Modification of lubricant properties in a recirculating lubricant system

• US 6,845,745 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Crouthamel, Kevin L., Saddler, Keith P., Carey, Vincent M., Kelly, Kevin John
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benton, Jason
• Application Number:
  US10/350,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196.R, 123/196.S
• US Class Current: 123/196.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/02 having means for introducing additives to lubricant

Abstract

A device and a method for real time optimizing engine lubricating oil properties in response to actual engine operating conditions. the present invention is a method that comprises measuring, directly or indirectly, a system parameter of interest near a location of interest, calculating from said parameter(s) or input(s) the amount of a secondary fluid selected from performance enhancer(s), additional base lubricant, alternatively formulated lubricant or diluent that need be added to the base lubricant; and supplementing said base lubricant with said secondary fluid before introducing the combination into said monitored location.

Claims

1. A process for the modification of a lubricant'"'"'s properties in a system that recirculates the lubricant from a sump during system operations, the process comprising:

(a) repeatedly measuring, directly or indirectly, one or more system condition parameters at a location of interest in the system other than in the sump;

(b) calculating from said system condition parameters an amount of secondary fluid to add to said base lubricant, said secondary fluid being one or more fluids selected from the group consisting of performance enhancers, base stocks, additional formulated lubricants, diluents or a mixture thereof,

(c) mixing said base lubricant with said secondary fluid creating a modified base lubricant,

(d) applying said modified base lubricant to said location of interest.

2. A process as in claim 1 wherein the system is an engine.

3. A process as in claim 2 wherein the system condition parameter is one or more selected from a group consisting of metal wear, system cooling, deposit formation, corrosion, blow by, foaming, neutralization of combustion by-products, metal passivation and lubricant film thickness.

4. A process as in claim 3 wherein said engine is an internal combustion engine.

5. A process as in claim 3 wherein said engine is a gas turbine engine.

6. A process as in claim 4 where said internal combustion engine is a four-stroke engine.

7. A process as in claim 6 wherein said location of interest is the valve train.

8. A process for the modification of a lubricant'"'"'s properties during use in an engine that recirculates the lubricant from a sump during engine use, the process comprising:

(a) repeatedly measuring, directly or indirectly, at a location of interest other than in the sump, one or more engine condition parameters of interest selected from a group consisting of

metal wear, engine cooling, deposit formation, corrosion, blow by, foaming, neutralization of combustion by-products, metal passivation and lubricant film thickness;

(b) calculating from said one or more engine condition parameters an amount of secondary fluid to be added to said base lubricant,

said secondary fluid being one or more fluids selected from the group consisting of performance enhancers, additional base lubricant, alternatively formulated lubricants, diluents or a mixture thereof,

wherein said performance enhancers being one or more items selected from a group consisting of detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, antiwear agents, friction-reducing agents and viscosity improvers, viscosity thickeners, extreme pressure additive, metal passivators, acid sequestering agents or a mixture thereof;

(c) mixing said base lubricant with said calculated amount of said secondary fluid creating a modified base lubricant;

(d) introducing said modified base lubricant to said location of interest.

9. An apparatus for the modification of a lubricant'"'"'s properties in a system comprising:

(a) a system that recirculates one or more base lubricants contained in a sump,

(b) at least one secondary fluid selected from a group consisting of performance enhancers, additional base lubricant, alternatively formulated lubricants, diluents or a mixture thereof,

(c) a measuring device to determine, directly or indirectly, the value of at least one system condition parameter at a location of interest other than in the sump;

(d) a calculating device employing an algorithm operating on one or more of said system condition parameters that determines the amount of said secondary fluid to add to said base lubricant, and

(e) a blending means to mix said base lubricant and said secondary fluid prior to the mixtures re-introduction to said system part or system area of interest.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said system is an engine.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said engine is an internal combustion engine.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said engine is a gas turbine engine.

13. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said internal combustion engine is a four-stroke engine.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said system condition parameter is one or more parameters selected from the group comprising

metal wear, engine cooling, deposit formation, corrosion, blow by, foaming, neutralization of combustion by-products, metal passivation and lubricant film thickness.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said secondary fluid being one or more fluids selected from the group comprising of

performance enhancers, additional base lubricant, alternatively formulated lubricant, diluent or a mixture thereof,

wherein said performance enhancers being one or more items selected from a group consisting of detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, antiwear agents, friction-reducing agents and viscosity improvers, viscosity thickeners, extreme pressure additive, metal passivators, acid sequestering agents or a mixture thereof.

16. An apparatus that modifies the lubricant properties of one or more base lubricants in an operating engine comprising:

(a) an internal combustion engine that recirculates said base lubricant contained in a sump;

(b) at least one secondary fluid selected from a group comprising of performance enhancers, base stocks or additional formulated lubricants,

wherein said performance enhancers being one or more items selected from a group consisting of detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, antiwear agents, friction-reducing agents and viscosity improvers, viscosity thickeners, extreme pressure additive, metal passivators, acid sequestering agents or a mixture thereof;

(c) a measuring device to measure, directly or indirectly, one or more engine condition parameters near a location of interest other than in the sump, said parameters selected from a group consisting of

metal wear, engine cooling, deposit formation, corrosion, blow by, foaming, neutralization of combustion by-products, metal passivation and lubricant film thickness;

(d) a calculating device employing an algorithm operating on one or more of said selected engine condition parameters and said base lubricant properties that determines the amount of said secondary fluid to add to said base lubricant;

(e) a blending means to mix said base lubricant with said secondary fluid prior to the resultant mixture'"'"'s re-introduction to said location of interest.