Strand lubrication

Abstract

A strand being pulled through a conduit is automatically lubricated.

1 . An apparatus comprising 
 a lubricator to dispense a lubricant onto a strand while the strand is being pulled through a conduit, the lubricator being formed of a plastic material and having embedded channels that carry the lubricant under pressure from an inlet to outlets at which the lubricant is dispensed.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the plastic comprises glass-filled polypropylene.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the lubricator comprises two plastic pieces.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  also including ribs formed on an outer surface of the lubricator.  
   
   
       5 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus comprising 
 a lubricator to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, and    a brush to prevent the lubricant from leaking out of the lubricator,    the brush being removable from the lubricator for replacement when the brush is worn.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the brush includes bristles arranged in a ring, an end of each of the bristles being held in a ring-shaped ferrule.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  in which the lubricator includes a receptacle into which the ring-shaped ferrule can be inserted and removed for replacement.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  in which the lubricator includes a groove to mate with the ferrule.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the brush is removable by sliding a portion of the brush with respect to a portion of the lubricator.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  in which the brush defines a chamber between the brush and the conduit when the lubricator is mounted on the conduit, and the lubricant includes outlets configured to dispense lubricant into the chamber.  
   
   
       25 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus comprising 
 a set of lubricators, each of the lubricators to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, the lubricators being respectively configured for use with different sizes of conduit, and    a holder having receptacles that are each sized to hold one of the lubricators of the set.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  in which there are fewer than six lubricators in the set.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  in which the set includes at least two subsets of the lubricators, and also including a second holder having receptacles that are each sized to hold one of the lubricators of one of the subsets, the lubricators of one of the subsets all being larger than any of the lubricators of the other of the subsets.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 27  in which the holder comprises an airtight container that is sealed to prevent the lubricant from drying out.  
   
   
       31 . Apparatus comprising 
 a container for a lubricator that is used to apply a lubricant to a strand as it is pulled through a conduit, the container including    a receptacle that is configured to match a configuration of at least part of the lubricator to hold the lubricator in place as the container is moved, and    a seal to prevent the lubricant from leaking outside the container.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 21  in which the container includes a body and a lid and the seal is between the body and the lid.  
   
   
       33 - 60 . (canceled)