Patents by Inventor Akira Arai

Akira Arai 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: 6536507
    Abstract: A cooling roll (5) for producing magnet materials, comprising a roll base material (51) and a surface layer (52) covering the outer periphery of the material, wherein the roll base material (51) is preferably formed of a metal material of a high heat conductivity, and the surface layer (52) is formed of a material lower in heat conductivity than the roll base material (51) and preferably formed of ceramics. The surface layer (52) satisfies the relation, 1.01≦Tmax/Tmin≦3, where Tmax is the maximum thickness of the surface layer (52), and Tmin the minimum thickness. The peripheral surface (511) of the roll base material (51) has a surface roughness Ra of 0.03 to 8 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6527875
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1−yCoy)100−x−z−wBzAlw (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.9 at %, and w is 0.02-1.5 at %), the magnetic powder being constituted from a composite structure having a soft magnetic phase and a hard magnetic phase, wherein the magnetic powder has magnetic properties characterized in that, when the magnetic powder is formed into an isotropic bonded magnet having a density &rgr;[Mg/M3] by mixing with a binding resin and then molding it, the remanent magnetic flux density Br[T] at the room temperature satisfies the relationship represented by the formula of Br/&rgr;[x10−6T·m3/g]≧0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20030037845
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is magnetic powder which can provide a magnet having a high magnetic flux density and excellent magnetizability and reliability especially excellent heat resistance property (heat stability). The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1-yCoy)100-x-z-wBzSi(where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 8.1-9.4 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.8 at %, and w is 0.2-3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6521054
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent in heat stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1−yCoy)100−x−z−w−vBzAlwVv (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.9 at %, w is 0.02-1.5 at % and v is 0.2-3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6503415
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnet powder which can provide a magnet having a high magnetic flux density and excellent magnetizability and reliability. The magnet powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1−yCOy)100−x−z−wBzAlw (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 8.1-9.4 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.8 at %, and w is 0.02-0.8 at %), and it has a structure in which a soft magnetic phase and a hard magnetic phase exist adjacent with each other. The magnet powder has characteristics in which, when an isotropic bonded magnet is molded by mixing the magnet powder with a binding resin, the magnetic flux density (B) of the bonded magnet, in the region of B higher than the straight line for Pc (permeance coefficient)=2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Arai
  • Patent number: 6500277
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is magnetic powder which can provide a magnet having a high magnetic flux density and excellent magnetizability and reliability especially excellent heat resistance property (heat stability). The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1-yCoy)100-x-z-wBxSiw (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 8.1-9.4 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.8 at %, and w is 0.2-3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6478891
    Abstract: The ribbon shaped magnet material (quenched ribbon 8) according to the present invention is obtained by ejecting a molten liquid 6 of an alloy containing rare earth elements and transition metals from a nozzle 3, and quenching the molten liquid allowing it to collide with a circumference face 53 of a cooling roll 5. The micostructure of the quenched ribbon comprises. soft magnetic phases and hard magnetic phases in adjoining relation to one another. Crystal grain sizes of the quenched ribbon 8 preferably satisfy the following equations [1] and [2], and preferably satisfy at least one of the following equations [3] and [4]: D1s/D1h≦0.9  [1] D2s/D2h≦0.8  [2] 0.5≦D1h/D2h≦1  [3] 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020153064
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide magnets having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent heat stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1−aCoa)100−x−y−zByMz (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element excepting Dy, M is at least one kind of element selected from Ti, Cr, Nb, V, Mo, Hf, W, Mn, Zr and Dy, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 4.6-8.0 at %, z is 0.1-3.0 at %, and a is 0-0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020148535
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide magnets having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent heat stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by (R1−aDya)x(Fe1−bCOb)100−x−yBy (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 4.6-8.O at %, a is 0.02-0.2, and b is 0-0.30), wherein the magnetic powder is constituted from a composite structure having a soft magnetic phase and a hard magnetic phase, and the intrinsic coercive force (HCJ) of the magnetic powder at a room temperature is in the range of 400-750 kA/m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 6401799
    Abstract: A magnet material having excellent magnetic properties and a bonded magnet formed of the magnet material as well as a method of manufacturing the magnet material are disclosed. The method of manufacturing the magnet material is carried out by discharging a molten metal of the magnet material from a nozzle while rotating a cooling roll having a surface layer composed of ceramics on its outer periphery to be collided with the surface layer of the cooling roll and solidified by cooling, the method of manufacturing the magnet material being characterized in that the time during which the magnet material is in contact with the surface layer of the cooling roll is not less than 0.5 ms when the molten metal of said magnet material is discharged from directly above the center of rotation of the cooling roll toward an apex part of the cooling roll to be collided with the apex part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020066498
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing magnetic powder is disclosed. This method can provide magnetic powder from which a bonded magnet having excellent magnetic properties and reliability can be manufactured. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5. The cooling roll 5 is constructed from a roll base 51 and a circumferential surface 53 in which gas flow passages 54 for expelling gas are formed. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, gas is likely to enter between a puddle 7 of the molten alloy 6 and the circumferential surface 53, but such gas is expelled by means of the gas flow passages 54. The magnetic powder is obtained by milling thus formed melt spun ribbon 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020053372
