IP Library Granted Patent US 7,385,880
Granted Patent B2
US 7,385,880 · App. 10/493,170 · Granted Jun 10, 2008

Grease composition for precision equipment and timepiece containing the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,385,880
App. No.
10/493,170
Granted
Jun 10, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A grease composition for a precision instrument comprising a lithium soap grease or a urea grease, and an anti-wear agent, wherein the lithium soap grease and the urea grease are each a grease having no hydroxyl group in a molecule, and the anti-wear agent is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight based on the total amount of the grease composition. By the use of the grease composition for a sliding mechanism of a precision instrument such as a watch, an appropriate slip torque can be obtained, and the precision instrument such as a watch can operate stably.

Claims (22)

1. A watch, wherein a grease composition for a precision instrument is used to lubricate a sliding mechanism of its slide portion, wherein the grease composition for a precision instrument comprises a lithium soap grease or a urea grease, and an anti-wear agent;

wherein the lithium soap grease and the urea grease are each a grease having no hydroxyl group in a molecule,

the anti-wear agent is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight based on the total amount of the grease composition, and

the anti-wear agent is at least one compound selected from a neutral phosphate, a neutral phosphite and calcium borate.

2. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lithium soap grease or the urea grease is obtained from a polyol ester oil having no hydroxyl group in a molecule.

3. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lithium soap grease or the urea grease is obtained from a paraffinic hydrocarbon oil comprising an α-olefin polymer of 30 or more carbon atoms.

4. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lithium soap grease or the urea grease is obtained from an ether oil having no hydroxyl group in a molecule.

5. The watch as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the ether oil is an ether oil represented by the following formula (1):

wherein R 1 and R 3 are each independently an alkyl group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group of 6 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2 is an alkylene group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group of 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 to 5.

6. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a solid lubricant in an amount of 0.01 to 5% by Weight based on the total amount of the grease composition.

7. The watch as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide and/or PTFE particles.

8. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a metal deactivator.

9. The watch as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the metal deactivator is benzotriazole and/or a derivative thereof.

10. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an antioxidant.

11. The watch as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the antioxidant is a phenol type antioxidant and/or an amine type antioxidant.

12. The watch as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the phenol type antioxidant is 2,6-di-tributyl-p-cresol, 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenol or 4,4′-methylenebis (2,6-di-tributylphenol).

13. The watch as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the amine type antioxidant is a diphenylamine derivative.

14. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the change in weight of the lithium soap grease or the urea grease after the grease is held at 90° C. for 1,000 hours is not more than 10% by weight.

15. The watch as claimed in claim 1 , which has a total acid number of not more than 0.2 mg KOH/g.

16. The watch as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the grease composition for a precision instrument is used to lubricate the sliding mechanism of its slide portion, a lubricating oil composition is used to lubricate portions other than the sliding mechanism of the slide portion, and the lubricating oil composition is a lubricating oil composition obtained from the polyol ester oil having no hydroxyl group in a molecule.

17. The watch as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the grease composition for a precision instrument is used to lubricate the sliding mechanism of its slide portion, a lubricating oil composition is used to lubricate portions other than the sliding mechanism of the slide portion, and the lubricating oil composition is a lubricating oil composition obtained from the paraffinic hydrocarbon oil comprising an α-olefin polymer of 30 or more carbon atoms.

18. The watch as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the grease composition for a precision instrument is used to lubricate a sliding mechanism of a slide portion, a lubricating oil composition is used to lubricate portions other than the sliding mechanism of the slide portion, and the lubricating oil composition is a lubricating oil composition obtained from the ether oil having no hydroxyl group in a molecule.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041479/0804 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 7, 2007
From: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019393/0983 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2004
From: AKAO, YUJI
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015799/0675 →