Patents by Inventor Chieko IMAI
Chieko IMAI 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: 11865610Abstract: A method for joining an aluminum material includes, in the following order, arranging a first wrought aluminum alloy material along a first jig in an internal space defined between the first jig and a second jig that is arranged to face the first jig and has a pouring port, pouring molten aluminum toward the first wrought aluminum alloy material through the pouring port under pressure to cause the molten aluminum to collide with a surface of the first wrought aluminum alloy material, thereby digging down the first wrought aluminum alloy material at a collision position between the molten aluminum and the first wrought aluminum alloy material, and flowing the molten aluminum together with a fraction of the first wrought aluminum alloy material removed by digging within the internal space along a surface of the first wrought aluminum alloy material around the collision position.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Chieko Imai
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Patent number: 11774013Abstract: Formed in series along an axial-direction end portion of a large-diameter pipe member, in the following order from the pipe end, are: a large-diameter-pipe pipe-end expanding portion; a large-diameter-pipe reduced-diameter portion; a large-diameter-pipe bulging portion; and a tapered portion. Formed in series along an axial-direction end portion of a small-diameter-pipe member, in the following order from the pipe end, are: a small-diameter-pipe pipe-end expanding portion; a small-diameter-pipe enlarged-diameter portion; and a small-diameter-pipe bulging portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Chieko Imai
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Publication number: 20230266275Abstract: A testing method for a joined body, in which a second pipe member having an outer diameter smaller than that of a first pipe member having at least one through hole is inserted into the first pipe member and the second pipe member is expanded to form a joining portion, the testing method includes: applying an elastic wave vibration to the joined body of the first pipe member and the second pipe member, for plural visual field regions at different positions in a circumferential direction of the joined body, acquiring a vibration distribution of the second pipe member measured through the through hole and a vibration distribution of the first pipe member in a visual field region including the joining portion of the first pipe member and the second pipe member, which are measured optically and in a batch, and determining quality of joining in the entire joining portion based on the acquired vibration distributions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2021Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), SHIMADZU CORPORATIONInventors: Ryusuke HIOKI, Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Chieko IMAI, Takahide HATAHORI, Koki YOSHIDA
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Publication number: 20230032662Abstract: Provided are: a metal composite material in which a metal material and an aluminum casting are integrated with one another so as to exhibit high adhesion strength; and a method for producing the same. The metal composite material has a metal material and an aluminum casting which is layered on the metal material. Projecting alloy sections of the metal material which have a higher melting point than does the aluminum casting are formed on the surface of the metal material. The aluminum casting covers the surface of the metal material and is tightly adhered to the projecting alloy sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Chieko IMAI
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Patent number: 11532417Abstract: Provided are a coil unit for electromagnetic forming capable of stably processing a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction of a tubular member while preventing the contact between the tubular member and a conductor or the contact between the conductors even when the tubular member is long, and a method for producing a formed article using the coil unit. The coil unit for electromagnetic forming includes: a shaft core member made of a resin; a conductor having a wound portion, which is wound around the shaft core member, and a pair of conductor extension portions; an insulating support; and a resin coating layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wound portion. In the insulating support, a conductor holding portion for holding the conductor extension portions apart from each other is formed along the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Takayoshi Sugisaki, Chieko Imai
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Publication number: 20220355372Abstract: A method for joining an aluminum material includes, in the following order, arranging a first wrought aluminum alloy material along a first jig in an internal space defined between the first jig and a second jig that is arranged to face the first jig and has a pouring port, pouring molten aluminum toward the first wrought aluminum alloy material through the pouring port under pressure to cause the molten aluminum to collide with a surface of the first wrought aluminum alloy material, thereby digging down the first wrought aluminum alloy material at a collision position between the molten aluminum and the first wrought aluminum alloy material, and flowing the molten aluminum together with a fraction of the first wrought aluminum alloy material removed by digging within the internal space along a surface of the first wrought aluminum alloy material around the collision position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Chieko IMAI, Toshiaki KITAZAWA, Hisaomi MASUZAWA
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Patent number: 11123784Abstract: A coil unit is inserted into a tube member, an electromagnetic-forming coil part is arranged at a tube member forming position, a coil-side terminal is connected to a power-supply-side terminal of an end part of a high-voltage power supply cable, the electromagnetic-forming coil part is energized by a power supply part to electromagnetically form the tube member, the coil-side terminal and the power-supply-side terminal are separated, and the coil unit is removed from the tube member. Thus, the tube member can be separated from the high-voltage power supply cable during transport.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignees: KOBE STEEL, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Takayoshi Sugisaki, Chieko Imai
