Tannas Company

Other

King Refrigeration, Inc.

Savant Gmbh

The Saginaw Valley Institute of Materials, Inc.

Theodore W Selby

Gregory C Miiller

Marc J Hildebrandt

Jonathan C Evans

Kevin J Wolfe

Richard H Hall

James R Cotter

Michael A Tubbs

Joseph S Trombley

William A Atkins

Douglas J Wirsing

Robert H Seer

Derrick D Hilliker

Marta Manning

Sarah Nuss-Warren

Christopher John Rudy

John L Van Meter

Calvin David Hugo

Robert J Hite, Jr

Gregory C Miller

James F Secrist

Andrew J Stephenson

David A Dalman

Stephanie J Resio

Michael T Kelly

James Louis Kovacs

Robert Culver

Fernando Moreira Mendes

Jennifer J Richardson

William John VanBergen

Patrick T O'Dell

Michael A Habitz

Brian J Cluff

Jerry G Cox

Paul A Bennett

Rebecca S Cox

Effects of Oxygen on grease or another organic paste product can be evaluated with a modified version of the ASTM D942 test methodology for oxidation stability of lubricating greases or other organic paste products by employment of an oxidation pressure vessel, in which at least one of (A) a very small sample of the grease or other organic paste product is deployed for testing within the oxidation pressure vessel such that the sample has an enhanced surface area to mass ratio, and (B) a temperature other than about 99&#xb0; C. is employed during the testing. In general, the testing is carried out under oxidation pressure conditions. The sample may be evaluated with respect to Oxygen uptake. Additional technique(s) directed to oxidation and/or other properties of the sample may be carried out before to after any Oxygen uptake evaluation, for example, FTIR analysis and/or ATR-FTIR analysis.

Effects of oxygen on grease

Lubricity of a sample of lubricant may be determined by precisely measuring temperature from friction generated between two or more moving parts in contact under force. For example, to carry this out, a rotatable pin and vee block test apparatus set forth in ASTM D2760-95 (Reapproved 2010) can be provided, and modified to provide its rotating pin with a hole longitudinally along an axis of the pin about which the pin rotates during testing. The hole is configured to receive, and for the testing receives, a thermocouple to measure temperature during the testing.

Lubricant test method and apparatus

A significantly improved version of the ASTM D942 Test Method, with apparatus employable to effect the same, is provided. This is useful in measurement of grease oxidation.

Grease oxidation

Instrumentation embraces an at least partially automated rotational tapered bearing simulator viscometer having electronic control and/or monitoring that includes task unit electronics, which includes a task unit electronics interface. With or without such electronics, the instrumentation may include a particular component configuration and/or employ at least one particular material. Further feature(s) may be extant.

Instrumentation that embraces a rotational viscometer, or that has a cantilevered platform elevator and/or employs heat in one area but not another

Elevated temperature liquid testing apparatus and methodology in which a thin film of test liquid and a reactant/control gas are provided about the top of a depositor member that is surrounded by a special mantle, for example, a substantially cylindrically walled glass mantle. As an oxidative engine oil test, it may mimic turbocharger conditions of a modern internal combustion engine. For example, employing moist air, the apparatus can test a thin film of engine oil for oxidation deposits at a predetermined temperature, say, 285&#xb0; C., 290&#xb0; C., or cycled between 285&#xb0; C. or 290&#xb0; C. and 320&#xb0; C. or 330&#xb0; C.

Thin film liquid thermal testing

An active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) or related substance (RS) can be tested for stability by placing the API or RS in an instrument containing a pressure-controllable atmosphere, controlling the pressure of the atmosphere in the instrument for a predetermined time, and evaluating the API or RS for stability. Testing can be carried out also at predetermined temperature(s) and/or under the influence of gaseous trigger(s) and so forth. For instance, an API sample can be placed in a bomb test instrument/reactor, oxygen as a gaseous trigger can be introduced to contact the API sample under constant and/or ramped temperature(s) and elevated pressure(s) for predetermined time(s), and the API sample can be evaluated for stability. An insert carousel may hold a sample of API(s) and/or RS(s) and/or aliquot(s) of sample(s) of API(s) and/or RS(s) for insertion into the bomb test instrument/reactor.

