A useful complementary equipment for users of “HOT-MELT” dry lubricants.

The “HOT-MELT-LINE” Smelter is a device designed to simplify the work of transfering the solid content of standard 200 l drums to the working containers of “HOT-MELT-LINE®” electrostatic oilers.

Smelting one drum simply putting it in an oven or a mantel type drum heater requires an extremely long time since “Hot-Melts” are intrinsically heat isolating materials and therefore the heating energy propagates very slowly from the outer surface of the drum through the inner core of the material.

The Smelter basically consists of a daisy shaped heating element mounted at the end of a pipe hanged to the vertically moving arm of a hydropneumatic lift and a two halves isolated mantel to limit heat dispersion from the drum.

The drum without its cover is put inside the mantel while the heating element is lifted to the high position.

Then the heating element is lowered so to insist over the solid mass of the lubricant and it is switched on.

Under the effect of its weight and temperature the element slowly sinks into the mass smelting the surrounding product.

As far as hot liquid lubricant is available convective currents move its mass accelerating the heat transfer to the surrounding still solid mass.

In this way the heating element sinks to the bottom of the drum in a comparatively short time smelting all the content of the drum.

Smelting time is depending from room temperature and melting point of the lubricant but it is tipically reduced from 20 ÷ 24 hours to 3 ÷ 4 hours.

A heated transfer pump with a coaxial heated suction pipe is mounted on the lift arm: when all the mass is liquid the pump is started and the drum content is pumped through a coaxial heated hose to the service container of the oiler.

Temperature sensors and lift position sensors control the lubricant temperature and the pump.

Also a visual level indicator can be fitted to the system.

In a modified version the “HOT-MELT-LINE®” Smelter can be used as a small service container to directly feed the blades of a “HOT-MELT-LINE®” electrostatic oiler.

Patent pending.

"HOT-MELT-LINE®" Smelter

A useful complementary equipment for users of “HOT-MELT” dry lubricants.

The “HOT-MELT-LINE” Smelter is a device designed to simplify the work of transfering the solid content of standard 200 l drums to the working containers of “HOT-MELT-LINE®” electrostatic oilers.

Smelting one drum simply putting it in an oven or a mantel type drum heater requires an extremely long time since “Hot-Melts” are intrinsically heat isolating materials and therefore the heating energy propagates very slowly from the outer surface of the drum through the inner core of the material.

The Smelter basically consists of a daisy shaped heating element mounted at the end of a pipe hanged to the vertically moving arm of a hydropneumatic lift and a two halves isolated mantel to limit heat dispersion from the drum.

The drum without its cover is put inside the mantel while the heating element is lifted to the high position.

Then the heating element is lowered so to insist over the solid mass of the lubricant and it is switched on.

Under the effect of its weight and temperature the element slowly sinks into the mass smelting the surrounding product.

As far as hot liquid lubricant is available convective currents move its mass accelerating the heat transfer to the surrounding still solid mass.

In this way the heating element sinks to the bottom of the drum in a comparatively short time smelting all the content of the drum.

Smelting time is depending from room temperature and melting point of the lubricant but it is tipically reduced from 20 ÷ 24 hours to 3 ÷ 4 hours.

A heated transfer pump with a coaxial heated suction pipe is mounted on the lift arm: when all the mass is liquid the pump is started and the drum content is pumped through a coaxial heated hose to the service container of the oiler.

Temperature sensors and lift position sensors control the lubricant temperature and the pump.

Also a visual level indicator can be fitted to the system.

In a modified version the “HOT-MELT-LINE®” Smelter can be used as a small service container to directly feed the blades of a “HOT-MELT-LINE®” electrostatic oiler.

Patent pending.