US1861146A - Lubricating device - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1932. w. H. SOMMER 'LUBRICAIING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 1932- w. H. SOMMER LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F WM wwmwmmn wnmw N.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITEDSTATES WILLIAM H. somunn, orrnonra, ILLINOIS LUBnroA'rmG DEVICE Application filed October .13, 19 30. Serial. No. 488,361. g

p This invention hasreferenceto a lubricating device and it has for its principal object to provide for the constant, efficient and economical'lubrication of wires during the formation of wire strandsandalso the further lubrication of strands tion of a wire rope or cable. p

The invention has for a further object, in

I the manufacture of wire strands and also in inf ' of pressing the wires together in the formathe manufacture of rope orcable from such strands, to lubricate the individual wires with a lubricant heated to a suitable temperature, whereby under cooling action of the wire the lubricant will tend to harden around each wire so that, during the action tion of the strands, the lubricant will fill all voids between such individual wires;

furthermore, as the individual strands are closed into a rope or cable around a hemp or manila center, a heated lubricant is simi larly applied so as to fill all voids between such individual strands.

While I have stated that the invention is applicable when forming the strands and also when forming a cable or rope from such strands, it is to be understood that, since each operation is a distinct operation, in

itself, there is no necessary joinder of such uses, but that the application of the lubricant may be single or collective, as operations may require.

The invention comprehends the use of a feeder for the lubricant which is coupled to a preferably constant speed motor and pump, and with the discharge of the feeder located at a point to properly feed the lubricant between the interstices of the wires as they are woven or coiled into strands; the employment of heating means, as for instance steam piping-arranged in a receptacle containing the lubricant, which said receptacle isadapted to catch drippings from the feeder to be again circulated therethrough; the use of a strainer through which the lubricant circulates to the pump and feeder and to a control for regulating the quantity and flow of the lubricant through the feeder; allof which said elements are assembled as a complete lubricating unit and readily attachduring the formaable to a stranding machine or to a cable or rope machine. I

The term, lubricant as herein used has reference to any oil suitable for the purposes herein intended and in particular to petrolatum. i

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which Fig. 1 is a planview illustrating a device embodying my invention, which 'is' shown associated with a strand twisterand closing die, and 4 6 Fig. 2 is an elevation in cross-section, as the same would appear iftaken on the line 22 ofFig. 1. r W I Like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts; throughout the figures.

The drawings disclose a twisting element, A of a stranding machine and a closing die 13 adjustably supportedin relation to said twister. Fig. 2 shows the action of the clos ing die on-the strand C as itis formed, by the 75 twisting of the Wires a fed through thev twister and'the preferred location of the dis? charge of the feeder to insure the'lubricant reaching the individual stices of such'wires. The number of wires 80 shown threaded through the twister is illuso trative only, as in practice there are, on the average, many more wires employed in the strand than is shown.- y The, lubricating. unitcomprises the constantspeed motor 1; the pump 2 geared there; to; the strainer 3 through which the lubricant-must pass to the pump {the feeder 4 leadingfrom the pump to preferably a point 7 immediately in front of the closing die to insure a; proper oiling of theindividual wires; 3. control valve 5 to regulate the quantity andflow ofqthe lubricant through the feeders; a steam coil 6 connected with'a V suitable-sourc of supply and which is placed along and over the bottom of atank or recepta'clefi which holds the lubricant andin which the pump, strainer and control are located and from which the feeder leads to its point'of discharge. The pan or recepta- 10G wires a and the inter- I cle 7 is suitably supported on the frame of the stranding machine or an auxiliary suport thereon and the said pan or receptacle is located and of such size that any excess drippings or surplus lubricant which is not taken up by the wires will fall back into said pan or receptacle and be recirculated through the pump and feeder.

T e feeder 4 is shown, by dotted lines, as having a preferably slip-joint connection with the pump to permit its detachment from the pump which it is desirable to do at the close of the day and when the power to the motors is shut oflt'.

The valve 5 may beopened and allow the oil pumped through the pump 2 to pass back into thepan or receptacle and also regulated and partially closed so as to regulate the quantity and flow of the oil through the feeder 4, and thus always insure feeding a maximum amount of oil that the wires and strand or cable will hold.

A feature of the herein described unit is, that when the device is adjusted it will operate constantly and without stoppage or attention and until the attendant or operator wishes to stop it, and heating the lubricant b steam there is no fire hazard and by proding a comparatively large pan or receptaole catches all drippings and surplus oil which is constantly recirculating. The only attention the device requires, is to supply new lubricant as the old is used up.

Sto page of the stranding machine will not a cot the unit as it may continue in its operation, as it merely means a continuous circulation of the oil rom the pan, through the pump and feeder and back again and unti the stranding machine is again started up. Furthermore, no difliculties are encountered with proper and effective lubrication at the timeof threading the strandin machine and attaching the strand tothe ta 0 up, as the unit need not be stopped, but continue its 0 eration and thereby insure the entire stran throughout, being properly lubricated.

I have made mention of the facts that the device is applicable to cabling or rope machine, whereas the illustrations portray only its use in connection with a stranding machine, but since thecabling machine is merely the twist' of a series of strands C into a rope or cab e, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it will require nothing more than mere mechanical adaptation to appl the unit to such a cablingmachine.

, tI'claimis: y 1. An oiling unit for lubricating the wires of stranding and cabling machines, comprisin a container for the lubricant, a heating C011 on the bottom of the container, a pump within the container disposed above said ,coi

a strainer connected with the inlet end of the pump, a feeder having a detachable conunit by the container, and means to mount the container beneath and in proximity to the points of closing of the Wires and with the distributor disposed so that same will feed the lubricant to the wires at their points of closing.

3. An I oilingunit for lubricating the twisted, wires of stranding and cabling machines, including a lubricant container, a heater within the container, a pump within the container, and a lubricant distributor connected to the delivery end of the, pump whereby all of said elements arecarrled as a'unit by the container, and means to mount the container beneath andin proximity to the points-of closing of the wires and with the distributor disposedso that same will feed the lubricant to the wires at their oints of closing, said container bein of a ength so that a part thereof projects beyond the point of application of the'lubricant and being located closely adjacentto such point, so that any excess ofdistributed lubricant will gravi

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