Lubricating tubes, systems, and methods

A lubrication system for an apparatus including a rolling component, the lubrication system comprising:

• a fluid reservoir containing a fluid;
• a fluid line coupled to the fluid reservoir;
• and
• a lubricating tube disposed between the fluid line and the rolling component, the lubricating tube comprising:
• a rigid cylindrical body surrounding a cavity and having an outer circumferential surface,
• an inlet coupled to the fluid line and providing fluid communication between the fluid line and the cavity, and
• a plurality of holes disposed along the outer circumferential surface, wherein each hole extends from the outer circumferential surface toward the cavity, and wherein the plurality of holes comprise:
• a plurality of blind holes extending from the outer circumferential surface to a closed end, and
• a plurality of ports extending from the outer circumferential surface to the cavity, wherein each port of the plurality of ports is configured to dispense the fluid to the rolling component.

A lubricating tube for a lubrication system including a fluid reservoir, wherein the fluid reservoir contains a fluid, and a fluid line coupled to the fluid reservoir, the lubricating tube comprising:

• a rigid cylindrical body surrounding a cavity and having an outer circumferential surface;
• an inlet configured to be coupled to the fluid line and configured to provide fluid communication between the fluid line and the cavity;
• and
• a plurality of blind holes disposed along the outer circumferential surface, wherein each blind hole of the plurality of holes extends from the outer circumferential surface toward the cavity, wherein each blind hole of the plurality of blind holes includes an opening at the outer circumferential surface and a closed end spaced from the cavity, wherein the plurality of blind holes is configured to define a plurality of ports that extend to the cavity, and wherein each port of the plurality of ports is configured to dispense the fluid to a rolling component.

A method of lubricating an apparatus including a rolling component using a lubricating tube, wherein the lubricating tube includes a rigid cylindrical body surrounding a cavity and having an outer circumferential surface, an inlet, and a plurality of blind holes disposed along the outer circumferential surface, wherein each blind hole of the plurality of blind holes extends from the outer circumferential surface toward the cavity, the method comprising:

• determining lubrication points of the rolling component;
• selecting a group of blind holes of the plurality of blind holes;
• defining a plurality of ports by forming a respective opening between each selected blind hole of the group of blind holes and the cavity such that each port of the plurality of ports extends from the outer circumference to the cavity;
• and
• dispensing, using the plurality of ports, a fluid to the rolling component, wherein the lubricating tube is disposed between the rolling component and a fluid line, wherein the inlet is coupled to the fluid line and provides fluid communication between the fluid line and the cavity, and wherein the fluid line is coupled to a fluid reservoir containing the fluid.