Patents by Inventor Tomomichi Murata

Tomomichi Murata 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: 8941036
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating unit capable of easily and inexpensively adjusting total impedance based on tire mold size so that a power source can be used at a high power factor, and a tire heating apparatus using the same. A ferromagnetic metallic member 10a heats a tire mold M1 by heat conduction. An induction heating coil C1 is disposed on the side of the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a opposite the tire mold M1 to induction-heat the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a by generating magnetic field lines. A nonmagnetic conductor 30a is disposed on the side of the induction heating coil C1 opposite the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a to shield the magnetic field lines generated by the induction heating coil C1. A heating unit 100a including these elements heats the tire mold M1 storing a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Hisashi Mitamura, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8414278
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizer used for vulcanizing a raw tire and includes a mold for removably housing the raw tire; a medium path which is connected to the inner space of the raw tire housed in the mold and through which a heating and pressurizing medium for vulcanizing the raw tire flows; and a heating unit, provided to the medium path, for controlling the temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium flowing through the medium path. The heating unit includes a heated body internally provided with a flow channel through which the heating and pressurizing medium flows, and an induction heating unit for heating the heated body through electromagnetic induction so as to heat the heating and pressurizing medium flowing through the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Masatake Toshima, Tomomichi Murata, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8100678
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent or suppress the occurrence of a temperature difference between upper and lower portions of a green tire in a vulcanizing process carried out by a tire vulcanizing machine 1 and thereby stabilize the tire quality. The tire vulcanizing machine 1 comprises a tire vulcanizing bladder 20 disposed inside a green tire 4, a jet section 90 for jetting a heating/pressurizing medium to the interior of the bladder 20, a medium supply path for supplying the heating/pressurizing medium to the jet section 90, and a holding section 14 for holding an edge portion of the bladder 20, the edge portion being located on the side close to the medium supply path. Further, there are disposed heat insulators 7, 11, 8 and 6 so as to suppress the transfer of heat from the heating/pressurizing medium jetted from the jet section 90, to a lower edge portion of the green tire 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Kuwabara, Kazuto Okada, Hisashi Mitamura, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Patent number: 8100679
    Abstract: A center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer is provided with a screwing mechanism provided with a screw shaft and a screw nut screwed onto the screw shaft, a motor for rotating the screw shaft so as to raise and lower an upper ring body, an inverter for controlling the motor, and a mechanical brake for retaining a predetermined position of the upper ring body so that a bladder retains a shaping state. Within a time range from start of a closing action of the upper die to contact between the upper die and the upper ring body, an operation of the mechanical brake is released and position control of the upper ring body by the inverter is started, and at least after the release of the operation of the mechanical brake, a position of the upper ring body is controlled by the inverter. By such a configuration, even when there is an erroneous operation of the brake or incorrect setting, it is possible to prevent damage and breakage of constituent parts and have a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Fujieda, Tomomichi Murata
  • Patent number: 7985359
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus and a tire vulcanizing method, by which the pressure and temperature of a heating and pressurizing medium to be supplied to the internal space of a raw tire can be controlled without the condition of pressure being affected by the condition of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20110008477
    Abstract: Provided is a tire vulcanizer capable of accelerating the rise in the temperature of a heating and pressurizing medium and reducing heat loss. The tire vulcanizer is used for vulcanizing a raw tire and includes: a mold for removably housing the raw tire; a medium path which is connected to the inner space of the raw tire housed in the mold and through which a heating and pressurizing medium for vulcanizing the raw tire flows; and a heating unit, provided to the medium path, for controlling the temperature of the heating and pressurizing medium flowing through the medium path. The heating unit includes a heated body internally provided with a flow channel through which the heating and pressurizing medium flows, and an induction heating unit for heating the heated body through electromagnetic induction so as to heat the heating and pressurizing medium flowing through the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Masatake Toshima, Tomomichi Murata, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20100068320
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to prevent or suppress the occurrence of a temperature difference between upper and lower portions of a green tire in a vulcanizing process carried out by a tire vulcanizing machine 1 and thereby stabilize the tire quality. The tire vulcanizing machine 1 comprises a tire vulcanizing bladder 20 disposed inside a green tire 4, a jet section 90 for jetting a heating/pressurizing medium to the interior of the bladder 20, a medium supply path for supplying the heating/pressurizing medium to the jet section 90, and a holding section 14 for holding an edge portion of the bladder 20, the edge portion being located on the side close to the medium supply path. Further, there are disposed heat insulators 7, 11, 8 and 6 so as to suppress the transfer of heat from the heating/pressurizing medium jetted from the jet section 90, to a lower edge portion of the green tire 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Hideaki Kuwabara, Kazuto Okada, Hisashi Mitamura, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20100007038
    Abstract: A tire vulcanizing apparatus and a tire vulcanizing method, by which the pressure and temperature of a heating and pressurizing medium to be supplied to the internal space of a raw tire can be controlled without the condition of pressure being affected by the condition of temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL LTD.)
    Inventors: Hisashi Mitamura, Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Tomomichi Murata, Masataka Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20090308861
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating unit capable of easily and inexpensively adjusting total impedance based on tire mold size so that a power source can be used at a high power factor, and a tire heating apparatus using the same. A ferromagnetic metallic member 10a heats a tire mold M1 by heat conduction. An induction heating coil C1 is disposed on the side of the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a opposite the tire mold M1 to induction-heat the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a by generating magnetic field lines. A nonmagnetic conductor 30a is disposed on the side of the induction heating coil C1 opposite the ferromagnetic metallic member 10a to shield the magnetic field lines generated by the induction heating coil C1. A heating unit 100a including these elements heats the tire mold M1 storing a tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuto Okada, Hideaki Kuwabara, Hisashi Mitamura, Tomomichi Murata, Masatake Toshima, Yasuhiko Fujieda
  • Publication number: 20090139659
    Abstract: A center mechanism of a tire vulcanizer is provided with a screwing mechanism provided with a screw shaft and a screw nut screwed onto the screw shaft, a motor for rotating the screw shaft so as to raise and lower an upper ring body, an inverter for controlling the motor, and a mechanical brake for retaining a predetermined position of the upper ring body so that a bladder retains a shaping state. Within a time range from start of a closing action of the upper die to contact between the upper die and the upper ring body, an operation of the mechanical brake is released and position control of the upper ring body by the inverter is started, and at least after the release of the operation of the mechanical brake, a position of the upper ring body is controlled by the inverter. By such a configuration, even when there is an erroneous operation of the brake or incorrect setting, it is possible to prevent damage and breakage of constituent parts and have a simple structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Yasuhiko FUJIEDA, Tomomichi MURATA