METHOD FOR LUBRICATING AND LUBRICATING SPRAY APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to apparatus for supplying fluids, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for lubricating an object by sprinkling the lubricant on the object. The invention has been developed primarily but not exclusively as a means to efficiently and reliably perform in the field the lubrication of threaded connections of drill pipes which are used to drill large holes which are used in various operations ranging from oil and gas exploration to installation of communication cables, the lubrication of the threaded connections facilitates the end-to-end assembly of the drill pipes. To date, the lubrication of such connections has been carried out in general either manually or (often inadequately) with air operated pumps. Manual lubrication requires the drilling operator to lose productive time when having to leave his cabin to hand-apply the lubricant to the threaded connection. The application through the use of air operated pumps to sprinkle the lubricant on the threaded connections is generally ineffective to provide a good quality spray at temperatures in the range of +71 ° C to -29 ° C; at low temperatures, air-operated pumps can even become inoperable. The invention has also taken into account the problem that certain zinc or copper-based fats specially formulated to lubricate drill pipe connections are very difficult to pump and spray, and the additional problem that previous application methods have resulted in some times in the application of too much or too little lubricant to connections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, among the various objects of the invention one can note the provision of an apparatus for dispensing lubricant in particular to sprinkle lubricant reliably and efficiently on threaded connections of drill pipes or open gears, even at low temperatures in the field, and allow the use of the specially formulated lubricants mentioned above; the provision of said apparatus that is easily adjustable to supply or spray lubricant loads of different selected volumes (in scale, for example, from 8.19 cm3 to 32.7 cm3); the provision of said apparatus that obtains energy for a spraying operation only from the pressure of the lubricant supplied thereto; the provision of a method for sprinkling lubricants on a rotating object, including, (but not limited to drill pipe threads), with the duration of spraying being synchronized with the rotation of the object to provide a more accurate distribution of the lubricant on the object; the provision of said method that is applicable to the spraying of the lubricant on the drilling tube of a directional drilling machine and other drilling / drilling machines; and the provision of apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method; and the provision of said method and apparatus in which the pattern, pressure, volume and duration of spraying are controllable, as required by the circumstances; and the provision of said apparatus which is easily mountable on a drilling / boring machine to apply lubricant to the threaded connections of the sections of the drill pipe. Although the invention as it has been developed has been made in apparatuses for sprinkling a load of lubricant on a threaded connection of drill pipe for blasting, it should be understood that the principles of the invention are also applicable to assortment apparatus for fluids other than lubricants. , for example, sealants and adhesives, and assortment appliances useful in packaging operations to supply measured or metered loads of fluid to packaging. The term "fluid" as used herein is designed to primarily cover any non-gaseous fluid, including viscous fluids such as fats. In general, a method of the present invention involves the steps of sprinkling lubricant on a rotating object, and synchronizing the duration of sprinkling with the rotation of the object so that the sprinkling continues only during a sprinkling time interval corresponding to the rotation of the object through a predetermined rotation scale. The devices for sprinkling lubricants of the present invention can be used to spray lubricant to a rotating object. The apparatus comprises a spout for sprinkling a volume of lubricant, adapted for connection in a system for supplying lubricant under pressure to the spout to charge it with lubricant to be sprinkled. The apparatus further comprises a supply system for supplying the volume of lubricant to be sprayed by the spout, including a discharge valve adapted to be closed for filling the spout and to be open to spray said volume, and a controller for controlling the time duration of the opening and closing of the discharge valve so that the spray continues only during a period of one spray time corresponding to the rotation of the object through a predetermined rotation scale. In another aspect, this invention is directed to a directional ng machine for rotating a drill rod comprising a series of separate longitudinal sections having screwed ends for connection of the end-to-end sections. The auger comprises a chassis, a system for rotating the drill rod in relation to the chassis, and dispensing apparatuses mounted on the chassis for sprinkling lubricant on the threaded end of a drill rod section as it rotates.
