Filterless crankcase lubrication system for a vehicle

• US 7,207,308 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation (Newmarket Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation (Newmarket Corporation)
• Inventors: Rohfritch, Richard J., Shama, Robert A., Szemenyei, Dewey P., Horvath, James M., Venhaus, David A, Pridemore, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris; Katrina B.
• Application Number:
  US10/850,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20050257767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196.R, 184/6.5, 184/6.6, 184/6.7, 184/6.8
• US Class Current: 123/196.00R
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 133/56 Amides; Imides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 133/58 Heterocyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 149/06 containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to an amido or imido group
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 149/10 containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to a nitrogen-containing hetero ring
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/022 Ethene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/024 Propene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2209/086 polycarboxylic, e.g. maleic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/28 Amides; Imides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/30 Heterocyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/024 containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to an amido or imido group
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/028 containing monomers having an unsaturated radical bound to a nitrogen-containing hetero ring
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2217/06 Macromolecular compounds obtained by functionalisation op polymers with a nitrogen containing compound
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/04 Molecular weight; Molecular weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/252 Diesel engines
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/255 Gasoline engines
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2060/09 Treatment with nitrogen containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/10 Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters

Abstract

A crankcase lubricating system and method for lubricating an engine of a motor vehicle. The crankcase lubricating system includes filterless lubricant circulation system, and a crankcase lubricant containing a fully formulated lubricating base oil meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 minimum performance standards for engine oils.

Claims

1. A crankcase lubricating system for a motor vehicle comprising, a filterless lubricant circulation system, and a crankcase lubricant containing a fully formulated lubricating oil meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 minimum performance standards for engine oils, wherein the crankcase lubricant comprises a nitrogen containing olefin copolymer derived from a copolymer having grafted thereon from about 0.15 to about 1.0 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the copolymer.

2. The lubricating system of claim 1, wherein the olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

3. The lubricating system of claim 1, further comprising a lubricant circulation pump.

4. The lubricating system of claim 1, wherein the lubricating system comprises an automobile lubricating system.

5. The lubricating system of claim 1, wherein the lubricating system comprises a tractor-trailer lubricating system.

6. The lubricating system of claim 1, wherein the lubricating system comprises a crankcase lubricating system for a spark-ignition engine.

7. The lubricating system of claim 1, wherein the lubricating system comprises a crankcase lubricating system for a compression-ignition engine.

8. A motor vehicle comprising the lubricating system of claim 1.

9. An automobile comprising the lubricating system of claim 1.

10. A tractor-trailer rig comprising the lubricating system of claim 1.

11. A method of lubricating moving parts of a fuel combustion engine having separate fuel and lubricant systems, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a crankcase lubricating system containing a lubricant circulation device, wherein the crankcase lubricating system is devoid of a lubricant filter; and

circulating in the crankcase lubricating system a lubricant meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 standards for engine oils, wherein the lubricant comprises a nitrogen containing olefin copolymer having grafted thereon from about 0.15 to about 1.0 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the copolymer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fuel combustion engine comprises a spark-ignition engine of a passenger automobile.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the fuel combustion engine comprises a compression-ignition engine of a passenger automobile.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the fuel combustion engine comprises a compression-ignition engine of a tractor-trailer rig.

16. A method for reducing maintenance costs for a motor vehicle comprising providing an engine and a crankcase lubricating system for the engine, removing an oil filter from an oil filter location for the crankcase lubricating system, attaching a substantially permanent bypass device to the oil filter location, and circulating, in the crankcase lubricating system, a lubricant meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 minimum performance standards for engine oils.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lubricant contains a lubricating base oil and a lubricant additive, the lubricant additive including a nitrogen containing olefin copolymer having grafted thereon from about 0.15 to about 1.0 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the copolymer, wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a passenger automobile containing a spark-ignition engine.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a passenger automobile containing a compression-ignition engine.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a tractor-trailer rig containing a compression-ignition engine.

21. A crankcase lubricating system for a motor vehicle comprising, a lubricant circulation system having an absence of a filtering means for the lubricant, optionally, a lubricant circulation pump, and a crankcase lubricant containing a fully formulated lubricating base oil meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 minimum performance standards for engine oils, wherein the crankcase lubricant comprises a nitrogen containing olefin copolymer having grafted thereon from about 0.15 to about 1.0 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the copolymer.

22. The lubricating system of claim 21, wherein the olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

23. The lubricating system of claim 21, wherein the lubricating system comprises an automobile lubricating system.

24. The lubricating system of claim 21, wherein the lubricating system comprises a tractor-trailer lubricating system.

25. The lubricating system of claim 21, wherein the lubricating system comprises a crankcase lubricating system for a spark-ignition engine.

26. The lubricating system of claim 21, wherein the lubricating system comprises a crankcase lubricating system for a compression-ignition engine.

27. A motor vehicle comprising the lubricating system of claim 21.

28. An automobile comprising the lubricating system of claim 21.

29. A tractor-trailer rig comprising the lubricating system of claim 21.

30. A crankcase lubricating system for a motor vehicle comprising, a lubricant circulation system having an absence of an externally removable filtering means for the lubricant, optionally, a lubricant circulation pump, and a crankcase lubricant containing a fully formulated lubricating base oil meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 minimum performance standards for engine oils, wherein the crankcase lubricant comprises a nitrogen containing olefin copolymer having grafted thereon from about 0.15 to about 1.0 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the copolymer.

31. The lubricating system of claim 30, wherein the olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

32. The lubricating system of claim 30, wherein the lubricating system comprises an automobile lubricating system.

33. The lubricating system of claim 30, wherein the lubricating system comprises a tractor-trailer lubricating system.

34. The lubricating system of claim 30, wherein the lubricating system comprises a crankcase lubricating system for a spark-ignition engine.

35. The lubricating system of claim 30, wherein the lubricating system comprises a crankcase lubricating system for a compression-ignition engine.

36. A motor vehicle comprising the lubricating system of claim 30.

37. An automobile comprising the lubricating system of claim 30.

38. A tractor-trailer rig comprising the lubricating system of claim 30.

39. A method of operating a filterless motor vehicle having a fuel combustion engine and a crankcase comprising the steps of:

providing a crankcase lubricating system for the fuel combustion engine of the motor vehicle, the crankcase lubricating system containing a lubricant circulation device, wherein the crankcase lubricating system is devoid of a lubricant filter; and

circulating in the crankcase lubricating system a lubricant meeting or exceeding ILSAC GF-4 or API CI-4 standards for engine oils, wherein the lubricant comprises a nitrogen containing olefin copolymer having grafted thereon from about 0.15 to about 1.0 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the copolymer.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 20,000 to about 100,000.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the fuel combustion engine comprises a spark-ignition engine.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the fuel combustion engine comprises a compression-ignition engine.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the lubricant filter comprises an externally removable lubricant filter.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the lubricant filter comprises an internal lubricant filter.