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LUBBICATOR-VALVE FOR STEAM-CHESTS.

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Application filed May 28, 1908.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK W. EnWARDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logansport, in the county of Cass and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubricator-Valves for Steam-Chests, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a valve for controlling the supply of lubricant to the steam-chest of a locomotive or other engine in such way as to prevent obstruction by varying steam pressure.

Illustrating the invention as used in connection with a condensation-displacement sight-feed lubricator, it comprehends a valve opening on one side to the lubricator, which has a steam connection, and on the other side to the steam-chest, with an interposed always-open choke-plug, and an automatic check-valve so arranged in a bypass around the choke-plug as to be responsive to Variations in steam pressure, and serving as a steam-pressure equalizer.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is an outline elevation of suflicient of a lubricator installation on a locomotive to show the arrangement, the tallow-pipe, valve and steam-chest being in section, and the tallow-pipe broken out. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the valve. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the valve. Fig. 4 shows in bottom plan view and partial longitudinal section the check-valve cap. Fig. 5 shows in elevation and plan the check-valve. Fig. 6 shows in elevation and plan the choke-plug. Fig. 7 shows a modified form of check-valve and its cap, the cap being in partial longi tudinal section. Fig. 8 shows in elevation and bottom plan the cap of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows in elevation and plan the check-valve of Fig. 7.

The general installation is in substance the same as in my Patent No. 735,074, dated August 4, 1903, and like parts are herein similarly described, namely:

1 may represent a steam-chest with slidevalve and ports of any approved construction.

2 is a fragment of a boiler.

3 is a pipe leading from the steam-space of the boiler to the fitting 4, which communicates through pipe 5 with the lubricator- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 435,487.

condenser 6, and also through pipe 7 withthe oil-receiving chamber 8 of the upper feed-arm 9 of the lubricator. The supply of steam is controlled by valve 10 in steampipe 3. The tallow or oil delivery pipe 11 is coupled to the chamber 8, and thence extends to and is connected with my novel chokevalve herein 'shown as applied directly to the steam-chest.

The valve-casing 12 has an external screwthread 13 for connection wit-h the tallowpipe 11, and an internal screwthread 14 for connection with a nipple inlet 15 into the steam-chest. The casing has a diaphragm 16 across its passageway 17, and in this diaphragm is fixed a choke-plug 18, having the always-open longitudinal through bore 19, of small diameter, intersected above the diaphragm, or on the lubricator side, by transverse bores 20. A lateral hollow projection 21 is provided within which is a bypass 22 connecting the passageway 1. on opposite sides of the diaphragm, and the diaphragm and part of the wall of the casing below it form a seat for a check-valve 23. This I check-valve is mounted in a cap 24 screwed into and closing the projection 21. The in ner end of the cap 24 has a perforated wall 25 in which the check-valve stem is guided, and externally the longitudinal wall of the cap is reduced as at 26. The hollow interior of the cap 24 forms a pressure chamber 27 for the check-valve.

Instead of using a cap with a bottom wall as described, I may use a cap 28 having an open-ended chamber 29, Figs. 7 and 8, and in this case the check-valve 30 has a cylindrical stem 31 with one or more wedgeshaped chamfers 32 which form a passage or passages to admit pressure into the cap back of the check-valve. The cap is rabbeted at its inner end, as at 33, and crossgrooved at 34. These and other variations are within the principle and scope of the invention.

The operation is as follows When steam from the boiler is turned into the lubricator through valve 10, the pressure extends through pipe 7 to the upper feed-arm 9 and thence into the oil bowl and oil-delivery or tallow-pipe 11. Under these conditions, the check-valve will be seated, and the steam flow into the steam-chest through the choke-' plug opening 19. When the locomotive engine throttle is opened, the pressure flows into the steamchest and ascends into the valve casing in contact with the check-valve and the choke-plug. Under normal conditions, with the throttle open, the check-valve would remain seated and the steam from the lubricator would be passing through the choke-plug, carrying the lubricant with it down into the steam-chest. As the locomotive continues to run under harder service, as at high speed, and in ascending grades, the steam is compressed more or less within the steam-chest and thus has a tendency to resist the pressure'coining through the choke plug, and this increased pressure will also act against the check-valve and unseat it and force it against its cap. Upon occurrence of such contingencies, the passages constituting the by-pass are brought into direct communication one with the other, and thus is effected an equalization of pressure. By this means a permanent balance may be maintained on the lubricator, and a perfect equalization of pressure within the tallowpipe, so that the flow of oil will always be toward the steam-chest, assisted by the steam circulation or by gravity. When the pressure in the steam-chest drops below that of the pressure in the tallow-pipe, the checkvalve is again seated due to the increased pressure in its cap chamber back of it, and the flow of the oil through the choke-plug is maintained. Then the throttle valve is closed and the engine comes to rest, the checlcvalve remains seated and the small through bore of the choke-plug prevents an increased flow of steam to the steam-chest, and thus obviates any chance for a pressure to form in the steam-chest sufliciently high to start the engine.

