Patents by Inventor Chikashi Ihara
Chikashi Ihara 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).
-
Publication number: 20220316955Abstract: A method for estimating a heat generation distribution in a honeycomb structure includes: a first step of allowing a predetermined minute current to flow between electrode layers A1 and B1 to energize a honeycomb structure, and measuring surface potentials at multiple points; a second step of allowing a predetermined minute current to flow between electrode layers A2 and B2 to energize the honeycomb structure, and measuring surface potentials at multiple points; a third step of quantifying, based on the measured surface potentials at the multiple points, at least one of resistances at the multiple points in the honeycomb structure, resistance ratios for energization paths, voltage sharing ratios, and surface potentials of the electrode layers A1, A2, B1 and B2; and a step of estimating a heat generation distribution in the honeycomb structure based on the values quantified in the third step.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Takashi NORO, Shungo Watanabe, Chikashi Ihara
-
Patent number: 11034624Abstract: A manufacturing method of a silicon carbide-based honeycomb structure, including a firing step of introducing extruded honeycomb formed bodies containing a silicon carbide-based component, together with firing members into a firing furnace, and firing the honeycomb formed bodies, to manufacture the silicon carbide-based honeycomb structure, wherein the firing members are formed by using a ceramic material containing 70 wt % or more of alumina, and the firing step further includes: an inert gas supplying step of supplying an inert gas to a furnace space of the firing furnace, and a gas adding step of adding a reducing gas to the furnace space.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Chikashi Ihara, Shinya Yoshida, Masato Shimada, Yoshiyuki Kamei
-
Patent number: 10974912Abstract: A method for transferring a plurality of columnar honeycomb structures according to the present invention includes: subjecting first side surfaces of the plurality of columnar honeycomb structures to vacuum suction; and correctively transferring the plurality of the columnar honeycomb structures, optionally while supporting second side surfaces opposing to the first side surfaces of the plurality of columnar honeycomb structures by a supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Chikashi Ihara, Masato Shimada, Shinya Yoshida
-
Publication number: 20200309454Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic product containing silicon carbide, including a step of firing a formed body of a green body containing silicon carbide by transporting the formed body from an inlet to an outlet of a continuous furnace, wherein the continuous furnace includes the inlet, a heating zone, a cooling zone, and the outlet in this order, and a furnace atmosphere in both the heating zone and the cooling zone is an inert gas having an oxygen concentration of 100 ppm by volume or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: NGK Insulators, LTD.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kamei, Chikashi Ihara, Masato Shimada, Kazuhi Matsumoto
-
Patent number: 10774009Abstract: An inert gas substituting method includes: a closing step of accommodating a honeycomb formed body in an indoor space of a gas substituting chamber and closing the same with airtightness from the outside being maintained; a pressure reducing step of reducing the pressure in the indoor space to a preset first vacuum pressure; a pressure increasing step of introducing argon gas into the pressure-reduced indoor space and increasing the pressure to a second vacuum pressure which is higher than the first vacuum pressure and lower than atmospheric pressure; a pressure re-reducing step of reducing the pressure to the first vacuum pressure again; and a pressure recovering step of repeating the pressure increasing step and the pressure re-reducing step at least twice, introducing argon gas into the indoor space in which the pressure has been reduced to the first vacuum pressure again, and recovering the pressure to atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: NGK Insulatros, Ltd.Inventors: Chikashi Ihara, Takashi Goshima, Yoshiyuki Kamei
-
Publication number: 20190218150Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic fired body may includes a step of passing a first accommodating shelf through a firing kiln, the first accommodating shelf including a stack of units of a shelf plate and a frame placed on the shelf plate, one or more ceramic bodies placed on the shelf plate being surrounded by the frame extending in a circumferential direction between the shelf plates; a step of retrieving one or more frames from the first accommodating shelf which has passed through the firing kiln; a step of using the one or more retrieved frames to build a second accommodating shelf for passing through the firing kiln; and a step of rotating the retrieved frame such that a rotational position of the retrieved frame when the second accommodating shelf passes through the firing kiln is different from a rotational position of the retrieved frame when the first accommodating shelf passed through the firing kiln.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2018Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Chikashi IHARA, Shinya YOSHIDA, Yoshiyuki KAMEI, Masato SHIMADA
