GREASE FOR ELEVATOR ROPE, ELEVATOR ROPE, TRACTION-TYPE
ELEVATOR, AND MAINTENANCE METHOD OF TRACTION-TYPE ELEVATOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the 5 he Invention
[0001]
The present invention relates to grease for elevator
rope, elevator rope, a traction-type elevator, and a
maintenance method of a traction-type elevator.
10
(2) Description of the Related Art
[0002]
A traction-type elevator having no machine room is
used as an elevator for a medium to low-rise building in
15 recent years. By eliminating a machine room, a tractiontype
elevator can increase the degree of freedom in the
design layout of an elevator tower and can be installed
also in a narrow space where an elevator has heretofore
been hardly installable. Consequently, a traction-type
20 elevator is increasingly used when a device is newly
installed or renewed.
[0003]
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a
traction-type elevator. 1 represents a lift cage, 2 a
25 counter weight (balance weight), 3 a sheave connected to a
3
hoisting machine (not shown in the figure), 4 a rope (wire
rope), 5a and 5b pulleys to suspend the lift cage and the
counter weight respectively, 6 a pulley fastened to a top
section, and 7 a hoistway. An end of the rope 4 is
fastened to the top section of the hoistway 5 7, the rope 4
is dragged around the hanging pulley 5a for the lift cage,
the top pulley 6, the sheave 3, the top pulley 6, and the
hanging pulley 5b for the counter weight in sequence, and
the other end of the rope 4 is fastened to the top section
10 of the hoistway 7. The difference of the tension generated
by the lift cage 1 and the counter weight 2 balances with
the frictional force generated between the rope 4 and the
sheave 3 with the rope 4 interposed.
[0004]
15 As the elevator rope, a rope standardized by JIS
(Japanese Industrial Standards) G3525 is generally used,
for example. The rope has a structure formed by arranging
about six or eight strands around a rope core comprising
synthetic fiber or natural fiber and twisting them.
20 Further, each of the strands is formed by twisting a
plurality of steel wires together. A viscous oil or a
greasy oil is applied over a rope surface in order to:
inhibit the friction and wear of the steel wires generated
by a force acting in the direction where the steel wire
25 strands compress the rope core when a tension is added to
4
the rope; and form an oil film between the rope and the
sheaves (retain lubricity). In the elevator of Fig. 1,
when the tension of the rope 4 is raised so as to increase
the contact pressure (Hertz’s contact pressure) at the
5 contact part of the rope 4 and the sheave 3, the oil on the
surface of the rope 4 forms an elastohydrodynamic
lubrication film at the contact part and the power of the
hoisting machine is transferred to the rope 4 through the
contact part. This is a type of drive system called
10 traction drive, the lift cage 1 and the counter weight 2
are driven by moving the rope 4, and the elevator (lift
cage 1) descends and ascends.
[0005]
The application of a small-diameter rope is studied
15 in recent years. By decreasing the diameter of a rope, the
diameter and the winding angle of a sheave decrease and an
elevator can be downsized further. On the other hand, the
decrease of a rope diameter causes the contact area between
the rope and a sheave to decrease and leads to the lowering
20 of the power transmission (traction) of the rope. A drive
force (traction force) of a rope generated by traction is
represented by the product of a contact pressure of the
rope and a sheave and a traction coefficient of an oil (oil
film). In order to obtain a traction force against the
25 decrease of a contact area, it is necessary either to
5
increase the contact pressure at the contact part of a rope
and a sheave or to adopt an oil having a higher traction
coefficient.
[0006]
5 By the thinning of a rope, a contact pressure at a
contact part increases but the tensile strength of the rope
lowers in contrast. A contact pressure increases by
increasing the weight of a lift cage or the like, but the
load to the rope also increases, and hence adjustment has
10 to be made in consideration of the safety rate of the rope.
Further, the weight reduction of a lift cage and the like
is also studied from the viewpoint of energy saving and
longer service life in addition to the downsizing of a
device and the methods for increasing a contact pressure
15 have many technological restrictions. Consequently, the
application of oil or grease allowing an excellent traction
to be obtained against the decrease of a contact area is
desired.
[0007]
20 As an example of a traction-type elevator using a
high-traction rope, a traction-type elevator system
characterized by at least applying a soft solid oil or a
greasy oil having necessary drop point and consistency to a
rope by using polybutene or liquid polyisobutylene
25 individually or the combination of them as a base and
6
fixing it with a thickening agent is disclosed in Patent
Literature 1. In Patent Literature 2 further, disclosed is
a traction grease composite that is a grease composite used
for a traction drive mechanism (planetary roller type
5 traction drive mechanism used as a transmission in a
machine tool or the like), is an -alkyl styrene dimer or
trimer hydride, and is formed by dispersing a thickening
agent in a base oil comprising at least one kind of
chemical compound represented by a prescribed expression.
10 [0008]
In Patent Literature 3, disclosed is a thickening
agent comprising a disk-shaped chemical compound that has a
disk-shaped mother nucleus and three or more side chain
groups extending radially from the disk-shaped mother
15 nucleus in the molecule and includes at least a tautomeric
group in the disk-shaped mother nucleus and/or the side
chain groups, wherein at least one of the three or more
side chain groups includes a long-chain group formed by
connecting twenty or more atoms selected from the group
20 comprising oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, silicon, and sulfur
into a straight chain shape or a branched chain shape at a
terminal part.
[0009]
In Patent Literature 4, disclosed is a grease
25 composite including at least one kind of disk-shaped
7
chemical compound having a disk-shaped mother nucleus, at
least one kind of thickening agent, and a base oil, wherein
the worked penetration at 40°C is 480 or less.
Citation 5 List
Patent Literature
[0010]
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. S58-176298
10 Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2000-8058
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent
Application Publication No. 2008-195799
Patent Literature 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent
15 Application Publication No. 2008-195800
[0011]
An elevator rope is required to have a high wear
resistance in addition to a high traction characteristic in
20 order to secure the safety of an elevator and reduce the
frequency of the maintenance and inspection of the elevator.
In order to materialize an elevator rope having a high wear
resistance, it is conceivable to use an elevator rope oil
or grease having a high retention (lubrication retention)
25 ability of an oil film between a rope and a sheave.
8
[0012]
Polybutene or liquid polyisobutylene included in
grease of Patent Literature 1 is excellent in a traction
characteristic (has a high traction coefficient) but is
5 likely to undergo the deformation of a molecule and reduce
the thickness of an oil film under a high contact pressure
because of a straight-chain type hydrocarbon. Oil film
shortage is likely to appear therefore, wear tends to
progress on the contact surfaces of a rope and a sheave
10 resultantly, and the service life of the rope possibly
comes to be shorter than the case of using a generally-used
mineral traction grease. Further, if the thickness of an
oil film between a rope and a sheave reduces, the power of
a hoisting machine is not transferred to the rope well and
15 the damping failure of an elevator may possibly be caused.
[0013]
The grease of Patent Literature 2 is used for a
transmission system in a machine tool, a transmission, or
the like in a high temperature region of 200°C or higher
20 and hence the traction performance is not exhibited without
such a high temperature. A problem here is therefore that
high traction performance is not exhibited even if the
grease is used for a rope of an elevator operating at about
room temperature to 100°C.
25 [0014]
9
The grease disclosed in Patent Literature 3 or 4 is
used for slide parts and the like of mechanical instruments
and parts of an internal combustion engine, a machine tool,
and the like, is aimed at exhibiting a low friction
5 property and wear resistance (high lubricity), and does not
use a base oil having a high traction characteristic. That
is, the grease may possibly be insufficient in obtaining
both a high traction characteristic and a high wear
resistance required for a grease for an elevator rope.
10 [0015]
As stated above, not only a high traction
characteristic but also a high wear resistance is
insufficiently given to an elevator rope by conventional
technologies and further improvement has been desired.
15 [0016]
An object of the present invention is, in view of the
above situation, to provide: a grease for an elevator rope
allowing an elevator rope having both a high traction
characteristic and a high wear resistance to be obtained;
20 an elevator rope using the grease for an elevator rope; a
traction-type elevator; and a maintenance method of the
traction-type elevator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
25 [0017]
10
The present invention, in order to attain the above
object, provides a grease for an elevator rope including a
base oil and a thixotropy imparting agent wherein: the
thixotropy imparting agent is a chemical compound having a
5 hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group in a molecule,
dissolves in the base oil, and forms a solid composite; and
the composite exhibits thixotropy.
[0018]
Further, the present invention provides an elevator
10 rope including a plurality of strands each of which is
formed by winding a plurality of steel wires together and a
rope core and being formed by winding the strands together
around the rope core in the center, wherein the grease for
an elevator rope according to the present invention is
15 applied to or impregnated into the strands.
[0019]
Furthermore, the present invention provides a
traction-type elevator equipped with a rope, a hoisting
machine to winding up the rope, a counter weight connected
20 to the rope, and a lift cage connected to the rope and
driven by winding up the rope, wherein the rope is an
elevator rope according to the present invention.
[0020]
In addition, the present invention provides a
25 maintenance method of a traction-type elevator equipped
11
with a rope, a hoisting machine to winding up the rope, a
counter weight connected to the rope, and a lift cage
connected to the rope and driven by winding up the rope,
wherein the grease for an elevator rope according to the
5 present invention is applied to the rope.
[0021]
The present invention makes it possible to provide: a
grease for an elevator rope allowing an elevator rope
having both a high traction characteristic and a high wear
10 resistance to be obtained; an elevator rope using the
grease for an elevator rope; a traction-type elevator; and
a maintenance method of the traction-type elevator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
15 [0022]
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a
traction-type elevator; and
Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of a
cross section of an elevator rope according to the present
20 invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023]
Embodiments according to the present invention are
25 explained hereunder in reference to drawings. The present
12
invention however is not limited to the embodiments
explained here and can appropriately be combined or
improved in the range not changing the tenor of the present
invention.
5 [0024]
[Grease for elevator rope]
As stated earlier, a grease for an elevator rope
according to the present invention includes a base oil and
a thixotropy imparting agent. The base oil contains a
10 naphthenic compound (polycyclic naphthenic compound) having
a plurality of cyclic hydrocarbons and the like in a
molecular structure and the thixotropy imparting agent
dissolves in the base oil and forms a solid composite. The
thixotropy imparting agent has a structure allowing a
15 hydrogen bond to form in a molecular structure and to form
a semisolid composite having a thixotropy by dissolving
into an oil or the like. Here, a grease for an elevator
rope according to the present invention may further include
a viscosity modifying agent, a thickening agent such as wax,
20 or an additive to give the function of rust prevention or
the like.
[0025]
The respective constituent components of a grease for
an elevator rope (hereunder, also referred to as
25 “thixotropic grease”) according to the present invention
13
are hereunder described in detail. In the present
specification, a base oil single body or a high viscosity
oil formed by thickening a base oil with a viscosity
modifying agent is called a “rope oil” and an oil that
5 contains a base oil and a thixotropy imparting agent and
comes to be a solid in the state of no shear is called a
“grease (thixotropic grease)”.
