Patents by Inventor Masaki Yamano
Masaki Yamano 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).
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Patent number: 11428647Abstract: There is provided a tubular body inner surface inspection apparatus that detects a defect existing on an inner surface of a tubular body, the apparatus including: a tubular body imaging apparatus including N (N?2) imaging units each including a laser light source that applies laser light, an optical element that reflects laser light applied from the laser light source in a circumferential direction of the inner surface of the tubular body, as annular laser light, an area camera that images a region of the inner surface of the tubular body where the annular laser light is applied, and thereby generates an annular beam image, and a linking member that links together and fixes the laser light source and the area camera, in which the imaging units are linked in series along a tube axial direction of the tubular body in such a manner that positions of the linking members in a plane orthogonal to a tube axis are different from each other; a movement apparatus that moves the tubular body imaging apparatus along theType: GrantFiled: July 30, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Toshio Akagi, Hironao Yamaji, Takeo Nakata, Masaki Yamano
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Publication number: 20210208085Abstract: There is provided a tubular body inner surface inspection apparatus that detects a defect existing on an inner surface of a tubular body, the apparatus including: a tubular body imaging apparatus including N (N?2) imaging units each including a laser light source that applies laser light, an optical element that reflects laser light applied from the laser light source in a circumferential direction of the inner surface of the tubular body, as annular laser light, an area camera that images a region of the inner surface of the tubular body where the annular laser light is applied, and thereby generates an annular beam image, and a linking member that links together and fixes the laser light source and the area camera, in which the imaging units are linked in series along a tube axial direction of the tubular body in such a manner that positions of the linking members in a plane orthogonal to a tube axis are different from each other; a movement apparatus that moves the tubular body imaging apparatus along theType: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2018Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Toshio AKAGI, Hironao YAMAJI, Takeo NAKATA, Masaki YAMANO
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Publication number: 20210156681Abstract: [Object] To inspect the inner surface of a tubular body at higher speed, with higher resolving power, and in a simpler way regardless of the size of the tubular body. [Solution] A tubular body inner surface inspection method for detecting a defect existing on an inner surface of a tubular body includes: a tubular body imaging apparatus including an optical element that reflects laser light applied from a laser light source in a circumferential direction of the inner surface of the tubular body, as annular laser light, an area camera that images a region of the inner surface of the tubular body where the annular laser light is applied, and generates an annular beam image, and a linking member that links together and fixes the laser light source and the area camera; and an arithmetic processing apparatus performing image processing on a plurality of the generated annular beam images.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Toshio AKAGI, Hironao YAMAJI, Takeo NAKATA, Masaki YAMANO
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Patent number: 10416123Abstract: A method of adjusting flaw detection sensitivity on an array ultrasonic probe comprises disposing a plate material P1 oppositely to the ultrasonic probe such that an upper surface of the plate material is disposed to be approximately parallel to an array direction of the transducers 11, or disposing a tubular material P2 oppositely to the ultrasonic probe such that an axial direction of the tubular material is disposed to be approximately parallel to the array direction of the transducers. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted from each transducer toward the upper surface of the plate material or an outer surface of the tubular material, and echoes are received from the bottom surface of the plate material or an inner surface of the tubular material on each transducer. Flaw detection sensitivity of each transducer is adjusted to substantially equalize intensity of an echo received on each transducer.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Masaki Yamano, Yoshiyuki Nakao, Shigetoshi Hyodo, Masaki Tanaka, Tsukasa Suda
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Patent number: 9442096Abstract: An ultrasonic testing apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe disposed under an end portion of a pipe laid in the horizontal direction to face the pipe end portion. The probe transmits ultrasonic waves to the end portion of the pipe and receives the ultrasonic waves therefrom. A probe holder housing the probe includes a coupling medium reserver part which surrounds a space between the probe and the end portion of the pipe to contain a coupling medium W. The coupling medium reserver part includes a part body 21 into which the coupling medium is supplied; an annular bellows part, which is attached to the upper side of the part body to internally communicate with the part body, and an annular spacer 23 attached to the upper side of the bellows part, the upper surface of the annular spacer being a flat horizontal surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATIONInventors: Kenji Fujiwara, Hiroshi Kubota, Tomoyuki Obata, Masaki Yamano
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Patent number: 9335301Abstract: An ultrasonic testing equipment of the present invention includes: an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers arranged along a predetermined annular curved surface; a transmission/reception control unit that causes at least two transducers selected from the plurality of the transducers to transmit the ultrasonic waves to and receive the same from the tubular test object and a ultrasonic testing waveform display unit which displays ultrasonic testing waveforms received by the selected transducers radially corresponding to the propagation directions of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from and received by the selected transducers.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATIONInventors: Masaki Yamano, Hiroshi Shikada, Kenji Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20150135799Abstract: A method of adjusting flaw detection sensitivity on an array ultrasonic probe comprises disposing a plate material P1 oppositely to the ultrasonic probe such that an upper surface of the plate material is disposed to be approximately parallel to an array direction of the transducers 11, or disposing a tubular material P2 oppositely to the ultrasonic probe such that an axial direction of the tubular material is disposed to be approximately parallel to the array direction of the transducers. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted from each transducer toward the upper surface of the plate material or an outer surface of the tubular material, and echoes are received from the bottom surface of the plate material or an inner surface of the tubular material on each transducer. Flaw detection sensitivity of each transducer is adjusted to substantially equalize intensity of an echo received on each transducer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Masaki Yamano, Yoshiyuki Nakao, Shigetoshi Hyodo, Masaki Tanaka, Tsukasa Suda
