Anti-corrosive engine oil system components
The present invention is an oil system component comprising and a method for its making, designed to neutralize acid by utilizing components comprising zinc or a zinc-coating. According to one embodiment, a multipurpose component is provided by spraying a standard component such as the oil sump, oil screen, and/or oil filter with a zinc plasma in an inert atmosphere to create an acid-neutralizing coating on the component. The present invention is particularly suited for incorporation into a standard oil filter by fabricating the casing and or an internal screen of zinc coated materials and/or by incorporating zinc coated product or materials into the mechanical filter material.
1 . A method comprising the steps of:
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc;
providing an electrical current to the at least one electrode comprising zinc such that a plasma comprising zinc is formed; and
directing the plasma toward a component of a combustible engine, the component operable to contact the oil in the combustible engine, such that the plasma comprising zinc coats the component.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the component is an inner mesh, filter batting, oil screen, or oil scraper.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the steps are performed in an inert atmosphere.
4 . A coated oil screen created through the steps of:
providing an oil screen; and
directing a plasma comprising zinc toward the oil screen.
5 . The coated oil screen of claim 4 , wherein the steps are conducted in an inert atmosphere.
6 . The coated oil screen of claim 5 , wherein the zinc in plasma form is created by:
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc;
arcing an electrical current between the at least one electrode.
7 . The zinc coated oil screen of claim 6 , wherein the oil screen or a material to utilized in an oil screen is presented under the at least one electrode comprising zinc via a conveyor belt.
8 . A coated oil screen created through the steps of:
providing a material used as an oil screen;
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc;
providing an electrical current to the at least on electrode such that a plasma comprising zinc is formed; and
directing the plasma comprising zinc toward the material used as an oil screen.
9 . The coated oil screen of claim 8 wherein the steps coating the screen are performed in an inert atmosphere.
10 . A coated oil scraper created through the steps of:
providing an oil scraper; and
directing a plasma comprising zinc toward the oil scraper.
11 . The coated oil scraper of claim 10 , wherein the steps are conducted in an inert atmosphere.
12 . The coated oil scraper of claim 11 , wherein the zinc in plasma form is created by:
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc; and
providing an electrical current to the at least one electrode so that a plasma comprising zinc is formed.
13 . The coated oil scraper of claim 12 , wherein the oil scraper is presented under the at least one electrode comprising zinc via a conveyor belt.
14 . A coated oil scraper created through the steps of:
providing an oil scraper;
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc;
providing an electrical current to the at least one electrode such that a plasma comprising zinc is formed; and
directing the plasma comprising zinc toward the oil scraper.
15 . The coated oil scraper of claim 14 wherein the steps are performed in an inert atmosphere.
16 . A coated product or material formed by the steps of:
providing at least one product or material; and
directing a plasma comprising zinc toward the product or material.
17 . The coated product or material of claim 16 , wherein the steps are conducted in an inert atmosphere.
18 . The coated product or material of claim 17 , wherein the plasma comprising zinc is created by:
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc; and
providing an electrical current to the at least one electrode.
19 . The coated product or material of claim 18 , wherein the at least one product or material is presented under the at least one electrode comprising zinc via a conveyor belt.
20 . The coated product or material of claim 19 , wherein the at least one product or material comprises an organic product or material.
21 . A coated product or material created through the steps of:
providing at least one product or material;
providing at least one electrode comprising zinc;
providing an electrical current to the at least one electrode such that a plasma comprising zinc is formed; and
directing the plasma comprising toward the at least one product or material.
22 . The coated product or material of claim 21 , wherein the steps are performed in an inert atmosphere.