Steven D Erickson

US Patent:

6557651, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Aug 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/637410

Inventors:

Duane E. Norby - Otley IA
Brian J. Bischel - Pella IA
Steven Erickson - Pella IA
Gregg A. Austin - Pella IA
Scott A. Rempe - Pella IA

Assignee:

Vermeer Manufacturing Company - Pella IA

International Classification:

E21D 1700

US Classification:

175 52, 184 79, 184 153, 184 6, 222249

Abstract:

A lubrication system and method for dispensing a lubricant to threads of a drill rod and/or a spindle of a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) machine during a rod loading or unloading operation employs a pumping system having a lubricant reservoir, a pump, an applicator, and a lubricant supply conduit coupled between the pump and applicator. A heating unit is coupled to the pumping station and heats lubricant contained within the pumping system. A control unit coupled to the pumping system activates the pumping system to dispense a volume of lubricant from the applicator to the threads of the drill rod and/or spindle in response to an operator signal or an HDD machine control signal. A lubricant may be sprayed onto the spindle/drill rod threads. Alternatively, the lubricant may be communicated through a passageway defined within the spindle to one or more apertures defined within the threads of the spindle and/or the drill rod. The rate of lubrication application is preferably proportional to a rate of spindle rotation.