CATALOG OF THE MECHANICAL COLLECTIONS 97 



The lubricator consists principally of a large cylindrical brass res- 

 ervoir containing the oil. This reservoir is connected at the top 

 through a length of vertical uninsulated pipe to the steam main. The 

 pipe extends down within the reservoir to a point near the bottom. 

 Steam entering this pipe is condensed to some extent and conveys 

 water into the reservoir, where it displaces the oil to the top. A second 

 pipe entering the reservoir at the bottom extends nearly to the top. 

 The top of this pipe is open, and the oil is forced into it. This pipe 

 conveys the oil to a needle valve at the bottom of a sight glass or 

 water column through which the oil rises in drops to the pipe that 

 conveys it to the steam main. The resistance offered the flow of oil 

 by the pressure in the main is overcome by the pressure exerted on 

 the oil in the reservoir by the steam pressure in the uninsulated pipe 

 plus the pressure due to the height of the column of water standing 

 in the pipe. 



The rate of flow of the oil is regulated by the needle valve at the 

 bottom of the sight glass, which is set to deliver oil at the rate required, 

 usually stated in drops per minute. This is a multiple lubricator 

 provided with three delivery valves and sight glasses from which oil 

 may be supplied to three different points at three different rates. A 

 sight level glass on the side of the reservoir is provided to show the 

 quantities of oil and water within the reservoir. Stiff sheet-brass 

 guards surround all the glass parts so that the highly strained gauge 

 glass will not fly far off if the glass should fail under the pressure 

 within the lubricator. 



BRAMWELL VALVE, 1859 



U.S.N.M. no. 309251; original patent model; transferred from the United States 

 Patent Office; not illusti'ated. 



This model was submitted with the application for the patent issued 

 to William Bramwell, of New York, N. Y., June 14, 1859, no. 24639. 



The model represents a valve in which a gate swinging upon a hori- 

 zontal axis is opened or closed by means of a hand wheel, vertical 

 screw, and toggle link. 



The gate of the valve is a conical plug that swings on an arm 

 from a pivot above it. When closed the gate fits a conical seat in the 

 valve body ; when opened it swings up into the top of the valve body 

 practically clear of the passages. The peculiar feature of the valve 

 is the arrangement of parts, which permits the closing of a swing- 

 gate valve by means of a hand wheel and screw. 