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Patent number: 8776604Abstract: An ultrasonic probe for detecting a flaw by ultrasonic waves in a tubular test object includes a plurality of transducers arranged along an annular curved surface, wherein the annular curved surface is obtained by cutting a predetermined spheroid with two parallel planes facing to each other that do not pass through a center of the spheroid and do not sandwich the center of the spheroid, said two parallel planes being orthogonal to a rotational axis of the spheroid. A shape of said annular curved surface is determined so that when transducers appropriately selected from said plurality of transducers are caused to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, respective internal refraction angles ?? of the ultrasonic waves are approximately equivalent regardless of propagation directions of the ultrasonic waves.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventor: Masaki Yamano
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Patent number: 8667847Abstract: An ultrasonic testing apparatus for a pipe end portion, which enables accurate ultrasonic testing, comprises an ultrasonic probe disposed under the pipe end portion. The probe 1 transmits ultrasonic waves to the pipe end portion and receives the ultrasonic waves therefrom. A probe holder houses the probe which is disposed under the pipe end portion to face the pipe end portion and follows the pipe rotation. The probe holder comprises a coupling medium reserver part that surrounds a space between the probe and the pipe end portion to contain a coupling medium therein and comprises a coupling medium reserver part body into which the coupling medium is supplied. An annular bellows part, which communicates with the reserver part body, can expand and contract vertically and an annular spacer, which is attached to the upper side of the bellows part and an upper surface thereof has a flat horizontal surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventors: Kenji Fujiwara, Hiroshi Kubota, Tomoyuki Obata, Masaki Yamano
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Publication number: 20140060195Abstract: An ultrasonic testing equipment of the present invention includes: an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers arranged along a predetermined annular curved surface; a transmission/reception control unit that causes at least two transducers selected from the plurality of the transducers to transmit the ultrasonic waves to and receive the same from the tubular test object and a ultrasonic testing waveform display unit which displays ultrasonic testing waveforms received by the selected transducers radially corresponding to the propagation directions of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from and received by the selected transducers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATIONInventors: Masaki YAMANO, Hiroshi Shikada, Kenji Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20130276540Abstract: An ultrasonic testing apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe disposed under an end portion of a pipe laid in the horizontal direction to face the pipe end portion. The probe transmits ultrasonic waves to the end portion of the pipe and receives the ultrasonic waves therefrom. A probe holder housing the probe includes a coupling medium reserver part which surrounds a space between the probe and the end portion of the pipe to contain a coupling medium W. The coupling medium reserver part includes a part body 21 into which the coupling medium is supplied; an annular bellows part, which is attached to the upper side of the part body to internally communicate with the part body, and an annular spacer 23 attached to the upper side of the bellows part, the upper surface of the annular spacer being a flat horizontal surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Kenji FUJIWARA, Hiroshi Kubota, Tomoyuki Obata, Masaki Yamano
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Patent number: 8544329Abstract: An ultrasonic testing equipment includes an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers arranged along a predetermined annular curved surface, a transmission/reception control unit that causes at least two transducers of the plurality of transducers to transmit the ultrasonic waves to and receive the same from a tubular test object and a ultrasonic testing waveform display unit which displays ultrasonic testing waveforms received by the selected transducers radially corresponding to the propagation directions of the ultrasonic waves transmitted from and received by the selected transducers. The waveform display unit displays the waveforms radially with a point of time corresponding to an echo on an incident point of the ultrasonic wave to the test object contained in the waveform as a beginning point and displays circles indicating points of time corresponding to the echo on the internal surface and/or the external surface of the test object around the beginning point.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventors: Masaki Yamano, Hiroshi Shikada, Kenji Fujiwara
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Patent number: 8495915Abstract: A circumferential angle of incidence ?i of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from an ultrasonic probe 1 upon a tubular test object P and an axial angle of incidence ?i of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 1 upon the tubular test object P are set based on a ratio of thickness to outer diameter t/D of the tubular test object P so that an internal refraction angle ?k calculated from the circumferential angle of incidence ?i, the axial angle of incidence ?i, and the ratio of thickness to outer diameter t/D of the tubular test object may be not less than 35° and not more than 60°.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventor: Masaki Yamano
