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US 2004/0168859 A1Published application
Strand lubrication
AssigneeWld, LLC
InventorsTimothy L. Coder, Dennis D. Hartman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strand being pulled through a conduit is automatically lubricated.
Claims60
An apparatus comprising
- a lubricator to dispense a lubricant onto a strand while the strand is being pulled through a conduit, the lubricator being formed of a plastic material and having embedded channels that carry the lubricant under pressure from an inlet to outlets at which the lubricant is dispensed.
An apparatus comprising
- a lubricator to dispense a lubricant onto a strand while the strand is being pulled through a conduit, the lubricator configured to enable (a) a coupling of one end of the lubricator to an end of the conduit, and (b) a coupling of another end of the lubricator to a protective bushing.
A method comprising
- mounting a lubricator temporarily on an end of a conduit through which a strand is to be pulled,
- pulling the strand through a bushing, the lubricator, and the conduit,
- unmounting the lubricator and removing it from the strand without removing the bushing from the strand, and
- mounting the bushing on the end of the conduit.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising
- a lubricator to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, and
- a brush to prevent the lubricant from leaking out of the lubricator,
- the brush being removable from the lubricator for replacement when the brush is worn.
An apparatus comprising
- a lubricator to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, the lubricator having (a) two separable pieces that are joined to mount the lubricator around the strand and (b) a reservoir that holds a supply of a lubricant, the reservoir being split between the two separable pieces, and (c) a seal to seal the reservoir when the two pieces are joined, the seal comprising a silicone packing mounted in at least one of the pieces.
An apparatus comprising
- a set of lubricators, each of the lubricators to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, the lubricators being respectively configured for use with different sizes of conduit, and
- a holder having receptacles that are each sized to hold one of the lubricators of the set.
Apparatus comprising
- a container for a lubricator that is used to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, the container including
- a receptacle that is configured to match a configuration of at least part of the lubricator to hold the lubricator in place as the container is moved, and
- a seal to prevent the lubricant from leaking outside the container.
An apparatus comprising
- an adaptor to adapt an end of a conduit to enable it to receive a coupling of a lubricator when the end of the conduit is held in a wall of a manhole, the adaptor including an annular body having one end to insert into the end of the conduit and another end having a coupling to receive the coupling of the lubricator.
An apparatus comprising
- a pump to force a lubricant from a supply to a lubricator at which the lubricant is to be dispensed onto a strand that is being pulled through a conduit, the pump being battery-powered.
Apparatus comprising
- a pump to force a viscous lubricant from a supply to a lubricator at which the lubricant is to be dispensed onto a strand that is being pulled through a conduit, the pump including a gear pump.
An apparatus comprising
- a pump to force a lubricant from a standard-sized bucket of lubricant to a lubricator at which the lubricant is to be dispensed onto a strand that is being pulled through a conduit, the pump including a flange configured to mate with an opening of the bucket and support the pump above the bucket.
An apparatus comprising
- a battery powered pump to force a viscous lubricant from a supply to a lubricator at which the lubricant is to be dispensed onto a strand that is being pulled through a conduit, and
- a portable emergency battery to power the pump,
- the portable emergency battery including an electrical connector fitted to a housing of the battery to permit a cable between the battery and the pump to be connected and disconnected.
A method comprising
- mounting a lubricator on an end of a conduit,
- mounting a bushing on another end of the lubricator,
- pumping lubricant from a supply to the lubricator, and
- pulling a strand through the lubricator and through the conduit, the lubricant being dispensed onto the strand from the lubricator during the pulling.
1 more element
A method comprising
- drawing a lubricant from a supply to a reservoir using an auger,
- forcing the lubricant from the reservoir between two meshing gears into a supply line, and
- delivering the lubricant through the supply line to a lubricator to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit.
A method comprising
- pulling a strand from a supply of the strand through a conduit,
- at the supply end automatically lubricating the strand as it enters the conduit, and
- enabling a single person to control both the delivery of the strand from the strand supply to the conduit and the rate of delivery of lubricant from a supply of the lubricant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.