Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an apparatus for applying
a liquid to a wire rope.
More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus
for thoroughly saturating wire rope with a wide variety of
liquids including oils, preservatlves, solvents, cleaners or
other chemicals. Apparatuses of generally the type described
herein are disclosed, for example by U.S. Patents Nos. 3,889,781,
which issued to R. A. Schott et al on June 17, 1975; 4,063,617,
which issued to W. JO Shenk on December 20, 1977 and 4,498,558,
which issued to S. H. Bendahan on February 12, 1985. The Bendanhan
patent discloses a device which is somewhat similar to the
apparatus described herein.
One of the problems of available lubricators is that
excess lubricant is discharged from the device with the cable,
i.e. the lubricators are messy and cause waste. The Bendahan
patent attempts to solve this problem by providing a pair of
annular chambers for receiving excess grease upstream and downstream
of a central greasing chamber in the direction of cable travel.
Bendahan also provides a threaded passage and scraper plates
in an attempt to seal the lubricating device. While the Bendahan
patent goes a long way toward solving the problem of liquid
leakage, there is still room for improvement in the field of
devices for applying a liquid to a wire rope or cable.
The object of the present invention is to solve the
above-identified problems by providing a relatively simple
apparatus for applying a liquid to a wire rope which is relatively
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mess-free, of rugged construction, easy -to use and cost efficient.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an
apparatus for applying a liquid to a wire rope comprising casing
means; rope passage means extending through said casing means
permitting the unimpeded movement of a wire rope therethrough;
at least one inlet duct means in said casing means fox receiving
liquid from a source of liquid under pressure, and for spraying
the liquid against the wire rope; outlet passage means in said
casing means upstream and downstream of said inlet duct means
in the direction of wire rope travel for discharging excess
liquid from said casing means; and inlet orifice means ~pstream
and downstream of said outlet passage means for discharging
air under pressure against the rope for directing excess liquid
towards said outlet passage means, thereby at least impeding
the escape of the liquid through the ends of said passage rneans.
The invention will be described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate
a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side and
above of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from the other side
and above of the apparatus of Fig. l;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. l;
Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus of Figs.
1 to 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of
Figs. 1 to 4 in the open condition, with a part removed;
E'igure 6 is a partly sectioned bottom view of the
apparatus of Figs. 1 to 5;
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Figure 7 is a longitudinal, sectional view oE the
apparatus of Figs. 1 to 6;
Figure 8 is a perspective view from one end and the
inner surface of a manifold block used in the apparatus of
Figs. 1 to 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the outer surface
and one end of the manifold block of Fig. 8;
Figure 10 is a cross section taken generally along
line X-X of Fig. 8;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a manifold
used in the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 7; and
Figures 12 and 13 are longitudinal, sectional views
of the manifold of Fig. 11.
With reference to the drawings, the apparatus of
the present invention includes an oblong, more or less cylindrical
casing generally indicated at 1 defined by a pair of hingedly
intereconnected sections 2 and 3. A pair of arms 5 are provided
on the ends of one section 2 for overlapping portions of the
section 3 and a central projection 6 on the section 3. A pin
8 extends through the arms 5 and the projection 6 to pivotally
interconnect the sections 2 and 3. Lugs 9 extend outwardly
from the middle of each end of both sides of the sections 2
and 3 for mounting or suspending the body 1 in a position suitable
for receiving a wire rope (not shown).
The sections 2 and 3 are maintained in the closed
position b~ a palr o, rods lG, which resemble headless machine
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bolts, and cylindrical nuts 11. The unthreaded inner end of
each rod 10 is pivotally mounted on a pin 13 extending the
length of casing section 1 on the side opposite the hinge.
The rods 10 rotate around the longitudinal axis of the pin
13 into and out of aligned grooves 14 and 15 in the casing
sections 2 and 3, respectively. The head 17 of the nut 11
is enlarged and has a knurled periphery for facilitating manual
rotation of the nuts 11 on the threaded outer ends of the rods
10. In the closed position of the casing 1, the nuts 11 are
tightened against the side of a square corner 18 of the section
3 to secure the casing 1 in the closed position.
A semicylindrical groove 20 (Fig. 5) is provided in
each casing section 2 and 3 for defining a longitudinally extending,
central passage in the casing 1 when in the closed position.
