Patents by Inventor Akihide Nagao

Akihide Nagao 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: 11788687
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pressure accumulator, using an AE signal for the pressure accumulator, includes: a first estimation step of estimating with an AE sensor provided at the pressure accumulator, a range of stress levels at each of which a damage AE signal that is generated from the pressure accumulator because of damage of material of the pressure accumulator is in a predetermined state; and a first design step of designing the pressure accumulator such that a minimum thickness of the pressure accumulator is determined based on the stress level range estimated in the first estimation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okano, Akihide Nagao, Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Kazuki Matsubara, Toshio Takano
  • Publication number: 20220397238
    Abstract: A hydrogen supply system is configured to supply hydrogen to a fuel-cell vehicle by using a curdle for hydrogen transport, and includes: a filling unit provided at a hydrogen filling facility and configured to fill the curdle with hydrogen; a management unit configured to calculate a transport timing at which the hydrogen-filled curdle is transported to a business facility that operates the fuel-cell vehicle; a transport unit configured to transport the hydrogen-filled curdle to the business facility in accordance with the transport timing; and a disposition unit configured to dispose the hydrogen-filled curdle transported to the business facility at a place to which the fuel-cell vehicle is capable of accessing to have a refill of the hydrogen in the business facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi OKANO, Shusaku TAKAGI, Nobuyuki ISHIKAWA, Akihide NAGAO, Kazuki MATSUBARA, Toshio TAKANO, Kotaro KADOTA, Norikazu YAMAGUCHI, Takuya HASEGAWA, Hiroki KUNO
  • Publication number: 20220064770
    Abstract: A steel material and methods for producing the same. The steel material exhibits excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance in a high-pressure hydrogen gas environment and is, therefore, suitable for use in hydrogen storage tanks, hydrogen line pipes, and the like. The steel material has a specified chemical composition, a tensile strength of 560 MPa or higher, and a fracture toughness value KIH exhibited by the steel material in a high-pressure hydrogen gas atmosphere is 40 MPa·m1/2 or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihide NAGAO
  • Publication number: 20210396354
    Abstract: A high-pressure hydrogen tank includes a metal circular cylinder configured to store high-pressure hydrogen therein, a cap part configured to cover each of opposite end portions of the metal circular cylinder, an outer cylinder surrounding an outer periphery of a circular-cylindrical portion of the metal circular cylinder, and a fastening part configured to fix the cap part to the outer cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio TAKANO, Hiroshi OKANO, Akihide NAGAO, Nobuyuki ISHIKAWA, Kazuki MATSUBARA
  • Publication number: 20210270421
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pressure accumulator, using an AE signal for the pressure accumulator, includes: a first estimation step of estimating with an AE sensor provided at the pressure accumulator, a range of stress levels at each of which a damage AE signal that is generated from the pressure accumulator because of damage of material of the pressure accumulator is in a predetermined state; and a first design step of designing the pressure accumulator such that a minimum thickness of the pressure accumulator is determined based on the stress level range estimated in the first estimation step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okano, Akihide Nagao, Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Kazuki Matsubara, Toshio Takano
  • Publication number: 20210270779
    Abstract: A life estimation apparatus for a pressure accumulator estimates the life of the pressure accumulator based on an AE signal for the pressure accumulator. The life estimation apparatus includes: an AE sensor that is provided at the pressure accumulator and detects the AE signal; and an estimation unit that sets a point of time at which the AE sensor detects a damage AE signal that is generated from the pressure accumulator because of damage of a material during use of the pressure accumulator, as a minimum initial flaw generation time point that is a point of time at which a minimum initial flaw of the pressure accumulator that is detected by a non-destructive inspection method is generated in shipping of the pressure accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okano, Akihide Nagao, Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Kazuki Matsubara, Toshio Takano
  • Patent number: 10837602
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank includes a liner layer to store hydrogen and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer disposed outside the liner layer. The liner layer is formed from a low-alloy steel, and the carbon fiber forming the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer is a pitch based carbon fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Shusaku Takagi, Akihide Nagao, Mitsuo Kimura, Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Toshio Takano
  • Patent number: 10788083
