Patents by Inventor Kenneth Wilkinson

Kenneth Wilkinson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10745828
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Fibers, LTD
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20170002482
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20130281650
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8372323
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: International Fibers, Ltd.
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7964134
    Abstract: A process for preparing superior carbon fiber including a step of rapid imbibation of densification activator from an aqueous bath; and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: International Fibers, Ltd.
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20110059314
    Abstract: A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20090224420
    Abstract: A process for preparing superior carbon fiber including a step of rapid imbibation of densification activator from an aqueous bath; and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20060134413
    Abstract: A method of preparing PANOX fibers useful in the production of superior carbon fiber material; the method based on the concept that the true initiators in the preparation of superior carbon fiber are amidines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 7015299
    Abstract: Melt spun thermoplastic polyurethane polymers useful as textile fibers and having good tenacity and recovery and substantially no gelation are disclosed. The polymers are prepared by a three-step polymerization process including: preparation of “hard” segment oligomer, preparation of “soft” segment oligomer and final reaction of “hard” segment with “soft” segment in a twin-screw reaction extruder to obtain a final polyurethane product having relatively uniform distances between the “hard” segments. The “soft” segment oligomer comprises blocks of polymeric glycol (poly) urethanes end capped with isocyanate groups. The “hard” segment oligomer comprises blocks of low molecular weight C2–C6 glycol (poly) urethanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20020161137
    Abstract: Melt spun thermoplastic polyurethane polymers useful as textile fibers and having good tenacity and recovery and substantially no gelation are disclosed. The polymers are prepared by a three-step polymerization process including: preparation of “hard” segment oligomer, preparation of “soft” segment oligomer and final reaction of “hard” segment with “soft” segment in a twin-screw reaction extruder to obtain a final polyurethane product having relatively uniform distances between the “hard” segments. The “soft” segment oligomer comprises blocks of polymeric glycol (poly) urethanes end capped with isocyanate groups. The “hard” segment oligomer comprises blocks of low molecular weight C2-C6 glycol (poly) urethanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: W. Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 6054214
    Abstract: A process for preparing high strength carbon fiber from PAN-fiber wherein the time of the oxidation step is reduced from 30-90 minutes to about 8-15 minutes and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5942120
    Abstract: Microporous ultrafiltration membranes containing polymeric material having oxyalkylene tentacles dangling from a carbon backbone can be improved for separation of micromaterials such as salts, unicellular pathogens and the like by separating said tentacles further part on the carbon backbone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5804108
    Abstract: A process for preparing high strength carbon fiber from PAN-fiber wherein the time of the oxidation step is reduced from 30-90 minutes to about 8-15 minutes and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5708111
    Abstract: A process for the rapid precipitation polymerization of acrylonitrile and a minor amount of a vinyl carboxylic acid comonomer in an environment of less than 10 ppm metal-ions to produce an acrylonitrile copolymer which, when pyrolyzed in an oxidizing atmosphere, produces a high quality carbon fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5616675
    Abstract: A continuous solventless process for preparing elastomeric polyurethane/urea filaments and fibers in a vertical spinning tower and product prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5616292
    Abstract: A process for preparing PAN fibers under precipitation polymerization conditions in an aqueous solvent system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5525236
    Abstract: Addition of minor amounts of polymeric ethers, having oxyalkylene tentacles dangling from a carbon backbone, to ultrafiltration membranes improves rate of flow of purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5523366
    Abstract: A process for the rapid precipitation polymerization of acrylonitrile and a minor amount of a vinyl carboxylic acid comonomer in an environment of less than 10 ppm metal-ions to produce an acrylonitrile copolymer which, when pyrolyzed in an oxidizing atmosphere, produces a high quality carbon fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5364581
    Abstract: A process for the rapid precipitation polymerization of acrylonitrile and a minor amount of a vinyl carboxylic acid comonomer in an environment of less than 10 ppm metal-ions to produce an acrylonitrile copolymer which, when pyrolyzed in an oxidizing atmosphere, produces a high quality carbon fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Kenneth Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 5304589
    Abstract: Oxidatively stabilized polyolefin polymers containing an antioxidant are made more resistant to loss of antioxidant by converting at least some of the antioxidant comprising a polymer of dicyclopentadiene and a phenolic compound into a form non extractable with cyclohexane. The conversion is preferably by reaction in the melt phase in the presence of a radical initiator. Addition of organotin esters, sulphides, oxides or thioethers reduces the color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Neil S. Davidson, Hilda A. Leiper, Colette A. A. Di Murro, Kenneth Wilkinson