-
Publication number: 20190177096Abstract: A method for transferring a plurality of columnar honeycomb structures according to the present invention includes: subjecting first side surfaces of the plurality of columnar honeycomb structures to vacuum suction; and correctively transferring the plurality of the columnar honeycomb structures, optionally while supporting second side surfaces opposing to the first side surfaces of the plurality of columnar honeycomb structures by a supporting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Chikashi IHARA, Masato Shimada, Shinya Yoshida
-
Patent number: 10101254Abstract: A detecting apparatus includes: a lifting mechanism section that is provided with a lifting portion for lifting honeycomb structures and a shelf plate; an actual load value measuring section that measures an actual load value; a total load value calculating section that adds up the plurality of measured actual load value; a total load value determining section that compares a standard total weight value of the honeycomb structures and the shelf plate to the total load value and determines whether to satisfy a total load value determining condition; an actual load value determining section that compares the actual load value to the specified load value and determines whether to satisfy an actual load value determining condition; and a shelf-plate crack determining section that determines that the shelf plate is cracked when the total load value determining condition or the actual load value determining condition is not satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Chikashi Ihara, Takeshi Tokunaga, Kazuyuki Yamasawa
-
Publication number: 20180265419Abstract: A manufacturing method of a silicon carbide-based honeycomb structure, including a firing step of introducing extruded honeycomb formed bodies containing a silicon carbide-based component, together with firing members into a firing furnace, and firing the honeycomb formed bodies, to manufacture the silicon carbide-based honeycomb structure, wherein the firing members are formed by using a ceramic material containing 70 wt % or more of alumina, and the firing step further includes: an inert gas supplying step of supplying an inert gas to a furnace space of the firing furnace, and a gas adding step of adding a reducing gas to the furnace space.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Chikashi IHARA, Shinya YOSHIDA, Masato SHIMADA, Yoshiyuki KAMEI
-
Publication number: 20180244584Abstract: An inert gas substituting method includes: a closing step of accommodating a honeycomb formed body in an indoor space of a gas substituting chamber and closing the same with airtightness from the outside being maintained; a pressure reducing step of reducing the pressure in the indoor space to a preset first vacuum pressure; a pressure increasing step of introducing argon gas into the pressure-reduced indoor space and increasing the pressure to a second vacuum pressure which is higher than the first vacuum pressure and lower than atmospheric pressure; a pressure re-reducing step of reducing the pressure to the first vacuum pressure again; and a pressure recovering step of repeating the pressure increasing step and the pressure re-reducing step at least twice, introducing argon gas into the indoor space in which the pressure has been reduced to the first vacuum pressure again, and recovering the pressure to atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Chikashi IHARA, Takashi GOSHIMA, Yoshiyuki KAMEI
-
Patent number: 9776922Abstract: The invention provides a shuttle kiln that can fire ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders in a shorter period of time than in conventional methods without occurring breaks due to a temperature difference between the inside and the outside. The shuttle kiln of the invention is suited for firing of ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders. It includes a gas suction path 4 that suctions in-furnace gas and discharges it via an afterburner 5 and a circulation path 7 that suctions the in-furnace gas to the furnace outside to burn organic binder gas and then returns it into the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Jotaro Miyata, Chikashi Ihara, Takashi Yasue
-
Patent number: 9650304Abstract: The invention provides a tunnel kiln for firing ceramic porous bodies which can fire ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders in a shorter period of time than in conventional methods without producing breaks or requiring nitrogen gas. The tunnel kiln includes a preheating zone 1, a firing zone 2, and a cooling zone 3 and fires the ceramic porous bodies loaded on a carriage 7 by driving it in a furnace. A heat storage regenerative burner 10 is used as means of heating the firing zone 2 so that low-oxygen-concentration exhaust gas discharged from the heat storage regenerative burner 10 may be returned to an exhaust gas return line 14 and supplied into the preheating zone 1. The exhaust gas return line 14 may be provided with a combustion device 17 that reduces the oxygen concentration by consuming oxygen contained in the exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Jotaro Miyata, Chikashi Ihara, Takashi Yasue
-
