All bearings must be steadily and effectively lubricated, in order to remove friction as far as possible, or the working power of the engine will be greatly reduced. Besides, without complete and effective lubrication, the bearings will “cut,” or wear in irregular grooves, etc., quickly ruining the engine.
Bearings are lubricated through automatic lubricator cups, which hold oil or grease and discharge it uniformly upon the bearing through a suitable hole.
THE “DETROIT” ZERO DOUBLE CONNECTION LUBRICATOR.
DESCRIPTION.
- C1—Body or Oil Reservoir.
- C3—Filler Plug.
- C4—Water Valve.
- C5—Plug for inserting Sight-Feed Glass.
- C6—Sight-Feed Drain Stem.
- C7—Regulating Valve.
- C8—Drain Valve.
- C9—Steam Valve.
- C10—Union Nut.
- C11—Tail Piece.
- H—Sight-Feed Glass.
A sight feed ordinary cup permits the drops of oil to be seen as they pass downward through a glass tube, and also the engineer may see how much oil there is in the cup. Such a cup is suitable for all parts of an engine except the crank pin, cross-head, and, of course, the cylinder.
The crank pin oiler is an oil cup so arranged as to force oil into the bearing only when the engine is working, and more rapidly as the engine works more rapidly. In one form, which uses liquid oil, the oil stands below a disc, from which is the opening through the shank to the bearing. As the engine speeds up, the centrifugal force tends to force the oil to the top of the cup and so on to the bearing, and the higher the speed the greater the amount of oil thrown into the crank pin.
Hard oil or grease has of late been coming into extensive use. It is placed in a compression cup, at the top of which a disc is pressed down by a spring, and also by some kind of a screw. From time to time the screw is tightened up by hand, and the spring automatically forces down the grease.
