Patent ID: 7687743

Claim:
An apparatus for heating and melting a solid lubricant mass in a delivery drum ( 4 ), comprising: a heating element ( 1 ) composed of armored resistors shaped as concentric rings ( 1 ′) and junction spokes ( 1 ″); a hoist ( 2 ) adapted to lower and raise said heating element into and out of said drum ( 4 ); at least one vertical rod ( 6 ) that connects said heating element to components of said hoist; a first thermal sensor ( 5 ) operatively connected with said heating element ( 1 ) kept at a temperature T 1 controlled by means of said first thermal sensor; a second thermal sensor ( 7 ) mounted on said at least one vertical rod ( 6 ) which regulates a maintenance temperature T 2 when temperature control from first thermal sensor ( 5 ) passes to said second thermal sensor after an additional time in order to allow the entire solid lubricant mass to melt; a transfer pump ( 8 ) for withdrawing melted lubricant from said drum ( 4 ) via a suction tube ( 11 ); a bottom valve ( 9 ) mounted at the foot of said suction tube ( 11 ); and a lubricant delivery tube ( 10 ) connected to an output side of said pump ( 8 ), wherein said first thermal sensor is configured to control the temperature of said heating element at a melting temperature and said second thermal sensor is configured to thereafter control the heating element at a maintenance temperature, wherein said temperatures are predetermined for melting and maintaining liquefying said lubricant but are such as to prevent harmful overheating thereof.