Patents by Inventor Toivo Karna

Toivo Karna 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: 6509502
    Abstract: In a method for preparing polyaniline, aniline is polymerized in a reactor in a polymerization medium containing aniline and oxidant. The polymerization is performed in a reactor in which the ratio of the heat transfer surface to the reaction volume is at least 10/m, preferably at least 20/m. In the apparatus, the polymerization is performed in a tubular reactor by allowing a medium containing aniline and oxidant to flow in a mixed flow through the tubular reactor. The tubular reactor is equipped with static mixers, and there can be several tubular reactors in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventors: Matti Jussila, Toivo Kärnä, Jukka Koskinen, Ilkka Turunen, Samuli Puhakka
  • Patent number: 5928565
    Abstract: An electrically conducting plastic material is produced by blending a polyaniline or a derivative thereof with an organic sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof. A reaction product or blend of a polyaniline or a derivative thereon with an organic sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof can be brought to an easy-to-handle or directly melt-processable form through a heat-treatment process carried out at approx. +40.degree. to +250.degree. C. The obtained plastic material is advantageously further improved by blending the heat-treated reaction product or blend with a thermoplastic polymer and then melt-processing the mixed blend. The properties of the resulting compound material exhibit complete compatibility of the heat-treated reaction product or blend with the thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Neste OY
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Jukka Laakso, Kalle Levon, Esko Savolainen
  • Patent number: 5585040
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conductive polymer complex which contains a polyaniline or derivative thereof doped with a protonic acid. By the method according to the invention, a conductive polymer is obtained having substantially reduced acidity, sufficiently high conductivity level, and which is suitable, for example, for being melt processed in conventional plastics processing apparatus. The acidity of the conductive polymer can be reduced by having the conductive polymer contain both a metal compound and an additionally neutralizing compound. The obtained conductive polymer material, having a pH value of approximately 3-8, can be mixed with an insulating polymer to produce a conductive plastics mixture. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a conductive polymer that is more processable by incorporating therein a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of water, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Pauli Kirmanen, Esko Savolainen, Esa Virtanen, Toivo Karna, Jukka Laakso, Heikki Ruohonen, Kimmo Vakiparta, Olli Ikkala, Hannele Jarvinen
  • Patent number: 5531932
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that relate to the use of reaction products of metal compounds and protonic acids for plasticizing and neutralizing acidic, protonated compositions comprising substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines and co-polymers and or mixtures thereof; and for reducing the percolation threshold for conductivity in blends with insulating bulk polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Jukka Laakso, Timo Niemi, Heikki Ruohonen, Esko Savolainen, Helge Lindstrom, Esa Virtanen, Olli Ikkala
  • Patent number: 5346649
    Abstract: An electrically conducting plastic material is produced by blending a polyaniline or a derivative thereof with an organic sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof. A reaction product or blend of a polyaniline or a derivative thereof with an organic sulfonic acid or a derivative thereof can be brought to an easy-to-handle or directly melt-processable form through a heat-treatment process carried out at approx. +40.degree. to +250.degree. C. The obtained plastic material is advantageously further improved by blending the heat-treated reaction product or blend with a thermoplastic polymer and then melt-processing the mixed blend. The properties of the resulting compound material exhibit complete compatibility of the heat-treated reaction product or blend with the thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Jukka Laakso, Kalle Levon, Esko Savolainen
  • Patent number: 5340499
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are described that relate to the use of reaction products of metal compounds and protonic acids for plasticizing and neutralizing acidic, protonated compositions comprising substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines and co-polymers and or mixtures thereof; and for reducing the percolation threshold for conductivity in blends with insulating bulk polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Jukka Laakso, Timo Niemi, Heikki Ruohonen, Esko Savolainen, Helge Lindstrom, Esa Virtanen, Olli Ikkala, Alejandro Andreatta
  • Patent number: 5279769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a conductive polymer product by doping a conductor polymer. The conductor polymer or a mixture of the conductor polymer and a matrix polymer is in a molten state brought into contact with a doping agent, whereafter the mixture is treated into a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Timo Kokkonen, Toivo Karna, Jukka Laakso, Per Nyholm, Jan-Erik sterholm, Henrik Stubb
