JP2002051418A - Lubricant-applying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricant-applying device that evenly applies the lubricant to be applied on a cable and achieves reduction in the lubricant wastefully consumed and the reduction in cost of works by a worker. SOLUTION: This lubricant-applying device is provided with a lubricant- storing tank 1 that stores the lubricant, a dropping pipe 2 that causes the lubricant to drop through gravity from the tank 1, a lubricant-applying head that discharges the lubricant that flows in, a cable-leading part that leads in a cable 10 so that the discharged lubricant is applied, a lubricant-collecting tank 5 that collects the remaining lubricant that drops from the cable 10, a pump 6 that pumps the collected remaining lubricant, and a pump up pipe 7 that discharges the pumped lubricant into the tank 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lubricant applying apparatus for applying a lubricant to a cable so as to extend the cable while passing the cable through a pipe buried underground.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the need for large-capacity data communication on the Internet and the like has been increasing. Therefore, in order to improve communication lines, optical fiber cables and metal cables capable of transmitting a large amount of data and the like (hereinafter, simply referred to as cables) are being laid. As one form of laying these cables, there is a case where a cable feeder is used to extend a cable while passing the cable through a pipe buried underground.

[0003] In order to send a cable smoothly in a pipeline,
It is necessary to apply lubricant to the cable. The reason for applying lubricant is that pipes buried for underground extension lines are not necessarily straight pipes due to terrain and existing facilities.In addition, soil and sand are deposited in the pipes. This is because slippage is poor and resistance to passing cables is high.

Conventionally, when applying a lubricant to a cable, an operator applies the lubricant to the cable using a brush or the like, which is very troublesome. In addition, since the worker manually applies the lubricant to the cable, spots (unevenness) are generated in the lubricant applied to the cable, and a portion where the lubricant is not applied to the cable is generated. There is a problem that the sliding becomes worse due to direct contact with the inner wall in the road. Furthermore, when a large amount of lubricant is applied to the brush, the lubricant is dripped from the cable and wasted wastefully. When a small amount of lubricant is applied to the brush, the lubricant is not sufficiently applied, and the lubricant has unevenness. There was also a problem that would occur.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to uniformly and uniformly apply a lubricant to be applied to a cable and to uselessly waste the lubricant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lubricant applying device which can reduce the number of operations and the operation cost by an operator.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a lubricant storage tank for storing a lubricant to be applied to a cable, and a lubricant storage tank which is in electrical communication with the lubricant storage tank. A conduit for dropping the fluid by its own weight, a lubricant application port that conducts with the fall conduit and discharges the inflowing lubricant, and guides the passage position of the cable so that the lubricant discharged from the lubricant application port is applied to the cable. A cable guiding portion, a lubricant collection tank for collecting the remaining lubricant dropped from the cable, a pump for pumping the remaining lubricant collected in the lubricant collection tank, and a pump for pumping,
A pump for discharging the lubricant sent from the pump for pumping to a lubricant storage tank.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lubricant application device according to the first aspect, wherein the liquid level of the lubricant stored in the lubricant storage tank is measured and the liquid level data is output. And whether or not the lubricant has reached a predetermined liquid level based on the liquid level data, and if the lubricant level falls below the predetermined liquid level, the pump for pumping is operated so as to reach the predetermined liquid level. And a control unit for outputting control data for instructing the operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lubricant application device according to the second aspect, wherein the liquid level of the lubricant stored in the lubricant collection tank is measured and the liquid level data is output. And determining whether or not the lubricant has reached a predetermined liquid level based on the liquid level data of the lubricant storage tank and the lubricant collection tank. And a control unit that outputs control data for instructing control.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a description will be given of a lubricant application device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a cable feeding system including a lubricant applying device of the present embodiment, FIG.
Is an overall configuration diagram of the lubricant application device of the present embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the same components, and FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an overall system including the lubricant applying device 100 will be described. As shown in FIG.
0, the cable 10 extends in the direction of the arrow, and is connected to a pipeline 20 buried underground by a handhole or manhole (hereinafter, referred to as a manhole).
(Collectively referred to as a connection shaft 30).

