Method of preparing solid-thickened greases

Claim 1

IN A CONTINUOUS METHOD FOR COMPOUNDING A GREASE INCLUDING A PETROLEUM LUBRICATING OIL AND FINELY-DIVIDED PARTICLES OF A SOLID GELLING AGENT, MIXING RELATIVELY COARSE PARTICLES OF SAID SOLID GELLING AGENT WITH SAID OIL IN A GREASE THICKENING PROPORTIONS TO FORM A FLOWABLE MIXTURE, PASSING SAID FLOWABLE MIXTURE INTO THE INITIAL PORTION OF A LONG TUBULAR ZONE, HEATING SAID FLOWABLE MIXTURE AT LEAST TO ABOVE THE LOWER LIMIT OF THE BOILING RANGE OF SAID OIL THEREBY VAPORIZING SAID OIL FORMING IN SAID TUBULAR ZONE A DISPERSION OF PARTICLES OF SAID SOLID IN THE VAPOR OF SAID OIL, PASSING SAID DISPERSION OF SOLID PARTICLES IN OIL THROUGH THE LATTER PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR ZONE AT HIGH VELOCITY IN TURBULENT FLOW SUCH THAT SAID SOLID GELLING AGENT IS CONVERTED TO FINE SOLID PARTICLES OF A SIZE REDUCED GREATLY BELOW THE ORIGINAL SIZE OF SAID PARTICLES AND SUFFICIENTLY FINE TO CAUSE GELLING OF SAID OIL UPON SUBSEQUENT COOLING, AND COOLING SAID DISPERSION TO CONDENSE SAID OIL VAPORS AND FORM A GELLED SUSPENSION OF SAID FINE SOLID PARTICLES THEREIN.