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Strand lubricationRelated Patent Categories: Lubrication, Lubricators, Belt, Cable, Chain Or ConveyorStrand lubrication description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080060878, Strand lubrication. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/372,744, filed Mar. 10, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/372,744 is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/641,000, filed Aug. 14, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,866, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/641,000 is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/991,418, filed Nov. 15, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,973, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/991,418 claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/249,413, filed Nov. 16, 2000 the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] This description relates to strand lubrication. [0003] To make it easier to pull a strand or multiple strands (e.g., an insulated electrical wire) through a conduit, the strand is often lubricated. One person typically applies the lubricant, for example, soap, to the strand by hand as one or more other people (depending on the diameter and weight of the strand) withdraw the strand from a coil or other supply and feed it into the conduit. One or more people at the other end of the conduit pull on the strand while it is being lubricated and fed. [0004] The end of the conduit typically has an external thread. After the wire is pulled through the conduit, a standard cylindrical bushing is screwed onto the end of the conduit to protect the wire from damage that might otherwise be caused by the sometimes-rough edge at the end of the conduit. [0005] Various devices have been proposed to simplify the process of lubricating the strand while it is being pulled. SUMMARY [0006] In general, in one aspect, the invention features 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. [0007] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The plastic includes glass-filled polypropylene. The lubricator includes two plastic pieces. Ribs are formed on an outer surface of the lubricator. [0008] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. [0009] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The lubricator includes a thread on the one end to enable the coupling to the end of the conduit. The thread includes an internal thread that mates with an external thread of the conduit. The lubricator includes a thread on the other end to enable the coupling to be mated to the protective bushing. The thread includes an external thread that mates with an internal thread of the bushing. The lubricator includes an external thread on the other end that mates with an internal thread of the bushing and in which the internal thread on one end of the lubricator and the external thread on the other end of the lubricator are of the same pitch and matching diameter. The lubricator includes two pieces that are separable to mount the assembly around the strand. [0010] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. [0011] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The bushing is mounted on the lubricator before pulling the strand. The bushing is unmounted from the lubricator before mounting the bushing on the end of the conduit. The lubricator is mounted onto the threaded end of the conduit by threading or clamping. The bushing is mounted on the end of the conduit by threading. The lubricator and the bushing are mounted on the end of the conduit using threads on the end of the conduit. The bushing is mounted on the end of the conduit without necessarily passing the bushing over a free end of the strand and along a length of the strand to reach the conduit. [0012] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. [0013] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The brush includes bristles arranged in a ring, an end of each of the bristles being held in a ring-shaped ferrule. The lubricator includes a receptacle into which the ring-shaped ferrule can be inserted and removed for replacement. The lubricator includes a groove to mate with the ferrule. The brush is removable by sliding a portion of the brush with respect to a portion of the lubricator. The brush defines a chamber between the brush and the conduit when the lubricator is mounted on the conduit, and the lubricator includes outlets configured to dispense lubricant into the chamber. [0014] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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 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. [0015] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The reservoir includes a ring-shaped tube that is formed in a wall of each of the two separable pieces, the tube being split when the pieces are not joined. [0016] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. [0017] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. There are at least two but fewer than six lubricators in a set. A set includes a holder having receptacles that are each sized to hold one of the lubricators within the set, all the lubricators within one set being a different size than any of the lubricators of another set. The holder includes an airtight container that is sealed to prevent the lubricant from drying out. 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. The container includes a body and a lid and the seal is between the body and the lid. [0018] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. [0019] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The coupling of the adaptor includes threading. The one end of the annular body is tapered. The adaptor includes two pieces. The two pieces include halves of a cylinder. The adaptor is formed of plastic. [0020] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. [0021] Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. A battery-powered motor drives the pump. 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. The apparatus of claim also comprising a battery-powered motor to drive the gear pump, the motor having different transmissions to vary the amount of lubricant applied to the strand. A foot switch turns the motor on or off. The gear pump includes a pair of gears to force the lubricant from a reservoir to an outlet for a supply hose. A mechanism feeds lubricant from the supply to the reservoir. The mechanism includes an auger. The auger is geared to the gear pump. The auger is driven to oversupply the reservoir relative to the amount of lubricant being pumped by the gear pump. [0022] In general, in another aspect, the invention features 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. Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. An auger draws lubricant from the bucket, the auger being driven by a motor, the motor being mounted above the flange, the auger projecting below the flange. A follower plate has an aperture sized to accommodate the auger and to permit the follower plate to slide up and down along the auger. The follower plate has an outer edge configured to match an inner-side wall of the bucket and configured to slide up and down the suction pipe around the auger. Continue reading about Strand lubrication... Full patent description for Strand lubrication Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Strand lubrication patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Strand lubrication or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Oil supply device Next Patent Application: Load suspension means for a lifting apparatus Industry Class: Lubrication ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Strand lubrication patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.16032 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
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