  • Patent number: 5037671
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing storage plates, plate frames (5) of storage batteries are material-coated by active material supply means which is provided with at least one rotating material application wheel. The wheel includes a dispensing element (14) with which the active material is dispensed to a conveyor belt or equivalent means which travels under the supply means (10) and conveys plate frames (5). The material application wheel/wheels (11,1a) of the supply means (10) is/are rotated at such a high speed that the material application wheel/wheels (11,1a) dispenses/dispense the active material (1) from the dispensing element (14) to the mobile conveyor belt (20) under the effect of centrifugal force. The invention also concerns a means for manufacturing storage batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Frey Fredenberg, Timo Niemi, Matti Luukka, Jukka-Pekka Nieminen
  • Patent number: 5012175
    Abstract: Apparatus for acid-filling and forming of storage batteries has a frame which is arranged to hole several storage batteries (30) simultaneously. In the frame a duct system (18-25) is in direct contact with the cells (35) of each storage battery (30) fixed in the frame. The duct system supplies acid simultaneously into each storage battery (30) and a circuit (13) simultaneously supplies charging current to the terminals of each storage battery with the electrical interconnection between the terminals of each battery (30) and the circuit (13) being made by installing the respective battery (30) within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Kalevi Lind
  • Patent number: 4989837
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a procedure for producing an envelope structure for a storage battery having a housing, a cover, and partitions separating cells therein. The battery in particular comprises one or several cells enclosed within the housing, with each cell containing electrolyte and monopolar plates and/or bipolar plates separated from one another by separator plates, and being coated with positive and/or negative active mass, in addition to the requisite electrical connectors interconnecting the cells and/or plates. The envelope structure of the storage battery is produced by casting with electrically-insulating an electrolyte-impermeable material, using in the casting the cells of the storage battery at an inner mold, and separately-constructed mold structure as an outer mold. Wall thickness of the housing of the storage battery is defined with the aid of a spacer structure remaining inside the cast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Ahti Kemppi, Esko Savolainen, Kalevi Lind, Niilo Jaasko, Olli Walden
  • Patent number: 4973533
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a gas vault structure for a storage battery having one or several cells enclosed in a housing, each cell containing electrolyte and monopolar plates and/or bipolar plates separated from one another by separator plates and coated with positive and/or negative mass, along with requisite electrical connectors interconnecting cells and/or plates. The gas vault structure is arranged to serve as an inner core for producing a gas space during casting of the housing of the storage battery, and/or of the cover, and/or of the partitions separating the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventors: Jukka-Pekka Nieminen, Asko Maisti, Toivo Karna, Ahti Kemppi, Esko Savolainen, Niilo Jaasko
  • Patent number: 4966346
    Abstract: A mounting device secures a storage battery (10) to a base. The device comprises a footing (20-28) to be rigidly fixed to the base (B) and being loose from the battery (10). Locking elements (16-19) of the device are pivotally mounted on the storage battery (10). The storage battery (10) is detachably fastened with the aid of the locking elements to the footing (20-28) through the action rapid locking elements. The locking elements (16-19) are pivotally mounted on a cover (12) of the storage battery (10). Carrying handles (16) are provided for lifting the storage battery (10) from the footing (20-28) when the locking elements (16-19) are turned to the open-position. In addition, shields (17) are provided in the locking element to protect the storage battery terminals (13) when the locking elements (16-19) are turned to locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Neste OY
    Inventors: Toivo Karna, Jukka-Pekka Nieminen, Asko Maisti, Hannu Kahonen
  • Patent number: 4608944
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an ignition device for igniting fuel within a heating boiler having a combustion section operating according to the fluidized bed principle. The ignition device comprises a jacket-like body portion with a surface facing away from the fluidized bed of particles such as sand being furnished with a heating member, and the surface of the jacket-like body portion facing the fluidized bed of particles having heat transfer elements. The heat transfer elements may be rib-shaped, while a lagging or equivalent structure may encircle the ignition device, to form an intermediate space therebetween through which combustion gas is arranged to flow into the jacket-like body portion. A member for pre-heating the combustion gas flowing through this intermediate space, may also be provided, which is in turn cooled by the inflowing combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Neste Oy
    Inventor: Toivo Karna