[0026]
(1) Base oil
10 In the present invention, any base oil can be used
without specific restriction as long as it is applied to an
elevator rope and used as a material constituting a
thixotropic grease that undergoes shear by contact with a
sheave and liquefies. A best form is a polycyclic
15 naphthenic compound. A polycyclic naphthenic compound
means a series of chemical compounds having a plurality of
cyclic hydrocarbons in the molecular structure. Concretely,
the polycyclic naphthenic compound is at least a kind of
chemical compound represented by the following General
20 Expression (1).
[0027]
[Chemical Formula 1]
General Expression (1)
14
[0028]
In General Expression (1), n represents an integer of
any one of 0 to 4. Each of X, X’, and X’’ shows a
5 monocyclic hydrocarbon or a cyclic hydrocarbon having a
crosslinked structure, each of R and R’ shows a direct bond
or an alkylene group having a carbon number of any one of 1
to 3, and Q shows a hydrogen atom, an alkylene group having
a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3, or a cyclic
10 hydrocarbon. Each of X, X’, X’’, R, R’, and Q may be
selected independently from each other and may have an
alkyl group having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3 or
a cyclic hydrocarbon in a side chain.
[0029]
15 A chemical compound represented by General Expression
(1) is a chemical compound having a very bulky molecular
structure (having a large steric hindrance) because it has
a plurality of cyclic hydrocarbons of a cyclohexyl skeleton
or the like and the circles bind together directly or
20 through a hydrocarbon. The chemical compound can
materialize a high traction characteristic and a high wear
resistance because it has a high shear resistance and can
maintain the thickness of an oil film even when a contact
15
pressure increases.
[0030]
As examples of a polycyclic naphthenic compound
represented by General Expression (1), various kinds are
5 named but a preferred example is at least one kind
represented by the following General Expressions (2) to (7).
[0031]
[Chemical Formula 2]
General Expression (2)
10
[0032]
[Chemical Formula 3]
General Expression (3)
15 [0033]
[Chemical Formula 4]
General Expression (4)
16
[0034]
[Chemical Formula 5]
General Expression (5)
5
[0035]
[Chemical Formula 6]
General Expression (6)
10 [0036]
[Chemical Formula 7]
General Expression (7)
17
[0037]
In the expressions, each of R1 to R7 comprises a
hydrocarbon group represented by any one of General
Expressions (8) to (10) and each of R1’ to R12’ is selected
5 from hydrogen, an alkyl group having a carbon number of any
one of 1 to 3, a monocyclic cyclohexyl group, and a
cyclohexyl group having a crosslinked structure
independently from each other. Each of n1 to n15
represents an integer of any one of 0 to 9 or 0 to 11 in
10 accordance with the structure of a cyclic hydrocarbon, each
of Q1 to Q15 is selected from an alkyl group having a carbon
number of any one of 1 to 3, a monocyclic cyclohexyl group,
and a cyclohexyl group having a crosslinked structure
independently from each other. When n1 to n15 are integers
15 of 2 or more, two or more of Q1 to Q15 are selected
independently from each other. Each of Q1’ to Q3’ is
selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a
carbon number of any one of 1 to 3, a monocyclic cyclohexyl
group, and a cyclohexyl group having a crosslinked
20 structure independently from each other.
[0038]
[Chemical Formula 8]
General Expression (8)
18
[0039]
[Chemical Formula 9]
General Expression (9)
5
[0040]
[Chemical Formula 10]
General Expression (10)
10 [0041]
In the chemical compounds of General Expressions (2)
to (7), the alkyl groups of R1’ to R12’ and Q1 to Q15 in the
expressions are concretely methyl groups, ethyl groups, npropyl
groups, and i-propyl groups. Each of R1’ to R12’ is
15 preferably hydrogen or a methyl group and yet preferably a
substance formed by methylating a carbon atom adjacent to a
cyclohexyl group. The chemical compounds of General
Expressions (2) to (7) may be used either independently
from each other or by mixing them in an arbitrary
19
combination or at an arbitrary rate.
[0042]
A preferred example of General Expressions (2) to (7)
is a chemical compound including two to four cyclic
compounds. The 5 concrete examples are bicyclohexyl, 1,2-
dicyclohexyl propane, 1,2-dicyclohexyl-2-methyl propane,
2,3-dicyclohexyl butane, 2,3-dicyclohexyl-2-methyl butane,
2,3-dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethyl butane, 1,3-dicyclohexyl
butane, 1,3-dicyclohexyl-3-methyl butane, 2,4-dicyclohexyl
10 pentane, 2,4-dicyclohexyl-2-methyl pentane, 2,4-
dicyclohexyl-2,4-dimethyl pentane, 1,3-dicyclohexyl-2-
methyl butane, 2,4-dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethyl butane, 2,4-
dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethyl pentane, 2,4,6-tricyclohexyl-2,4-
dimethyl heptane, 2,4,6-tricyclohexyl-2-methyl hexane,
15 2,4,6-tricyclohexyl-2,4,6-trimethyl heptane, 2,4,6,8-
tetracyclohexyl-2,4,6,8-tetramethyl nonane,
bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 2-methylene bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane,
2-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 2-methylene-3-methyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-methylene-2-methyl
20 bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,3-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-
ene, 2-methylene-7-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-
methylene-7-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,7-dimethyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 2-methylene-5-methyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-methylene-5-methyl
25 bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,5-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-
20
ene, 2-methylene-6-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-
methylene-6-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,6-dimethyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 2-methylene-1-methyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-methylene-1-methyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 1,2-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5 2-
ene, 2-methylene-4-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-
methylene-4-methyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,4-dimethyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 2-methylene-3,7-dimethyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-methylene-2,7-dimethyl
10 bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,3,7-trimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-
2-ene, 2-methylene-3,6-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-
methylene-2,6-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2-methylene-
3,3-dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-methylene-2,2-
dimethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2,3,6-trymethyl
15 bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, 2-methylene-3-ethyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 3-methylene-2-ethyl
bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2-methyl-3-ethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-
2-ene, and others.
[0043]
20 Each of the chemical compounds shown in General
Expressions (2) to (7) comprises a molecular structure
including a plurality of alicyclic hydrocarbons and has a
structure formed by directly binding the circles together
or crosslinking them through hydrocarbons. As a result,
25 since the steric hindrance of a molecule is large,
21
deformation hardly occurs even when a high pressure is
applied and an oil film having a thickness sufficiently
withstanding the contact between a rope and a sheave is
formed. On the other hand, since a base oil single body
sometimes 5 has a low viscosity and the oil sticks poorly to
a contact part, oil film breakage is caused and the wear of
a rope occurs when power is transmitted from a sheave.
Consequently, it is necessary to: maintain the structure of
an oil film at a contact part; and take a measure to
10 increase the viscosity of a base oil.
[0044]
The manufacturing methods of the chemical compounds
of General Expressions (2) to (7) are not particularly
limited and known or arbitrary methods are adopted. For
15 example, a method of manufacturing such a chemical compound
by subjecting -methyl styrene or styrene to dimerization
reaction or trimerization reaction and then to
hydrogenation and a method of manufacturing a naphthenic
synthetic lubricating oil are named. Meanwhile, a
20 tetrameric chemical compound formed during the process of
manufacturing or the like may be included but, since a
multimer having a large molecular weight may sometimes be
obtained in the state of a solid, a dimeric or trimeric
chemical compound is more desirable.
25 [0045]
22
Further, as other examples of polycyclic naphthenes,
named are a hydrogenated product of a dimeric or multimeric
cyclic monoterpene and a hydrogenated product of a dimeric
or multimeric cyclic monoterpene derivative. As examples
5 of the cyclic monoterpenes and the derivatives of them
(cyclic monoterpenoids), various kinds may be named and, as
preferred examples, menthadienes, cyclic hydrocarbons each
of which has a crosslinked structure, and mixtures of them
can be named. They are hydrocarbons each of which has
10 isoprene as the constituent unit and it is known that each
of them has a structural isomer or an enantiomer (d isomer,
l isomer) in some molecular structures. In the
menthadienes and the cyclic hydrocarbons each of which has
a crosslinked structure, the reactivity in multimeric
15 synthesis is relatively high. Further, it is possible to
form a base oil having a large steric hindrance because the
chemical compound has many cyclic structures. Furthermore,
the chemical compounds are known also as biological
materials produced by plants, insects, fungi, and the like
20 and are advantageous in the aspect of resource saving
because they are natural substance derived chemical
compounds and manufacturable from non-petroleum-based
materials.
[0046]
25 Methadienes are the chemical compounds each of which
23
has a structure formed by substituting a methyl group and
an isopropyl group at the first and second positions, the
first and third positions, or the first and fourth
positions of a cyclohexane ring respectively and further
has two carbon-carbon double bonds. Concretely, 5 etely, named are
limonene, isolimonene, -terpinene, β-terpinene, γ-
terpinene, terpinolene, -phellandrene, β-phellandrene, and
the enantiomers of them. Further, derivatives each of
which is formed by introducing a substituent group such as
10 an alkyl group or a hydroxyl group are named likewise.
[0047]
As cyclic hydrocarbons having crosslinked structures,
named are -pinene, β-pinene, camphene, bornylene, fenchene,
sabinene, and the enantiomers of them. Further,
15 derivatives each of which is formed by introducing a
substituent group such as an alkyl group or a hydroxyl
group are named likewise.
[0048]
Further, a mixture including a cyclic monoterpene and
20 a derivative of a cyclic monoterpene stated earlier can
also be used as a base oil likewise. Concretely, essential
oils such as dipentene that is an isomeric mixture of pmenthadienes
and a turpentine oil that is a mixture of -
pinene and β-pinene are named. The material of a base oil
25 is not particularly limited in the range shown in the
24
present invention.
[0049]
A dimeric or multimeric cyclic monoterpene or a
derivative of a dimeric or multimeric cyclic monoterpene
5 according to the present invention is a chemical compound
(multimer) obtained by subjecting a cyclic monoterpene or a
cyclic monoterpenoid to multimerization reaction and may be
either one kind of multimer or a mixture including several
kinds of multimers (for example, a mixture including a
10 multimer of limonene and a multimer of -terpinene).
Further, a multimer comprising different kinds of cyclic
monoterpenes and cyclic monoterpenoids may also be used.
For example, a substance formed by multimerizing -pinene
(cyclic monoterpene) and β-pinene (cyclic monoterpene) and
15 a substance formed by multimerizing limonene (cyclic
monoterpene) and a derivative of it (cyclic monoterpenoid)
may be used. Meanwhile, the multimer is not particularly
limited as long as it is a dimer or a multimer and may be a
mixture including multimers having different unit numbers
20 (number of monomers constituting a multimer) (for example,
a mixture of a dimer and a trimer) but a multimer having a
large molecular weight may be obtained as a solid in some
cases. When it is obtained as a solid, it can be used by
being dissolved in a solvent or the like and adjusting the
25 viscosity but on the occasion the concentration of a base
25
oil may possibly reduce and a traction characteristic may
possibly lower. Consequently, a dimeric or trimeric
chemical compound is more desirable. Here, the unit number
of the multimer depends on the position of the double bond
5 of a monomer complex before multimerization reaction.