Other objects and characteristics will be evident in part and in part will be highlighted right away.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an elevation view of one side of a dispenser of the invention (this side being referred to as the right side). Figure 2 is a plan view of the spout. Figure 3 is an end elevation view of the spout as seen from the right of Figures 1 and 2 (a view of what can be referred to as its front end). Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view partially (the upper part) on a vertical longitudinal plane through the center of the accumulator and a pressure switch of the apparatus and partly (the lower part) on a vertical longitudinal plane a through the axis of a cylinder of the apparatus, these planes being enhanced one from the other. Figure 4A is a vertical section fragmented generally on line 4A-4A of Figure 6 illustrating a fluid inlet and outlet port (lubricant to and from the cylinder). Figure 5 is a fragmented horizontal cross-section taken generally on line 5-5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a fragmented horizontal cross-section taken generally on line 6-6 of Figure 3 which shows in diagram in dotted lines an outlet line that extends from the outlet of the spout to a spray nozzle placed to sprinkle lubricant over a threaded connection. Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the dispensing apparatus of this invention in its entirety including the spout, the system for supplying fluid (lubricant) thereto, the system for supplying the fluid (lubricant) from the spout, and the energy accumulator . Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating a jet of the present invention mounted on the structure of a vertical drilling / boring machine for sprinkling the threaded end of a drill pipe. Figure 9 is a schematic view illustrating a jet of the present invention mounted on the chassis of a horizontal drilling / boring machine for sprinkling the threaded end of a rotary drill pipe. Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an alternate mode of the spout. Figure 11 is a sectional view along the lines 1 il of Figure 10 showing a heater mounted in the spout body. Figure 12 is a sectional view along lines 12-12 of Figure 10; and Figure 13 is a sectional view similar to Figure 6 showing the spray nozzle mounted on a separate body away from the portion of the nozzle containing the piston. Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts through various views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY
With reference to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, a spout for ejecting a measured volume of fluid in each operation thereof is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 1. The spout is adapted for connection thereto and it is shown in figure 7 as it is connected in a system designated in its entirety by the reference number 3 including a pump P for supplying fluid which will be expelled therefrom with the fluid thus supplied under pressure to charge the spout with said fluid that will be assortment. A system designated in its entirety by the reference number 5 (Fig. 7) is provided for supply (ejection) of the set measured volume of fluid with each actuation of the spout. This system 5 includes a discharge valve 7 adapted to be closed for loading the dispenser 1 and to be open for ejection of said measured volume of fluid by the dispenser 1. An energy accumulator indicated in its entirety by the reference character A is provided for accumulating energy (power) to operate the spout 1 to eject the set fluid volume (the load) said accumulator is cumulative, i.e., adapted to accumulate the set energy operable by the spout in response to the supply of fluid under pressure to the supplier to charge it. In the specific aspect of the invention, the fluid that the dispenser
1 will eject in a measured volume with each drive is a lubricant, such as one of the special fats mentioned above. For lubrication purposes of hole drilling pipe connection for flown, the volume may be in the range of 8.19 cubic centimeters to 32.7 cubic centimeters, depending on the size of the threaded connection, the spout being constructed in a manner for said adjustment of volume as it will appear. Broadly, the spout is an expandable camera device having a rear and a front aspect and a member 11 movable in the device between a retracted rearward position and a forward position. More particularly, the spout 1 (the expandable chamber device) is a cylinder-piston device comprising a body or block 13 having a bottom part 15, top part 16, sides 17 and 18, side 17 being referred to as the right side, a rear end 19 and a front end 21, the body or block is formed with a cylindrical hole 23 (figure 4) extending from its rear end 14 towards, but ending in some way before, its front end 21. The hole 23 is perforated with its axis extending horizontally in the vertical central plane of the body adjacent the bottom 15 of the body and constitutes the cylinder of the piston-cylinder device, said device has the piston 11 (the movable part) slidable reciprocally in relation sealed in the cylinder between the retracted position which shows the solid lines in figure 4 adjacent to the rear end of the cylinder and a position towards the rear. as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The forward movement of the piston from its retracted position to its forward position can be referred to as its forward supply or ejection impact, and its movement backward from its position toward forward back to its retracted position can be referred to as its impact back. As shown, the piston 11 has a central portion 25 of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the cylinder 23 and rear and front reduced diameter extensions 27 and 