1. A rubber composition comprising:
one or more elastomers selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic rubber; and
an antifoam composition that leaches out of the rubber composition when placed in contact with a functional fluid;
wherein the antifoam composition comprises a perfluoropolyether compound.
2. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises an acrylic elastomer.
3. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises an ethylene acrylic elastomer.
4. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
5. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CF2CF(CF3)O).
6. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CF2CF2CF2O).
7. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CF2CF2O).
8. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
9. A rubber composition according to claim 4, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound further comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
10. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the rubber composition comprises 0.1% to 65% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
11. A rubber composition according to claim 1, wherein the rubber composition comprises 5% to 30% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
12. An automatic transmission comprising a housing defining a lubricant sump, and further comprising a rubber composition installed in the lubricant sump, wherein the rubber composition comprises
one or more elastomers selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic rubber; and
an antifoam composition that leaches out of the rubber composition when placed in contact with a functional fluid,
wherein the antifoam composition comprises a perfluoropolyether compound.
13. An automatic transmission according to claim 12, wherein the elastomer comprises an elastomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic elastomer and ethylene acrylic elastomer.
14. An automatic transmission according to claim 12, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality Of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
15. An automatic transmission according to claim 12, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
16. An automatic transmission according to claim 14, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound further comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
17. An automatic transmission according to claim 12, further comprising a transmission lubricating fluid comprising 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
18. A transmission according to claim 12, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.
19. An engine comprising a crankcase defining a lubricant sump, and further comprising a rubber composition installed in the lubricant sump,
wherein the rubber composition comprises one or more elastomers selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic rubber; and
an antifoam composition that leaches out of the rubber composition when placed in contact with a functional fluid,
wherein the antifoam composition comprises a perfluoropolyether compound.
20. An engine according to claim 19, wherein the elastomer comprise an elastomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic elastomer and ethylene acrylic elastomer.
21. An engine according to claim 19, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
22. An engine according to claim 19, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
23. An engine according to claim 21, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound further comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
24. An engine according to claim 19, further comprising an engine oil comprising 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
25. A method for reducing noise during operation of an automobile automatic transmission, comprising
contacting a rubber composition with a lubricating composition, wherein the rubber composition comprises an elastomer and a perfluoropolyether compound, to deliver a perfluoropolyether compound into the lubricating composition; and
lubricating the transmission with the lubricating composition comprising the perfluoropolyether compound.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the elastomer comprises an acrylic elastomer or ethylene acrylic elastomer.
27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
29. A method according to claim 27, wherein the perfluoropolyether further comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
30. A method according to claim 25, comprising delivering an amount of perfluoropolyether into the lubricating composition so that the lubricating composition comprises 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
31. A method according to claim 25, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.
32. A method of reducing foam in an engine oil during operation of the engine, comprising
contacting a rubber composition with a lubricating composition, wherein the rubber composition comprises an elastomer and a perfluoropolyether compound, to deliver a perfluoropolyether compound into the lubricating composition; and
lubricating the transmission with the lubricating composition comprising the perfluoropolyether compound.
33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the elastomer comprises an acrylic elastomer or ethylene acrylic elastomer.
34. A method according to claim 32, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
35. A method according to claim 32, wherein the perfluoropolyether comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
36. A method according to claim 34, wherein the perfluoropolyether further comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
37. A method according to claim 32, comprising delivering an amount of perfluoropolyether into the lubricating composition so that the lubricating composition comprises 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
38. A method of treating an automatic transmission, the transmission comprising a housing defining a lubricant sump, wherein the sump contains a lubricating composition, the method comprising contacting the lubricating composition in the sump with a rubber composition, wherein the rubber composition comprises an elastomer and an antifoam composition, wherein the antifoam composition comprises a perfluoropolyether compound.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the elastomer comprises an acrylic elastomer or ethylene acrylic elastomer.
40. A method according to claim 38, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
41. A method according to claim 38, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
42. A method according to claim 40, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
43. A method according to claim 38, comprising delivering an amount of antifoam composition to the lubricating fluid so that the lubricating fluid comprises 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
44. A method according to claim 38, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.
45. A method of treating an engine comprising a crankcase defining a lubricant sump, wherein the sump contains a lubricating composition, the method comprising contacting the lubricating composition in the sump with a rubber composition, wherein the rubber composition comprises an elastomer and an antifoam composition, wherein the antifoam composition comprises a perfluoropolyether compound.
46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the elastomer comprises an acrylic elastomer or ethylene acrylic elastomer.
47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
48. A method according to claim 45, comprising delivering an amount of antifoam composition to the lubricating fluid so that the lubricating fluid comprises 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
49. A method for delivering an antifoam compound into a functional fluid, comprising contacting the functional fluid with a rubber composition, wherein the rubber composition comprises an elastomer and further comprises an antifoam compound that leaches into the functional fluid upon contact of the rubber composition with the fluid, wherein the antifoam compound comprises a perfluoropolyether compound.
50. A method according to claim 49, wherein the elastomer comprises an elastomer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic elastomer and an ethylene acrylic elastomer.
51. A method according to claim 49, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises a plurality of (CaF2aO) repeating units, wherein a is from 1 to 10.
52. A method according to claim 49, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises repeating units of (CbF2bO) and (CF2O), wherein b is 2 to 10.
53. A method according to claim 51, wherein the perfluoropolyether compound comprises one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of alkyl amide, silane, phosphate, carboxyl, ester, and hydroxyl.
54. A method according to claim 49, comprising delivering an amount of antifoam composition to the functional fluid so that the functional fluid comprises 0.0005% to 1% by weight of the perfluoropolyether compound.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I claim:
1. A rack for carrying a bicycle on the top of a car comprising
a pair of crossbars,
tower mechanisms configured to secure the crossbars to the top of a car,
a fork block attached to one of the crossbars,
a wheel tray attached to the other crossbar, and
a connector portion linking the fork block to the wheel tray, the connector portion being configured to accommodate disc brake components.
2. The rack of claim 1, wherein the fork block includes a skewer assembly.
3. The rack of claim 2, wherein the fork block has an actuator handle moveable between clamped and unclamped positions, and an adjustment member that permits longitudinal adjustment of the skewer assembly to accommodate different fork configurations, and a housing that substantially covers the adjustment member when the actuator handle is in the clamped position, and at least partially exposes the adjustment member when the actuator handle is in the unclamped position.
4. The rack of claim 1, wherein the connector extends from the fork block, and has a distal end configured to mount on a wheel tray.
5. The rack of claim 1, wherein the connector has a width less than the width of the wheel tray.
6. The rack of claim 1, wherein the connector portion is part of the fork block.
7. A rack for carrying a bicycle on the top of a car comprising
a pair of crossbars,
tower mechanisms configured to secure the crossbars to the top of a car,
a fork block attached to a first crossbar,
a wheel tray attached to a second crossbar, wherein the wheel tray stop short of the fork block and first crossbar to make space for disc brake components.
8. The rack of claim 7 further comprising a connector portion connecting the fork block to the wheel tray.
9. The rack of claim 8, wherein the connector portion has a width less than the width of the wheel tray.
10. The rack of claim 8, wherein the connector portion has an end configured for mounting on an end of the wheel tray.