[0050]
A multimer is obtained by applying multimerization
reaction to the above cyclic monoterpene or the above
derivative of it under the existence of a catalyst. The
10 catalyst used for the multimerization reaction is not
particularly limited and an acidic catalyst is generally
used. Concrete examples are hydrochloric acid, sulfuric
acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, aluminum chloride, iron
chloride (II), tin chloride (II), zeolite, silica, alumina,
15 cation exchange resin, heteropolyacid, and others. Cyclic
monoterpene or a derivative of it and a catalyst stated
above are charged in a reaction container and
multimerization reaction is applied. Further, with the aim
of dispersing a catalyst, a solvent such as n-hexane,
20 cyclohexane, toluene, or 1,2-dietoxyethane may also be used.
Furthermore, a reaction adjuster such as an ester, a ketone,
or a glycol may be added if necessary.
[0051]
Successively, a hydrogenated product of a dimeric or
25 multimeric cyclic monoterpene or a hydrogenated product of
26
a derivative of a dimeric or multimeric cyclic monoterpene
is obtained by applying hydrogenation reaction to the
dimeric or multimeric cyclic monoterpene or the derivative
of the dimeric or multimeric cyclic monoterpene and the
hydrogenated 5 product is used as a target base oil. The
hydrogenation reaction can be applied by an ordinary method.
For example, hydrogenation reaction (catalytic
hydrogenation) can be applied by supplying a hydrogen gas
and heating it under the existence of a metal catalyst
10 (nickel, ruthenium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium,
or the like) appropriate for hydrogenation reaction.
Further, it is possible to apply hydrogenation reaction by
using hydride reduction using an ate-type hydride complex
such as aluminum lithium hydride, sodium borohydride,
15 lithium triethylborohydride, or lithium borohydride in some
molecular structures. Although the hydrogenation reaction
is usually attained by heterogeneous catalytic
hydrogenation using a metal catalyst, the reduction is
hardly attained by the method sometimes depending on the
20 position of a double bond of a starting material and the
hydrogenation reaction is attained rather by hydride
reduction (homogeneous hydrogenation) in some cases.
Consequently, it is preferable to select a method suitable
for the molecular structure of each chemical compound in
25 the hydrogenation reaction.
27
[0052]
A base oil according to the present invention is a
chemical compound having a very bulky molecular structure
(having a large steric hindrance) because it has a
5 plurality of cyclic hydrocarbons and the circles bind
together directly or through a hydrocarbon. By using such
a chemical compound as a base oil, it is possible to obtain
an elevator rope having both a high traction characteristic
and a high wear resistance and a traction-type elevator
10 using the rope.
[0053]
Further, as a base oil according to the present
invention, in addition to a synthetic naphthenic compound,
a mixed oil produced by appropriately blending a mineral
15 oil (paraffin oil, naphthene oil), synthetic ester oil,
synthetic ether oil, and synthetic hydrocarbon oil or each
of them may be used with the aim of securing the
compatibility of a thixotropy imparting agent that will be
described below, the stability of a base oil viscosity and
20 a rope grease, the adjustment of traction, and others.
They can be selected in accordance with the design
specification of an elevator.
[0054]
(2) Thixotropy imparting agent
25 A grease for an elevator rope according to the
28
present invention is a substance produced by adding a
thixotropy imparting agent in order to solidify a base oil.
The thixotropy imparting agent is a chemical compound
having a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group in one
5 molecule and has the characteristic in that the molecules
constitute a structure by hydrogen bond in a solution and
form a composite (grease) of a solid state when it
dissolves in a base oil. A grease according to the present
invention: has thixotropy meaning that a substance softens
10 easily by giving a shear force between a rope and a sheave
and thus breaking the hydrogen bond of a thixotropy
imparting agent; and comes to be a liquefied composite of a
high viscosity. As a result, an oil film to protect a
contact area between a rope and a sheave is easily formed
15 and that leads to the improvement of the wear resistance of
the rope. Further, when the shear stress is removed, the
structure is formed again by hydrogen bond, a solid
composite is obtained, adhesiveness to a rope is maintained,
and the wear resistance of the rope improves.
20 [0055]
The thixotropy of a grease according to the present
invention: can be seen under a temperature condition that
can be taken at an elevator hoistway, starting with a
temperature around room temperature (25°C), without the
25 need for raising temperature; and is a feature to secure
29
both a higher adhesiveness to the surface of a rope and a
higher oil film stabilization at the contact area of a rope
and a sheave. This is a feature not seen in a conventional
grease for an elevator rope using wax as a thickening agent.
Some 5 of the metal soap type greases have thixotropy, but
are restricted much in heating, melting, and cooling
processes, and hence are not suitable for a manufacturing
process of an elevator rope as it will be described later.
[0056]
10 A grease according to the present invention can:
soften steadily by shear even under operation environment
temperature drop caused by the downsizing of an elevator or
under a low temperature environment such as a cold region;
form an oil film; and thus secure a traction characteristic
15 and adhesiveness.
[0057]
As described above, it has been shown in the present
invention that an oil tends to solidify (come to a solid)
by adding a smaller quantity of thixotropy imparting agent
20 in the case of using a polycyclic naphthenic compound as a
base oil than in the case of using a mineral oil including
paraffin or a chain hydrocarbon such as polybutene as a
base oil. The reason is presumably that, in the case of a
polycyclic naphthenic compound, a bulky molecular frame
25 comes to be steric hindrance, the compatibility of a
30
thixotropy imparting agent comes to be lower than the case
of a mineral oil or a chain hydrocarbon, and a structure
formed by hydrogen bond is more likely to be obtained.
Further, since solidification occurs with a small quantity
5 of thixotropy imparting agent, a thixotropic grease
according to the present invention can be used without
hindering the traction characteristic of a base oil. In
addition, a thixotropic grease according to the present
invention can exhibit thixotropy with good reproducibility
10 regardless of the conditions of heating, melting, and
cooling and hence is highly compatible with the
manufacturing process of an elevator rope.
[0058]
A thixotropy imparting agent according to the present
15 invention can be used without particularly limited as long
as it is soluble in a base oil and solidifies the base oil.
Examples of a thixotropy imparting agent are fatty acid
amide, fatty acid diamide, fatty acid triamide, fatty acid
tetraamide, oxidized polyolefin and castor oil in which
20 hydrogen are added. The type and content (compounding
ratio) of such a thixotropy imparting agent have to be
decided in consideration of the influence of a rope oil to
a traction coefficient and the stickiness property
(adhesiveness) to a rope.
25 [0059]
31
Among the thixotropy imparting agents stated above in
particular, the fatty acid amide and the fatty acid
diamide: are excellent in moderate compatibility with a
polycyclic naphthenic compound and structure forming by
hydrogen 5 bond; and are preferred examples. Concretely, the
chemical compounds are represented by the following General
Expressions (11) and (12).
[0060]
[Chemical Formula 11]
10 General Expression (11)
[0061]
[Chemical Formula 12]
General Expression (12)
15
[0062]
In the chemical compounds of General Expressions (11)
and (12), R1’’ in the expressions is hydrogen or an alkyl
group having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 24, R3’’ is
20 a hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of any one of 1
to 8, and each of R2’’, R4’’, and R5’’ is a hydrocarbon
group having a carbon number of any one of 4 to 24. Such a
32
side chain may have a substituent group such as an alkyl
group, a hydroxyl group, or a phenyl group with the aim of
compatibility with a base oil, the promotion of structure
forming by hydrogen bond, and others. Particularly
preferably, the side chain of each of R2’’, R4’’, 5 ’’, and R5’’
has a hydroxyl group. The chemical compounds of General
Expressions (11) and (12) may be used either independently
from each other or by mixing them in an arbitrary
combination or at an arbitrary rate. With regard to R1’’,
10 R2’’, R4’’, and R5’’ (hydrocarbon groups) in General
Expressions (11) and (12), a grease property scarcely
changes by the change of a carbon number but a preferable
carbon number is any one of 12 to 22. A preferable carbon
number of R3’’ (diamine structure) is any one of 2 to 6. By
15 controlling the structure of a thixotropy imparting agent
(carbon number of a hydrocarbon group), it is possible to
control grease properties (solidifiability, softenability,
creep recovery characteristic, and others of a grease).
[0063]
20 A preferred example of General Expressions (11) and
(12) is a reaction product between monoamine or diamine and
a fatty acid. As monoamines, named are methylamine,
ethylamine, propylamine, butylamine, 2-butylamine, 2-methyl
propylamine, tert-butylamine, pentylamine, 2-pentylamine,
25 3-pentylamine, 2-methyl butylamine, 3-methyl butylamine,
33
neopentylamine, hexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine,
nonylamine, decylamine, undecylamine, laurylamine,
tridecylamine, myristylamine, pentadecylamine,
palmitylamine, margarylamine, stearylamine, nonadecylamine,
5 arachidylamine, henicosylamine, behelamine, tricosylamine,
cyclohexylamine, phenylamine, and others. As diamines,
named are ethylene diamine, 1,2-propane diamine, 1,3-
propane diamine, 1,4-butane diamine, 1,3-pentane diamine,
1,5-pentane diamine, 1,6-hexane diamine, 2-methyl-1,5-
10 pentane diamine, 1,7-heptane diamine, 1,8-octane diamine,
hexahydro-o-xylylene diamine, hexahydro-m-xylylene diamine,
hexahydro-p-xylylene diamine, 1,2-phenylene diamine, 1,3-
phenylene diamine, 1,4-phenylene diamine, and others. As
examples of fatty acids, named are butyric acid, valeric
15 acid, pivalic acid, hydroangenic acid, isovaleric acid,
isocaproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic
acid, capric acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecylic
acid, myristic acid, pentadecylic acid, palmitic acid,
margaric acid, stearic acid, nonadecylic acid, arachidic
20 acid, heneicosylic acid, behenic acid, tricosylic acid,
lignoceric acid, hydroxystearic acid, and others. Further,
isomers of them and derivatives such as carboxylic acid
halide, carboxylic acid anhydride, and active ester are
included. Among those substances, particularly preferred
25 substances are hydroxystearic acid, ethylene diamine, and
34
1,6-hexane diamine.
[0064]
An optimum compounding ratio of a thixotropy
imparting agent is preferably 0.5 to 25 mass%, yet
5 preferably 1 to 10 mass%, of the weight of a whole
thixotropic grease. A base oil cannot be solidified if a
compounding ratio is less than 0.5 mass% and the
concentration of a base oil reduces and the traction
characteristic lowers if a compounding ratio is more than
10 20 mass%. It is desirable to select blending conditions in
consideration of the design contact pressure of an elevator,
influence on a traction coefficient, the manufacturability
of a grease, and others in order to make an oil solidify
easily with a small amount. With regard to the unworked
15 penetration and drop point of a thixotropic grease, it is
desirable to set the unworked penetration at 200 to 400 and
the drop point at 30°C to 110°C in consideration of
workability and long-term adhesiveness to a rope. The
unworked penetration and the drop point are controlled
20 mainly by the type, compounding ratio, compatibility, and
others of a thixotropy imparting agent.
[0065]
A grease according to the present invention has the
feature of liquefying by heating and solidifying by cooling.
