Patent Application
20140230769
The invention generally relates to a polymer component of an internal combustion engine, and more specifically to a method of introducing an additive into an engine lubricant with the polymer component to improve the performance characteristics of the engine lubricant.
Internal combustion engines use an engine lubricant, i.e., engine oil, to lubricate the various moving parts thereof. The engine oil breaks down and becomes ineffective with usage, particularly at high operating temperatures. Additives, such as but not limited to may include antioxidants an/or friction modifiers, may be added to the engine lubricant to protect the engine lubricant and increase the useful life of the engine lubricant, as well as improve the lubricating properties of the engine lubricant.
An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustion engine includes a lubrication system circulating an engine lubricant therethrough, and an engine component in fluid contact with the lubrication system. The engine component is exposed to the engine lubricant. The engine component is manufactured from a polymer having an integrated additive. The integrated additive is releasable over time into the engine lubricant during contact between the engine lubricant and the engine component.
A lubrication system is also provided. The lubrication system includes a closed loop fluid circuit, and an engine lubricant circulating through the fluid circuit. The lubrication system further includes a polymer component. The polymer component includes an integrated additive that is releasable over time into the engine lubricant. The additive is released into the lubricant during contact between the engine lubricant and the polymer component.
A method of introducing an additive into an engine lubricant of an internal combustion engine is also provided. The method includes providing a component of the internal combustion engine. The component is manufactured from a polymer, and includes the additive integrally mixed with the polymer. The internal combustion engine is assembled such that the component is exposed to the engine lubricant. The additive is released into the engine lubricant over time during contact between the engine lubricant and the component.
Accordingly, by manufacturing the component, such as but not limited to an oil pan, cover, etc., from a polymer with the additive integrally mixed with the polymer, the additive will leach into the engine lubricant whenever the engine lubricant is in contact with the component. Accordingly, the useful life of the engine lubricant may be extended, and the performance characteristics improved.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an internal combustion engine is generally shown at 20. The internal combustion engine 20 includes a lubrication system 22 for lubricating the various moving parts of the internal combustion engine 20.
The lubrication system 22 includes a closed loop fluid circuit 24 that circulates an engine lubricant 26 therethrough. The fluid circuit 24 may include, but is not limited to, an engine block 28 defining a plurality of oil jackets, a sump or reservoir defined by an oil pan 30, and a pump 32 for pressurizing and circulating the engine lubricant 26 through the fluid circuit 24. As is known, the pump 32 draws the engine lubricant 26 from the oil pan 30 and circulates the engine lubricant 26 through the various components 34 of the internal combustion engine 20, such as the oil jackets of the engine block 28, after which the engine lubricant 26 drains back into the oil pan 30 to complete the fluid circuit 24. Accordingly, the engine lubricant 26 is continuously circulated in the closed loop fluid circuit 24 when the internal combustion engine 20 is running as is known.
The internal combustion engine 20 is provided with at least one component 34 that is manufactured from a polymer having an additive 36 integrally mixed with the polymer. The internal combustion engine 20 is assembled such that the component 34 is in fluid contact with the lubrication system 22 and is exposed to the engine lubricant 26.
As noted above, the component 34 is manufactured from a polymer. The polymer may include but is not limited to one a nylon polymer, polybutylene terephthalate polymer, polyetheramide polymer, amide-imide polymer, phenolic resin polymer, fluoropolymer elastomer, ethylene acrylic elastomer, nitrile butadiene rubber, or hydrogenated butadiene rubber. The polymer includes the integrated additive. The additive 36 is mixed with the polymer prior to forming the component 34, so that the additive 36 is part of the component 34 when formed. The additive 36 may be mixed with the polymer in any suitable manner, which is dependent upon the specific type of polymer and additive used.
The integrated additive 36 may include but is not limited to one of an antioxidant or a friction modifier. For example, the integrated additive 36 may include one of bis-nonyl-diphenylamine isomers, nonyl-diphenylamine isomers, butyl-diphenylamine, octyl-diphenylamine, butyl-octyl-diphenylamine, bis-octyl diphenylamine, octyl-phenyl-ethyl-diphenylamine, bis(phenyl-ethyl)-diphenylamine, butyl ester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid isomers, octyl ester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid isomers, di-(di-(t-butyl)-hydroxyphenyl) methane, molybdenum dithiocarbamates, glycerol mono-oleate, or oleyamide and similar long chain fatty acid amides.
Referring to
While the additive 36 may leach into the engine lubricant 26 at any temperature and at any time, whether the internal combustion engine 20 is operating or not, the release of the additive 36 into the engine lubricant 26 may be aided or facilitated by heating the component 34 to a temperature of at least 95° C. It should be appreciated that the engine lubricant 26 is heated during the operation of the internal combustion engine 20. Because the component 34 is in contact with the engine lubricant 26 circulating through the fluid circuit 24, the component 34 will also be heated during operation of the internal combustion engine 20. Accordingly, the normal operation of the internal combustion engine 20 will heat the polymer component 34 to facilitate or aid the extraction or leaching of the additive 36 into the engine lubricant 26.
The component 34 may include any component 34 of the internal combustion engine 20 that is in contact with the engine lubricant 26 circulating through the lubrication circuit. For example, the engine component 34 may include, but is not limited to the oil pan 30, a valve cover, a baffle, or valve guide seals, or polymeric gaskets. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the engine component 34 may include a consumable part 38, such as shown in
The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive and descriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the invention defined in the appended claims.