29 having slightly elongated tapered ends. The piston is provided with suitable seals as indicated at 27s and 29s surrounding the piston extensions to seal slidably against the surface of the cylinder 23. The back side of the seal 27s and the rear side of the rear extension 27 constitute the side or back face of the piston; the front side of the seal 29s and the front extension 29 constitute the face or front side of the piston. The retracted rearward position of the piston 11 (solid lines, figure 4) is determined by coupling the end of the rear extension 27 of the piston with a stop 31 at the rear end of the cylinder 23. The stop is axially adjustable from the cylinder to vary the Retracted position of the piston to vary therefore the volume of lubricant expelled in a supply or ejecting impact of the piston. As shown, the top 31 comprises a relatively short length of rod axially slidable with respect to the cylinder in a hole 33 in a threaded fitting 35 as indicated at 37 at the rear end of the cylinder, the top (the rod) is backed by an adjusting screw 39 screwed in a capped hole 41 extending axially in the fitting with a lock nut 43 to secure the screw in the axially adjusted position. The forward end of the hole 33 is tapered as shown in Figure 4. The fitting has a hexagonal head 47 for application of a tool for screwing it into the rear end of the cylinder and is formed to provide a seal 49 to seal it in place. . A seal 51 is provided for the stop 35 (the rod) in the hole 33. The arrangement is such that by adjusting the screw 39 to prevent the stop coming back (move backward) in the fitting 35 from a selected position with respect to to the accessory, different selected retracted positions for the piston can be determined, the retracted position being determined by coupling the rear end of the rear extension 29 of the piston with the front end of the stop and engagement of the stop with the screw 39. The piston 11 divides the space in the cylinder 23 in a forward expandable and shrinkable chamber 53, which can be referred to as the first chamber, and an expandable and shrinkable chamber 55 behind which can be referred to as the second chamber. The body 13 (or block) has an inlet 57 for lubricant under pressure at its front end 21 and a passage 59 (figure 5) that provides communication from the inlet to the first or front chamber 53 in the cylinder 23. The body 13 is adapted for connection thereto and shown in figure 7 as it is connected in the system, indicated as mentioned above in number 3 in its entirety, to supply lubricant under pressure to the (first) front chamber 53, the pressurized lubricant supplied to the chamber 53 being operable to drive the piston 11 back to its retracted position against the front end of the stop 31 and thereby to expand and fill the (first) front chamber 53 for a supply operation. In this way, the pressurized lubricant supplied by the pump P (see figure 7) to said front chamber 53 is operable to drive the piston 11 rearwardly to its retracted position determined by piston engagement (more particularly by coupling the rear end of the piston). the piston extension 27) with the stop 31, therefore to expand the front chamber 53 which is filled with the lubricant. The system 3 noted above (in diagram in Figure 7) for supplying lubricant (the fluid to be expelled) under pressure to the spout 1 for ejection is shown primarily therefore comprising the pump P which takes the lubricant in from a supply of lubricant indicated in diagram in 63 (the reservoir or container of lubricant). The pump has an outlet indicated at 65, which may have an outlet check valve as indicated at 65v, connected by the lubricant supply line indicated at 67 to the inlet 57 of the dispenser 1 to charge the spout. The inlet 57 is at a front end of the spout body. Extending backward from the entrance in the body is passage 71 (Fig. 5) leading to the crossing passage 73 which includes an inlet check valve indicated in its entirety at 75, from which passage passage a passage extends. 77 in general tangentially with respect to the passage 73 forward from the latter to a vertical passage 79. The passage 77 is pierced in the passage 79 from the forward end 21 of the body 13 and is provided at its outer end (at the end front of the body) with a pressure relief valve 81 adapted to relieve the pressure in the passage 79 if it becomes excessive, for example of more than 281.20 kg / cm2. The valve 81 is a conventional pressure relief valve such as a Model 90942 valve sold by Lincoln Industrial, of St. Louis, Missouri. It will be noted that the vertical passage 79 is raised from the vertical plane of the axis of the cylinder 23 to the right side 17 of the body 13 although it appears in Figure 4 as in the same vertical plane as said axis in Figure 4 for convenience of illustration. The passage 79 extends downwards to a hole 83 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) which extends transversely with respect to the body 13 some way forward of the forward end of the cylinder 23. The hole 83 is drilled in the body 13 from the right side 17 of the body, ending shortly before the left side 18. The vertical passage 79 and the hole 83 are co-planar in a vertical transverse plane of the body in some way forward of the front end of the cylinder. A PS fluid pressure (lubricant) switch such as a Model 92201 -BB3 switch sold by Barksdale of Los Angeles, California, is sealed in its lower end on top of the body 13 in a pipe thread 79c at the upper end of the passage 79. A passage or port 85 (see figure 