Patent Application
20130298824
Not applicable.
Many moving parts require regular lubrication. A lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction between moving surfaces. This allows a greater portion of the input energy to be converted to output energy. In particular, it can ensure that parts are able to move past one another in a smooth manner, reducing the energy required to produce the movement.
However, over time lubricants begin to fail. This can occur because of a number of different factors. For example, the heat or mechanical stress caused by the movement, or simply the aging of the lubricant, can cause the lubricant to breakdown. I.e., on a molecular level, the lubricant can begin to degrade, reducing or destroying the effectiveness of the lubricant.
In addition, the lubricant can become dirty. For example, dust particles can be captured in the lubricant. As the dust particles buildup, they can reduce the lubricating properties of the lubricant. In addition, as the parts come in contact, minute wear can occur. These particles may be captured in the lubricant, reducing its effectiveness.
In general, when the lubricant becomes less effective it is either replaced or removed. I.e., the old lubricant may be partially or completely removed. New lubricant is then added. This presents a number of problems, however. First, if the lubricant has broken down or become dirty it may form a gummy layer which is difficult to remove. Often, the only way to remove the gummy layer is through scraping or otherwise physically removing the gummy layer.
Second, application of the new lubricant can lead to lubricant in other areas, leading to problems. For example, lubricant is often sprayed directly onto a bike chain. This results in lubricant on the chain; however, there is often over spray which results in lubricant on the pedals or other areas. This lubricant may then make the user's feet slip or cause other problems.
Accordingly there is a need in the art for a lubricant that removes old lubricant when applied. Additionally, there is a need for the lubricant to capable of begin applied directly to an area without getting on surrounding areas.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
One example embodiment includes a lubricant for application on an external device. The lubricant includes a solvent cleaner. The lubricant also includes a lubricating agent.
Another example embodiment includes a system for applying a lubricant to an external device. The system includes a wipe. The system also includes a lubricant. The lubricant is embedded in the wipe. The lubricant includes a solvent cleaner. The lubricant also includes a lubricating agent.
Another example embodiment includes a system for applying a lubricant to an external device. The system includes a wipe. The system also includes a container. The wipe is located within the container. The container includes an opening, wherein the opening is configured to allow a user to access the wipe if desired. The container is configured to prevent air exchange between the interior of the container and the exterior of the container if the opening is closed. The system further includes a lubricant. The lubricant is embedded in the wipe. The lubricant includes a solvent cleaner, wherein the solvent cleaner vaporizes completely. The lubricant also includes a lubricating agent. The lubricating agent either does not vaporize or vaporizes at a low rate.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.
One example of a solvent cleaner includes hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs include hydrocarbons in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms has been replaced with a fluorine atom. The carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest in organic chemistry and it is relatively short. Its properties reflect in part the high electronegativity of fluorine. As a result, the physical and chemical properties of HFCs can be distinctive in comparison to their related hydrocarbon. Examples of acceptable HFCs for use in a cleanroom lubricant include HFC-43-10 (also known as Vertrel XF—made by DuPont) and HFC-365mfc. HFC-43-10 includes 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-Decafluoropentane (C5H2F10). HFC-365mfc includes 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (C4F5H5).
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes perfluorocarbons (PFCs). PFCs, sometimes referred to as fluorocarbons, are organofluorine compounds that contain carbon and fluorine. I.e., they are hydrocarbons in which all of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine atoms. In general, PFCs have chemical inertness and thermal stability because of the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond and the shielding effect of the fluorine atoms. In addition, the electronegativity of fluorine reduces the polarizability of the electron clouds. This results in reduced van der Waals forces between PFCs. I.e., PFCs tend to be highly volatile. Examples of acceptable PFCs include perfluoropentane (C5F12), perfluorohexane (C6F14), perfluoroheptane (C7F16), perfluorooctane (C8F18), perfluorohexene (C6F12), perfluoruoctene (C8F16), isomers of the chemical formula C5F11NO (e.g., 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-octafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)morpholine, (1Z)-2,2,3,3,4,4,4-Heptafluoro-N-(trifluoromethoxy)butanimidoyl fluoride, 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoro-N,N-bis(trifluoromethyl)alanyl fluoride, 3-[Bis(trifluoromethyl)amino]-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanoyl fluoride or 3,3,4,4-Tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropyl)-1,2-oxazetidine, 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-Octafluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-oxazinane), isomers of the chemical formula C6F13NO (e,g., 2,2,3,3,5,5,6,6-Octafluoro-4-(pentafluoroethyl)morpholine, (1Z)-2,2,3,3,3-Pentafluoro-N-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanimidoyl fluoride, Pentafluoroethyl(heptafluoropropyl)carbonofluoridimidate, 3-Fluoro-2-(heptafluoropropyl)-3-(pentafluoroethyl)oxaziridine, (2R,6S)-2,3,3,4,5,5,6-Heptafluoro-2,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)morpholine or 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,5,5,5-Decafluoro-4-nitroso-4-(trifluoromethyl)pentane) and isomers of the chemical formula C7F15NO (e.g., Pentadecafluoroheptanamide or (1Z)-2,2,3,3,4,4,4-Heptafluoro-N-[(1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-2-propanyl)oxy]butanimidoyl fluoride).
