Patent Application
20240084213
The present invention relates to lubricant compositions and, more specifically, to food grade lubricant compositions and most specifically to water based food grade fluid compositions.
There are only a few commercially available water based food grade hydraulic fluids. They are used in equipment in food processing and packaging plants around cook kettles, ovens, and other hot areas where an oil based product could create flammability concerns.
Food grade lubricants are considered to be “indirect food additives” in that the lubricant may come in contact with the food being processed. Lubricant manufacturers and food and beverage processors use only lubricants that are industry recognized as safe for use in equipment used for producing, manufacturing, packing, processing, preparing, treating, transporting or holding food.
In addition to meeting food safety requirements, an effective food grade lubricant composition must also be an effective lubricant. Food grade lubricants preferably lubricate food processing and packaging equipment parts, resist viscosity change, resist oxidation, protect against rust and corrosion, and provide wear protection. The lubricating compositions should also perform effectively under various lubrication conditions ranging from hydrodynamic thick film conditions to boundary thin film conditions.
Water based food grade hydraulic fluids are utilized around cook kettles, ovens, and other hot areas in the plant where there could be a fire hazard. High water hydraulic fluids will not ignite under normal operating conditions of these systems. Water is good at cooling, but not a great lubricant. Food processing operators that use high water content lubricating fluids are known to go thru pumps routinely due to wear issues not addressed by commercially available lubricants.
Since water is a good coolant, but a poor lubricant, a need exists in the food processing industry for a water based food grade lubricant that addresses anti-wear properties to prolong pump life and reduce maintenance costs.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a food grade water based lubricant composition.
The food grade lubricant compositions of the present invention are particularly useful as hydraulic oils, gear oils, and compressor oils for equipment used in the food processing and packaging industry.
The composition of the present disclosure is a water based system wherein an amine phosphate additive is solubilized into the composition formula, which helps with wear and rust protection on pumps and other food processing or packaging machinery. Most of these additives are designed for oil based systems and not known to be useful in water based systems.
One aspect of the present invention concerns a water based food grade lubricant composition comprising: (a) propylene glycol; (b) water (preferably deionized), (c) high ethyl PAG polymer; (d) capric acid; (e) potassium hydroxide; and, (f) amine phosphate.
In another aspect, the present invention concerns a method of formulating a water based food grade lubricant composition comprising: (a) propylene glycol; (b) water (preferably deionized), (c) high ethyl PAG polymer; (d) capric acid; (e) potassium hydroxide; and, (f) amine phosphate.
In yet another aspect, the present invention concerns a method of lubricating surfaces of the machinery used for processing or packaging food, food packaging materials, or other materials related to the food processing industry, which method comprises the step of applying to the surfaces of the food processing or packaging machinery a water based food grade lubricant composition comprising: (a) propylene glycol; (b) deionized water, (c) high ethyl PAG polymer; (d) capric acid; (e) potassium hydroxide; and, (f) amine phosphate.
Since water is a good coolant, but a poor lubricant, the composition of the present disclosure addresses anti-wear properties to prolong pump life and reduce maintenance costs. Food processing operators employing the lubricant of the present disclosure will get the same benefits from commercially available water based lubrication systems while protecting process pumps and reducing maintenance costs.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims and abstract.
A formulation composition system for a preferred water based food grade hydraulic fluid is as follows:
It should be understood that the wt percentages of the components of the composition are preferred but modifications could be made by one of skill in the art. Additional embodiments of the composition may include the following ranges.
Property testing of the above formulation composition is as follows:
Further testing proved the efficacy of the compositions as a water based food grade hydraulic fluid. In addition, wear testing evidences the efficacy of the amine phosphate in the composition. The amine phosphate in the composition also assists with further rust inhibition.
Water based food grade hydraulic fluids are utilized around cook kettles, ovens, and other hot areas in a plant, such as a food processing plant, where there could be a potential for a fire hazard. High water hydraulic fluids will not ignite under normal operating conditions of these systems. Since water is a good coolant, but a poor lubricant, the formulation set forth above of the present disclosure addresses anti-wear properties to prolong pump life and reduce maintenance costs.
It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.
If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.
It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.
Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.
Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.
The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.
The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1.
The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%.
When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number) (a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded.
It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility).
Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) are to be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition within this disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10% of the base value.
It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers.
If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.
It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element.
It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.
Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described.
Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks.
The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.
The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%.
When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number) (a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean a range whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100. Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, every possible subrange or interval within that range is also specifically intended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, if the specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is also intended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99, 25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower and upper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96, etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph for purposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g., 46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrange endpoints unless specifically excluded.
It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes that possibility), and the method can also include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except where context excludes that possibility).
Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) are to be interpreted according to their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated art unless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition within this disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in the associated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10% of the base value.
Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While the inventive device has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain preferred embodiments in relation to the drawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/405,589, filed on Sep. 12, 2022, and incorporates such provisional application by reference into this disclosure as if fully set out at this point.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63405589 | Sep 2022 | US |