6) extends rearwardly from the hole 83 to the front end of the cylinder 23 to provide communication between them. The arrangement is such that the lubricant supplied under pressure at the inlet of the spout 57 by the pump P by means of the line 67 flows through the passage 71 to the passage 73, opens the inlet check valve 75, flows through the passage 77 to the vertical passage 79, thence through the hole 83 and the passage or port 85 towards the forward end of the cylinder 23. The pressure switch PS, which is normally open, closes when the pressure reaches a predetermined value. The PS pressure switch can be set at the factory to close at a fixed pressure, or it can be adjusted in the field to vary the pressure at which the switch closes. As shown in Figure 5, the inlet check valve 75 comprises a valve seat 87 equipped by pressure on an accessory 95 that is upstream from the passage 71. The accessory 91 is screwed into and closes the outer end of the passageway. 73 and has a hole 93 in which a valve sphere 905 is movable in and out of engagement with the seat, being biased to the closed position by engaging the seat by a coil compression spring 99. The attachment has a reduced diameter section 101 that provides an annular chamber 103 around said section in passage 73, the tangential passage 77 extends forward from the lower region of this chamber to said vertical passage 79. Accessory 91 has ports Radials as indicated at 105 communicating with the annular chamber 103. The seals for the inlet check valve are indicated at 106. The arrangement is such that the lubricant supplied under pressure at the inlet of the spout 57 flows through the passageway. 71 towards the passage 73, opens the sphere 95 against the deflection of the spring 99, flows through the hole 93 of the accessory 91, and then flows through the radial ports 105, the chamber 103 and the passages 77 and 79, the hole 83 and the passage (port) 85 towards the front end of the cylinder 23 (ie towards the forward expandable chamber 53 of the cylinder). The front chamber 53 of the cylinder is therefore loaded with lubricant, the load being a volume (or load) measured (dosed) as will be explained later. The system indicated in its entirety by the reference number 5 is provided for the flow of the metered (metered) volume of the lubricant constituting the lubricant charge from the front chamber 53 of the cylinder 23, ie for ejection of said metered volume of the lubricant from the cylinder 23, to be sprinkled by means of a spray nozzle 107 (Fig. 6) on a threaded connection of drill pipe 109 to be lubricated with the forward movement of the piston 11 from its retracted position through an impact forward (supply). This system includes a lubricant outlet passage 111 in the body 13 for lubricant flow from the front chamber 53 via the hole 83 to a lubricant outlet 113 at the front end 21 of the body 13, with the discharge valve 7 mounted in the hole 83 on the right side 17 of the body 13. The spray nozzle 107 is at the end of a lubricant line 117 connected to the lubricant outlet 113. The line 117 may comprise a short nozzle adapter shown in FIG. Figure 6 or a long line for sprinkling in a remote location from the body 13. The spray nozzle may be configured, if desired, to provide a selected fluid spray pattern, such as the nozzle Model No. TP 2500080 TC sold by Spraying Systems Co., of Wheaton, Illinois. The spray nozzle preferably has a removable spray tip with a hole that is measured and configured to provide a desired spray pattern. To change this pattern, the tip is simply replaced with a different tip. The discharge valve 7 is a solenoid valve adapted to be closed when it is without power to block the flow of lubricant to the spray nozzle such as to allow supply of the forward cylinder chamber 53 with lubricant and to be open upon having power for supplying the metered volume of lubricant (the charge) to and through the spray nozzle 107 towards the threaded connection 109 which will be lubricated (the lubrication point). The discharge valve 7, or the accumulator A, among other elements, can be located far away from the body 13 without departing from the spirit of the present invention. As shown in detail in Figure 6, the dump valve, such as model # SV58-26-0-P-00, manufactured by Hydraforce Inc. of Lincolnshire, Illinois, comprises a non-magc core 119 having a hexagonal head 121 and a coiled extension 123 screwed into the outer end of hole 83 with a seal 124. It further comprises a coil 125 on the core and a magc valve member 127 slidable in a hole 129 in the core, the valve member comprises an elongate magc rod operable by energizing the coil having a tapered tip 131 engageable with (and uncoupled from) a valve seat 133 equipped at an inner end of reduced diameter of the core extension 123 with a seal 137. The extension of core 123 has a reduced diameter section that provides an annular chamber 139 in passage 83. Core extension 123 has radial ports 141 that allow the flow of lubricant from the core. annular camera 139 to outlet passage 111. The passage or port 85 provides communication between the annular chamber 139 and the front end of the cylinder 23 (the front chamber 53 of the cylinder). The aforementioned vertical passage 79 extends downward to the annular chamber 139. As shown in figures 1-3 the discharge valve 7 is mounted on the right side 17 of the body 13 and functions to close and open the communication between the front end of cylinder 23 and outlet 113. However, in figure 7 discharge valve 7 is shown in downstream line from body 