Methods for improved power transmission performance and compositions therefor

Abstract

Advanced methods are provided for achieving improved power transmission performance, and unique fluid compositions useful for practicing such methods are also presented. In particular a method and related composition is provided for improving anti-NVH durability in aged transmission fluids.

1 . A fluid composition, comprising: 
 (1) a major amount of a base oil, and    (2) a minor amount of an additive composition comprising alkoxylated amine, dihydrocarbyl phosphite, metallic detergent, phosphorylated succinimide, tertiary fatty amine, and ethoxylated alcohol, in respective amounts effective for providing sustained anti-NVH durability upon aging in a power transmission lubricated therewith.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising 0.002-0.5 wt % alkoxylated amine, 0.001-0.5 wt % dihydrocarbyl phosphite, 0.01-1.0 wt % metallic detergent, 0.01-12 wt % phosphorylated succinimide, 0.005-1.0 wt % long chain tertiary amine, and 0.01-0.7 ethoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , comprising 0.01-0.25 wt % alkoxylated amine, 0.01-0.2 wt % dihydrocarbyl phosphite, 0.01-0.7 wt % metallic detergent, 0.01-10 wt % phosphorylated succinimide, 0.01-0.7 wt % long chain tertiary amine, and 0.01-0.5 ethoxylated alcohol.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive composition is present in an amount of about 3 wt % to about 20 wt %, based on the fluid composition.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive composition is present in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 15 wt %, based on the fluid composition.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid composition is formulated such that the fluid composition comprises a viscosity at 100° C. of <6 cSt, a viscosity at 40° C. of <30 cSt, and a Brookfield Viscosity at −40° C. of <10,000 cP, and wherein the fluid, when aged at 150° C. for 200 hours, has a variation in coefficient of friction at testing rpm ranging from 50 to 300 of less than about 0.015 as determined from measurements taken on an SAE #2 Machine using a paper friction material lined clutch plate and testing conditions of 0.79N/mm 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid composition is formulated such that the fluid composition comprises a viscosity at 100° C. of <6 cSt, a viscosity at 40° C. of <30 cSt, and a Brookfield Viscosity at −40° C. of <10,000 cP, and wherein the fluid has a quasistatic friction greater than 0.098 and static friction of 0.123 or greater as measured on a ZF GK rig.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid composition is formulated such that the fluid composition comprises a viscosity at 100° C. of <6 cSt, a viscosity at 40° C. of <30 cSt, and a Brookfield Viscosity at −40° C. of <10,000 cP, and wherein an NVH characteristic of the fluid composition has a threshold pressure value greater in value than 0.8N/mm 2  as measured on a ZF GK rig.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid composition of  claim 8 , wherein the NVH characteristic is squawk.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid composition is formulated such that the fluid composition comprises a viscosity at 100° C. of <6 cSt, a viscosity at 40° C. of <30 cSt, and a Brookfield Viscosity at −40° C. of <10,000 cP, and wherein an NVH characteristic of the fluid after exposure to oxidizing conditions does not decrease in value below the initial value of the NVH characteristic value before the exposure as measured on a ZF GK rig.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base oil comprises one or more of a natural oil, a mixture of natural oils, a synthetic oil, a mixture of synthetic oils, a mixture of natural and synthetic oils, and a base oil derived from a Fischer-Tropsch or gas-to-liquid process.  
     
     
         12 . The fluid composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive composition further comprises one or more of a additional friction modifier, an additional detergent, an additional dispersant, an antioxidant, an antiwear agent, an antifoam agent, a viscosity index improver, a copper corrosion inhibitor, an anti-rust additive, a seal swell agent, a metal deactivator, and an air expulsion additive.  
     
     
         13 . An additive composition comprising an alkoxylated amine, dihydrocarbyl phosphite, metallic detergent, phosphorylated succinimide, tertiary fatty amine, and ethoxylated alcohol, in respective amounts effective for providing sustained anti-NVH durability upon aging in a power transmission apparatus lubricated therewith.  
     
     
         14 . A method of improving anti-NVH durability in a power transmission apparatus having a friction torque transfer apparatus, comprising lubricating the friction torque transfer apparatus with a fluid composition comprising alkoxylated amine, dihydrocarbyl phosphite, metallic detergent, phosphorylated succinimide, tertiary fatty amine, and ethoxylated alcohol, in respective amounts effective for providing sustained anti-NVH durability upon aging in the power transmission lubricated therewith.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the friction torque transfer apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a shifting clutch, a starting clutch, a torque converter clutch, a band clutch, disk or plate clutch, and a limited slip differential clutch.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the friction torque transfer apparatus comprises a shifting clutch.  
     
     
         17 . A method for improving anti-NVH durability performance in a power transmitting apparatus comprising: 
 1) adding a fluid to a power transmitting apparatus, said fluid comprising (a) a base oil, and (b) an additive package comprising alkoxylated amine, dihydrocarbyl phosphite, metallic detergent, phosphorylated succinimide, tertiary fatty amine, and ethoxylated alcohol; and    2) operating the fluid in the power transmitting apparatus, wherein the additive package being present in an amount effective for providing improved anti-NVH durability upon aging in the power transmission lubricated therewith.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid composition is formulated such that the fluid composition comprises a viscosity at 100° C. of <6 cSt, a viscosity at 40° C. of <30 cSt, and a Brookfield Viscosity at −40° C. of <10,000 cP, and wherein the fluid, when aged at 150° C. for 200 hours, has a variation in coefficient of friction at testing rpm ranging from 50 to 300 of less than about 0.015 as determined from measurements taken on an SAE #2 Machine using a paper friction material lined clutch plate and testing conditions of 0.79N/mm 2  at 150° C. for 200 hours, and wherein an NVH characteristic of the fluid after exposure to oxidizing conditions does not decrease in value below the initial value of the NVH characteristic before the exposure as measured on a ZF GK rig.  
     
     
         19 . A transmission containing the fluid composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission comprises a continuously variable transmission.  
     
     
         21 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission comprises a dual clutch transmission.  
     
     
         22 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission comprises an automatic transmission.  
     
     
         23 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission comprises a manual transmission.  
     
     
         24 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission comprises one or more of an electronically controlled converter clutch, a slipping torque converter, a lock-up torque converter, a starting clutch, and one or more shifting clutches.  
     
     
         25 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein the transmission comprises a belt, chain, or disk-type continuously variable transmission, a 4-speed or more automatic transmission, a manual transmission, an automated manual transmission, or a dual clutch transmission.  
     
     
         26 . A vehicle comprising an engine and a transmission, the transmission including the fluid composition of  claim 1.