Testing pharmaceuticals and related substances

Apparatus includes a pivotable, cradling framework that can hold a rotatable bomb instrument, which can include a hollow cylinder and a grease rack. This may be employed to effect a significantly improved version of the ASTM D942 Test Method. The same is useful in measurement of grease oxidation.

Grease wear test device includes a body in a form of a collar having an outer surface, a first side and an opposing second side, which are open to form a hollow, open channel through the body, which has a center axis, into which opposing vee blocks can be inserted; and perpendicular to the center axis, a pair of opposing holes through and open to the outer surface of the body and the cylindrical inside wall, through which a cylindrical test journal (falex pin) can be inserted for contact in general with opposing vee-shaped channels of the inserted, opposing vee blocks, and for rotation during testing. The device can be used to modify a falex pin and vee block device, to receive and contain a small sample of grease or another organic paste product for testing such as a modified version of an ASTM D2670 test method for measuring wear properties of fluid lubricants (falex pin and vee block method).

Grease wear resistance

Rotatable bomb device having a stationary hollow housing and a rotatable component inside the housing provides for very good temperature calibration, temperature recording and, when desired, sample control. The device can have at least one of an insulating lower disc or washer; a plurality of staggered heating bands encompassing a stationary housing; a dry scan port; a rear upper and/or lower port; and an extraction/injection fitting for access to the interior of the stationary housing. The device may be used to react or attempt to react substance(s), for example, generally as in ASTM Method D2272 testing of turbine oil.

Oil life measurement

Refrigerant gas can pass through hollow type plate, and this can be employed for refrigeration of a block by employment of the plate in thermal communication with the block. The block, which typically contains one or more test cells, may have a rhomboid shape.

Plate type direct refrigeration

Rotatable bomb device includes a housing with a hollow interior for receipt of a rotatable component to a vessel, and support for the component in the interior; and the component for such receipt and support in the housing. The device may be employed as a reactor or in test methods, for example, methods such as oxygen uptake tests analogous or equivalent to the ASTM-D-2272 and ASTM-D-4742 test methods.

Rotatable bomb

Liquid, say, an oleaginous liquid or an ink, for example, an engine oil, can be tested for aeration, entrainment and/or dissolution of a gas and/or foaming. The liquid can be tested through generation of a foam, for example, through aeration with employment of a vacuum, which can be carried out at a controlled, elevated temperature, for example, about 150&#xb0; C., and the foam measured as to volume generated; and/or by testing for an entrained/dissolved gas directly, say, by drawing off the entrained/dissolved gas with a high vacuum, which can be done following aeration, for example, at a moderate temperature, for example, about 30&#xb0; C. The gas can be air. Apparatus for use in such testing can include an outer, selectively sealable tube, which can be transparent, and which can serve as a vessel to contain a sample of a liquid as aforesaid to be tested; and, within the outer tube, a smaller generally vertical, inner tube also extending upward from and optionally out of the sealed outer tube. The smaller, inner tube is tipped at its bottom with an outlet capable of releasing a gas into the liquid sample, which may be released in a form of fine bubbles. The apparatus may be further provided with a contrivance for measuring contents of the sample within the outer tube and/or with a volume measuring device for ascertaining volume of released gas without generation of foam.

Testing for gas in liquid

Inert gas blanket protects oxidatively labile substance from oxidation. For example, fuels and lubricants such as present in fuel tanks, bearings, crankcases, gear boxes, transmissions, and so forth, employed in or in conjunction with internal combustion, jet and turbine engines, or a combustible substance such as flour dust in a grain silo, can be protected with a nitrogen blanket provided from the separation of air with a membrane containing device. Useful life of oleaginous liquids and hydrocarbon-based lubricants can be extended. For example, with the practice of the present invention, it may be necessary to change automobile engine oil only after twenty to fifty thousand miles of use.

Inert gas blanket for protection from oxidation

Scanning Brookfield dry block instrument component, viscometer instrument, and method of use of the instrument can employ direct refrigeration with heat provision. A thermoelectric chip substitute may be employed as well.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Theodore W Selby