13 for illustrative convenience. Mounted on the upper part of the body 13 (together with the pressure switch PS) is the energy accumulator A, which can also be referred to as a power accumulator, to accumulate energy (power) to drive the piston 11 forward in the cylinder 23 by means of a forward supply pulse (after expansion and filling of the front chamber 53 of the cylinder) to eject the set dosed volume of lubricant, supplying it through the spray nozzle 107. The accumulator A is cumulative of energy which drives the piston (power) in response to the supply of lubricant under pressure to the front chamber 53. For this purpose, the accumulator is a pressurized gas device, which acts to accumulate energy (power) to drive the piston 11 (the "movable member") through a supply pulse in response to supply of lubricant under pressure to the front chamber 53 of cylinder 2 3. In this way, the accumulator A acts as a compression spring, storing energy with the compression of the spring, or as a tension spring, storing energy with its tensioning, all in response to the movement of the piston from its forward position to the retracted with the load of the chamber 53 expandable and collapsible forward (with the resulting expansion of the front chamber 53 and the contraction of the rear chamber 55). The accumulator of the present invention may comprise a spring or other alternate type of device for storing energy without departing from the scope of this invention. In detail, the accumulator A comprises a hollow body 145 having what in a wide sense counts as a mobile partition or separator 147 therein that divides the space in the hollow body into an expandable and collapsible gas chamber 149 on the one hand (the upper side as illustrated) of the separator and an expandable and shrinkable chamber 151 for the hydraulic fluid such as oil on the other side (the underside) of the separator. Movable separator 147 is specifically a flexible diaphragm made of nitrile, for example, with a corrugation for flexibility, and will be referred to hereafter. The hollow body 145 is formed of a generally cup-shaped or bell-shaped upper part 153 disposed with the open end downward and a lower part generally cup-shaped or bell-shaped 155 disposed with the open end towards above, the diaphragm is sealably fastened all around its peripheral margin between the open ends of the members 153 and 155. The cup-shaped portions are held together with the edge of the diaphragm held between the members 153 and 155, which are welded together. The gas chamber 149 which is the upper chamber of the two chambers
149 and 151 since the accumulator A is mounted on the upper part of the body 13, it is charged with gas eg nitrogen, under pressure, for example 105.45 kg / cm2, up to 140.60 kg / cm2. The cup-shaped top portion 149 has a suitable check valve means as indicated at 162 at the top for loading the chamber 149 with the nitrogen (or other gas). This gas charge is a preload, made at the place of manufacture, and is a permanent charge, sealed in the gas chamber 149 so that the additional surcharge is very rare if it is ever needed. The check valve means 162 is illustrated as having a check spring 163 deflected by spring and a cap screwed by screw 164 (which resembles a conventional rim valve). Adjacent to its rear end 19 the jet body 13 has a vertical passage 165 (see FIG. 4) with a thread 167 at its upper end, this passage extends down to the cylinder 23 adjacent to the rear end of the cylinder in the same vertical plane longitudinal as the vertical longitudinal plane of the passage 79 (raised to the right of the vertical longitudinal plane of the axis of the cylinder 23), although it appears in figure 4 as being in the same vertical plane as said axis for convenience of illustration. The accumulator A has a lower end 169 that extends downwards threaded on a tubular accessory 171 in turn screwed on the thread 167 with seals as indicated in 173 for mounting the accumulator A on the upper part of the body 13. The chamber of hydraulic fluid (oil) 151, the tubular accessory 171, the bottom of the thread 167 below the lower end of the fitting, the vertical passage 165 and the rear chamber 55 of the cylinder 23, are loaded with hydraulic fluid such as oil. This load can be considered as a permanent load, made at the place of manufacture of the dispenser 1 by means of a load verification valve 174 (Fig. 1) placed in a pipe thread on the side 17 of the body 13 that connects with the passage 165. Check valve 174 may have a conventional valve ball and valve design, such as Lincoln model 130021-3 and is arranged to open for loading operation and to close by means of spring deflection or pressure of hydraulic fluid (oil) in passage 165. In figure 7, a line 181 is shown for loading operation, check valve 174 is shown on line 181 for illustration convenience. A discharge valve 175 (Fig. 4), comprising a valve seat 177, a valve sphere 179, and a threaded connector 180 (or positioning screw), are placed in a threaded hole in the rear end 19 which connects to passage 165. In normal operation, valve sphere 179 is held against seat 177, and the connector prevents any leakage of fluid. If the accumulator unit A is to be put to service, the hydraulic load can be released into the atmosphere by loosening the connector 180. This will allow the hydraulic pressure to move the sphere 179 out of the valve seat 177 and around the sphere, outside to the atmosphere. In the spout apparatus of this invention for sprinkling lubricant such as grease on the part to be