25 In a method of applying a thixotropic grease to a rope, the
35
thixotropic grease is heated and melted and thus can be
applied to a rope core, steel wire strands, and a rope by
immersion, coating, and spraying. Further, it is possible
to impregnate and apply a grease to a rope at the twist
5 port (voice port) of a rope core and steel wire strands by
applying heating and melting when the rope is manufactured.
[0066]
Further, it is also possible to transcribe a
thixotropic grease directly on the surfaces of a rope and a
10 sheave by using the thixotropy of the thixotropic grease,
for example, by adding such a setup as to make a clumpy
thixotropic grease touch directly the surface of a part
under operation such as the rope and sheave of an elevator
during moving upward and downward.
15 [0067]
(3) Viscosity modifying agent
A base oil (polycyclic naphthenic compound) according
to the present invention shows a high traction
characteristic but on the other hand the viscosity of a
20 rope oil is sometimes low when the rope oil comprises only
the base oil. If a viscosity is low, the stickiness
(adhesiveness) of an oil to a contact part weakens, oil
film breakage occurs when power is transmitted from a
sheave, and a rope tends to wear. Consequently, it is
25 necessary to maintain the structure of an oil film at a
36
contact part and take a measure for increasing the
viscosity of a base oil. In the present invention, it is
possible to appropriately use a viscosity modifying agent
in order to increase the viscosity of a base oil.
5 [0068]
Here, among polycyclic naphthenic compounds and the
derivatives of them, a multimer having a large molecular
weight may sometimes be obtained in the state of liquid of
a high viscosity or a solid. A chemical compound of
10 tetramer or higher in particular is a solid in many cases
and hardly usable as a base oil single body, but a multimer
having a large molecular weight has a high solubility in a
base oil and a high traction characteristic, and hence the
chemical compound of tetramer or higher can play the role
15 of a viscosity modifying agent and can exhibit the function
of a viscosity modifying agent with the base oil component
alone by being mixed with the chemical compounds of a dimer
and a trimer. Further, it is also possible to configure a
thixotropic grease without using a viscosity modifying
20 agent for example by adopting the condition of a low
contact pressure or the condition of being able to inhibit
oil film breakage by using a chemical compound having a
sufficiently high viscosity by itself as a base oil. In
the present invention therefore, a viscosity modifying
25 agent is not an essential component and can be used if
37
necessary in accordance with the component of a base oil
and the operating conditions of an elevator rope such as a
contact pressure.
[0069]
A viscosity modifying 5 agent has preferably a weightaverage
molecular weight (Mw) of 500 or more to 100,000 or
less. By adding such a viscosity modifying agent, even a
base oil of a low viscosity shows an enough stickiness to a
contact part and an enough oil film thickness can be
10 maintained even in contact between a rope and a sheave of
an elevator receiving a high contact pressure. In this way,
a thixotropic grease excellent in traction characteristic
and wear resistance is obtained.
[0070]
15 In general, as the molecular weight of a viscosity
modifying agent increases, the viscosity increasing effect
increases and the viscosity increases with a small amount
but the main chain of a molecule tends to break when it
receives a high contact pressure. For the reason, a
20 viscosity modifying agent of a high molecular weight is
used rarely in this technological field. It is estimated
however that an aforementioned base oil has a large steric
hindrance and the oil thickness increases. The oil film
thereby acts as a buffer, damage to the viscosity modifying
25 agent is mitigated, and hence the molecular weight can be
38
increased. In contrast, the solubility of a viscosity
modifying agent lowers as the molecular weight increases
and hence the weight-average molecular weight of a
viscosity modifying agent is preferably 1,000 or more to
5 100,000 or less, yet preferably 5,000 or more to 50,000 or
less, and still yet preferably 8,000 or more to 30,000 or
less.
[0071]
As a viscosity modifying agent, normal paraffin,
10 isoparaffin such as poly--olefin, a polycyclic naphthenic
compound such as cyclopentadiene petroleum resin, an
aromatic hydrocarbon or a copolymer of it, and others can
be used. A viscosity modifying agent having a weightaverage
molecular weight of 1,000 or more to 100,000 or
15 less and dissolving or dispersing in a base oil is
acceptable. In particular, a polycyclic naphthenic
compound such as cyclopentadiene and isoparaffin such as
polyisobutylene are more desirable because they show a
traction characteristic equivalent to a base oil.
20 [0072]
Further, the content of a viscosity modifying agent
can appropriately be adjusted in accordance with a design
specification or the like but is preferably 1 to 40 mass%
of a thixotropic grease. If the content is less than 1
25 mass%, the effect of a viscosity modifying agent cannot be
39
obtained and, if the content is more than 40 mass%, the
viscosity modifying agent is difficult to dissolve
uniformly in the base oil, the component in the base oil
attenuates, and the traction characteristic of a
thixotropic 5 grease may deteriorate. Further, when it is
used as a rope oil, the content of a viscosity modifying
agent is preferably 5 to 60 mass% of a base oil. The
effect of a viscosity modifying agent cannot be obtained if
the content is less than 5 mass% and undesirably a
10 viscosity increases excessively if the content is more than
60 mass%. By changing the molecular weight and the
quantity of an added viscosity modifying agent, it is
possible to arbitrarily adjust the viscosity of a rope oil.
[0073]
15 (4) Thickening agent and others
A thickening agent, although it is not a component
essential to a grease according to the present invention,
can appropriately be added in accordance with the unworked
penetration, drop point, thixotropy, and the like of a
20 thixotropic grease necessary for the design of an elevator.
A thickening agent can be used without specific restriction
as long as it can be mixed into a thixotropic grease and
the examples of a thickening agent are mineral oil wax
(micro wax (microcrystalline wax), paraffin wax, petrolatum,
25 and others), synthetic hydrocarbon wax (wax produced by
40
synthesizing a cracked gas of coal by a Fischer-Tropsch
method), polymer wax of a olefin derivative (polyethylene
wax, -olefin wax), wax of a fatty acid derivative (amide
wax, ketone wax), mineral wax (montanic acid wax), animal
wax 5 (beeswax, whale), vegetable wax (carnauba wax, HO-wax),
and others. The type and content of a wax has to be
decided in consideration of influence on a traction
coefficient, thixotropy, and stickiness to a rope. An
optimum content of a thickening agent is desirably
10 comparable with a thixotropy imparting agent, and is
preferably 0.5 to 25 mass% and yet preferably 1 to 10 mass%
of a thixotropic grease.
[0074]
Further, it is possible to add an additive to a rope
15 oil and a grease to the extent of not deteriorating a
traction coefficient in order to impart the functions of
rust prevention, antioxidation, wear prevention, and others.
The examples of a rust inhibitor are a metallic salt of a
sulfonic acid compound and an amine. The examples of an
20 antioxidant are a phenol antioxidant such as 2,6-di-tertbutyl-
p-cresol, an amine antioxidant such as alkylated
diphenylamine, and an organic sulfuric antioxidant such as
zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate. The examples of a wear
inhibitor are particulate graphite, molybdenum disulfide,
25 zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate, polytetrafluoroethylene
41
powder, and others. Further, as a compatibility
conditioning agent of a thixotropic grease and an oil-based
agent for a metal interface, an anionic surfactant (such as
fatty acid sodium), a nonionic surfactant (such as sorbitan
5 fatty acid ester), an amphoteric ion surfactant (such as
alkylamino fatty acid salt), and others can also be used.
[0075]
[Elevator rope]
Fig. 2 is a sectional schematic view showing an
10 example of an elevator rope. As shown in Fig. 2, an
elevator rope 4 is formed by twisting a plurality of steel
wire strands (hereunder also referred to merely as
“strands”) 9 together, each of which is configured by
twisting a plurality of steel wires (10a, 10b, and 10c)
15 together around a rope core 8 comprising synthetic fiber or
natural fiber. Although the six strands 9 are arranged
around the rope core 8 in Fig. 2, eight strands 9 may be
arranged.
[0076]
20 By arranging a thixotropic grease according to the
present invention on the surface (the surfaces 11 of the
strands 9 in Fig. 2) of the rope 4, it is possible to
obtain a rope: having enough oil film thickness and
stickiness at the contact between the rope and a sheave of
25 an elevator; and being excellent in traction characteristic
42
and ware resistance. In the present invention, it is
possible to obtain the effect of the present invention as
long as a thixotropic grease is applied at least on the
surfaces of the strands 9 but, by impregnating the
5 thixotropic grease according to the present invention also
on the surface or in the interior of the rope core 8, it is
possible to: supply the thixotropic grease from the rope
core 8 to the surfaces of the strands 9 sequentially during
the use of the rope; and maintain the performance (traction
10 characteristic and wear resistance) of the rope for a long
period of time. Further, by impregnating the thixotropic
grease also in the interior of the strands 9, rope oil or
thixotropic grease can be retained more and hence it is
possible to maintain the performance of the rope for a
15 longer period of time.
[0077]
Further, by impregnating a rope oil into the rope
core 8 and applying or impregnating a thixotropic grease
having a viscosity higher than the rope oil to or into the
20 strands 9, it is possible to: efficiently supply the rope
oil having a high fluidity from the rope core 8 to the
strands 9; and, on the other hand, give a high stickiness
to the strands 9 touching an external device, and hence it
is desirable to use the rope oil and the thixotropic grease
25 differently between the rope core 8 and the strands 9. It
43
goes without saying that a thixotropic grease may be
arranged at all of the interior and surface of the rope
core 8 and the interior and surfaces of the strands 9. On
this occasion, since an identical thixotropic grease is
5 used for all the places, it is advantageous in the aspect
of productivity.
[0078]
A method for applying a thixotropic grease to an
elevator rope can be carried out by heating and melting the
10 thixotropic grease and applying immersion, coating, and
spraying to a rope core 8, steel wire strands 9, and a rope
4 in the same manner as a rope oil. Further, by heating
and melting a thixotropic grease at the twist port (voice
port) of a rope core 8 and steel wire strands 9 when a rope
15 is manufactured, it is possible to impregnate and apply the
thixotropic grease into and to the rope. A thixotropic
grease according to the present invention can be in a
greasy state regardless of the condition of heating,
melting, and cooling, is excellent in reproducibility of
20 thixotropy, and can be compatible with wide ranges of
production processes.
[0079]
As a result of earnestly studying the viscosity of a
rope oil, a viscosity in terms of a kinetic viscosity at
40°C is preferably 40 mm225 /s or more and yet preferably 50
44
to 1,000 mm2/s. If the viscosity of a rope oil increases,
the stickiness increases but contrarily the rope oil is
hardly supplied from a rope core 8 to strands 9 and hence
the viscosity is selected appropriately in conformity with
the 5 specification of a rope and an elevator. In a method
for applying a rope oil to a rope, the rope oil can be
applied to a rope core and a rope by immersion, coating,
and spraying in the same manner as a thixotropic grease.
Further, the rope oil can also be supplied directly to a
10 rope even at ordinary temperature as a maintenance oil for
an elevator rope.
[0080]
[Traction-type elevator]
In a traction-type elevator according to the present
15 invention, an elevator rope according to the present
invention is used as a rope 4 of a traction-type elevator
shown in Fig. 1 as an example. In a traction-type elevator
according to the present invention, the traction
coefficient of a thixotropic grease is high and hence the
20 downsizing of a device and the thinning of a rope can be
obtained in comparison with a conventional elevator.
