Editing Automatic lubricator (section)

==Silvertown mechanical lubricator==
[[File:Silvertown mechanical lubricator.jpg|thumb|Patent drawing of the original Midland Railway version of the Silverton mechanical lubricator as reproduced in the December 1911 issue of 'The Engineer' magazine.]]The Silvertown lubricator was designed and developed by the [[Midland Railway]] in 1911 and from 1922 was commercially available from Gresham and Craven. This style of mechanical lubricator was used by the [[London, Midland and Scottish Railway]] and latter by [[British Rail]], as well as by the various UK private locomotive builders for export overseas. Commonly 2 lubricators were fitted, one for lubricating the cylinders and the second for lubricating the axleboxes.<ref name=Locolub />

The lubricator is a self-contained unit with the drive mechanism fitted at one end, with the drive shaft running through the cast iron oil reservoir. The drive shaft is fitted with 2 hardened steel eccentrics which provide movement to the drive frame which runs in machined grooves in the oil reservoir. This drive frame reciprocates vertically which then drives the double acting independent oil pumps located in the oil reservoir.<ref name=Locolub />

The lubricator is driven by a rod from the expansion link in locomotives valve gear. The rocking motion of this drive is converted to a rotary motion by a series of driving pawls contained in a clutch box. The lubricators were also fitted with a priming hand wheel on the outer face of the lubricator.<ref name=Locolub />