lubricated, the pump P is what is called a lance pump for pumping lubricant from a drum containing lubricant, more particularly a pump of the type that is shown in the US patent application co-assigned Series No. 09/151, 526 filed on September 11, 1998, entitled Pump and especially a pump sold by the company related to applicant Lincoln Industrial, of St. Louis, Missouri, under the trademark FLOW MASTER, Model No. 85483. This pump is driven by a rotary hydraulic motor indicated at 183 in Figure 7, preferably a rotary hydraulic motor such as a Roller Vane rotary hydraulic motor sold by Parker Hannifin Corp. of Greeneville, Tennessee, USA The hydraulic motor is under the control of a solenoid valve 185. The hydraulic motor has an input indicated at 187 with an inlet check valve indicated at 189 and an output indicated at 191 (all in figure 7). ). A line 193 for supplying the motor with hydraulic fluid under pressure from a source thereto (not shown) is connected to an inlet 194 of the solenoid valve 185 and a line 195 extends from an outlet 197 of the valve to the inlet 187 of the engine. At 199 a return line of hydraulic fluid extending from the outlet 191 of the engine 183 back to the source of hydraulic fluid (not shown) that causes the engine to operate is shown. This source may be one such as those typically associated with drilling operations as described above, for example, a standard hydraulic fluid pump operable to pump hydraulic fluid from a sump, with return of said fluid to the sump. The solenoid valve 185 is connected on a line 201 which passes through the motor 183, the arrangement being such that the solenoid valve, when it is without power, acts to effect a deflection by means of 199, 201, the valve and the line 197 around the motor 183 as shown in Fig. 7, and when it has power it acts to supply hydraulic fluid from the aforementioned source under pressure by means of the line 195 to operate the motor and drive the pump P. With reference to the figure 7, therein is indicated at 203 a controller with which a push button control switch 205 (a manually operable switch) is associated operable to initiate an operating cycle of the apparatus described. The switch 205 can be an illuminated switch having a lamp under the control of the controller 203. When it has power, the lamp illuminates the switch 205 to indicate that the system is ready to start an operation cycle. The lamp runs out of power to indicate that the system is not ready to start a cycle, as will be described. A controller which has been used for the device is a "Logo" Model 24R controller sold by Siemens A.G. Automation and Drives Division of Nuremberg, Germany. The controller is connected in a circuit indicated at 207 to the solenoid valve 185 which controls the pump motor, also connected in a circuit indicated at 209 to the pressure switch PS and further connected in a circuit indicated at 211 to the valve 7. The pressure relief valve 81, which acts to relieve the front cylinder chamber 53, the passages 85 and 79 and the pressure switch PS, of excessive pressure (for example 281.20 kg / cm2) has a line of lubricant 213 that extends from it that is vented to the atmosphere. The relief valve 81 is shown in Figure 7 upstream from the spout 1 for convenience (rather than at the front end of the spout). It could be located on the left side of the body (at 215, see figures 1 and 3) in communication with the passage 79, in which case the passage 77 is closed at its outer end by a connector. At 217 in FIG. 7, a heated annex for the jet 1 and the associated components 7, PS, 81 and the accumulator A is indicated on dotted lines. Assuming that the piston 11 is in its retracted position backwards against the stop 31 (as shown in solid lines in Fig. 4), and assuming further that the front cylinder chamber 53 is fully loaded with lubricant under pressure, that the discharge valve 7 is closed (containing the charge), the solenoid valve 185 is energy and therefore positioned to block the flow of hydraulic fluid from the line 193 to the pump motor 183, that the pressure switch PS is closed by the lubricant under pressure (for example 210.90 kg / cm2) in the cylinder 23 and by so in the passage 79, and that the nitrogen gas in the gas chamber 149 of the energy accumulator A is under increased pressure above its initial pressure, as a result of a previous operation of the apparatus, it can be considered that a cycle of operation of the apparatus is initiated. by the operator (as in the drilling equipment cabin) by pressing the push button 205 to start the operation by means of the controller. The controller 203 then acts to carry out a sequence of operations in which, first, the discharge valve 17 is supplied with power and is opened by the completion of the circuit 211 (the valve member 127 with its tapered tip 131 is pulled away from the seat 133) for discharge of the lubricant from the cylinder 23. The piston 11 is driven forward through a supply pulse by the gas pressure in the accumulator chamber 149 which acts through the flexible diaphragm 147 on the oil in the accumulator chamber 151, the flare 107, the passage 79 and the rear expandable chamber 55 of the cylinder 23, the piston being driven forward by the act until the front end of the piston extension 29 engages the forward end of the cylinder 23, which acts as a limit stop that determines the length of the supply pulse. As a result, a metered (metered) load of lubricant equal in volume to the displacement of the piston 11 in the course of its supply pulse is ejected from the cylinder 23 