US792728A - Combined pin and thermal lubricator for trolley-wheels. - Google Patents

Description

No. 792,728. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905. W. K. RICHARDSON.

COMBINED PIN AND THERMAL LUBRIGATOR FOR TROLLEY WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5. 1904.

Patented June 20, 1905.

ATENT Trice.

W'ILLIAM K. RICHARDSON, OF LEAVENVORTH, KANSAS.

COMBINED PIN AND THERMAL LUBRI CATOR FOR TROLLEY-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,728, dated June 20, 1905.

i Application filed December 5,1904. Serial No. 235,476.

To ti/Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM K. RICHARD- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Pin and Thermal. Lubricator fo1'Trolleyl/Vl1eels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined pin and thermal lubricator for trolley-wheels; and my object is to provide a device having the dual functions of a journal for the trolleywheel and an oil-receptacle'for automatically lubricating the trolley-wheel when necessary and which therefore materially lengthens the period of service of the Wheel, reduces the cost of maintenance, and economizes in the use of the lubricant.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which can be manufactured cheaply and placed in operative relation with the trolley wheel and harp with ease and celerity. Y

With the above-named objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and in the utilization in its operation of certain laws of physics, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a detail perspective view of a hollow pin embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the pin, the trolley-wheel journalcd thereon, and a portion of the harp which supports the pin, the section being in the plane of the trolley-pole harp when the wheel is engaged with the trolley-wire.

In the said drawings, 1 designates a hollow pin of any suitable material and construction, but which preferably consists of seamless tubing having a permanent plug 2 closing one end and a removable plug or eapsuch, for instance, as screw-plug 8-closing the other end, the first-named plug having a diametric hole 4 registering with the opposite holes 5 in the tube, the latter at a suitable point also having a fine orifice 6 extending, preferably, in the same direction as holes 4 and 5, through which the lubricant in solidified form is forced for lubrication purposes, as hereinafter explained.

In practice the pin is secured in the harp 7 by the usual spring-cotter 8, the latter occupying recess 9 in one arm of the harp and extending through the registering holes 4 and 5 to prevent any lateral or rotatable motion of the pin, the arrangement being such that the oriice 6 extends downwardly below the axis of the pin, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and journaled, as usual, on said pin within the harp, and between the washers 10 is the trolleywheel 11, having the usual bushing 12.

13 indicates the lubricant, which is solidifiedthat is, of such consistency that it must be subjected to pressure to force it down through the orifice 6, but will through the law of gravitation occupy the lower portion of the pin, so as to leave an air-space 14 above.

As the wheel revolves, assuming that the journal is not lubricated, its frictional engagement with the pin quickly raises the temperature of the latter and as a result that of the air in space 14. The air therefore expands and exerts sufficient pressure on the oil to force a small quantity of the latter downward through the orifice 6, whence through the action of the wheel it spreads and lubricates the entire surface of the journal, it being understood in this connection that the heat generated by friction is never sufliciently great to melt the solidified oil. The lubrication of the journal eliminates friction between the wheel and pin and is of course shortly followed by a fall in the temperature of the air. The air therefore contracts or becomes rarefied, the result being the creation of a partial vacuum in the tube, which permits a volume of air from the outside proportionate to that of the displaced or ejected lubricant to pass up through the orifice into the tube. When the bushing and journal again become dry by the exhaustion of the lubricant supplied thereto from the tube, the friction of the wheel on the journal again heats the pin and reexpands the air therein, it being understood that because the specific gravity of the lubricant is greater than that of the air the former maintains its position below the latter in order that a portion of the oil shall be ejected each time the air is expanded. Following the second supply of lubricant to the journal is a second charge of air to the hollow pin, so that there shall always be such a volume of air in the latter that a very slight increase in its temperature shall result in the ejectment of a supply of the lubricant.

It is essential that the lubricant-orifice shall be in the lower half of the pin, not only because it must always be in communication with the lubricant occupying the lower portion of the pin, but also because it will not become clogged up by cuttings from the bushing, which collect on the upper half of the pin, owing to the fact that the wheel by its gravity and stress or strain upon the wire always imposes its pressure upon the upper side of the pin or spindle.

It will furthermore be apparent that it is desirable to have the orifice disposed about centrally of the wheel, because the cuttings from the bushing will be greater toward the ends than toward the middle of the wheel, this being due to the rocking or lateral vibratory action of the trolley-wheel, said action being greatest when rounding curves, though practically constant at all times.

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

1. The combination with a trolley-wheel, of a hollow pin having an orifice in its lower portion, but otherwise air-tight, and a soldified lubricant in the pin and closing said orifice against the egress of air but permitting the ingress of air when the external pressure of air on the lubricant preponderates.

2. The combination with a trolley-wheel, of a hollow pin having a permanent closure at one end, and a removable closure at the other, and provided with a lubricant-ejectment orifice in its lower portion, but otherwise airtight, means to hold the pin from turning, and a wheel journaled on the pin and adapted by frictional engagement at times therewith, to raise the temperature of the pin and air therein to create a preponderating internal pressure on the lubricant.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM K. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

FRANK R. GLoRn, G. Y. Trronrn.

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