Further, the wear resistance of an elevator rope is high
and hence it is possible to reduce the exchange frequency
of a rope.
25 [0081]
45
In addition, by using the thixotropy of a thixotropic
grease according to the present invention, it is possible
to continuously supply the thixotropic grease to the
surfaces of elevator parts such as a rope and a sheave.
5 This makes use of the feature of the thixotropic grease
that softens by undergoing shear and it is possible to
transcribe the thixotropic grease directly to the surface
of an elevator part. A thixotropic grease can be used
without particularly restricted as long as it has
10 appropriate consistency and worked penetration and includes
such a mechanism as to directly touch an elevator part. It
is possible thereby to: reduce maintenance frequency and
operating processes required for repair and maintenance;
inhibit the wear of an elevator rope and others; and
15 increase the service life of an elevator. The installation
position of the mechanism is not particularly limited and
can be selected in consideration of the design
specification of an elevator, the easiness of maintenance,
and others.
20 [Examples]
[0082]
The present invention is hereunder explained
concretely by using examples and comparative examples but
is not limited to those. The evaluation methods of a rope
25 oil and a thixotropic grease are described hereunder.
46
[0083]
(1) Measurement of kinetic viscosity, consistency, and drop
point of rope oil
The kinetic viscosity (40°C, 100°C) of a rope oil is
5 measured on the basis of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS
K2283). A consistency (an unworked penetration, a worked
penetration, and an unworked penetration after the
measurement of the worked penetration (after 30 minutes))
and a drop point of a thixotropic grease are measured on
10 the basis of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS K2220).
Further, a viscosity index is evaluated from the values of
the kinetic viscosities of a rope oil at 40°C and 100°C on
the basis of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS K2283).
Furthermore, a viscosity grade is evaluated from the value
15 of the kinetic viscosity of a rope oil at 40°C on the basis
of ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
3448.
[0084]
Here, an “ unworked penetration” is a value obtained
20 by packing a grease in a prescribed jig without destroying
the shape of the grease and measuring the hardness of the
grease and is a value showing the hardness of a grease when
it is placed still. Further, a “worked penetration” is a
value obtained by mixing a grease 60 times for one minute
25 with a prescribed jig and measuring the hardness of the
47
grease and is a value showing the hardness of the grease
when it undergoes shear. Furthermore, an “unworked
penetration after the measurement of a worked penetration
(after 30 minutes)” is a value showing a recovery
5 characteristic (creep recovery characteristic) of a
hardness after the shear of a grease. A hardness increases
as each of the values decreases.
[0085]
(2) Traction coefficient measurement of rope oil and
10 thixotropic grease
Traction coefficient measurement is carried out with
a ball-on-disk test apparatus. The test apparatus has a
mechanism of rotating both a ball and a disk and a slipping
velocity and a rolling velocity can be changed arbitrarily.
15 The measurement conditions are set at load: 30 N (Hertz’s
contact pressure: 0.82 GPa), rolling velocity: 500 mm/s,
temperature: 30°C, and slipping velocity: 0 to 1,000 mm/s,
traction coefficients are measured while the slipping
velocity is changed, and the maximum value (μmax) is
20 defined as the traction coefficient of a specimen. As the
material of the rotor, a high carbon-chromium bearing steel
(SUJ2 steel material) of Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS
G 4805:2008) is used.
[0086]
25 (3) Falex abrasion test
48
The extreme pressure test of a rope oil is carried
out with a Falex abrasion test apparatus in reference to
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)-D2670.
The material of a test piece is carbon steel (journal pin
(ϕ6.35 5 6.35 mm): nickel-chromium steel (SAE 3135), and V block:
sulfur free-cutting steel (AISI 1137)) and the test piece
immersed in oil is subjected to the test under the
conditions of a constant velocity and a load (rotation
speed: 290 min-1, temperature: 70°C, trial run: 89 N, 5 min,
10 and final measurement: 445 N, 3 h). A wear volume is
obtained by calculating the sum of the wear depths of a pin
and a block from the change of a scale mark of a ratchet of
the loading mechanism.
[0087]
15 (4) Gel filtration chromatography measurement
The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of a
viscosity modifying agent is measured with a gel filtration
chromatography (GPC: Gel Permeation Chromatography)
apparatus (solvent: tetrahydrofuran, polystyrene standard).
20 [0088]
(Synthesis of base oils 1 to 3)
5 kg of -methyl styrene and 100 g of 12-tungstic
acid as a catalyst are charged in a glass reaction
container of 10 liters (hereunder liter is described as
25 “L”), reacted by heated and stirred at 50°C for one hour,
49
successively cooled in a water bath of 20°C, and filtered
to separate the solid catalyst. The filtrate is charged in
a 200 L autoclave, further 100 kg of cyclohexane and 500 g
of a hydrogenation catalyst of an active-carbon carrier
5 including Pd (5 mass% Pd is supported) (hereunder the
catalyst is described as “Pd/C hydrogenation catalyst”) are
added, and, after the autoclave is sealed, they are
hydrogenated at 180°C for 8 hours under a hydrogen pressure
of 60 kg/cm2 (G), left to cool to room temperature, and
10 filtered to separate the catalyst.
[0089]
As a result of analyzing the obtained product by gel
filtration chromatography, 48.2 mass% of a dimer component
(2,4-dicyclohexyl-2-methylpentane: base oil 1), 32.3 mass%
15 of a trimer component (2,4,6-tricyclohexyl-2,4-
dimethylheptane: base oil 2), and 9.7 mass% of a tetramer
component (base oil 3) are obtained. The whole reaction
liquid is subjected to a rotary evaporator, a monomer
(cyclohexane) and a light component are distilled away, and
20 successively the components are sorted by reduced-pressure
distillation.
[0090]
(Synthesis of thixotropy imparting agent 1)
30 g of ethylene diamine and 300 g of 12-
25 hydroxystearic acid are melted in m-xylene in a glass
50
reaction container of 3 L, 15 g of an iron (III) chloride 6
hydrate is added as a catalyst, and they are heated and
refluxed for 10 hours. After the product is separated by
filtration, the product is isolated and purified by
recrystallization. 5 As a result of analyzing the obtained
product by gel filtration chromatography, fatty acid
diamide (N,N’-ethylene-bis-12-hydroxystearic acid amide:
thixotropy imparting agent 1) is obtained.
[0091]
10 (Examples 1 to 3, Comparative Example 1)
With regard to the base oils 1 to 3, rope oils to
which solid polyisobutylene (weight-average molecular
weight 9,000) is added as a viscosity modifying agent are
prepared and thixotropic greases are produced by further
15 adding the thixotropy imparting agent 1. The compounding
ratios of the rope oils and the thixotropic greases and the
characteristic evaluation results are shown in Table 1.
Here, with regard to the compositions in Table 1, “%” means
“mass%”.
20 [0092]
51
[Table 1]
Table 1: Compositions of rope oils and thixotropic greases and evaluation results of characteristics
Comparative
Example
1
Base oil １ 90% 50% 60% 90% 40%
Base oil ２ 40% 60%
Base oil ３ 30% 60% 40%
Naphthene oil
（VG-100)
Polyisobutene oil
（VG-100)
Solid polyisobutylene
（Mw=9,000)
10% 10% 10%
Styrene elastomer
（Mw=80,000)
10%
97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97%
3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%
Paraffin wax
（melting point 69℃)
Syntetic
hydrocarbon wax
（melting point 102℃)
VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100
310 310 310 320 300 310 330
360 370 370 370 370 370 330
320 320 320 330 320 320 330
70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 75℃
0.13 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.05
Example
6
Example
1
Example
2
Example
3
Example
4
Example
5
Composition
of
thixotropic
grease
Rope oil
Thixotropic imparting agent １
Thickening
agent
Composition
of
rope oil
Base oil
Viscosity
modifying
agnet
Drop point
Evaluation
results of
characteristic
(measured
value)
ISO viscosity grade of rope oil
（ISO 3448）
Unworked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Worked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Unworked penetration after
worked penetration measurement
(30min)
Traction coefficient
(30℃)
[0093]
In 5 any of the examples, a thixot
ropic grease showing a traction coefficient equivalent to a
rope oil and being excellent in power transmission
performance is obtained. Further, it is contemplated that
a more appropriate unworked penetration is obtained and the
10 stickiness on a rope surface improves by a thixotropy
52
imparting agent. Furthermore, a thixotropic grease
softened by mixture regains a hardness (consistency) nearly
equivalent to an original level in about 30 minutes and
shows an excellent performance also in creep recovery
5 characteristic against shear.
[0094]
Further, the result obtained by using a red rope
grease that is a general grease for an elevator rope is
shown as Comparative Example 1. The red rope grease is a
10 grease comprising wax as the main component and contains no
thixotropy imparting agent. The thixotropic greases of
Examples 1 to 3 have traction coefficients more than twice
higher than that of Comparative Example 1 and show
excellent traction performance in comparison with the
15 conventional grease for an elevator rope. In addition,
although all of the unworked penetrations are comparable
levels, the results of the unworked penetration immediately
after shear is given (unworked penetration after worked
penetration measurement) are largely different. Examples 1
20 to 3 suggest that the consistencies increase and thixotropy
is obtained. It is contemplated that an oil film to
protect a contact face between a rope and a sheave is
formed easily thereby and that leads to the improvement of
wear resistance. On the other hand, the worked penetration
25 does not change in Comparative Example 1. The grease seems
53
to exist as it is hard on the contact face because the
structure does not change against shear and wear caused by
oil film breakage is concerned to occur. In this way, in
comparison with a conventional grease for an elevator rope,
it 5 is contemplated that a thixotropic grease according to
the present invention meets with the specification
specified in high traction and oil film forming and the
specification is largely different from a conventional
grease specification.
10 [0095]
(Comparative Example 2)
A polyisobutene (polyisobutylene) oil (weight-average
molecular weight 700) is prepared with the aim of comparing
with the rope oil used in Example 1. With regard to the
15 rope oil of Example 1, the base oil 1, and the
polyisobutene oil of Comparative Example 2, the kinetic
viscosities (40°C and 100°C) of the rope oils are measured
and the viscosity indices and the ISO viscosity grades are
evaluated. Further, the traction coefficients (30°C) and
20 the wear volumes of the rope oils are measured. The
evaluation results are shown in Table 2.
[0096]
54
[Table 2]
Kinetic viscosity（40℃） 92.3mm2/s 19.8mm2/s 105.1mm2/s
Kinetic viscosity（100℃） 12.4mm2/s 3.7mm2/s 10.6mm2/s
Table 2: Evaluation results of characteristics of rope oil of Example 1, base oil 1,
and Comparative Example 2
Comparative
Example 2
（polyisobutene oil）
Example１
（rope oil）
Wear volume （wear depth）
（Falex test ： 70℃, 3h）
Traction coefficient
（30℃）
ISO viscosity grade
（ISO 3448）
Viscosity index
（JIS K 2283）
Base oil１
129 49
0.13 0.13 0.11
17.3mm
Seizure is
caused
45.8mm
80
VG100 VG22 VG100
[0097]
5 Here, although both the rope oil used in Example 1
and the polyisobutene oil of Comparative Example 2 are VG
100 in ISO viscosity grade (ISO 3448) and show high
traction coefficients, in the results of the Falex wear
test, equipment stop caused by seizure occurs in the case
10 of the base oil 1 single body and the wear of more than
twice occurs in the case of Comparative Example 2 in
comparison with the rope oil used in Example 1. It is
estimated that, although the base oil 1 is the base oil of
the rope oil in Example 1, the viscosity of the oil alone
15 is low, hence the stickiness to the interface of a test
piece is low, and the seizure caused by oil film breakage
occurs. From this, it is shown that the increase of the
55
viscosity of a rope oil is essential for maintaining an oil
film stably and robustly against contact pressure.
