| Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheres -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheresUSPTO Application #: 20070087943Title: Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheres Abstract: The present invention provides a new composite lubricant to deliver lubrication effectiveness by reducing friction coefficient and wear rates and increasing the load bearing capacity, said composite lubricant comprising a base of time-proven aliphatic hydrocarbon into and dispersed throughout which are both nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres and petroleum distillates previously used as antistatic additives to increase conductivity of the composite lubricant. (end of abstract)
Agent: George S. Cole, Esq. - Redwood City, CA, US Inventor: Matthew Mark Zuckerman USPTO Applicaton #: 20070087943 - Class: 508167000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Solid Anti-friction Devices, Materials Therefor, Lubricant Or Separant Compositions For Moving Solid Surfaces, And Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions, Lubricants Or Separants For Moving Solid Surfaces And Miscellaneous Mineral Oil Compositions (e.g., Water Containing, Etc.), Inorganic Compound (except Water) (overbased Or Carbonated Organic Acidic Compounds Are Not Classified In This Subclass Or Its Indents On The Basis Of Inorganic Overbasing Or Carbonating Agents; The Overbased Or Carbonated Compounds Are Treated As Complexes, And Are Classified With The Particular Organic Acidic Compound), The Inorganic Compound Contains Heavy Metal Or Aluminum, Sulfide, Selenide, Or Telluride Of Heavy Metal Or Aluminum (e.g., Lithopone, Etc.), The Heavy Metal Is Molybdenum Or Tungsten (e.g., Molybdenum Sulfide, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070087943. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Petroleum Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: [0002] Crude oil contains aliphatic hydrocarbons composed of nothing but hydrogen and carbon. The carbon atoms link together in chains of different lengths. Different substances come from combinations whose only difference is the length of the carbon chains. Since different chain lengths have progressively higher boiling points, they can be separated out by distillation. In an oil refinery crude oil is heated and the different chains are distilled off by their vaporization temperatures. The lightest four chains are all gases at room temperature. The chains up through C.sub.18H.sub.32 or so are all liquids at room temperature, and the chains above C.sub.19 are all solids at room temperature. [0003] The chains in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 range are all very light, easily vaporized, clear liquids called naphthas. They are used as solvents in dry cleaning fluids, paint solvents and other quick-drying products. The chains from C.sub.7H.sub.16 through C.sub.11H.sub.24 are blended together and used for gasoline. Next is kerosene, in the C.sub.12 to C.sub.15 range, followed by diesel fuel and heavier fuel oils like the heating oil for houses, followed by the lubricating oils. These oils no longer vaporize in any way at normal temperatures. For example, engine oil can run all day at 250 degrees F. (121.degree. C.) without vaporizing at all. Oils go from very light (like 3-in-1 oil) through various thicknesses of motor oil through very thick gear oils and then semi-solid greases. Finally, chains above the C.sub.20 range form solids, starting with paraffin wax, then tar and finally asphaltic bitumen. [0004] The following are the 15-to-20-carbon, straight chain length, n-alkanes derived from petroleum by distillation that are used as lubricants. TABLE-US-00001 CAR- FORMULA BON NAME (MOL WT.) M.P. B.P CAS RN C(15) n-Pentadecane C.sub.15H.sub.32 (212.42) 10 C. 271 C. 629-62-9 C(16) n-Hexadecane C.sub.16H.sub.34 (226.44) 18 C. 287 C. 544-76-3 C(17) n-Heptadecane C.sub.17H.sub.36 (240.47) 22 C. 302 C. 629-78-7 C(18) n-Octadecane C.sub.18H.sub.38 (254.50) 28 C. 316 C. 593-45-3 C(19) n-Nonadecane C.sub.19H.sub.40 (268.53) 32 C. 329 C. 629-92-5 C(20) n-Eicosane C.sub.20H.sub.42 (282.55) 37 C. 343 C. 112-95-8 [0005] Addition of phosphates and sulfur improve the lubrication ability of petroleum derivatives, where the base hydrocarbon lubricant also functions as a carrier of metallic salts. Today, numerous chemicals are added to provide functionality to the base hydrocarbon lubricant. Aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricants with various additives have found use in many applications. [0006] Additive to Increase Conductivity of Hydrocarbons: [0007] Static electric charge can build up in hydrocarbon liquids that get internally agitated during transfer operations such as discharging from a hose or nozzle, moving through pipes, mixing, pouring, agitation, and splashing. This static electric charge can get carried downstream, and the potential for accidents can increase with this increase in built-up static charge. This build-up of charge is more pronounced with low-conductivity hydrocarbons (naptha, gasoline and blends). [0008] Low conductivity hydrocarbons are defined as below 50 pico-siemens per meter conductivity. A class of products called "antistatic fluids" or "antistatic additives", which also are petroleum distillates, are added to raise the conductivity of these low conductivity hydrocarbons to a safer level at or above 100 pico-siemens per meter conductivity. Very small quantities of these antistatic fluids are required to raise the conductivity to the desired levels: some 10 to 30 milliliters per 1,000 gallons of hydrocarbon. [0009] Typical antistatic fluids are ExxonMobil.TM. Chemical's line of de-aromatized hydrocarbon fluids known as Exxsol.TM. fluids. Representative fluids and their distillation points are shown below. The IBP is the temperature at which 1% of the material is distilled and the DP is the temperature at which 96% of the material is distilled. TABLE-US-00002 Exxsol .TM. Antistatic Fluids Distillation Hexane D 40 D-3135 D 60 IBP, (.degree. C.) min. 65 150 152 177 DP, (.degree. C.) max. 71 210 182 220 Additive (ml/1000 gallons) 30 30 10 30 [0010] Fullerene-Like (IF) Nano-Spheres:. [0011] The terms `nano` and `nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres`, used to describe the structure of a class of inorganic compounds, have their derivation from a combination of the Greek language and science fiction literature. The word nano comes from the Greek word `nanos` (vavoo) for dwarf, arid refers to structures that are about one billionth of a meter in size, or a thousand times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. The nested structure of hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres is analogous to that of an onion or a Russian doll, where inside all but the innermost shell there exists a slightly smaller shell, and within that slightly smaller shell exists another slightly, slightly smaller shell, recursing to the innermost shell. These structures are called `fullerene-like` because each shell resembles the geodesic dome design of Buckminster Fuller. [0012] Layered inorganic compounds of the type MX.sub.2 (where M is molybdenum, tungsten or niobium, and X is sulphur or selenium) are known lubricants in large flat platelets, with weak interlayer bonding which facilitates transfer of the materials to the upper and lower mating surface. The transfer is responsible in part for low friction and wear. These large flat platelets have, however, the drawback of having reactive edges. [0013] Nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres made from layered inorganic compounds of the type MX.sub.2 have no exposed reactive edges, but retain as their inner and outer mating surfaces the lubrication properties of the large flat platelets. The small size, shape, composition and structure of these nano-spheres make them superior lubricants. Nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres can be made from inorganic compounds including tungsten disulfide and selenium (WS.sub.2, WSe.sub.2), molybdenum disulfide and selenium (MoS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2), and niobium disulfide and selenium (NbS.sub.2, NbSe.sub.2). [0014] Nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres of tungsten disulfide and selenium (WS.sub.2, WSe.sub.2), molybdenum disulfide and selenium (MoS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2), and niobium disulfide and selenium (NbS.sub.2, NbSe.sub.2) have demonstrably a superior form factor for lubrication than the platelet forms of the same materials, lacking the weakness of the reactive edges. However, such nested, hollow fullerene-like nano-spheres, because of their small size, may rotate at high speeds and generate static electricity, requiring further means to avoid reduction in performance associated with local breakdown of hydrocarbons or safety problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0015] In the present invention, an aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant base has both a quantity of nested, hollow, fullerene-like nanospheres made of the named inorganic compounds added to, dispersed through, and suspended in it, and a quantity of petroleum distillate previously used as an antistatic additive added in order to increase the conductivity of the composite lubricant so as to provide a conduit to an electric ground, thereby both avoiding reduction in performance associated with local breakdown of the hydrocarbon and safety problems caused by static build-up. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a representation of a nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-sphere [1] with three layers [1A, 1B, and 1C], with the top-right quadrant cut away to show the nesting of the nano-sphere's layers. [0017] FIG. 2 is a representation of the composite lubricant between a first metal surface [5] and a second [7], wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon base [11] has dispersed throughout it both hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres made of the inorganic compounds [13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f, 13g, 13h, 13i, 13j] and an anti-static additive [15], the latter allowing any static charge from the movement or rotation of the hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres made of the inorganic compounds to be safely grounded. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] It is the objective of the invention to provide a new, composite lubricant reducing its friction coefficient and wear rates and increasing its load-bearing capacity, by taking advantage of the respective, particular, and complementary capabilities of its differing incorporated materials [0019] An aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant base is modified by adding an anti-static additive and a quantity of nested, hollow, fullerene-like nano-spheres made from the set of inorganic compounds tungsten disulfide and selenium (WS.sub.2, WSe.sub.2), molybdenum disulfide and selenium (MoS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2), and niobium disulfide and selenium (NbS.sub.2, NbSe.sub.2), wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant base serves as a matrix support for the nano-spheres, and the nano-spheres act as nano-ball bearings and thereby reduce friction to levels comparable with those found in ball bearings, while the anti-static additive enables any static charge created by the spinning of the nano-spheres to be grounded through the composite lubricant. [0020] The nested, hollow fullerene-like nano-spheres are made from the set of inorganic compounds tungsten disulfide and selenium (WS.sub.2, WSe.sub.2), molybdenum disulfide and selenium (MoS.sub.2, MoSe.sub.2), and niobium disulfide and selenium (NbS.sub.2, NbSe.sub.2), and have a diameter between 8 and 240 nm, with a higher limit of 200 nm being better and preferentially between 10 and 70 nm. These nested, hollow fullerene-like nano-spheres are preferentially present in the composite lubricant in a quantity of between 0.1% and 7.5% by weight Continue reading... Full patent description for Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheres Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheres patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheres or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Delivery of agents to the cutting mechanism of paper shredders Next Patent Application: Lubricant compositions Industry Class: Solid anti-friction devices, materials therefor, lubricant or separant compositions for moving solid surfaces, and miscellaneous mineral oil compositions ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Enhanced petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbon lubricant using inorganic fullerence-like nano-spheres patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.55491 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers |
||
