Self-lubricating centrifugal drilling mud degasser

Abstract

A degasser for removing contaminating gases from an aqueous fluid including a motor having a depending drive shaft, a hollow gear box casing having a lubricant inlet port formed therein adjacent the top thereof, a reduction gear arrangement comprising a stationary ring gear fixed to said gear box casing below said inlet port; the ring gear arrangement including a ring gear having a lubricant outlet port formed therein in a groove between two of the teeth, a plurality of reduction gears operatively interconnected to said drive shaft, a lubricant reservoir adjacent the gear box, a lubricant inlet line interconnecitng the lower portion of the lubricant reservoir with the gear box inlet port, and a lubricant outlet line interconnecting the top portion of said lubricant reservoir with the gear box outlet port, whereby each rotation of the reduction gears will force a pulse of lubricant form said gear box through said outlet port and said outlet line to said lubricant reservoir and, whereby, a corresponding pulse of lubricant will flow from said lubricant reservoir through said inlet line to said inlet port for said gear box.