[0098]
In contrast, the polyisobutene oil of Comparative
5 Example 2 has a large wear volume in spite of the fact that
it has a viscosity. It is contemplated that, although the
polyisobutene oil shows stickiness to an interface, the
molecular structure of polyisobutne has the shape of a
straight chain and the oil film is thought to be thinner
10 than that of Example 1. It is estimated that, as a result,
the oil film is likely to break under the condition of a
high contact pressure and the wear volume increases.
[0099]
From the above results, it is verified that the rope
15 oils using the base oils shown in the examples show both
high traction and high wear resistance.
[0100]
(Example 4)
With regard to Example 4, a rope oil is prepared by
20 using the base oil 1 and a styrene elastomer (styreneethylene
copolymer, styrene copolymerization ratio: about
70%, weight-average molecular weight: 80,000) as the
viscosity modifying agent, further the thixotropy imparting
agent 1 is added, and thus a thixotropic grease is
25 manufactured. The compounding ratios of the rope oil and
56
the thixotropic grease and physical property evaluation
results are shown in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, high
traction characteristic, thixotropy, and creep recovery
characteristic are shown also in the case of using a
viscosity modifying 5 agent having a different molecular
structure.
[0101]
(Examples 5 and 6)
Examples 5 and 6 are the cases of showing thixotropic
10 greases comprising only base oils and thixotropy imparting
agents and having no viscosity modifying agent. The
compounding ratios of the rope oils and the thixotropic
greases and the physical property evaluation results are
shown together in Table 1. High traction, thixotropy, and
15 creep recovery characteristics are shown in the same manner
as the thixotropic greases in other examples. It is
contemplated that, in Examples 5 and 6, the base oil 3 that
is the tetramer component is contained much (40% or more),
hence the tetramer component plays the role of a viscosity
20 modifying agent, and the rope oils show the viscosities of
the same level as other examples.
[0102]
(Examples 7 to 10)
Examples 7 to 10 are the cases of changing the
25 content of the thixotropy imparting agent in Example 1.
57
The compositions of thixotropic greases and the evaluation
results of the characteristics are shown in Table 3. It is
shown that a worked penetration and an unworked penetration
change in response to the quantity of an added thixotropy
imparting 5 agent and thixotropy can be controlled. Further,
high traction characteristics are also maintained in the
same manner as other examples. It is shown that the
consistency, thixotropy, and creep recovery characteristic
of a thixotropic grease conforming to the required
10 performance of a rope can be changed flexibly in response
to the quantity of an added thixotropy imparting agent.
[0103]
58
[Table 3]
Table 3: Compositions of rope oils and thixotropic greases and evaluation results of characteristics
Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example
1 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Base oil １ 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 90% 60% 60%
Naphthene oil
（VG-100)
33%
Polyisobutene oil
（VG-100)
33%
Viscosity
modifying
agnet
Solid polyisobutylene
（Mw=9,000)
10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 7% 7%
97% 99% 98% 96% 95% 96% 96% 95% 95%
3% 1% 2% 4% 5% 2% 2% 5% 5%
Paraffin wax
（melting point 69℃)
2%
Syntetic
hydrocarbon wax
（melting point 102℃)
2%
VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100
310 350 330 300 290 280 280 340 340
360 >400 380 370 360 340 340 >400 >400
320 360 340 320 300 280 280 360 370
70℃ 60℃ 65℃ 80℃ 95℃ 70℃ 85℃ 95℃ 95℃
0.13 0.13 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.09 0.12
Composition
of
rope oil
Base oil
Composition
of
thixotropic
grease
Rope oil
Thixotropic imparting agent １
Thickening
agent
Evaluation
results of
characteristic
(measured
value)
ISO viscosity grade of rope oil
（ISO 3448）
Unworked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Worked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Unworked penetration after
worked penetration measurement
(30min)
Traction coefficient
(30℃)
Drop point
[0104]
(5 Examples 11 and 12)
Examples 11 and 12 are the cases of adding wax mainly
comprising a branched hydrocarbon and a saturated cyclic
hydrocarbon as thickening agents to the thixotropic grease
in Example 1. The compositions of the thixotropic greases
10 and the evaluation results of the characteristics are shown
together in Table 3. The trend that a consistency and a
worked penetration lower and a creep recovery
characteristic heightens by the addition of the wax is
shown. This is presumably because a network structure is
59
formed in a whole thixotropic grease and the retentivity of
oil increases by the addition of wax. Further, since the
quantity of the added wax is small, the deterioration of
traction performance that has been concerned in the case of
5 wax addition is not seen and excellent performance is
maintained. Meanwhile, similar results are obtained also
in the cases of paraffin wax (melting point 69°C) and
synthetic hydrocarbon wax (melting point 102°C).
[0105]
10 (Examples 13 and 14)
Examples 13 and 14 are the cases of adding a mineral
oil (naphthene oil) and a synthetic oil (polyisobutene oil)
of the VG-100 grade to the base oil in Example 1. The
compositions of the thixotropic greases and the evaluation
15 results of the characteristics are shown together in Table
3. It is suggested that a thixotropy imparting agent has
to be added by 5% or more in order to solidify a
thixotropic grease and the compatibility is different from
the base oil in Example 1. Further, a consistency and a
20 worked penetration are higher than Example 1 in spite of
the fact that the content of a thixotropy imparting agent
is smaller than Example 1 and a soft grease is obtained.
It is estimated that the compatibility of a thixotropy
imparting agent, the strength of hydrogen bond, and others
25 change by mixing the oil to a polycyclic naphthenic
60
compound and the consistency of the thixotropy imparting
agent changes. It is shown that a worked penetration
changes in response to the compounding ratio of a base oil
and can be adjusted so that a thixotropic grease suitable
5 for a rope design condition may be obtained.
[0106]
(Synthesis of thixotropy imparting agent 2)
150 g of 12-hydroxystearic acid that is methylesterified
in an acid catalyst is amidated with strong
10 ammonia water (25% to 28%) in a glass reaction container
and the product is extracted and successively isolated and
purified by recrystallization. As a result of analyzing
the obtained product by gel filtration chromatography, a
fatty acid amide (12-hydroxystearic acid amide: thixotropy
15 imparting agent 2) is obtained.
[0107]
(Synthesis of thixotropy imparting agent 3)
100 g of stearylamine and 100 g of stearic acid are
dissolved in m-xylene in a 3L glass reaction container, 15
20 g of an iron (III) chloride 6 hydrate is added as a
catalyst, and they are heated and refluxed for 10 hours.
After the product is separated by filtration, the product
is isolated and purified by recrystallization. As a result
of analyzing the obtained product by gel filtration
25 chromatography, a fatty acid amide (N-stearylstearic acid
61
amide: thixotropy imparting agent 3) is obtained.
[0108]
(Synthesis of thixotropy imparting agent 4)
30 g of ethylene diamine and 300 g of behenic acid
are 5 dissolved in m-xylene in a 3L glass reaction container,
15 g of an iron (III) chloride 6 hydrate is added as a
catalyst, and they are heated and refluxed for 10 hours.
After the product is separated by filtration, the product
is isolated and purified by recrystallization. As a result
10 of analyzing the obtained product by gel filtration
chromatography, a fatty acid diamide (N,N’-ethylene-bisbehenic
acid amide: thixotropy imparting agent 4) is
obtained.
[0109]
15 (Synthesis of thixotropy imparting agent 5)
30 g of 1,6-hexanediamine and 300 g of 12-
hydroxystearic acid are dissolved in m-xylene in a 3L glass
reaction container, 15 g of an iron (III) chloride 6
hydrate is added as a catalyst, and they are heated and
20 refluxed for 10 hours. After the product is separated by
filtration, the product is isolated and purified by
recrystallization. As a result of analyzing the obtained
product by gel filtration chromatography, a fatty acid
diamide (N,N’-hexamethylene-bis-12-hydroxystearic acid
25 amide: thixotropy imparting agent 5) is obtained.
62
[0110]
(Examples 15 to 18)
Examples 15 to 18 are the cases of changing the
thixotropy imparting agent in Example 1. The compositions
5 of the thixotropic greases and the evaluation results of
the characteristics are shown together in Table 4.
Examples 15 and 16 comprising monoamine and Example 17
comprising diamine having no hydroxyl group show the trend
that a worked penetration and an unworked penetration are
10 high and a creep recovery characteristic is superior in
comparison with Example 1. Example 18 in which the carbon
number of the diamine is large shows the trend that the
worked penetration is low and the unworked penetration is
high in comparison with Example 1. The reason is
15 presumably that the nature of a thixotropic grease changes
by the influence of the phase separation between a
thixotropy imparting agent and a base oil, the strength of
hydrogen bond between thixotropy imparting agents, and
others. In any of the cases, a high traction is maintained
20 and hence the physical property of a thixotropic grease can
be controlled by selecting a thixotropy imparting agent in
response to a rope design condition.
[0111]
[Table 4]
63
Table 4: Compositions of rope oils and thixotropic greases and evaluation results of characteristics
Example Example Example Example Example
1 15 16 17 18
Base oil Base oil １ 90% 90% 90% 90% 90%
Viscosity
modifying
agnet
Solid polyisobutylene
（Mw=9,000)
10% 10% 10% 10% 10%
97% 97% 97% 97% 97%
3%
3%
3%
3%
3%
VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100
310 350 360 340 290
360 >400 >400 >400 390
320 350 360 350 310
70℃ 65℃ 60℃ 70℃ 70℃
0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13
Composition
of
rope oil
Composition
of
thixotropic
grease
Rope oil
Thixotropic imparting agent １
Thixotropic imparting agent 2
Thixotropic imparting agent 3
Thixotropic imparting agent 4
Thixotropic imparting agent 5
Evaluation
results of
characteristic
(measured
value)
ISO viscosity grade of rope oil
（ISO 3448）
Unworked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Worked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Unworked penetration after
worked penetration measurement
(30min)
Drop point
Traction coefficient
(30℃)
[0112]
(Synthesis of base oil 4)
1,000 g of 5 -methyl styrene dimer, 5,000 g of
cyclohexane, and 10 g of Pd/C hydrogenation catalyst are
charged in a 10 L autoclave with a stirrer and the
autoclave is sealed. The interior of the autoclave is kept
at 0.1 MPa by hydrogen and they are stirred at room
10 temperature (25°C) for 18 hours. Successively, the
autoclave is unsealed, the Pd/C hydrogenation catalyst is
64
separated by filtration, thereafter the cyclohexane is
distilled away, and 1,125 g of 2-methyl-2,4-diphenyl
pentane is obtained.