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a shaft supported by a cabin and having a center axis. A clutch pedal is supported by the shaft so as to be swingable about the center axis. A control cable includes an outer tube and an inner cable slidably inserted to the outer tube. The control cable is wound on a partition wall of the cabin and has flexibility. The at least one latch member is configured to latch the control cable onto the partition wall. The at least one retain member is configured to restrict the control cable from swelling within a winding region of the partition wall. The outer tube has a first longitudinal end connected to the cabin and a second longitudinal end connected to a clutch housing. The inner cable has a first longitudinal end connected to the clutch pedal and a second longitudinal end connected to the clutch lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Inaba, Tomoya Omura, Akihide Nagao
  • Patent number: 10697036
    Abstract: Steel material for composite pressure vessel liners that, when used as raw material for manufacturing a composite pressure vessel liner, yields a liner having sufficient strength and a high fatigue limit and enables the manufacture of an inexpensive composite pressure vessel is provided. Steel material for composite pressure vessel liners comprises: a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.10% to 0.60%, Si: 0.01% to 2.0%, Mn: 0.1% to 5.0%, P: 0.0005% to 0.060%, S: 0.0001% to 0.010%, N: 0.0001% to 0.010%, and Al: 0.01% to 0.06%, with a balance being Fe and incidental impurities; and a metallic microstructure in which a mean grain size of prior austenite grains is 20 ?m or less, and a total area ratio of martensite and lower bainite is 90% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusaku Takagi, Akihide Nagao, Mitsuo Kimura, Hiroshi Okano
  • Patent number: 10295453
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-phase hydrogen permeation test device capable of safely measuring hydrogen permeation behavior in a material under a high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere. The gas-phase hydrogen permeation test device includes a high-pressure hydrogen feeder, an analyzer, a primary-side pipe, a secondary-side pipe, a secondary-side pressure gauge, a primary-side shut-off valve, a primary-side discharge valve, a secondary-side discharge valve, a passive discharger, a secondary-side shut-off valve, and a controller configured to, when the pressure measured by the secondary-side pressure gauge reaches or exceeds a specific value, place the primary-side shut-off valve and the secondary-side shut-off valve into a closed state and the primary-side discharge valve and the secondary-side discharge valve into an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihide Nagao, Shusaku Takagi
  • Patent number: 10253385
    Abstract: Abrasion resistant steel plates with excellent low-temperature toughness and hydrogen embrittlement resistance having a Brinell hardness of 401 or more, and methods for manufacturing such steel plates. The steel plates have a lath martensitic structure with an average grain size of not more than 20 ?m, and the steel plates include fine precipitates that are 50 nm or less in diameter and that have a density of 50 or more particles per 100 ?m2. Additionally, the steel plates include, by mass %, C: 0.20 to 0.30%, Si: 0.05 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.5 to 1.5%, Cr: 0.05 to 1.20%, Nb: 0.01 to 0.08%, B: 0.0005 to 0.003%, Al: 0.01 to 0.08%, N: 0.0005 to 0.008%, P: not more than 0.05%, S: not more than 0.005%, and O: not more than 0.008%, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihide Nagao, Shinichi Miura, Nobuyuki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20180312935
    Abstract: By having a steel composition containing, by mass %, C: 0.02% to 0.50%, Si: 0.05% to 0.50%, Mn: 0.5% to 2.0%, P: 0.05% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.01% to 0.10%, N: 0.0005% to 0.008%, O: 0.01% or less, and V: 0.05% to 0.30% and Mo: 0.05% to 1.13% where a ratio of number of V atoms to number of Mo atoms is in a range of 0.6 to 2.0, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, and controlling the average particle size of fine complex carbides of V and Mo in a range of 1 nm to 20 nm, a steel structure for hydrogen gas such as a hydrogen storage vessel or a hydrogen line pipe that has excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance in high pressure hydrogen environment can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihide NAGAO, Shusaku TAKAGI
  • Patent number: 10106875
    Abstract: A steel material includes: a composition containing, by mass, C: 0.05% to 0.60%, Si: 0.01% to 2.0%, Mn: 0.3% to 3.0%, P: 0.001% to 0.040%, S: 0.0001% to 0.010%, N: 0.0001% to 0.0060%, Al: 0.01% to 1.5%, one or more elements selected from Ti: 0.01% to 0.20%, Nb: 0.01% to 0.20%, and V: 0.01% or more and less than 0.05%, and one or more elements selected from B: 0.0001% to 0.01%, Mo: 0.005% to 2.0%, and Cr: 0.005% to 3.0%, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities; and a steel microstructure that includes 95% or more of tempered martensite on a volume fraction basis, that includes a precipitate having a diameter of 100 nm or less and including one or more elements selected from Ti, Nb, and V and one or more elements selected from carbon and nitrogen at a density of 50 particles/?m2 or more, and that includes prior austenite having a grain diameter of 3 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Shusaku Takagi, Akihide Nagao
  • Patent number: 10093998