Then, after passing through the path of the cable feeder 40, the guide roller 50, and the extra length storing roller 60, it is introduced into the lubricant applying device 100, and after being applied with the lubricant, it is again sent to the pipeline 70 through the connection shaft 30. The cable feeder 40, the guide roller 50, and the lubricant application device 100 are mounted on a storage rack 80.

Next, the lubricant applying device 100 will be described. First, the configuration of the lubricant applying device 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the lubricant application device 100 includes a lubricant storage tank 1, a dropping pipe 2, a lubricant application port 3, a cable guiding section 4, a lubricant collection tank 5, and a pump 6 for pumping.
, A pumping conduit 7 and a liquid level meter 8. The liquid level gauge 8 is provided at two locations above and below the lubricant storage tank 1 and the lubricant collection tank 5.

Further, as shown in the electric block diagram of FIG. 3A, two liquid level gauges 8 are electrically connected to the control unit 9 and output liquid level data to the control unit 9. ,
Further, the control section 9 is electrically connected to the pump 6 for pumping and outputs control data to the pump 6 for pumping. As shown in FIG. 2, the cable 10 passes through the cable guiding section 4 of the lubricant applying apparatus 100.

Next, the configuration of each part and the flow of the lubricant will be described. The lubricant storage tank 1 stores the lubricant applied to the cable 10 to be extended as shown in FIG. A hole is provided in the lower surface of the lubricant storage tank 1, and a dropping conduit 2 is connected to the hole. The drop conduit 2 is, for example, a tube or a hose made of a flexible material (for example, rubber or vinyl), or a pipe made of a hard material (for example, hard plastic or metal). There.

One end of the drop conduit 2 communicates with the lubricant storage tank 1 so that the lubricant flows down the drop conduit 2 from the lubricant storage tank 1. In addition, since the lubricant is high in clay, it is necessary to have a sufficiently large inner diameter in order to flow through the falling pipe 2. Also, dilute the lubricant if necessary,
Although it is necessary to lower the clay, the size of these inner diameters or the presence or absence of dilution is appropriately selected in consideration of the lubricants and pipes to be used. In addition, a water stop valve 2a is provided in the middle of the dropping conduit 2, so that the flow of the lubricant can be stopped or the flow amount of the lubricant can be adjusted.

The other end of the falling pipe 2 is in communication with the lubricant application port 3. The lubricant application port 3 discharges the lubricant flowing from the falling conduit 2. At this time, the lubricant application port 3 has a large opening to discharge a sufficient amount of lubricant.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are explanatory views for explaining a specific example of the lubricant application port 3. FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the lubricant application port 3 has a lubricant outlet 3a formed in a pentagonal shape like a baseball baseball base.
a is arranged such that the central vertex of a is directed downward. In this way, a large amount of lubricant is applied particularly at the top, and a small amount is applied away from the top, so that a large amount of lubricant applied to the center of the cable flows so as to wrap around the cable outer periphery, and the entire surface is uniformly formed. A lubricant is applied to cover. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), a plurality of holes serving as a lubricant outlet 3a may be provided in a cylinder communicating with the falling conduit 2, and the lubricant may be applied to the cable 10 from the plurality of holes. . The configuration of these lubricant application ports 3 is appropriately designed and selected.

The cable guiding portion 4 has two end rubbers 4a as shown in a cutaway view of the cable guiding portion in FIG. 4A, and the lubricant application port 3 is disposed above the cable 10. . A case 4b surrounding the cable 10 is provided. The shape of the case is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a rectangular tube or a cylinder as shown in FIG. The cable guide 4 has an end face rubber 4
The position a of the cable 10 is guided so that the lubricant discharged from the lubricant application port 3 is always applied to the cable 10 by the end face rubber 4a.

FIG. 4B specifically shows the end face rubber 4a.
As shown in the figure, the member is made of rubber and formed in a substantially annular shape. Here, the hole diameter of the through hole 4c of the end face rubber 4a disposed on the front side is provided substantially equal to the diameter of the cable 10, so that the passage position of the cable 10 is reliably guided to a certain position. On the other hand, the diameter of the through hole 4c of the end face rubber 4a provided at the subsequent stage has a margin as compared with the cable diameter, so that the cable 10 does not contact unless the cable 10 moves significantly. This is to prevent the lubricant applied to the cable 10 from being wiped by the end rubber 4a at the subsequent stage.