It will be understood that the reduced portions of the inner ends of the'check-valve caps and the perforations in the bottom wall of one form and the face grooves in the edge of the other form, afford clearances for a very free circulation of steam around the valve on the cap side.

lVhen the choke-plug 18 becomes steamworn beyond the limit of wear, it may be removed readily by unscrewing it from its diaphragm and replacing it with one having standard size openings. Further, unlike some movable choke-valves, or those exposed to movable parts, there is no possibility of the bores or holes being closed or partly closed from battering action.

By the invention described is afforded an equalizing means not liable to get out of order, and which permits the back pressure from the steam-chest to equalize in the valve chamber with the boiler pressure present in the tallow-pi 9e, thus preventing a retarding of the flow 0 oilto the steam-chest and cylinder when there is an excess of pressure present in the steam-chest. The fact that this equalization takes place between the steam-chest and the oil pipe due to the opening of the check-valve, insures a constant delivery of lubricant to the steam chest at all times, either through the choked opening 19 of the choke-valve 18 or through the bypass. This equalization of pressure results in maintaining a perfect balance on the lubricator.

As already indicated, the choke-plug itself is fixed in the diaphragm and its longitudinal through-bore is always open and the transverse intersecting bores aid in keeping this longitudinal through-bore always open and prevent clogging by admitting steam to the longitudinal bore. Inasmuch as the choke-plug is stationary and its transverse bores are located on the lubricator side, they too remain always open and free.

lVhat I claim is 1. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted for connection with the lubricator mechanism on one side and the steam-chest on the other, a diaphragm arranged crosswise of said passageway, an always-open choke-plug stationarily held in said diaphragm, and an automatic check-valve arranged in a by-pass leading from one side of the diaphragm to the other.

2'. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted for connection with the lubricator mechanism on one side and the steam-chest on the other, said passageway having an intersecting diaphragm and an alwaysopen choke-plug in said diaphragm, combined with an automatic check valve arranged in a by-pass around the diaphragm.

3. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted for connection at one end with the lubricator mechanism and at the other end with the steam-chest, an always-open choke-plug arranged in said passageway, a bypass connecting said passageway around the choke-plug, an automatic check-valve in said by-pass, and a chambered cap in which said check-valve is mounted and having a pressure chamber back of the check-valve, whereby pressure upon opposite sides of the choke-plug may be equalized.

4. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, having a passageway adapted for connection at one end with the lubricator mechanism and at the other end with the steam-chest, a diaphragm arranged across the passageway, a by-pass intersecting the diaphragm, an always-open choke-plug fixed in said diaphragm, an automatic check-valve arranged in the by-pass, a cap in which the checkvalve is arranged and having a pressure chamber back of the check-valve, said checkvalve operating under variations in pressure above and below the diaphragm to equalize such pressure to insure the flow of lubricant to the engine.

5. A lubricator valve for steam-chests, f nmtic check-valve arranged in a by-pass eX- 10 having a passageway adapted for connection tending from one side of the diaphragm to with the lubricator mechanism on one side the other.

and the steam-chest on the other, a dia- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set phragin intersecting the passageway, an a1- my hand this 25th day of May, A. D. 1908. Ways-open choke-plug screwed into the dia- FRANK W. EDWVARDS. phragin and thereby held stationary therein, VVitnesses:

said choke-plug having a through-bore and GEO. M. DICKSON,

intersecting transverse bores, and an auto- WILLIAM S. FURRY.

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