Indicating lubricant additive

Abstract

An indicating lubricant additive comprising a color-changable polymer having an outer layer of a first color, and an intermediate layer of a second color; and a lubricant sensing dipstick comprising a circuit housing, an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and lubricant sensing means disposed at said distal end, wherein in one embodiment, the sensing means detects a change in the indicating lubricant additive that is. present in a lubricant.

1 . An indicating lubricant additive comprising a color-changable polymer comprising an outer layer of a first color, and a first intermediate layer of a second color.  
   
   
       2 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said color changing polymer is a dendritic polymer.  
   
   
       3 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first intermediate layer is comprised of a first dye.  
   
   
       4 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said outer layer is opaque.  
   
   
       5 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said outer layer masks the color of said intermediate layer.  
   
   
       6 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 3 , wherein when said lubricant additive is mixed with a lubricant, said outer layer is removable by an effect selected from the group consisting of dissolution, etching, abrasion, fracturing and shedding, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said outer layer is comprised of a second dye.  
   
   
       8 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first dye is a yellow dye.  
   
   
       9 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said yellow dye is a dicyanoalanine dye.  
   
   
       10 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said dendritic polymer is a poly(amidoamine) polymer.  
   
   
       11 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said outer layer consists essentially of hexylamide.  
   
   
       12 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said dendritic polymer is of at least about six generations.  
   
   
       13 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a second intermediate layer of a third color.  
   
   
       14 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said second intermediate layer comprises a third dye.  
   
   
       15 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said color changeable polymer is distributed throughout a fluid carrier.  
   
   
       16 . A lubricant composition comprising a carrier, a particulate metal alloy selected from the group consisting of copper-nickel-tin, copper-nickel-tin-zinc and mixtures thereof, said particulate metal alloy having a first color and being dispersed in said carrier, and an indicating lubricant additive comprising a color-changable polymer comprising an outer layer of a second color, said second color of said lubricant additive masking said first color of said particulate metal alloy.  
   
   
       17 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said color changing polymer is a dendritic polymer.  
   
   
       18 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said outer layer of said color changing polymer is comprised of a dye.  
   
   
       19 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said dye is a yellow dye.  
   
   
       20 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said yellow dye is a dicyanoalanine dye.  
   
   
       21 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said dendritic polymer is of at least about six generations.  
   
   
       22 . A lubricant additive for indicating the condition of a lubricant composition including a carrier and a particulate metal alloy selected from the group consisting of copper-nickel-tin, copper-nickel-tin-zinc and mixtures thereof, said particulate metal alloy having a first color and being dispersed in said carrier, said lubricant additive comprising a color-changable polymer comprising an outer layer of a second color, said second color of said lubricant additive masking said first color of said particulate metal alloy when said lubricant additive is mixed with said lubricant composition.  
   
   
       23 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 22 , wherein said color changing polymer is a dendritic polymer.  
   
   
       24 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said outer layer of said color changing polymer is comprised of a dye.  
   
   
       25 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said dye is a yellow dye.  
   
   
       26 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 25 , wherein said yellow dye is a dicyanoalanine dye.  
   
   
       27 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said dendritic polymer is of at least about six generations.  
   
   
       28 . An indicating lubricant additive comprising a fluid carrier, a plurality of microcapsules comprised of shell walls defining interiors within said microcapsules, and a dye disposed within said interiors of said microcapsules.  
   
   
       29 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said dye is a red dye.  
   
   
       30 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said dye is a yellow dye.  
   
   
       31 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 30 , wherein said yellow dye is a dicyanoalanine dye.  
   
   
       32 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said microcapsule is fracturable by fluid shear.  
   
   
       33 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said shell walls of said microcapsules totally enclose said interiors within said microcapsules.  
   
   
       34 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said microcapsules are substantially spherical in shape.  
   
   
       35 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said microcapsules are between about 6 micrometers and about 15 micrometers in diameter.  
   
   
       36 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said microcapsules are between about 0.05 micrometers and about 0.5 micrometers in diameter.  
   