    Abstract: A magnetic material manufacturing method, a ribbon-shaped magnetic material manufactured by the method, a powdered magnetic material formed from the ribbon-shaped magnetic material and a bonded magnet manufactured using the powdered magnet material are disclosed. The method and the magnetic materials can provide magnets having excellent magnetic properties and reliability. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 on which dimple correcting means is provided. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5 in an inert gas atmosphere (ambient gas) such as helium gas, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020038680
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling roll which can provide bonded a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability. A melt spinning apparatus is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 in which dimple correcting means is provided. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 3 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5 in an inert gas atmosphere (ambient gas) such as helium gas, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, dimples to be produced on a roll contact surface of the melt spun ribbon are divided by the dimple correcting means, thereby preventing formation of huge dimples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020036032
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide magnets having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent heat stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1-aCoa)100-x-y-zByMz (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element excepting Dy, M is at least one kind of element selected from Ti, Cr, Nb, Mo, Hf, W, Mn, Zr and Dy, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 4.6-8.0 at %, z is 0.1-3.0 at %, and a is 0-0.30, and the magnetic powder being constituted from a composite structure having a soft magnetic phase and a hard magnetic phase, wherein when the magnetic powder is mixed with a binding resin and then the mixture is subjected to compaction molding to form a bonded magnet having a density &rgr;[Mg/m3], the maximum magnetic energy product (BH)max[kJ/m3] of the bonded magnet at a room temperature satisfies the relationship represented by the formula (BH)max/&rgr;2[×10−9 Jm3/g2]2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020028334
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide a bonded magnet having high mechanical strength and excellent magnetic properties. The magnetic powder has an alloy composition represented by the formula of Rx(Fe1−yCoy)100−x−zBz (where R is at least one rare-earth element, x is 10-15 at %, y is 0-0.30, and z is 4-10 at %), wherein the magnetic powder includes particles each of which is formed with a number of ridges or recesses on at least a part of the surface thereof. In this magnetic powder, it is preferable that when the mean particle size of the magnetic powder is defined by a&mgr;m, the average length of the ridges or recesses is equal to or greater than a/40 &mgr;m. Further, preferably, the ridges or recesses are arranged in roughly parallel with each other so as to have an average pitch of 0.5-100 &mgr;m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020023697
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide a bonded magnet having high mechanical strength and excellent magnetic properties. The magnetic powder has an alloy composition containing a rare-earth element and a transition metal, wherein the magnetic powder includes particles each of which is formed with a number of ridges or recesses on at least a part of a surface thereof. In this magnetic powder, it is preferable that when the mean particle size of the magnetic powder is defined by a&mgr;m, the average length of the ridges or recesses is equal to or greater than a/40&mgr;m. Further, preferably, the ridges or recesses are arranged in roughly parallel with each other so as to have an average pitch of 0.5-100&mgr;m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020020514
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a magnetic material which can provide a bonded magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 in which gas expelling grooves 54 are formed. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 6 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, gas is likely to enter between a puddle 7 of the molten alloy 6 and the circumferential surface 53, but such gas is expelled by means of the gas expelling grooves 54.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020020472
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooling roll which can provide bonded a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability. A melt spinning apparatus 1 is provided with a tube 2 having a nozzle 3 at the bottom thereof, a coil 4 for heating the tube and a cooling roll 5 having a circumferential surface 53 in which gas expelling grooves 54 are formed. A melt spun ribbon 8 is formed by injecting the molten alloy 6 from the nozzle 6 so as to be collided with the circumferential surface 53 of the cooling roll 5, so that the molten alloy 6 is cooled and then solidified. In this process, gas is likely to enter between a puddle 7 of the molten alloy 6 and the circumferential surface 53, but such gas is expelled by means of the gas expelling grooves 54.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020014284
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1−yCoy)100−x−z−wBzAlw (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.9 at %, and w is 0.02-1.5 at %), the magnetic powder being constituted from a composite structure having a soft magnetic phase and a hard magnetic phase, wherein the magnetic powder has magnetic properties characterized in that, when the magnetic powder is formed into an isotropic bonded magnet having a density &rgr;[Mg/M3] by mixing with a binding resin and then molding it, the remanent magnetic flux density Br[T] at the room temperature satisfies the relationship represented by the formula of Br/&rgr;[x10−6T·m3/g]≧0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato
  • Publication number: 20020007874
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic powder which can provide a magnet having excellent magnetic properties and having excellent reliability especially excellent in heat stability. The magnetic powder is composed of an alloy composition represented by Rx(Fe1−yCoy)100−x−z−wBzNbw (where R is at least one kind of rare-earth element, x is 7.1-9.9 at %, y is 0-0.30, z is 4.6-6.9 at %, and w is 0.2-3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arai, Hiroshi Kato