As described above, since a sufficient amount of lubricant is discharged from the lubricant application port 3 and the lubricant is applied to the cable 10, the lubricant is applied to the entire circumference of the cable 10.
Excess lubricant is dripped from the lower surface of the cable 10 because it is too much. In this case, as shown by the arrow in FIG.
b, and finally drops from the case 4b of the cable guiding section 4.

The lubricant collecting tank 5 is provided for collecting the remaining lubricant dripped from the cable guiding section 4 and is provided below the opening of the cable guiding section 4 so that the lubricant dripping from this opening is surely provided. collect. As shown in FIG. 2, a pump 6 for pumping is arranged in the lubricant collection tank 5, and is provided to pump the lubricant to the lubricant storage tank 1.

The pump 6 collects and sends out the remaining lubricant collected in the lubricant collection tank 5. One end of a pumping conduit 7 is connected to the pump 6, and the other end of the pumping conduit 7 is guided to the lubricant storage tank 1. The lubricant discharged from the pump 6 for pumping is discharged to the lubricant storage tank 1 through the conduit 7 for pumping, and the lubricant circulates from the lubricant storage tank 1 and returns to the lubricant storage tank 1 again. To form

As described above, by discharging a sufficient amount of the lubricant from the lubricant application port 3, the lubricant can be applied to the entire surface of the cable and applied, and uneven application can be eliminated. Also,
Although large amounts of the remaining lubricant are dropped without being applied by discharging a large amount of the lubricant, the remaining lubricant is collected, returned to the lubricant storage tank 1, and applied to the cable 10, so that the lubricant is wasted. Is avoided.

Now, the lubricant decreases as the lubricant is applied to the cable. When the lubricant is used up, a situation occurs in which a cable not coated with the lubricant is extended. Therefore, measures are taken against the decrease in lubricant. The lubricant storage tank 1 and the lubricant collection tank 5 are provided with a liquid level meter 8 that measures the liquid level of the lubricant and outputs liquid level data. The liquid level meter 8 can be provided with upper and lower lines. If it is between the lower limit and the upper limit, it can be determined that the lubricant is properly present, and if it is less than the lower limit, it is determined that the lubricant is insufficient.

The output of the liquid level is displayed on a display unit (not shown) connected to the liquid level meter 8.
In addition, it is detected that the liquid level meter 8 of the lubricant storage tank 1 is below the lower limit of the predetermined liquid level, or the liquid level meter 8 of the lubricant collection tank 5 is below the lower limit of the predetermined liquid level. If it is detected that there is a warning, it is also possible to provide an alarm means for calling attention to the worker assuming that the lubricant has decreased. For example, as a specific example of the alarm means,
It is possible to call attention visually by a display unit (not shown) and audibly by a sound emitting unit (not shown) to stop the cable feeding. In this manner, when the lubricant has run out of the lubricant storage tank 1, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a cable to which no lubricant is applied is sent.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid level gauge 8 in the lubricant storage tank 1 or the lubricant collection tank 5 may be output to the control unit 9 as liquid level data for control.
In this way, the control unit 9 can detect whether or not the lubricant level has reached a predetermined fluid level based on the fluid level data output from the fluid level meter 8. As a detection method, for example, the following determination is performed.

When the lubricant in the lubricant storage tank 1 is between the lower limit and the upper limit of the predetermined liquid level, it is determined that the lubricant is good regardless of the liquid level in the lubricant collection tank 5. When the lubricant in the lubricant storage tank 1 is lower than the lower limit of the predetermined liquid level and is in the range from the lower limit to the upper limit of the liquid level in the lubricant collection tank 5, it is determined that the lubricant is eventually pumped up, and When the level is lower than the lower limit of the liquid level in the lubricant collection tank 5, it is determined that the lubricant is insufficient, and the alarm means described above is controlled so as to generate an alarm.

