Bearing cleaning composition and method of use
AssigneeNCH Corporation
InventorsRuiming Zhang, Anthony Peter Wenzler, Michael Dennis Holloway
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composition for cleaning bearings in rotating equipment and industrial machinery that contains powdered limestone having a high calcium content dispersed in a calcium sulfonate grease, together with a colorant that readily enables a user to differentiate between contaminated grease, cleaning composition and fresh grease. A method is also disclosed that enables a user to clean and re-lubricate bearings without the need for removing the bearings from service or for shutting down the associated equipment or machinery.
Claims29
A bearing cleaning composition comprising an overbased calcium sulfonate grease, from about 3 to about 15 weight percent polishing agent, from about 1 to about 5 weight percent alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, and a minor effective amount of a colorant.
A bearing cleaning composition made by combining from about 30 to about 80 weight percent solvent neutral oil, from about 30 to about 80 weight percent overbased calcium sulfonate, from about 3 to about 15 weight percent powdered crystalline calcium carbonate, from about 1 to about 5 weight percent alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, from about 1 to about 3 weight percent hexylene glycol;
- from about 1 to about 8 weight percent water, and from about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent colorant.
A method for removing contaminated grease from and for cleaning bearings disposed inside of a bearing assembly while the bearing assembly is in service, the method comprising the steps of:
- injecting into the bearing assembly at an injection site a sufficient amount of a visually identifiable bearing cleaning composition to flush contaminated grease from the bearing assembly and render the bearing cleaning composition visible from a side of the bearing assembly disposed opposite the injection site, the bearing cleaning composition comprising overbased calcium sulfonate grease, powdered crystalline calcium carbonate, from about 1 to about 5 weight percent alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, and a colorant;
- removing one or more contaminants from the bearing assembly by operating the bearing assembly continuously for a run period of at least about 4 hours with the bearing cleaning composition;
- and
- thereafter flushing the bearing cleaning composition from the bearing assembly by injecting fresh replacement grease into the bearing assembly until the bearing cleaning composition is no longer exuded from the bearing assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.