AUTOMATIC LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR SPECIAL DRIVE SHAFT

Apparatus and method for automatically and continuously lubricating a rotary drive of an industrial drive such as a pump, roll, or other driven member is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotary drive coupling assembly that is connected between an input shaft and an output shaft which drives the driven member. There is an axial bore drilled through the center of an input shaft and a transverse bore which communicates with the axial bore and terminates at an exterior of the input shaft. The shaft coupling assembly preferably comprises a first shaft coupling and a second shaft coupling which are connected by a connecting member. A bridge conduit spans the first shaft coupling and terminates at a manifold which is carried about the connecting member. From the manifold, a plurality of injector valves distribute pressurized lubricant delivered by a timed pressure pump to the shaft couplings. Preferably the shaft couplings comprise universal type joint couplings having a plurality of bearings. Dispensing lines carry the pressurized lubricant from the injector valves to the bearings. In this manner, a timed and controlled amount of pressurized lubricant is delivered to the lubrication points of the rotary drive continuously during operations. In alternate embodiments of the invention, different types of shaft couplings are utilized as well as drive arrangements, each of which is provided with lubrication points to which pressurized lubricant is dispensed.