Solid dry-type lubricant

{
  "publication_number": "US11613630B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Solid dry-type lubricant",
  "abstract": "One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a dry-type lubricant for use in a dry product hopper to help improve dry product flow and to improve anti jamming properties of the dry product. The example lubricant can comprise a hydrophilic fiber, such as cellulose, having a width to length aspect ratio that provides a thin fiber. A plurality of hydrophobic particles are deposited on the surface of the fiber, resulting in a fiber surface exhibiting amphiphobic properties. Further, the fiber can operably absorb water, and then releases the absorbed water to the surface of the fiber under mechanical stress, such as when mixed with a product in a hopper. This can result in the water being disposed on the surface of the fiber, to provide lubrication to a product in a hopper to improve flow and anti jamming characteristics of the product in the hopper.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A lubricant for use in a hopper fed system, comprising: a hydrophilic fiber having a width to length aspect ratio of at least one to greater than one; and a plurality of hydrophobic particles respectively disposed on the surface of the fiber, resulting in a fiber surface exhibiting amphiphobic properties; wherein the fiber operably absorbs a liquid, and releases the absorbed liquid to the surface of the fiber under mechanical stress, resulting in the liquid being disposed on the surface of the fiber thereby operably providing lubrication to a product in a hopper to improve flow and anti-jamming characteristics of the product in the hopper.",
    "2. The lubricant of claim 1, the fiber comprising a biodegradable polymer, comprising one or more of: cellulose, starch, lignin, collagen, silk, protein, polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDS), and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).",
    "3. The lubricant of claim 1, the fiber comprising one or more of: hydroxyl groups disposed on the surface, and carbonyl groups.",
    "4. The lubricant of claim 3, comprising adsorbed water disposed on the hydroxyl groups.",
    "5. The lubricant of claim 1, the respective particles rising to height of from thirty to one-hundred and thirty nanometers from the surface of the fiber.",
    "6. The lubricant of claim 1, the particles comprising one or more of a silane, amide, esther, ether, and an acyl linkage.",
    "7. The lubricant of claim 6, the silane polymerized to the surface of the fiber using adsorbed water disposed on the surface of the fiber.",
    "8. The lubricant of claim 6, the silane deposited on the fiber surface using an inert carrier.",
    "9. The lubricant of claim 8, the inert carrier comprising one or more of: hexane, and nitrogen gas.",
    "10. The lubricant of claim 1, the mechanical stress comprising pressure from the product operably mixed with the lubricant resulting in the fiber releasing the absorbed water to the surface of the hydrophobic particles."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "A product dispensing and/or distribution system can be used to dispense or distribute a target product. As an example, an agricultural planter may comprise a hopper filled with target seed that is dispensing and plated into a field during operation. Further, a cosmetic or pharmaceutical dispensing system may be used during production of a target product; and a food ingredient dispending system may be used to dispense a target ingredient during production of a particular food item. In these example, the various products can be subjected to friction and mechanical stresses that lead to clumping, jamming, doming, and other flow-related problems, which can lead to undesired dispensing issues.\n\nThis Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key factors or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. One or more techniques and systems are described herein for a dry-type lubricant for use in a dry product hopper to help improve dry product flow and to improve anti-jamming properties of the dry product. The addition of a dry lubricant can help mitigate jamming, and can improve flow of the product. For example, a lubricant can provide lubrication properties when mechanical stress is applied, such as weight or pressure applied by the product stacked in the hopper, or when electrostatic charges are generated by friction.",
  "cpc": [
    "C08K 9/06",
    "B65G 47/44",
    "C08K 2201/016",
    "C08K 2201/018",
    "C08K 5/01",
    "C08K 7/02",
    "C08L 1/02",
    "C10M 161/00",
    "C10M 171/06",
    "C10M 177/00",
    "C10M 2209/102",
    "C10M 2209/12",
    "C10M 2217/04",
    "C10M 2227/04",
    "C10N 2020/061",
    "C10N 2020/063",
    "C10N 2020/081",
    "C10N 2030/06",
    "C10N 2050/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 47/44",
    "C08K 5/01",
    "C08K 7/02",
    "C08K 9/06",
    "C08L 1/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "UNIV IOWA STATE RES FOUND INC",
    "IOWA STATE UNIV RESEARCH FOUNDATION"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "THUO MARTIN",
    "GREGORY PAUL RAMON",
    "CHANG BOYCE S",
    "DU CHUANSHEN"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-12-03",
  "publication_date": "2023-03-28",
  "grant_date": "2023-03-28",
  "priority_date": "2020-12-03",
  "application_number": "US-202017110939-A",
  "family_id": "78709199",
  "citations": [
    "CA879053A",
    "EP3138676A1",
    "US10471469B2",
    "US10604677B2",
    "US2005025967A1",
    "US2017306183A1",
    "US9724342B2"
  ]
}