The casing 1 is closed around a wire rope (not shown) for treating
the latter with liquid. A major portion of the length of each
groove 20 is enlarged to define a deep semicylindrical recess
23 with a shoulder 24 at each side thereof for receiving an
insert 25 (Figs. 5 and 8 to 10). The recesses 23 are identical
and accordingly only one is described in detail. A central
liquid inlet orifice 26 is provided in the centre of each recess.
One threaded end of a tube coupler 28 is mounted in the threaded,
countersunk outer end 29 of the orifice 26. A tube 30 extends
from the coupler 28 to a coupler 31 in one side of a manifold
32 (described hereinafter in greater detail). A semi annular,
transversely extending groove 35 is provided near each end
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of the recesses 23, with an air inlet opening 36 in the bottom
centre -thereof. The ends of the grooves 35 taper, i.e. become
progressively more shallow towards their ends, so that the groove
ends terminate slightly beneath the square, recessed shoulders
24 extending the length of each slde of the recess 23. The
air inlet openings 36 are connected by couplers 38 and 30, and
tubes 41 to the manifold 32.
A pair of large liquid discharge openings 42 are
provided on one side of the xecess 23. I'he openings 42 com-
unicate with a longitudinally extending discharge passage 44(Fig. ~). A coupler 45 for connecting the c.asing 1 to discharge
tubing (not shown) extends into the outer end of the discharge
passage 44. An extra, diagonal liquid outlet or discharge passage
46 is provided in a projection 47 on one side of the casing
section 2. A coupler 49 is mounted in the outer end of the
passage 46 for connecting the latter to discharge tubing. In
the closed position of the casing 1 (Figs, 1 to 4), the openings
42 are diametrically opposed to each other.
As best shown in Figs. 8 to 10, each insert 25 includes
a semicylindrical outer surface 50 for abutting the recess 23,
and a planar inner surface 51. Flanges 52 extend outwardly
from the sides of the inner surface 51 for resting on the
shoulder 24. A semicylindnrical recess 54 extends the entire
length of the inner surface 51, so that when the casing
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1 is closed, the inserts 25 form an inner casing through which
the wire rope can pass freely. A semi-annular groove 56 extends
transversely of the centre of the recess 54 for forming an
annular llquid passage. A central liquid inlet orifice 57
in the centre of the groove 56 is aligned with the inlet orifice
26 in the casing section 2 or 3 for admitting liquid under
pressure into the groove 56. Larger, rectangular discharge
grooves 58 are provided on eaeh sicLe of the groove 56, with
openings 60 for aligning with the openings 42 in the casing
sections 2 and 3. Semi-annular, generally V-shaped end grooves
61 contain the discharge ends of a plurality of inclined, inwardly
tapering air inlet orifices 62. The orifices 62 communicate
with the grooves 35 for introducing air into the eentral passage
at an angle from each end.
~s shown in Figs. 11 to 13, the manifold 32 is defined
by a dise-shaped metal body 65, which is separate from the
easing 1. Oil or another liquid is introdueed into an inlet
passage 66 in the body 65 via a tube eoupler 67. The passage
66 is eonnected to a seeond passage 60 which is perpendicular
to the passage 66 for discharging the liquid into the tubes
30. A seeond set of diametrieally extending passages 70 interseet
each other above the passages 66 and 69 for introducing air
into the tubes 41. The air enters the body 65 through a coupler
72 and a central, vertical passage 73 and is discharged through
; 25 the passages 70 and the tubes 41 into the casing 1.
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Prlor to using the apparatus, the insert size, i.e.
the dimensions of the passage defined by the recess 54 is
adjusted to the wire rope diameter. This operation is quite
simple, merely involving the replacing of one pair of inserts
25 with another set of block. The casing 1 is closed around
a wire rope and locked in -the closed position using the rods
10 and the nuts 11. The casing 1 can be oriented in the vertical
or horizontal position.
The wire rope is set in motion and passes continuously
through the manifold block 25. Oil or another liquid is injected
under pressure through the manifold 32 and the tubes 30 into
both sides of the casing 1. The oil passes through the orifices
26 and 57, and the groove 56 entering the strands of the wire
rope. At the same time air under pressure injected into the
manifold 32 is discharged through tubes 41 into both sides
and both ends of the casing 1. The air passes through openings
36, the grooves 35, and the orifices 62. The air is injected
at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the wire rope.
The orifices 62 are inclined towards each other, i.e. towards
the grooves 58, so that any loose oil is blown into the grooves
58. The oil is discharged from the casing 1 via the openings
60 and 42, and the passages 44 and 46. The oil can be recycled
for use in lubricating other sections of the wire rope.
