Gas-expanded lubricants for increased energy efficiency and related method and system
First Claim
1. A method of lubricating at least one moving part with a medium, wherein said method comprises:
- delivering the medium to at least one moving part for lubrication, wherein said medium when supplied to at least one moving part for lubrication is comprised of a completely dissolved mixture of a lubricant and a compressed gas.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and System of lubricating at least one moving part with a medium. The medium includes a dissolved mixture of lubricant and compressed gas. The amount of lubricant and compressed gas may be controlled in forming the dissolved mixture in response to input conditions. A user and/or external factors may be used to determine the input conditions. In response to the input conditions the amount of lubricant and compressed gas is delivered to the moving part that is housed in a pressurized chamber. The properties of the dissolved mixture can be adjusted, whereby the properties may include, but are not limited to, the following: viscosity, temperature, and thermal conductivity. This adjustment to the gas may be accomplished, for example, by releasing gas from the pressurized chamber in an amount to adjust the properties. In a further approach, lubricant may be scavenged from the pressurized chamber by returning surplus lubricant to its original source or other designated location.
43 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of lubricating at least one moving part with a medium, wherein said method comprises:
delivering the medium to at least one moving part for lubrication, wherein said medium when supplied to at least one moving part for lubrication is comprised of a completely dissolved mixture of a lubricant and a compressed gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for lubricating at least one moving part with a medium, wherein said system comprises:
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a pressurized chamber configured to house the at least one moving part; a lubricant reservoir configured to house a lubricant; and a gas reservoir configured to house a gas, wherein said lubricant reservoir and said gas reservoir are configured to; combine said lubricant and said gas into a completely dissolved mixture of said lubricant and said compressed gas to form said medium, and deliver said medium while in the completely dissolved mixture of the lubricant and the compressed gas into the pressurized chamber to the at least one moving part while in the completely dissolved mixture of the lubricant and the compressed gas for the lubrication of the at least one moving part. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification