Solid anti-friction devices – materials therefor – lubricant or se – Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and... – Organic -co- compound
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-15
2001-02-13
Medley, Margaret (Department: 1714)
Solid anti-friction devices, materials therefor, lubricant or se
Lubricants or separants for moving solid surfaces and...
Organic -co- compound
C252S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06187725
ABSTRACT:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for making a lubricating composition. More specifically, the invention relates to a process for making an automatic transmission fluid composition having high performance at low and high temperatures.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automatic transmission fluids are lubricants used in motor vehicle transmissions. Different types of automatic transmission fluids are used depending on the design and severity of application. Generally, automatic transmission fluids are designed to meet specific manufacturer requirements. An automatic transmission is composed of a complex variety of mechanical parts which operate at close tolerances. The purpose of automatic transmission fluid is to lubricate these close-fitting parts to reduce wear and keep down temperature due to friction. To perform this function, the automatic transmission fluid must maintain its viscosity within certain specifications. Achieving this function is complicated by the changing temperatures under which the transmission is operated. It is desirable that an automatic transmission fluid perform well in all the various temperature conditions under which the transmission will operate. For example, in a Northern location, the automatic transmission fluid may be below 32° F. prior to use and then heat up to over 300° F. during use. Mineral oil based lubricating oils typically have higher viscosities at lower temperatures and lower viscosities at higher temperatures. As automatic transmissions evolve, however, the maximum viscosity at low temperatures is reduced since too viscous an automatic transmission fluid will not adequately flow as needed to actuate the hydraulic valves and other hydraulic mechanisms of the automatic transmission. Automobile manufacturers have recently changed their specifications for automatic transmission fluid to require lower maximum viscosities at low temperatures. The next generation automatic transmissions will require next generation automatic transmission fluids, especially to be sure the automatic transmission fluid flows adequately at low temperatures. For example, new generation automatic transmission fluids must have Brookfield viscosities at −40° C. of less than 10,000 cP, 13,000 cP, or 17,500 cP. Current requirements for automatic transmission fluids typically only require a Brookfield viscosity at −40° C. of less than 20,000 cP.
Synthetic lubricants made from polyalphaolefins (“PAO's”) and some new unconventional high viscosity index mineral base oils can be used to meet these new viscometric requirements. However, those are expensive to manufacture. It would be advantageous to have a relatively inexpensive mineral oil-based lubricant that can lower the cost of meeting the new viscometric requirements. The lubricating composition of the present invention meets this need.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention includes a process of making a lubricating composition including: contacting a heavy mineral oil feed in a hydrocracking zone with a hydrocracking catalyst at hydrocracking conditions, whereby at least a portion of the heavy mineral oil feed is cracked; recovering at least one gasoline-range fraction and one bottoms fraction from the hydrocracking zone; passing a first portion of the bottoms fraction including not more than about 67 wt. % of the bottoms fraction to a dewaxing zone; and passing a second portion of the bottoms fraction including at least about 33 wt. % of the bottoms fraction back to the fuels hydrocracker for additional processing; and where the bottoms fraction has a viscosity at 100° C. of less than about 4.0 cSt; contacting the first portion of the bottoms fraction with a dewaxing catalyst under catalytic dewaxing conditions, where at least a portion thereof is substantially dewaxed; contacting at least a portion of the substantially dewaxed bottoms fraction with a hydrofinishing catalyst under hydrofinishing conditions, thereby producing a hydrofinished, dewaxed bottoms fraction; and removing from the hydrofinished, dewaxed bottoms fraction at least one light fraction including diesel or jet fuel range material, thereby leaving a heavy fraction including the lubricating composition having naphthenes content of at least about 33 wt. %.
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Communication from European Patent Office dated Jan. 28, 2000.
Jean-Philippe Andre et al., “An Economical Route to High Quality Lubricants”, 1996 NPRA Annual Meeting, Mar. 17-19, 1996, San Antonio, Texas, Paper No. AM-96-38.
U.S. Application Ser. No. 09/173,403, David C. Kramer et al., “Automatic Transmission Fluid Composition”, filed Oct. 15, 1998.
Kramer David C.
Krug Russell R.
Lee Stephen K.
Lopez Jaime
Peterson Jay M.
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Medley Margaret
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