and supplied by means of the spout outlet 113 and the line 117 and the nozzle of spray 107 to be sprayed onto the threaded connection 109 which will be lubricated. The supply pulse can be considered as the distance traveled forward by the rear end of the rear piston extension 27 away from the front end of the stop 31, and can be set for any pulse and therefore any volume of lubricant that is desired , within the limits determined by the length of the cylinder. Typically, the cylinder is of such length and the adjustment of the rearward positioning of the stop 31 by the adjusting screw 39 are such as to be capable of effecting metered discharges of lubricant volumes on the scale from 8.19 cm3 for the forward position of the high 31 to 32.76 cm3 for the most rearward position (as shown in figure 4) of the top. With the supply of the metered load of lubricant from the cylinder 23 for the spray operation, with the resulting drop in pressure in the passage 79, the pressure switch PS opens and breaks the circuit 209. The controller 203 therein acts for means of the circuit 211 for closing the discharge valve 7 to allow the cylinder 23 to be recharged, and the circuit 207 is completed to supply power to the solenoid valve 185, the latter changing to place the line 193 in communication with the line 195 , thus supplying the hydraulic motor 183 with hydraulic fluid to drive the pump P. The pump P supplies lubricant under pressure by means of the line 67, the inlet 57, the passages 71 and 73, the radial ports 105 (valve sphere) 95 opening under pressure), the annular chamber 103, the passages 77, 79 and 85 to the front chamber 53 of the cylinder 23, the lubricant thereby loading the cylinder, drives the return piston 11 or to its retracted position (as shown in solid lines in Figure 4). When the lubricant pressure in passage 79 reaches the preset value (eg, 210.90 kg / cm2), pressure switch PS closes and this sends a signal to controller 203 via circuit 209 to break circuit 207 and remove the energy of the solenoid valve 185 thereby returning the latter to its condition of cutting hydraulic fluid flow to the motor 183 and stopping the pump P. As the piston 11 is driven back to its retracted position, forces the oil out of the rear chamber of the cylinder 23 and into the oil chamber 151 of the accumulator A by forcing the flexible diaphragm 147 upwards and increasing the compression of the nitrogen gas in the gas chamber 149 of the accumulator. In this way, the apparatus resumes the cycle ready condition (ready for a spray operation) in which the piston 11 is in the retracted position and the cylinder 23 is loaded with lubricant, the dump valve 7 is closed containing the load , the pump P is off, the pressure switch TS is closed, and the accumulator A is ready to supply the energy or force to drive the piston through a supply pulse for the next cycle due to the compressed state of the nitrogen gas in the gas chamber 149 of the accumulator. As noted above, the lamp illuminating the push button of switch 205 is also under operation of controller 203. The controller turns on the lamp to illuminate switch 205 (indicating that the system is "ready" to spray) when the valve pump solenoid 185 runs out of power to stop the pump, and the controller turns off the lamp (indicating that the system is not ready for spraying) when the PS pressure switch is opened. The duration of the spraying during a cycle can be controlled using an appropriate time measurement mechanism, such as an internal time meter to the controller 203. This time meter is turned on when the discharge valve 7 is energized and measured in time. a desired spray interval, at the end of which the time meter sends a signal to the controller 203 to close the discharge valve and therefore stop the spray. The interval measured by the time meter is adjustable so that the duration of the spray can be selected and even synchronized with the movement of an object on which the lubricant is being sprayed. For example, the duration of the spraying can be synchronized with the rotation of a spraying object, such as a rotating shaft having a coiled end, so that the spraying continues only during a spray time interval corresponding to the rotation of the object through a predetermined scale of rotation. This scale can be about one revolution of the shaft, thus ensuring that the lubricant is applied around the entire circumference of the shaft but not significantly more. For example, for an axis that rotates at 180 rpm or 0.33 seconds per revolution, the time meter could be set to measure a spray duration time of 0.33 seconds, so that the lubricant is applied only during one revolution of the shaft. Alternatively, the lubricant could be applied for several revolutions, or only a fraction of a revolution. The duration of spraying could also be synchronized with other forms of movement, such as linear or curvilinear movement. In addition, controller 203 could operate in an automatic mode in which successive cycles are automatically initiated one after the other, with a predetermined interval of inactive time between two successive cycles, and that the duration of spraying during each century being selected. corresponds to a desired movement scale of the object being sprayed. Figure 8 shows a spout 1 of the present invention housed in an annex 301 mounted on the structure 305 of a vertical drilling / drilling machine 307 adjacent to a drill pipe 309 in a rotating manner to drill vertical holes, such as vole holes vertical As shown, the drill pipe 309 comprises an upper