    Abstract: Abrasion resistant steel plates with excellent low-temperature toughness having a Brinell hardness of 361 or more, and methods for manufacturing such steel plates. The steel plates have a lath martensitic structure with an average grain size of not more than 20 ?m, and the steel plates include fine precipitates that are 50 nm or less in diameter and that have a density of 50 or more particles per 100 ?m2. Additionally, the steel plates include, by mass %, C: 0.10 to less than 0.20%, Si: 0.05 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.5 to 1.5%, Cr: 0.05 to 1.20%, Nb: 0.01 to 0.08%, B: 0.0005 to 0.003%, Al: 0.01 to 0.08%, N: 0.0005 to 0.008%, P: not more than 0.05%, S: not more than 0.005%, and O: not more than 0.008%, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihide Nagao, Shinichi Miura, Nobuyuki Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20180230567
    Abstract: Steel material for composite pressure vessel liners that, when used as raw material for manufacturing a composite pressure vessel liner, yields a liner having sufficient strength and a high fatigue limit and enables the manufacture of an inexpensive composite pressure vessel is provided. Steel material for composite pressure vessel liners comprises: a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.10% to 0.60%, Si: 0.01% to 2.0%, Mn: 0.1% to 5.0%, P: 0.0005% to 0.060%, S: 0.0001% to 0.010%, N: 0.0001% to 0.010%, and Al: 0.01% to 0.06%, with a balance being Fe and incidental impurities; and a metallic microstructure in which a mean grain size of prior austenite grains is 20 ?m or less, and a total area ratio of martensite and lower bainite is 90% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusaku TAKAGI, Akihide NAGAO, Mitsuo KIMURA, Hiroshi OKANO
  • Publication number: 20180231450
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-phase hydrogen permeation test device capable of safely measuring hydrogen permeation behavior in a material under a high-pressure hydrogen atmosphere. The gas-phase hydrogen permeation test device includes a high-pressure hydrogen feeder, an analyzer, a primary-side pipe, a secondary-side pipe, a secondary-side pressure gauge, a primary-side shut-off valve, a primary-side discharge valve, a secondary-side discharge valve, a passive discharger, a secondary-side shut-off valve, and a controller configured to, when the pressure measured by the secondary-side pressure gauge reaches or exceeds a specific value, place the primary-side shut-off valve and the secondary-side shut-off valve into a closed state and the primary-side discharge valve and the secondary-side discharge valve into an open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihide NAGAO, Shusaku TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20180044748
    Abstract: Steel material for composite pressure vessel liners that, when used as raw material for manufacturing a composite pressure vessel liner, yields a liner having sufficient strength and a high fatigue limit and enables the manufacture of an inexpensive composite pressure vessel is provided. Steel material for composite pressure vessel liners comprises: a chemical composition containing, in mass %, C: 0.10% to 0.60%, Si: 0.01% to 2.0%, Mn: 0.1% to 5.0%, P: 0.0005% to 0.060%, S: 0.0001% to 0.010%, N: 0.0001% to 0.010%, and Al: 0.01% to 0.06%, with a balance being Fe and incidental impurities; and a metallic microstructure in which a mean grain size of prior austenite grains is 20 ?m or less, and a total area ratio of martensite and lower bainite is 90% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusaku TAKAGI, Akihide NAGAO, Mitsuo KIMURA, Hiroshi OKANO
  • Publication number: 20160091140
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank includes a liner layer to store hydrogen and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer disposed outside the liner layer. The liner layer is formed from a low-alloy steel, and the carbon fiber forming the carbon fiber reinforced plastic layer is a pitch based carbon fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: JEF STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusaku Takagi, Akihide Nagao, Mitsuo Kimura, Nobuyuki Ishikawa, Toshio Takano
  • Publication number: 20160076118
    Abstract: Abrasion resistant steel plates with excellent low-temperature toughness having a Brinell hardness of 361 or more, and methods for manufacturing such steel plates. The steel plates have a lath martensitic structure with an average grain size of not more than 20 ?m, and the steel plates include fine precipitates that are 50 nm or less in diameter and that have a density of 50 or more particles per 100 ?m2. Additionally, the steel plates include, by mass %, C: 0.10 to less than 0.20%, Si: 0.05 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.5 to 1.5%, Cr: 0.05 to 1.20%, Nb: 0.01 to 0.08%, B: 0.0005 to 0.003%, Al: 0.01 to 0.08%, N: 0.0005 to 0.008%, P: not more than 0.05%, S: not more than 0.005%, and O: not more than 0.008%, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Akihide NAGAO, Shinichi MIURA, Nobuyuki ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20160060721
    Abstract: Abrasion resistant steel plates with excellent low-temperature toughness and hydrogen embrittlement resistance having a Brinell hardness of 401 or more, and methods for manufacturing such steel plates. The steel plates have a lath martensitic structure with an average grain size of not more than 20 ?m, and the steel plates include fine precipitates that are 50 nm or less in diameter and that have a density of 50 or more particles per 100 ?m2. Additionally, the steel plates include, by mass %, C: 0.20 to 0.30%, Si: 0.05 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.5 to 1.5%, Cr: 0.05 to 1.20%, Nb: 0.01 to 0.08%, B: 0.0005 to 0.003%, Al: 0.01 to 0.08%, N: 0.0005 to 0.008%, P: not more than 0.05%, S: not more than 0.005%, and O: not more than 0.008%, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Akihide NAGAO, Shinichi MIURA, Nobuyuki ISHIKAWA