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes hydrofluoroethers (HFEs). HFEs are HFCs which include an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. I.e. HFEs are two or more hydrocarbons connected to one another by an oxygen atom in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a fluorine atom. Examples of acceptable HFEs include HFE-7000, HFE-7100 and HFE-7200 (made by 3M). HFE-7000 includes 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-Heptafluoro-3-methoxypropane (C4H3F7O—aka methyl perfluoropropyl ether). HFE-7100 includes a mixture of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluoro-4-methoxybutane (C5H3F9O—aka methyl nonafluorobutyl ether) and 2-(difluoromethoxymethyl)-1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (C5H3F9O—aka methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether). HFE-7200 includes a mixture of 1-ethoxy-1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluoro-butane (C6H5F9O—aka ethyl nonafluorobutyl ether) and 2-(ethoxydifluoromethyl)-1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-propane (C6H5F9O—aka ethyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether).
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes volatile methyl siloxanes. A methyl siloxane is any chemical compound composed of units of the form (CH3)2SiO. Methyl siloxanes can have branched or unbranched backbones consisting of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms (e.g., —Si—O—Si—O—), with side chains methyl groups attached to the silicon atoms. Examples of methyl siloxanes include hexamethyldisiloxane, octamethyltrisiloxane, decamethyltetrasiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane.
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes a super critical fluid. A supercritical fluid is any substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical point, where distinct liquid and gas phases do not exist. It can effuse through solids like a gas, and dissolve materials like a liquid. In addition, close to the critical point, small changes in pressure or temperature result in large changes in density.
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes common solvents such as kerosene, mineral spirits, alcohols, terpenes, C5-C20 petroleum hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic solvents such as ketones, esters, ethers. Another example of a solvent cleaner includes vanishing oils. In at least one implementation, vanishing oils include any solvent that completely disappears after it has done its job. I.e., vanishing oils include solvents with a high volatility rate, such that they completely evaporate shortly after application.
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes HCFC-225ca and HCFC-225cb. HCFC-225ca and HCFC-225cb are isomers of dichloropentafluoropropane (C3HCl2F5). Another example of a solvent cleaner includes heptafluorocyclopentane (C5H3F7). Another example of a solvent cleaner includes n-Propyl bromide. n-Propyl bromide (C3H7Br aka 1-bromopropane, 1-propyl bromide or bromomethylethane) is a colorless to off-white, non-flammable chemical compound.
Another example of a solvent cleaner includes a chlorinated hydrocarbon. Examples of acceptable chlorinated hydrocarbons include trichloroethylene (C2HCl3 aka trichloroethene), perchloroethylene (C2Cl4 aka tetrachloroethene) methylene chloride (CH2Cl2 aka methylene chloride). Another example of a solvent cleaner includes non-halogenated solvents. Non halogenated solvents include any solvent that does not include a halogen atom. I.e., a solvent that does not include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.
One example of a lubricating agent includes perfluoropolyethers (PFPEs). PFPEs are polyethers in which all of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine atoms. A polyether is a hydrocarbon with more than one ether group. The carbon chains connecting the ether groups can be of identical length to one another or can be of different length from one another. An example of an acceptable PFPE is Krytox (made by DuPont). Krytox includes polymers of polyhexafluoropropylene oxide, with a chemical formula:
F—(CF(CF3)—CF2—O)n—CF2CF3
where the degree of polymerization, n, generally lies within the range of 10 to 60.
In addition to PFPE, Krytox also includes telomers of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In chemistry, PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that finds numerous applications. PTFE is most well-known by the DuPont brand name Teflon. Krytox is thermally stable, nonflammable (even in liquid oxygen), and insoluble in water, acids, bases, and most organic solvents. It is nonvolatile and useful over a broad temperature range of −75 to 350° C. or higher. It can also withstand extreme pressure and high mechanical stress.
Another lubricating agent can include mineral oil, Bees wax, Paraffin oil or wax based lubes. Another lubricating agent can include petroleum sulfonates. A petroleum sulfonate is a salt or ester of a sulfonic acid. I.e., it contains the functional group R—SO2OH).
In at least one implementation, the ratio of solvent cleaner to lubricating agent can be any desired ratio. In particular, the ratio can include enough solvent cleaner to ensure that the lubricating agent is sufficiently spread to lubricate the desired mechanism without overly diluting the lubricating agent. Additionally or alternatively, the ratio can include enough solvent cleaner to ensure that the debris is sufficiently removed by the solvent cleaner.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.
Additionally or alternatively, the wipe 302 can include a fabric. In at least one implementation, the fabric can include any network of natural or artificial fibers including textiles and cloth. In at least one implementation, the fibers can include thread or yarn. For example, yarn can be produced by spinning raw wool fibers, linen, cotton, or other material on a spinning wheel to produce long strands. The fabric can be formed by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or pressing fibers together, such as in felt. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the fabric can include a single fiber or more than one fibers.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