[0113]
Successively, 1,000 g of the 2-methyl-5 2,4-diphenyl
pentane and 100 g of AlCl3 are charged in a 10 L threenecked
reaction container to which a calcium chloride tube,
a cooling pipe, and a dropping funnel are attached. While
they are stirred, 2,000 g of diisobutylene is dropped
10 through the dropping funnel for 30 minutes, thereafter they
are heated to 60°C and stirred for 3 hours. While the
reaction container is cooled in an ice bath, 3,000 g of
distilled water is dropped for 30 minutes and the AlCl3 is
decomposed. Successively, by placing them still,
15 separating an organic layer, and dehydrating with anhydrous
Na2SO4, 3,000 g of a mixture including an alkylated material
of 2-methyl-2,4-diphenyl pentane and a multimer of
diisobutylene is obtained.
[0114]
20 The whole reaction liquid, 30,000 g of cyclohexane,
and 300 g of N-113 nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst are
charged in an autoclave, sealed, subjected to nucleus
hydrogenation at 200°C for 2 hours under a hydrogen
pressure of 6.1 MPa, and cooled, successively the catalyst
25 is separated by filtration, and the cyclohexane is
65
distilled away. The reaction liquid is distilled by
reduced-pressure distillation and 1,600 g of distillate
(hydrogenated compound of an alkylated body of the 2-
methyl-2,4-diphenyl pentane: base oil 4) is obtained at 2
5 mmHg at 165°C to 180°C.
[0115]
The base oil 4 is a substance formed by mixing a
plurality of materials and the main materials included in
the base oil 4 are a base oil A, a base oil B, a base oil C,
10 and a base oil D. In the base oil component 4, the total
content of the base oil A and the base oil B is 20 mass%
and the total content of the base oil C and the base oil D
is 60 mass%. The base oils A to D are the following
materials, respectively.
15 Base oil A: exo-2-methyl-exo-3-methyl-endo-2-[(endo-3-
methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-exo-2-yl) methyl]bicyclo[2.2.1]
heptane
Base oil B: exo-2-methyl-exo-3-methyl-endo-2-[(endo-2-
methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-exo-3-yl)methyl]bicyclo[2.2.1]
20 heptane
Base oil C: endo-2-methyl-exo-3-methyl-exo-2-[(exo-3-
methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-exo-2-yl)methyl]bicyclo[2.2.1]
heptane
Base oil D: endo-2-methyl-exo-3-methyl-exo-2-[(exo-2-
25 methylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-exo-3-yl)methyl]bicyclo[2.2.1]
66
heptane
[0116]
(Synthesis of base oil 5)
561 g of crotonaldehyde and 352 g of
5 dicyclopentadiene are charged in a 2 L stainless steel
autoclave and reacted by stirred at 170°C for 3 hours.
After the reaction solution is cooled to room temperature,
18 g of Raney nickel catalyst is added and hydrogenation is
applied at 150°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 9
kg/cm2 10 (G). After cooled, the catalyst is separated by
filtration, successively the filtrate is subjected to
reduced-pressure distillation, and 500 g of 105°C/20 mmHg
distillate is obtained.
[0117]
15 Successively, 20 g of γ-alumina is charged,
dehydration reaction is applied at a reaction temperature
of 285°C, and 450g of a product is obtained. Further, 8 g
of boron trifluoride diethyl ether complex and 400 g of the
dehydration product are charged in a 1 L four-necked flask
20 and subjected to dimerization reaction at 20°C for 4 hours
while being stirred. After the reaction mixture is washed
with a dilute NaOH aqueous solution and saturated saline
water, 12 g of hydrogenation Ni/diatomaceous earth catalyst
is added to a 1-liter autoclave and hydrogenation reaction
25 is applied at a reaction temperature of 250°C for a
67
reaction time of 6 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 30
kg/cm2 (G). After the finish of the reaction, by removing
the catalyst by filtration and distilling the filtrate
under a reduced pressure, an intended mixture (base oil 5)
5 comprising 200 g of a dimeric hydride is obtained.
[0118]
(Synthesis of base oils 6 to 8)
1 kg of D-limonene, 100 ml of 1,2-diethoxyethane, and
100 g of cation exchange resin as a catalyst are charged in
10 a 10 L glass reaction container, reacted by heated and
stirred at 50°C for 6 hours, successively cooled in a water
bath of 20°C, and filtered to separate the solid catalyst.
The solvent and the unreacted material are recovered with a
rotary evaporator, 500 g of the reaction liquid is charged
15 in a 1 L autoclave, 50 g of hydrogenation nickel catalyst
is added, the autoclave is sealed, and successively they
are hydrogenated at 160°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen
pressure of 50 kg/cm2 (G), left to cool to room temperature,
and filtered to separate the catalyst. As a result of
20 analyzing the obtained product by gel filtration
chromatography, 51.2 mass% of a dimer component (base oil
6), 35.3 mass% of a trimer component (base oil 7), and 13.5
mass% of a tetramer component (base oil 8) are obtained.
The whole reaction liquid is subjected to reduced-pressure
25 distillation and the components are sorted, respectively.
68
[0119]
(Synthesis of base oil 9)
1 kg of β-pinene, 200 ml of cyclohexane, 100 ml of
1,2-dietoxyethane, and 100 g of cation exchange resin as a
5 catalyst are charged in a 10 L glass reaction container,
reacted by heated and stirred at 40°C for 6 hours,
successively cooled in a water bath of 20°C, and filtered
to separate the solid catalyst. The solvent and the
unreacted material are recovered with a rotary evaporator,
10 500 g of the reaction liquid is charged in a 1 L autoclave,
50 g of hydrogenation nickel catalyst is added, the
autoclave is sealed, and successively they are hydrogenated
at 120°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 50 kg/cm2
(G), left to cool to room temperature, and filtered to
15 separate the catalyst. As a result of analyzing the
obtained product by gel filtration chromatography, a dimer
component (base oil 9) is obtained. The whole reaction
liquid is subjected to reduced-pressure distillation and
only the dimer component is sorted.
20 [0120]
(Synthesis of base oil 10)
1 kg of camphene, 200 ml of cyclohexane, 100 ml of
1,2-dietoxyethane, and 100 g of cation exchange resin as a
catalyst are charged in a 10 L glass reaction container,
25 reacted by heated and stirred at 50°C for 6 hours,
69
successively cooled in a water bath of 20°C, and filtered
to separate the solid catalyst. The solvent and the
unreacted material are recovered with a rotary evaporator,
500 g of the reaction liquid is charged in a 1 L autoclave,
5 50 g of hydrogenation nickel catalyst is added, the
autoclave is sealed, and successively they are hydrogenated
at 110°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 50 kg/cm2
(G), left to cool to room temperature, and filtered to
separate the catalyst. As a result of analyzing the
10 obtained product by gel filtration chromatography, a dimer
component (base oil 10) is obtained. The whole reaction
liquid is subjected to reduced-pressure distillation and
only the dimer component is sorted.
[0121]
15 (Synthesis of base oil 11)
1 kg of terpinolene, 200 ml of cyclohexane, 100 ml of
1,2-dietoxyethane, and 100 g of cation exchange resin as a
catalyst are charged in a 10 L glass reaction container,
reacted by heated and stirred at 60°C for 6 hours,
20 successively cooled in a water bath of 20°C, and filtered
to separate the solid catalyst. The solvent and the
unreacted material are recovered with a rotary evaporator,
500 g of the reaction liquid is charged in a 1 L autoclave,
50 g of hydrogenation nickel catalyst is added, the
25 autoclave is sealed, and successively they are hydrogenated
70
at 120°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 50 kg/cm2
(G), left to cool to room temperature, and filtered to
separate the catalyst. As a result of analyzing the
obtained product by gel filtration chromatography, a dimer
component 5 (base oil 11) is obtained. The whole reaction
liquid is subjected to reduced-pressure distillation and
only the dimer component is sorted.
[0122]
(Synthesis of base oils 12 to 14)
10 1 kg of dipentene (isomer mixture of p-menthadienes),
100 ml of 1,2-diethoxyethane, and 100 g of cation exchange
resin as a catalyst are charged in a 10 L glass reaction
container, reacted by heated and stirred at 60°C for 6
hours, successively cooled in a water bath of 20°C, and
15 filtered to separate the solid catalyst. The solvent and
the unreacted material are recovered with a rotary
evaporator, 500 g of the reaction liquid is charged in a 1
L autoclave, 50 g of hydrogenation nickel catalyst is added,
the autoclave is sealed, and successively they are
20 hydrogenated at 160°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen pressure
of 50 kg/cm2 (G), left to cool to room temperature, and
filtered to separate the catalyst. As a result of
analyzing the obtained product by gel filtration
chromatography, 66.3% of a dimer component (base oil 12),
25 21.3% of a trimer component (base oil 13), and 12.4% of a
71
tetramer component (base oil 14) are obtained. The whole
reaction liquid is subjected to reduced-pressure
distillation and the components are sorted, respectively.
[0123]
5 (Synthesis of base oil 15)
1 kg of turpentine oil (-pinene 90%, β-pinene 5%,
and others 5%), 200 ml of cyclohexane, 100 ml of 1,2-
dietoxyethane, and 100 g of cation exchange resin as a
catalyst are charged in a 10 L glass reaction container,
10 reacted by heated and stirred at 40°C for 6 hours,
successively cooled in a water bath of 20°C, and filtered
to separate the solid catalyst. The solvent and the
unreacted material are recovered with a rotary evaporator,
500 g of the reaction liquid is charged in a 1 L autoclave,
15 50 g of hydrogenation nickel catalyst is added, the
autoclave is sealed, and successively they are hydrogenated
at 120°C for 4 hours under a hydrogen pressure of 50 kg/cm2
(G), left to cool to room temperature, and filtered to
separate the catalyst. As a result of analyzing the
20 obtained product by gel filtration chromatography, a dimer
component (base oil 15) is obtained. The whole reaction
liquid is subjected to reduced-pressure distillation and
only the dimer component is sorted.
[0124]
25 (Examples 15 to 26)
72
Examples 15 to 26 are the cases of changing the base
oil in Example 1 to other polycyclic naphthenic compounds.
The compositions of the thixotropic greases in Examples 15
to 26 are shown in Table 5 and the evaluation results of
5 the characteristics in Examples 15 to 26 are shown in Table
6. In any of the examples, a high traction coefficient,
thixotropy, and creep recovery characteristic are shown in
the same manner as Example 1.
[0125]
10
73
[Table 5]
Table 5: Compositions of rope oils and thixotropic greases
Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl Exampl
1 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Base oil １ 90%
Base oil ４ 90%
Base oil ５ 90%
Base oil ６ 90% 50% 60%
Base oil ７ 40%
Base oil ８ 30%
Base oil ９ 85%
Base oil １０ 85%
Base oil １１ 85%
Base oil １２ 90% 50% 60%
Base oil １３ 40%
Base oil １４ 30%
Base oil １５ 85%
Viscosity
modifying
agnet
Solid
polyisobutylene
（Mw=9,000)
10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 15% 15% 15% 10% 10% 10% 15%
97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97% 97%
3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 3%
Composition
of
rope oil
Composition
of
thixotropic
grease
Ｒope oil
Thixotropic imparting agent １
Base oil
[0126]
5 [Table 6]
Table 6: Evaluation results of characteristics of rope oils and thixotropic greases
Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example
1 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100
310 310 310 310 310 320 310 320 320 310 320 320 330
360 370 360 370 370 370 380 370 380 370 370 380 380
320 330 320 320 330 330 330 340 330 330 340 340 340
70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃ 70℃
0.13 0.12 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.11 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.10
Evaluation
results
of
characteristic
(measured
value)
ISO viscosity grade of rope oil
（ISO 3448）
Unworked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Worked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Unworked penetration after
worked penetration measurement
(30min)
Drop point
Traction coefficient
(30℃)
[0127]
(Examples 27 to 29)
10 Example 27 is the case of changing the base oil in
Example 1 to a chemical compound (naphthene oil) other than
74
polycyclic naphthenic compound and Examples 28 and 29 are
the cases of changing the content of the thixotropy
imparting agent in Example 1. The compositions of the
thixotropic greases and the evaluation results of the
5 characteristics in Examples 27 to 29 are shown in Table 7.
In any of the examples, a high traction coefficient,
thixotropy, and creep recovery characteristic are shown in
the same manner as Example 1.
[0128]
10 [Table 7]
Table 7: Compositions of rope oils and thixotropic greasesEvaluation results of characteristics
Example Example Example Example
1 27 28 29
Base oil １ 90% 90% 90%
Naphthene oil
（VG-100)
90%
Polyisobutene oil
（VG-100)
Viscosity
modifying
agnet
Solid polyisobutylene
（Mw=9,000)
10% 10% 10% 10%
97% 95% 90% 80%
3% 5% 10% 20%
Paraffin wax
（melting point 69℃)
Syntetic
hydrocarbon wax
（melting point 102℃)
VG100 VG100 VG100 VG100
310 310 290 260
360 380 340 330
320 330 300 280
70℃ 72℃ 105℃ 113℃
0.13 0.06 0.08 0.07
Evaluation
results of
characteristic
(measured
value)
ISO viscosity grade of rope oil
（ISO 3448）
Unworked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Worked penetration
（JIS K 2220）
Unworked penetration after
worked penetration measurement
(30min)
Drop point
Traction coefficient
(30℃)
Composition
of
rope oil
Base oil
Composition
of
thixotropic
grease
Rope oil
Thixotropic imparting agent １
Thickening
agent
75
[0129]
Meanwhile, a rope provided with a rope oil or a
grease shown in the above examples can be used for an
elevator shown in Fig. 1. In the structure, an end of a
5 rope is fastened to the top section of a hoistway, the rope
is dragged around hanging pulleys for a lift cage, a top
pulley, a sheave connected to a hoisting machine, a top
pulley, and a hanging pulley connected to a counter weight
in sequence, and the other end of the rope is fastened to
10 the top section of the hoistway. This is a traction-type
elevator having a mechanism of driving the rope through the
sheaves by rotating the hoisting machine and driving the
counter weight and the lift cage. An elevator rope
according to the present invention: shows the performance
15 of securing both a high traction characteristic and a high
wear resistance; and hence exhibits particularly excellent
performance against the deterioration of traction
accompanying the thinning of a rope and the deterioration
of a rope service life caused by wear.
20 [0130]
Further, by adding an additive to the extent of not
affecting the traction coefficient of a rope oil and a
grease, it is possible to: give the functions of rust
prevention, antioxidation, wear prevention, and others; and
25 fulfill the performance requirement such as the downsizing
76
of a device, the elimination of maintenance, and others.
[0131]
In addition, by making use of the thixotropy of a
thixotropic grease according to the present invention, it
5 is possible to continuously supply the thixotropic grease
to the surfaces of elevator parts such as a rope and a
sheave. By adding a mechanism in which a thixotropic
grease directly touches an elevator part, it is possible to
supply the thixotropic grease to the surface of a rope or
10 the like while an elevator is used. Further, because the
thixotropy of a grease is used, process such as heating is
unnecessary unlike a conventional rope grease for an
elevator and a simple device can be materialized. It is
thereby possible to: reduce the maintenance frequency and
15 the working process required of maintenance; inhibit the
abrasion of an elevator rope and the like; and increase the
service life of an elevator.
[0132]
As stated above, it has been verified that the
20 present invention makes it possible to provide a grease for
an elevator rope allowing an elevator rope having both a
high traction characteristic and a high wear resistance to
be obtained. Further, it has been shown that it is
possible to provide an elevator rope having both a high
25 traction characteristic and a high wear resistance and a
77
traction-type elevator using it by using a grease for an
elevator rope according to the present invention.
Furthermore, it has been shown that it is possible to
provide a maintenance method of a traction-type elevator
using 5 an elevator rope oil or a grease for an elevator rope
according to the present invention.
[0133]
The above examples are explained concretely in order
to assist the comprehension of the present invention and
10 the present invention is not limited to having all the
explained configurations. For example, it is possible: to
replace a part of a configuration in an example with a
configuration in another example; and further to add a
configuration in an example to a configuration in another
15 example. Furthermore, with regard to a part of a
configuration in each of the examples, it is possible to:
delete it; replace it with another configuration; and add
another configuration to it.
20 Explanation of References
[0134]
1 Lift cage
2 Counter weight (balance weight)
3 Sheave connected to hoisting machine
25 4 Rope
78
5a Hanging pulley to retain lift cage
5b Hanging pulley to retain counter weight
6 Pulley fastened to top section
7 Hoistway
8 Rope 5 core
9 Strand
10a, 10b, 10c Steel wire
11 Grease (surface of strand 9)
79
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A grease for an elevator rope, wherein:
the grease includes a base oil and a thixotropy
5 imparting agent;
the thixotropy imparting agent is a chemical compound
having a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group in one
molecule, dissolves in the base oil, and forms a solid
composite; and
10 the composite shows thixotropy.
2. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
wherein the grease for an elevator rope liquefies when a
shear force is given and solidifies again when the shear
15 force is removed.
3. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
wherein the base oil includes at least one kind of
polycyclic naphthenic compound represented by the following
20 General Expression (1),
[Chemical Formula 1]
General Expression (1)
80
General Expression (1)
(In the expression, n represents an integer of any one of 0
to 4. Each of X, X’, and X’’ shows a monocyclic
5 hydrocarbon or a cyclic hydrocarbon having a crosslinked
structure, each of R and R’ shows a direct bond or an
alkylene group having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3,
and Q shows a hydrogen atom, an alkylene group having a
carbon number of any one of 1 to 3, or a cyclic hydrocarbon.
10 Each of X, X’, X’’, R, R’, and Q may have an alkyl group
having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3 or a cyclic
hydrocarbon in a side chain and is selected independently
from each other.)
15 4. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
wherein the base oil includes at least one kind of
polycyclic naphthenic compounds represented by the
following General Expressions (2) to (7),
[Chemical Formula 2]
20 General Expression (2)
81
[Chemical Formula 3]
General Expression (3)
[Chemical Formula 5 4]
General Expression (4)
[Chemical Formula 5]
General Expression (5)
10
[Chemical Formula 6]
General Expression (6)
82
[Chemical Formula 7]
General Expression (7)
[Chemical Formula 5 8]
General Expression (8)
[Chemical Formula 9]
General Expression (9)
10
[Chemical Formula 10]
General Expression (10)
(In the expressions, each of R1 to R7 comprises a
15 hydrocarbon group represented by any one of General
83
Expressions (8) to (10) and each of R1’ to R12’ in the
expressions is selected from hydrogen, an alkyl group
having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3, a monocyclic
cyclohexyl group, and a cyclohexyl group having a
crosslinked 5 structure independently from each other. Each
of n1 to n15 represents an integer of any one of 0 to 9 or
0 to 11 in accordance with the structure of a cyclic
hydrocarbon, each of Q1 to Q15 is selected from an alkyl
group having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3, a
10 monocyclic cyclohexyl group, and a cyclohexyl group having
a crosslinked structure independently from each other, and,
when n1 to n15 are integers of 2 or more, two or more of Q1
to Q15 are selected independently from each other. Each of
Q1’ to Q3’ is selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group
15 having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 3, a monocyclic
cyclohexyl group, and a cyclohexyl group having a
crosslinked structure independently from each other.)
5. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
20 wherein the thixotropy imparting agent includes at least
one kind of chemical compound represented by the following
General Expression (11) or (12) by 0.5 to 25 mass%,
[Chemical Formula 11]
General Expression (11)
84
[Chemical Formula 12]
General Expression (12)
(5 In the expressions, R1’’ is hydrogen or an alkyl group
having a carbon number of any one of 1 to 24, R3’’ is a
hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of any one of 1 to
8, and each of R2’’, R4’’, and R5’’ is independently
selected from hydrocarbon groups each of which has a carbon
10 number of any one of 4 to 24. A substituent group such as
an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, or a phenyl group may be
included in a side chain.)
6. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
15 wherein the thixotropy imparting agent is hydroxystearic
acid, ethylene diamine, or 1,6-hexane diamine.
7. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
wherein the grease further includes a viscosity modifying
20 agent having a weight-average molecular weight of 500 or
more to 100,000 or less.
85
8. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 5,
wherein the grease includes at least one of a straightchain
hydrocarbon, a branched hydrocarbon, a saturated
cyclic hydrocarbon, and an aromatic hydrocarbon by 5 to 40
mass% as the viscosity modifying 5 agent.
9. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1,
wherein the grease further includes mineral hydrocarbon wax
or synthetic hydrocarbon wax by 0.5 to 25 mass% as a
10 thickening agent.
10. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim
1, wherein the grease further includes mineral oil,
synthetic ester oil, synthetic ether oil, or synthetic
15 hydrocarbon oil.
11. A grease for an elevator rope according to Claim
1, wherein an unworked penetration is 200 to 400, a worked
penetration is higher than the unworked penetration, and a
20 drop point is 30°C or higher to 120°C or lower.
12. An elevator rope including strands formed by
twisting a plurality of steel wires together and a rope
core and being formed by twisting a plurality of the
25 strands together around the rope core, wherein
86
the grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1 is
applied to or impregnated into the strands.
13. An elevator rope according to Claim 12, wherein
5 oil including a polycyclic naphthenic compound is
impregnated into the rope core and the grease for an
elevator rope is applied to or impregnated into the strands.
14. A traction-type elevator having a rope, a
10 hoisting machine to wind up the rope, a counter weight
connected to the rope, and a lift cage connected to the
rope and driven by winding up the rope, wherein the rope is
an elevator rope according to Claim 12.
15 15. A traction-type elevator according to Claim 14,
wherein the elevator further has a mechanism to apply the
grease for an elevator rope according to Claim 1 to the
rope.
20 16. A maintenance method of a traction-type elevator
having a rope, a hoisting machine to wind up the rope, a
counter weight connected to the rope, and a lift cage
connected to the rope and driven by winding up the rope,
wherein the grease for an elevator rope according to Claim
25 1 is applied to the rope.