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Patent number: 8490490Abstract: The ultrasonic testing method includes the steps of arranging an ultrasonic probe having a plurality of transducers so as to face a tubular test object P, and causing the transducers appropriately selected from the plurality of transducers to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves so that the ultrasonic waves are propagated in the tubular test object in a plurality of different propagation directions, wherein a ultrasonic testing condition by the ultrasonic probe is set so that respective external refraction angles ?r of the ultrasonic waves in the plurality of propagation directions are approximately equivalent and/or respective internal refraction angles ?k of the ultrasonic waves in the plurality of propagation directions are approximately equivalent.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventor: Masaki Yamano
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Patent number: 8438926Abstract: The present invention provides a method which allows simply, easily and accurately evaluating the fastening state of shoulder parts of a threaded joint for use as a joint of pipes or tubes, such as OCTG, during fastening or after fastening. The fastening state evaluation method for a threaded joint 100 of pipes or tubes according to the present invention is characterized in that it transmits ultrasonic surface waves from the internal surface of either one of the pin 1 and the box 2 toward the internal surface of the other one of the pin 1 and the box 2 through the shoulder parts 13, 23 of the pin 1 and the box 2, and on the basis of the transmitted wave intensity or the reflected wave intensity thereof, determines whether or not the fastening state of the threaded joint 100 is satisfactory.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventors: Ikuji Hoshino, Masaki Yamano, Makoto Sakamoto, Keiichi Nakamura, Jun Masubuchi, Kenta Sakai
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Patent number: 8413513Abstract: An ultrasonic testing equipment includes a linear array ultrasonic probe in which a plurality of transducers are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the rolling direction of a test object and a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit executes following (1) to (6). (1) Generating an aperture synthetic image of testing signals of each section of the test object. (2) Generating a maximum value distribution of testing signals in the arrangement direction of transducers. (3) Calculating the width of a defect in each section based on the maximum value distribution. (4) Generating a maximum value distribution of the testing signals in the rolling direction based on the maximum value distribution of a plurality of sections of the test object. (5) Calculating the length of the defect based on the maximum value distribution of the testing signals in the rolling direction. (6) Calculating the area of the defect based on the calculated defect length and the calculated defect width of each section.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventors: Yoshio Ueda, Masaki Yamano, Masami Ikeda
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Patent number: 8393218Abstract: An ultrasonic testing apparatus 100 comprises an ultrasonic probe 1 including n (n?2) number of transducers arranged along a predetermined direction, disposed so as to face a test object P, and a transmission/reception control device 2 for selecting m (n>m?1) number of transducers from among the n number of transducers, transmitting ultrasonic waves from the selected m number of transducers toward the test object, receiving the ultrasonic waves therefrom, and switched m number of transducers to b selected successively. If an angle that the arrangement direction of the transducers makes with the surface of the test object which ultrasonic waves enter is ?, and the effective beam width of each selected m number of transducers with respect to a target flaw is W1, the transmission/reception control device switches m number of transducers to be selected successively by a switching pitch length P satisfying the formula: P?W1·cos ?.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal CorporationInventors: Masaki Yamano, Masami Ikeda, Kenji Fujiwara, Hiroshi Kubota
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Patent number: 8387462Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic testing method and an ultrasonic testing apparatus capable of accurately detecting flaws present in a weld zone of a test object, such as a welded pipe, regardless of the position of the flaws. An ultrasonic testing apparatus 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 1 which is provided with n (n?2) transducers 11 arranged along a direction orthogonal to the weld line of a weld zone P1 of a test object P and is arranged so as to face the weld zone, and transmission/reception control means 2 which selects m (n>m?1) transducers from the n transducers, causes the selected transducers to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves to and from the weld zone, and switches the selected transducers one after another.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Yamano, Hiroyuki Okubo, Takumi Horikiri
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Publication number: 20120167690Abstract: The ultrasonic testing method according to the invention includes the steps of arranging an ultrasonic probe 1 having a plurality of transducers 11 so as to face a tubular test object P, and causing the transducers appropriately selected from the plurality of transducers to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves so that the ultrasonic waves are propagated in the tubular test object in a plurality of different propagation directions, wherein a ultrasonic testing condition by the ultrasonic probe is set so that respective external refraction angles ?r of the ultrasonic waves in the plurality of propagation directions are approximately equivalent and/or respective internal refraction angles ?k of the ultrasonic waves in the plurality of propagation directions are approximately equivalent.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventor: Masaki YAMANO
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Publication number: 20120067129Abstract: An ultrasonic testing apparatus for a pipe end portion, which enables accurate ultrasonic testing, comprises an ultrasonic probe disposed under the pipe end portion. The probe 1 transmits ultrasonic waves to the pipe end portion and receives the ultrasonic waves therefrom. A probe holder houses the probe which is disposed under the pipe end portion to face the pipe end portion and follows the pipe rotation. The probe holder comprises a coupling medium reserver part that surrounds a space between the probe and the pipe end portion to contain a coupling medium therein and comprises a coupling medium reserver part body into which the coupling medium is supplied. An annular bellows part, which communicates with the reserver part body, can expand and contract vertically and an annular spacer, which is attached to the upper side of the bellows part and an upper surface thereof has a flat horizontal surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Kenji Fujiwara, Hiroshi Kubota, Tomoyuki Obata, Masaki Yamano