GB2587857A

GB2587857A - Lubricant

Info

Publication number: GB2587857A
Application number: GB2009423.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Frappell Christopher
Original assignee: Tru Tension Ltd
Current assignee: Tru Tension Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-20
Filing date: 2020-06-19
Publication date: 2021-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-19
Also published as: GB2587857B; GB202009423D0; GB201908861D0

Abstract

A cycle lubricant comprises or includes tungsten disulphide. A cycle may include bicycles, tricycles or motorcycles, and the drive train thereof may be lubricated. The lubricant may contain slack wax and/or water, and the tungsten disulphide may be infused. The tungsten disulphide may be present at 0.1 to 10 %.

Description

LUBRICANT

The present invention relates generally to lubricants and particularly, although not exclusively, to lubricants, compositions and lubricating methods in relation to cycles.

Cycles, including bicycles, tricycles and motorcycles, require regular maintenance in order to maintain optimal performance. One important area of consideration is lubrication of components, including drivetrain components; for example drive chains.

An aspect of the present invention provides cycle lubricant comprising or including tungsten disulphide.

The lubricant may be formulated to reduce frictional losses and wear on moving components of a cycle drivetrain.

The present invention also provides the use of tungsten disulphide as a cycle lubricant.

The present invention also provides a composition for lubricating a cycle drivetrain, comprising or consisting of tungsten disulphide.

The present invention also provides a tungsten disulphide or tungsten disulphide-based cycle lubricant.

The present invention also provides a method of providing lubrication to a cycle comprising the step of applying a lubricant comprising or including tungsten disulphide.

The present invention also provides a bicycle chain lubricant consisting of, comprising or including tungsten disulphide.

The present invention also provides a motorcycle chain lubricant consisting of, comprising or including tungsten disulphide.

The present invention also provides a tungsten disulphide infused cycle lubricant In some aspects and embodiments the lubricant is formed as a wet type lubricant In other aspects and embodiments the lubricant is formed as a dry type lubricant In aspects and embodiments of the present invention tungsten disulphide may be present in an amount generally in the range 0.1% to 10%, for example 0.5% to 5% or 1% to 2%.

The lubricant may comprise a wax and/or oil medium.

In some aspects and embodiments the lubricant comprises slack wax, for example in the range 50% to 99.9%, such as 60%.

In one embodiment a lubricant has the composition: 60% slack wax; 38% water; 2% tungsten disulphide (by weight and/or by volume).

In a further embodiment a lubricant has the composition: 60% slack wax; 39% water; 1% tungsten disulphide.

In a further embodiment a lubricant has the composition: 98% slack wax; 2% tungsten disulphide.

The lubricant may comprise water or the like in an amount in the range 10% to 50%, for example 20% to 40%, for example 38% or 39%.

The present invention also provides a cycle lubricated using a lubricant and/or method as described herein.

The present invention also provides a cycle drivetrain lubricated using a lubricant and/or method as described herein.

Tungsten all weather lube uses the friction modifier Tungsten Disulphide. Its super slippery properties and hard-wearing characteristics make it ideally suited for cycling lubricant performance and application.

Being a dual viscosity lubricant (it changes thickness) it is thin when applied -which allows it to penetrate the pins and parts of the chain where the lubricant is needed. After approximately 10 minutes, the lubricant becomes a completely dry wax-based layer that is resistant to water and dust ingress.

Lubricants formed in accordance with the present invention could, for example be used on any chain driven bike including road bikes, MTB, CX and E-Bikes.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example.

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In one embodiment a lubricant has the following composition: - slack wax: 60% - water: 38% - tungsten disulphide: 2% In a further embodiment a lubricant has the following composition: - slack wax: 60% - water: 39% - tungsten disulphide: I% In a further embodiment a lubricant has the following composition: - slack wax: 98% tungsten disulphide: 2% Also provided is data from an independent test facility, Zero Friction Cycling (ZFC), in Australia. A formulation made in accordance with the present invention is referred to as Tru Tension Tungsten All Weather.

Chains are checked for initial tolerance, allowable wear is 0.5mm across 8 links (0.5%).

0.5mm wear is therefore classed as 100% wear, and so every 0.Imm wear = 2% wear.

Chains are measured across 7 separate sections and the average of the 7 measures is wear measure.

Each block is 1000 km consisting of flat interval simulations (large chain ring and cycling through cogs 4,5 & 6) and hill simulation intervals (small chain ring cycling through cogs 1,2&3).

For no contamination blocks re lube intervals are every 400km on flat sim and 200km on hill sim intervals.

For contamination blocks re-lubing is doubled -so every 2001cm Flat sim and 1001cm hill sim to give lubes a proper chance to "clean as lube", "form protective membranes" etc. Dry contamination block -5grams sandy loam is added halfway through intervals Wet contamination block -500m1 of water is sprayed on from small pressure bottle, + 5grams sandy loam added.

Extreme contamination block -the amount of contamination is doubled (I litre + 10 grams), and the contamination is added at just under 1/3rd AND 2/3rds into each interval.

No contamination blocks are alternated in between contamination blocks again to give lubes more of a chance to clear contaminants Through the first 6 blocks -test stops when wear exceeds 0.5mm. Chain is then fully cleaned and re-lubed for a single application longevity test.

Extreme contamination Block 6 -the chains will be fully cleaned prior to reset contamination levels and give best chance to survive block which is akin to harsh condition mtb / cx riding.

Single application longevity test Block 7 -Chain will again be fully cleaned from block 6, and chain given another 0.25mm wear 0.25mm wear allowance from either its test stop point or end of block 6 wear mark. It is run on flat sim on cog 4 for the duration -checked every 2501cm.

All intervals the target watts are 250w.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A cycle lubricant comprising or including tungsten disulphide.
2. Use of tungsten disulphide as a cycle lubricant
3. A composition for lubricating a cycle drivetrain, comprising or consisting of tungsten disulphide.
4. A tungsten disulphide or tungsten disulphide-based cycle lubricant
S. A method of providing lubrication to a cycle comprising the step of applying a lubricant comprising or including tungsten disulphide.
6. A bicycle chain lubricant consisting of, comprising or including tungsten disulphide.
7. A motorcycle chain lubricant consisting of, comprising or including tungsten disulphide.
8. A tungsten disulphide infused cycle lubricant.
9. A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lubricant is formed as a wet type lubricant 10.
A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lubricant is formed as a dry type lubricant A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which tungsten disulphide is present in an amount generally in the range 0.1% to 10%.12.
A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which tungsten disulphide is present in an amount generally in the range 0.5% to 5%.
12. A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which tungsten disulphide is present in an amount generally in the range 1% to 2%.
13. A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lubricant has the composition: 60% slack wax; 38% water; 2% tungsten disulphide.
14. A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lubricant comprises slack wax.
15. A lubricant or method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the lubricant comprises water.
16. A cycle lubricated using a lubricant and/or method according to any preceding claim.
17. A cycle drivetrain lubricated using a lubricant and/or method according to any of claims I to 15.
18. A lubricant for a chain driven bike comprising a lubricant as described herein.