Patent ID: 8397660

Claim:
An apparatus for applying a generally uniform layer of coating material on an inner circumferential surface of a metal sleeve, said apparatus comprising: a support stand; a tube holder; an automatic alignment device for mounting said tube holder to said support stand; and an element having one of bullet and spherical shape for passing through the metal sleeve such that the element runs along the inner circumferential surface of the metal sleeve, the automatic alignment device allowing the metal sleeve and the tube holder to level themselves such that the element is substantially aligned with the metal sleeve during movement of the element through the metal sleeve, the element spreading the coating material generally evenly along the inner circumferential surface of the metal sleeve as the element passes through the metal sleeve; wherein the automatic alignment device includes a first element supported by the support stand, a second element supported on the first element, and first and second support members on the tube holder, the first and second support members of the tube holder protruding from an outer surface of the tube holder and the second element having a plurality of notches defined along an upper portion thereof such that the first and second support members are received by a distinct notch.