Inert gas blanket for protection from oxidation

Abstract

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.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A protected item comprising a generally enclosed space for containing an oxidatively labile substance, and attached in communication thereto an inert gas device for providing an inert gas blanket to said space to assist in protecting the oxidatively labile substance from oxidation.  
     
     
         2 . The item of  claim 1 , wherein said device provides said inert gas which is enriched in or is pure nitrogen.  
     
     
         3 . The item of  claim 2 , wherein said device includes a membrane for separating said inert gas from air.  
     
     
         4 . The item of  claim 3 , which delivers to a place away from said space a gas which is enriched in or is pure oxygen.  
     
     
         5 . The item of  claim 3 , which is a fuel tank.  
     
     
         6 . The item of  claim 3 , which is an electrical wire raceway.  
     
     
         7 . The item of  claim 3 , which is a hydraulic brake system, a tank for transporting a liquid fuel or combustible or oxidation sensitive reactant or solvent, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The item of  claim 1 , which is selected from the group consisting of a transmission box, a gear box, and a crankcase of an internal combustion engine; and the oxidatively labile substance is an oil or transmission fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The item of  claim 3 , which is selected from the group consisting of a transmission box, a gear box, and a crankcase of an internal combustion engine; and the oxidatively labile substance is an oil or transmission fluid.  
     
     
         10 . The item of  claim 8 , which is said engine crankcase.  
     
     
         11 . The item of  claim 9 , which is said engine crankcase.  
     
     
         12 . The item of  claim 4 , wherein said place is selected from the group consisting of a carburetor, fuel injector, catalytic converter and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The item of  claim 4 , wherein said place includes a pilot, driver or passenger cabin or compartment.  
     
     
         14 . The item of  claim 3 , which is stationary.  
     
     
         15 . The item of  claim 14 , which is a grain elevator or silo.  
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling oxidative degradation of an oleaginous liquid substance in a generally enclosed space in a working machine, which comprises providing an inert gas blanket to said space.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said oleaginous liquid substance is an oil or transmission fluid, and said machine is selected from the group consisting of a transmission box, a gear boy, an internal combustion engine, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said inert gas which is enriched in or is pure nitrogen.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said inert gas is provided from separation air with a membrane-containing device.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said oleaginous liquid substance is an engine oil; said machine is the internal combustion engine, and it is necessary to change the oil only after twenty thousand miles of use or more.