   
       37 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said shell walls of said microcapsules consists essentially of a lipid.  
   
   
       38 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 33 , wherein said shell walls of said microcapsules consists essentially of a polymer.  
   
   
       39 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said polymer is parylene polymer.  
   
   
       40 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 28 , wherein said shell walls of said microcapsules are nanotubules each having a first end and a second end, and wherein at least one of said first end and said second end is an open end.  
   
   
       41 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 38 , wherein said nanotubules are carbon nanotubules.  
   
   
       42 . The indicating lubricant additive as recited in  claim 38 , whrein said nanotubules are between about 3 nanometers and about 500 nanometers in length.  
   
   
       43 . A lubricant composition comprising a carrier, a particulate metal alloy selected from the group consisting of copper-nickel-tin, copper-nickel-tin-zinc and mixtures thereof, said particulate metal alloy having a first color and being dispersed in said carrier, and an indicating lubricant additive comprising a fluid carrier, a plurality of microcapsules comprised of shell walls, said shell walls defining interiors within said microcapsules and comprising a first colored dye, and a second colored dye disposed within said interiors of said microcapsules, wherein said first colored dye of said lubricant additive masks said first color of said particulate metal alloy.  
   
   
       44 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 43 , wherein said first colored dye is a red dye.  
   
   
       45 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 43 , wherein said first colored dye is a yellow dye.  
   
   
       46 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 45 , wherein said yellow dye is a dicyanoalanine dye.  
   
   
       47 . The lubricant composition as recited in  claim 43 , wherein said microcapsule is fracturable by fluid shear.  
   
   
       48 . A lubricant additive for indicating the condition of a lubricant composition including a carrier, a particulate metal alloy selected from the group consisting of copper-nickel-tin, copper-nickel-tin-zinc and mixtures thereof, said particulate metal alloy having a first color and being dispersed in said carrier, said lubricant additive comprising a fluid carrier, a plurality of microcapsules comprised of shell walls, said shell walls defining interiors within said microcapsules and comprising a first colored dye, and a second colored dye disposed within said interiors of said microcapsules, wherein said first colored dye of said lubricant additive masks said first color of said particulate metal alloy when said lubricant additive is mixed with said lubricant composition.  
   
   
       49 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 48 , wherein said first colored dye is a red dye.  
   
   
       50 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 48 , wherein said first colored dye is a yellow dye.  
   
   
       51 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 50 , wherein said yellow dye is a dicyanoalanine dye.  
   
   
       52 . The lubricant additive as recited in  claim 48 , wherein said microcapsule is fracturable by fluid shear.  
   
   
       53 . A lubricant sensing dipstick comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a circuit housing joined to said proximal end of said elongated body, and lubricant sensing means disposed at said distal end of said elongated body.  
   
   
       54 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 53 , further comprising a handle.  
   
   
       55 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 53 , wherein said elongated body is a hollow tubular body.  
   
   
       56 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 55 , wherein said circuit housing comprises a remote processor.  
   
   
       57 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 56 , wherein said circuit housing further comprises a tranceiver and an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio transmitted data.  
   
   
       58 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 56 , wherein said circuit housing further comprises an electrical power supply.  
   
   
       59 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 56 , further comprising signal transmission means disposed within said hollow tubular body, said signal transmission means providing communication between said circuit housing and said lubricant sensing means.  
   
   
       60 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 59 , wherein said signal transmission means is electrical signal transmission means.  
   
   
       61 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 59 , wherein said signal transmission means is optical signal transmission means.  
   
   
       62 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 61 , wherein said circuit housing further comprises a light source.  
   
   
       63 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 62 , wherein said circuit housing further comprises light measurement means.  
   
   
       64 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 63 , wherein said light measurement means is a spectrum analyzer.  
   
   
       65 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 63 , wherein said sensing means comprises a flow cell.  
   
   
       66 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 65  wherein said sensing means further comprises at least one fluid channel in communication with said flow cell.  
   
   
       67 . The lubricant sensing dipstick as recited in  claim 66 , wherein said sensing means further comprises a micropump in communication with said at least one fluid channel.