When the above-described detection is performed and the lubricant in the lubricant storage tank 1 does not reach the predetermined liquid level, the control unit 9 controls the pump 6 to raise the liquid level to the predetermined level. The pump 6 for pumping performs a pumping operation in accordance with the control data output from the control unit 9, and after the pumping, sufficient lubricant is pumped into the lubricant storage tank 1. Then, an operation such as stopping the pumping operation can be performed.

Further, the pump 6 for pumping can be always operated without using the control unit 9. Even in such a configuration, a certain amount of the lubricant does not overflow from the lubricant storage tank 1, and the lubricant storage tank is always kept in a filled state. In addition, since the lubricant storage tank 1 and the lubricant collection tank 5 also have monitoring liquid level gauges, it is possible to prompt the worker to replenish the lubricant appropriately, and the state in which the lubricant storage tank is always filled is maintained. It will be.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a cable feed system including a lubricant applying device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a cable feeding operation in a cable feeding drum field. In the cable drum feeding operation, the lubricant application device 100 applies a lubricant to the cable 10 fed from the cable drum 110, and the cable feeding roller 1
By 20, it is sent to the pipe line 70 via the connection shaft 30. Thus, the lubricant application device 100 can be used in each work place.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lubricant applied to the cable is evenly and evenly applied, and at the same time, the lubricant applied to realize the reduction of the wasteful waste lubricant and the reduction of the operation cost by the operator is realized. An apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a cable feeding system including a lubricant applying device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a lubricant application device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each configuration of a lubricant application device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating each configuration of a lubricant application device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a cable feeding system including a lubricant applying device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lubricant storage tank 2 Falling conduit 2a Water stop valve 3 Lubricant application port 3a Lubricant outlet 4 Cable guide part 4a End face rubber 4b Case 4c Through hole 4d Cut surface 5 Lubricant collection tank 6 Pumping pump 7 Pumping conduit 8 Liquid Surface level meter 9 Control unit 9a Core wire inlet 9b Core wire inlet 9c Core wire inlet 10 Cable 20 Pipeline 30 Connection pit 40 Cable feeder 50 Guide roller 60 Extra length storage roller 70 Pipeline 80 Storage rack 100 Lubricant application device 110 Cable Drum 120 Cable feed roller

Continued on the front page (72) Katsushi Kitajima, 1-31-32, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture Toenec Corporation Main Store Annex (72) Inventor Taketoshi Hatanaka 1-2-2, Oshima, Koto-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Shinsho Miuchi (72) Inventor Shinichi Mimura 1-2-23 Oshima, Koto-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 4D075 AC06 AC09 AC72 AC80 AC84 AC93 CA47 DA01 DB01 DC19 EA37 4F041 AA13 AB01 BA10 BA32 BA34 BA59

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lubricant storage tank for storing a lubricant to be applied to a cable, a dropping conduit which communicates with the lubricant storage tank and allows the lubricant to flow down from the lubricant storage tank by its own weight, and a lubricant which flows in and communicates with the dropping conduit. A cable guide for guiding the passage position of the cable so that the lubricant discharged from the lubricant application port is applied to the cable; and a lubricant collection tank for collecting residual lubricant dripped from the cable. A pump for pumping up the remaining lubricant collected in the lubricant collection tank, a conduit for pumping, which is in communication with the pump for pumping and discharges the lubricant sent from the pump for pumping to the lubricant storage tank, A lubricant application device comprising: 2. The lubricant application device according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid level meter for measuring a liquid level of the lubricant stored in the lubricant storage tank and outputting liquid level data. It is determined whether or not the lubricant has reached a predetermined liquid level based on the control data for instructing the operation of the pump for pumping so as to reach the predetermined liquid level when the lubricant falls below the predetermined liquid level. A lubricant application device, comprising: a control unit for outputting. 3. The lubricant applying device according to claim 2, further comprising a liquid level meter for measuring a liquid level of the lubricant stored in the lubricant collecting tank and outputting liquid level data. And determining whether or not the lubricant has reached a predetermined liquid level based on the liquid level data of the lubricant collecting tank, and outputs control data for instructing an alarm means when both are lower than the predetermined liquid level. A lubricant applying device, comprising: a control unit.