section having a threaded end 311 for connection to the next section of the series of sections forming the drill pipe. The drill pipe can remain stationary or rotate as it is sprayed. Figure 9 shows a jet 1 of the present invention mounted on the chassis 331 of a directional boring machine 335 which is equipped with a rotating sleeve 337 for supporting and rotating a drill pipe 339 (sometimes referred to as a drill rod) to drill a hole in a generally horizontal direction, or some angle outside the horizontal. In this embodiment, the threaded end 341 of a drill tube section rotates about the axis of the tube 339 (a generally horizontal or angled axis, for example) as the section is sprinkled, and the spray duration is preferably synchronized with the rotation of the drill pipe. The synchronization can be carried out in the manner discussed above, or in any other suitable manner.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that the dispenser 1 of the present invention can be adjusted in many different ways to achieve the desired spray patterns. The spray volume can be adjusted by adjusting the high 31. The spray pressure can be adjusted by adjusting the PS pressure switch. The spray pattern can be adjusted using different spray nozzles (tips) 107. The spray pattern can also be varied by adjusting the lubricant temperature as will be explained in more detail below. The duration of the spraying and the inactivity time between successive cycles can be adjusted by programming the controller 203 according to the circumstances. By using some or all of the features, virtually any desired spray condition can be obtained to suit the particular circumstances at hand. Figures 10-12 show an alternate mode of a dispenser designated in general as 401, of the present invention. This spout is similar to the spout 1 previously described (corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers), except that the spout is equipped with a heater 405 that is received in a hole 407 in the spout body 13. The heater is preferably located close to the front chamber 53 of the cylinder to heat a load of lubricant in the chamber. The heater 405 may be a cartridge heater (e.g., a Chromalox® electric cartridge heater available from Chromalox Product Service of Ogden, Utah) under the control of a thermostat 411 mounted on the spout body 13. The thermostat 411 can be set at the factory to a predetermined temperature, not adjustable, or it can be adjusted in the field to vary the temperature at which the spout body 13 (and the lubricant) become hot. The heater is especially useful in cold climates and in other situations where it may be desirable to reduce the viscosity of the particular lubricant that is being sprayed. The dispenser 401 shown in Figures 10 and 12 is also equipped with an indicator, designated in general 421, to provide a visual indication that the piston 11 is moving between its front and rear positions. The indicator comprises a connector 423 fixed to the rear end of the piston as by a retaining clip 425. The connector is slidable in a tubular member 427 projecting from the body 13, the front end of the tubular member has a threaded connection with an accessory 431 curled in the body. The arrangement is such that the connector 423 is reciprocal with the piston 11. The side wall of the tubular member 427 has openings 435 therein that permit visual observation of the connector so that a person can determine whether the piston is reciprocating to Pump lubricant from the front chamber. This feature is especially advantageous if it is in any other difficult way to determine whether the spout is in operation as in the case where the spray nozzle 107 is mounted at a location remote from the spout body 13. The rear end of the connector is engageable with an adjusting screw 441 screwed into the tubular member 427. This screw 441 has the same function as the high 31 described above. The adjustment screw is held in place by a locking screw 443 screwed into the tubular member behind the screw adjustment. Figure 13 shows a mode in which the spray nozzle 107 is mounted at a location away from the spout body. In this embodiment, the spray nozzle and related parts are similar to those described above (and the corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers), except that the spray nozzle is mounted on a separate body or block 451 having a 453 inlet to supply lubricant to the nozzle. The inlet 453 is connected to the body of this spout by a suitable conduit, such as flexible hose 455. Block 451 preferably has a hole 461 therein for receiving heater 463 at a location adjacent nozzle 107. This heater 463 is similar to heater 405 described above and operates to heat lubricant before it is expelled through the mouthpiece. The heater 463 is controlled by a thermostat, which is not shown. Since several changes could be made in the previous constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is designed that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the appended drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a sense limiting
When presenting elements of the present invention or preferred embodiments thereof, the articles "a", "one", "the" and "dcho" are designed to mean that there is one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising of", "including", and "having" are designed to be inclusive and means that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. In view of the foregoing, it will be noted that the various objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained.