US Patent 7117976 Lubricating system affixed to a rotary shaft

A lubricating system is affixed to and rotates with a rotary drive shaft, and provides automatic lubrication of the rotating bearings of a universal joint or similar articulated juncture in the shaft while the shaft is rotating. The present system includes a series of conventional automatic lubricators which are affixed to the shaft by a novel bracket. The bracket components provide for installation from the sides of the shaft, in order to avoid any requirement to disconnect the shaft at one end to pass the bracket over the end of the shaft. Each component group securing each side of the bracket portions together is configured to closely balance the weight of one lubricator in a partially depleted state, in order to avoid any undue balance problems on the shaft.