Fuel and related compositions – Liquid fuels – Containing organic -c
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-29
2003-01-28
Toomer, Cephia D. (Department: 1714)
Fuel and related compositions
Liquid fuels
Containing organic -c
C044S415000, C044S443000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06511519
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuel additive compositions containing a Mannich condensation product, a hydrocarbyl-terminated poly(oxyalkylene) monool, and a carboxylic acid. In one aspect the present invention relates to the use of these additive compositions in fuel compositions to prevent and control engine deposits, particularly engine intake system deposits, such as intake valve deposits. In a further aspect the present invention relates to a method of improving the compatibility of a fuel additive composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous deposit-forming substances are inherent in hydrocarbon fuels. These substances, when used in internal combustion engines, tend to form deposits on and around constricted areas of the engine contacted by the fuel. Typical areas commonly and sometimes seriously burdened by the formation of deposits include carburetor ports, the throttle body and venturies, engine intake valves, etc.
Deposits adversely affect the operation of the vehicle. For example, deposits on the carburetor throttle body and venturies increase the fuel to air ratio of the gas mixture to the combustion chamber thereby increasing the amount of unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide discharged from the chamber. The high fuel-air ratio also reduces the gas mileage obtainable from the vehicle.
Deposits on the engine intake valves when they get sufficiently heavy, on the other hand, restrict the gas mixture flow into the combustion chamber. This restriction, starves the engine of air and fuel and results in a loss of power. Deposits on the valves also increase the probability of valve failure due to burning and improper valve seating. In addition, these deposits may break off and enter the combustion chamber possibly resulting in mechanical damage to the piston, piston rings, engine head, etc.
The formation of these deposits can be inhibited as well as removed by incorporating an active detergent into the fuel. These detergents function to cleanse these deposit-prone areas of the harmful deposits, thereby enhancing engine performance and longevity. There are numerous detergent-type gasoline additives currently available which, to varying degrees, perform these functions. Mannich condensation products are known in the art as fuel additives for the prevention and control of engine deposits. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4, 231,759, issued Nov. 4, 1980 to Udelhofen et al., discloses reaction products obtained by the Mannich condensation of a high molecular weight alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound, an amine containing an amino group having at least one active hydrogen atom, and an aldehyde, such as formaldehyde. This patent further teaches that such Mannich condensation products are useful detergent additives in fuels for the control of deposits on carburetor surfaces and intake valves.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,468, issued Mar. 2, 1999 to Moreton, discloses a compound comprising a Mannich reaction product of a polyisobutylene-substituted phenol wherein at least 70% of the terminal olefinic double bonds in the polyisobutylene are of the vinylidene type, an aldehyde, and ethylenediamine (EDA). This compound is shown to be a more effective detergent in hydrocarbon fuels than Mannich compounds made from dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), and triethylenetetramine (TETA). However, the other compounds are shown to have good detergency properties relative to base fuel. Moreton also discloses an additive package consisting of the EDA Mannich, alkoxylated alkylphenol, and an aromatic solvent.
Generally, Mannich condensation products are utilized in combination with other fuel additive components. For example, polyolefins and polyether compounds are also well known in the art as fuel additives. It is not uncommon for the literature to refer to the enhanced benefits of the combination of two or more such fuel additives for the prevention and control of engine deposits.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,190, issued May 7, 1996 to Cunningham et al., discloses a fuel additive composition for the control of intake valve deposits which comprises (a) the Mannich reaction product of a high molecular weight alkyl-substituted phenol, an amine, and an aldehyde, (b) a poly(oxyalkylene) carbamate, and (c) a poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol, glycol or polyol, or a mono or diether thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,951, issued Jun. 3, 1997 to Colucci et al., discloses gasoline compositions containing Mannich condensation products as detergents. This patent teaches that carrier fluids, including liquid polyalkylenes, may be added to the compositions to enhance the effectiveness of the Mannich condensation products in minimizing or reducing intake valve deposits and/or intake valve sticking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,988, issued Dec. 16, 1997 to Malfer et al., discloses a fuel additive composition which provides reduced fuel injector, intake valve, and combustion chamber deposits which comprises (a) the Mannich reaction product of a high molecular weight alkyl-substituted phenol, an amine, and an aldehyde, (b) a polyoxyalkylene compound, preferably a polyoxyalkylene glycol or monoether derivative thereof, and (c) optionally a poly-alpha-olefin.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,373, issued Apr. 11, 2000 to Malfer et al., discloses a fuel composition comprising (a) a spark-ignition internal combustion fuel, (b) a Mannich detergent; and (c) a polybutene having a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1.4 or below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,148, issued Nov. 2, 1982 to Graiff, discloses the control or reversal of octane requirement increase together with improved fuel economy in a spark ignition internal combustion engine is achieved by introducing with the combustion charge a fuel composition containing an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of certain oil-soluble aliphatic polyamines and certain low molecular weight polymers and/or copolymers of mono-olefins having up to 6 carbon atoms, in a certain ratio.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,416, issued Oct. 31, 1989 to Campbell, discloses a fuel composition which contains (a) from about 0.001 to 1.0 percent by weight of a hydrocarbyl-substituted amine or polyamine having an average molecular weight of about 750 to 10,000 and at least one basic nitrogen atom, and (b) a hydrocarbyl-terminated poly(oxyalkylene) monool having an average molecular weight of about 500 to 5,000, wherein the weight percent of the hydrocarbyl-terminated poly(oxyalkylene) monool in the fuel composition ranges from about 0.01 to 100 times the amount of hydrocarbyl-substituted amine or polyamine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,130, issued Apr. 9, 1991 to Aiello et al., discloses an unleaded gasoline composition containing a mixture of (a) about 2.5 parts per million by weight or higher of basic nitrogen in the form of an oil-soluble aliphatic alkylene polyamine containing at least one olefinic polymer chain, said polyamine having a molecular weight of about 600 to 10,000, and (b) from about 75 to about 125 parts per million by weight based on the fuel composition of certain oil-soluble olefinic polymers, a poly(oxyalkylene) alcohol, glycol or polyol or a mono or di-ether thereof, non-aromatic naphthenic or paraffinic oils or polyalphaolefins. This patent further teaches that, as a matter of practicality, the basic nitrogen content of the aliphatic polyamine component is usually about 4.0 or below and that this generally corresponds to a concentration of about 100 to 160 ppm when the aliphatic polyamine is a 1,050 molecular weight aliphatic diamine, such as N-polyisobutenyl N′-N′-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,419, issued Apr. 11, 1995 to Ansari et al., discloses a fuel additive composition comprising (a) a fuel-soluble aliphatic hydrocarbyl-substituted amine having at least one basic nitrogen atom wherein the hydrocarbyl group has a number average molecular weight of about 700 to 3,000; (b) a polyolefin polymer of a C
2
to C
6
monolefin, wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight of about 350 to 3,000; and (
Ahmadi Majid R.
Gray James A.
Sengers Henk P. M.
Chevron Oronite Company LLC
Lee Steven G. K.
Toomer Cephia D.
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