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Patent number: 11084084Abstract: An electromagnetic forming device for an aluminum tube member, the electromagnetic forming device including: a jig plate in which a support member that has a through hole has been fixed to a substrate; and a tube insertion mechanism that inserts a tube member into the through hole in the support member. The electromagnetic forming device also includes: a coil unit that has an electromagnetic-forming coil part; a coil movement mechanism that supports the coil unit; a current supply part that supplies current for electromagnetic forming to the electromagnetic-forming coil part; and a jig plate transport mechanism that transports the jig plate from a tube insertion stage ST1 to a tube expansion stage ST2.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Takayoshi Sugisaki, Chieko Imai
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Publication number: 20210148492Abstract: Formed in series along an axial-direction end portion of a large-diameter pipe member, in the following order from the pipe end, are: a large-diameter-pipe pipe-end expanding portion; a large-diameter-pipe reduced-diameter portion; a large-diameter-pipe bulging portion; and a tapered portion. Formed in series along an axial-direction end portion of a small-diameter-pipe member, in the following order from the pipe end, are: a small-diameter-pipe pipe-end expanding portion; a small-diameter-pipe enlarged-diameter portion; and a small-diameter-pipe bulging portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2018Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Chieko IMAI
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Publication number: 20210090771Abstract: Provided are a coil unit for electromagnetic forming capable of stably processing a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction of a tubular member while preventing the contact between the tubular member and a conductor or the contact between the conductors even when the tubular member is long, and a method for producing a formed article using the coil unit. The coil unit for electromagnetic forming includes: a shaft core member made of a resin; a conductor having a wound portion, which is wound around the shaft core member, and a pair of conductor extension portions; an insulating support; and a resin coating layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wound portion. In the insulating support, a conductor holding portion for holding the conductor extension portions apart from each other is formed along the longitudinal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe SteelInventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Takayoshi SUGISAKI, Chieko IMAI
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Publication number: 20200222965Abstract: A coil unit is inserted into a tube member, an electromagnetic-forming coil part is arranged at a tube member forming position, a coil-side terminal is connected to a power-supply-side terminal of an end part of a high-voltage power supply cable, the electromagnetic-forming coil part is energized by a power supply part to electromagnetically form the tube member, the coil-side terminal and the power-supply-side terminal are separated, and the coil unit is removed from the tube member. Thus, the tube member can be separated from the high-voltage power supply cable during transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Takayoshi SUGISAKI, Chieko IMAI
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Publication number: 20200139420Abstract: An electromagnetic forming device for an aluminum tube member, the electromagnetic forming device including: a jig plate in which a support member that has a through hole has been fixed to a substrate; and a tube insertion mechanism that inserts a tube member into the through hole in the support member. The electromagnetic forming device also includes: a coil unit that has an electromagnetic-forming coil part; a coil movement mechanism that supports the coil unit; a current supply part that supplies current for electromagnetic forming to the electromagnetic-forming coil part; and a jig plate transport mechanism that transports the jig plate from a tube insertion stage ST1 to a tube expansion stage ST2.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe-Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Takayoshi SUGISAKI, Chieko IMAI
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Patent number: 10583629Abstract: A joining structure includes a first member, a second member of a material different from that of the first member, and a separation mechanism provided between the first member and the second member and that separates the first member and the second member from each other, wherein a resin is filled into the space between the edge of at least one member among the first member and the second member, and the other member.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Chieko Imai
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Publication number: 20190077466Abstract: The aluminum structure member according to the present invention is provided with an aluminum wrought material comprising aluminum or aluminum alloy, and an aluminum alloy casting joined in a state in which the aluminum wrought material is inserted therein. The aluminum wrought material has a joining part in which a portion protrudes to the outside from the aluminum alloy casting.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: March 14, 2019Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Chieko IMAI
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Publication number: 20180001525Abstract: A joining structure includes a first member, a second member of a material different from that of the first member, and a separation mechanism provided between the first member and the second member and that separates the first member and the second member from each other, wherein a resin is filled into the space between the edge of at least one member among the first member and the second member, and the other member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)Inventors: Yoshihaya IMAMURA, Chieko IMAI