US1448246A - Lubricating oil - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

UNITED [STATES EDWARD GOODRICH A CHESON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LUBRICATING OIL.

1T0 Drawing.

To (11? whom/it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDW'ARD G. ACHESON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York. in the county of New York and State of New York. have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Oils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel lubricating oil having the essential and characteristic lubricating properties of an unfiltered oildistillate of lubricating grade, but modified or standardized as to color and appearance by the addition thereto of a deflocculated or colloidal solid material which does not substantially affect the lubricating properties of the oil. The invention relates also to the method whereby the novel lubricating oil is prepared.

As is well known to those familiar with this art, the manufacture of the so-called high-grade lubricating oils involves a number of relatively costly and at times troublesome, difficult and wasteful process steps and treatments which follow the condensation and recovery of the raw distillate of lubricating grade. While these treatments may vary somewhat in accordance with the practice of individual producers, all of them, so far as I am aware. include a treatment of the raw distillate (by which term I designate the condensate of lubricating grade as derived from the stills) with sulfuric acid, followed by neutralization with caustic soda and an elaborate washing process; and a so-called filtration which is in effect a treatment with fullers earth or equivalent decolorizing agent.

Comparative studies of the true lubricating value of the oil at the various stages of its manufacture have shown that in many cases at least the lubricating value of the original crude distillate is very materially in excess of that of the filtered oil which is distributed to the consumer. Also, so far as I am aware, the actual effect of the so-called filtration, or fullers earth treatment, is in practically every case to bring about a decided and material diminution of the lubrieating value of the oil, owing to the removal of constituents, presumably colloidal in nature, which contribute to the production and proper maintenance of the most desirable lubricating film.

The primary purpose and effect of the treatment steps to which the crude distillate Application filed August 28, 1919. Serial No. 320,519.

is subjected in the current manufacturing operations, is therefore to improve the color and appearance of the oil, and to some ex tent to improve its odor. So far as the filtering operation is concerned, practically its only purpose and effect is to improve the appearance of the oil, and to produce a bright oil of light color, which is commonly alt-ho of course erroneously, believed to be free from carbon and hence less liable to 'lead to carbonization difficulties when used in internal combustion motors.

A primary object of the present invention is to produce a salable product having a standardized and attractive color and appearance, while retaining to the fullest degree the essential and characteristic lubricating qualities of the unfiltered distillate, or of the raw distillate in those cases in which the lubricating value of the raw distillate is equal to or greater than that of the refined distillate. In other words, in accordance with this invention the treatment of the oil does not enhance the lubricating value, a

minute proportion of a deflocculated solid body. For example lamp-black gas-black, or other form of amorphous carbon, deflocculated or transformed to the colloidal state by treatment with tannin or its equivalents in accordance with methods described in my prior patents and now well understood in the art, and thereafter suspended in the unfiltered distillate in proportions amounting to only a few thousandths of one per cent by weight of the distillate, imparts to the oil, irrespective of its original color, a uniform black appearance, opaque by reflected light, although semi-transparent or translucent by transmitted light when the proportion of deflocculated lamp black is sufficiently small. Other effects may be obtained by a choice of other deflocculated solids, among which I may mention clay, graphite, aluminum powder of the kind used for aluminum paints, etc. The proportion of such deflocculated bodies required to standardize the appearance of the distillates is so very -minute (seldom exceeding 0.1% by weight of distillate and often as low as 0.005% that it is not necessary as a rule to consider Whether the solid material is in itself a lubricant, although a substance of lubricating qualities, such for example as graphite, will naturally be preferred in many cases.

The present invention is specifically distinguished from that of my prior patents relating to the improvement of the lubricating qualities of oils by the suspension therein of deflocculated graphite, in that it contemplates the employment of deflocculated solids irrespective of their lubricating qualities, added to the unfiltered distillate in such proportions as will not materially modify the characteristic lubricating qualities of the distillate.

I claim:

1. A lubricating oil having the composition and essential characteristics of unfiltered distillate of lubricating grade, .and a standardized color and appearance due to the addition thereto of a minute proportion of a deflocculated body.

2. A lubricating oil having the composition and essential characteristics of unfiltered distillate of lubricating grade, and a standardized black color and appearance tion and essential characteristics of unfil tered distillate of lubricating grade, and a standardized color and appearance due to the addition thereto of a deflocculated carbon in proportion not exceeding 0.1% by weight of the, oil.

5. Method of standardizing distillates of lubricating grade containing constituents removable by filtration, comprising adding thereto a defiocculated body in minute proportion.

6. Method of standardizing distillates of lubricating grade containing constituents removable -by filtration, comprising adding thereto a deflocculated body in proportion not exceeding 0.1% by weight of the oil.

In testimon whereof, I aflix my signature.

EDWAR GOODRIO'H ACHESON.