Publication number: 20160282248Abstract: A detecting apparatus includes: a lifting mechanism section that is provided with a lifting portion for lifting honeycomb structures and a shelf plate; an actual load value measuring section that measures an actual load value; a total load value calculating section that adds up the plurality of measured actual load value; a total load value determining section that compares a standard total weight value of the honeycomb structures and the shelf plate to the total load value and determines whether to satisfy a total load value determining condition; an actual load value determining section that compares the actual load value to the specified load value and determines whether to satisfy an actual load value determining condition; and a shelf-plate crack determining section that determines that the shelf plate is cracked when the total load value determining condition or the actual load value determining condition is not satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Chikashi IHARA, Takeshi TOKUNAGA, Kazuyuki YAMASAWA
-
Publication number: 20140011151Abstract: The invention provides a shuttle kiln that can fire ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders in a shorter period of time than in conventional methods without occurring breaks due to a temperature difference between the inside and the outside. The shuttle kiln of the invention is suited for firing of ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders. It includes a gas suction path 4 that suctions in-furnace gas and discharges it via an afterburner 5 and a circulation path 7 that suctions the in-furnace gas to the furnace outside to burn organic binder gas and then returns it into the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Jotaro MIYATA, Chikashi IHARA, Takashi YASUE
-
Publication number: 20140011150Abstract: The invention provides a tunnel kiln for firing ceramic porous bodies which can fire ceramic porous bodies containing organic binders in a shorter period of time than in conventional methods without producing breaks or requiring nitrogen gas. The tunnel kiln includes a preheating zone 1, a firing zone 2, and a cooling zone 3 and fires the ceramic porous bodies loaded on a carriage 7 by driving it in a furnace. A heat storage regenerative burner 10 is used as means of heating the firing zone 2 so that low-oxygen-concentration exhaust gas discharged from the heat storage regenerative burner 10 may be returned to an exhaust gas return line 14 and supplied into the preheating zone 1. The exhaust gas return line 14 may be provided with a combustion device 17 that reduces the oxygen concentration by consuming oxygen contained in the exhaust gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Jotaro MIYATA, Chikashi IHARA, Takashi YASUE
-
Patent number: 8411723Abstract: There is provided an electric heater support plate which is not likely to be softened or deformed during firing at a high temperature, even if a material to be fired contains an alkaline component or an Si component as a volatile component. A passage 2 for the material to be fired surrounded by a ceiling refractory 11, wall refractories 12 and a floor refractory 13 is provided with an electric heater 3 heating from above and an electric heater 5 heating from below. This electric heater 3 has at least its heating part 31 mounted and supported on a fire-resistant support plate 4, and this support plate 4 in this invention has a two-layer structure in which an insulating ceramic support plate 41 is laminated on an SiC-based ceramic plate 42.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Jotaro Miyata, Takashi Goshima, Chikashi Ihara
-
Patent number: 8025728Abstract: A seed crystal is immersed in a melt containing a flux and a single crystal material in a growth vessel to produce a nitride single crystal on the seed crystal. A difference (TS-TB) of temperatures at a gas-liquid interface of the melt (TS) and at the lowermost part of the melt (TB) is set to 1° C. or larger and 8° C. or lower. Preferably, the substrate of seed crystal is vertically placed.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Osaka UniversityInventors: Mikiya Ichimura, Katsuhiro Imai, Chikashi Ihara, Takatomo Sasaki, Yusuke Mori, Fumio Kawamura
-
Patent number: 7997897Abstract: A to-be-burned object including a metal Si component or SiC or Si3N4 can be burned in such a manner that vaporized SiO can be safely exhausted without causing SiO attached to a wall of a furnace or an inner face of an exhaust duct. An exhaust method of a continuous furnace for continuously burning a to-be-burned object containing a metal Si component or highly-fire-resistant SiC or Si3N4 includes steps of 1) exhausting in-furnace gas including SiO vaporized during a burning process. An exhaust duct 2 used for this exhaust is provided at an upper part of a side wall 12 of the furnace having a higher temperature (1300 degrees C. or more) than a concentration temperature of SiO vaporized during a burning process. 2) oxidizing the exhausted SiO at the outside of the furnace to detoxify SiO. The in-furnace gas exhausted by the exhaust duct 2 is guided to an exhaust pipe 3 connected to an outlet of the exhaust duct 2 at the outside of the furnace. This exhaust pipe 3 includes oxygen supply holes 31a and 31b.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Jotaro Miyata, Takashi Goshima, Chikashi Ihara
-
Publication number: 20090095212Abstract: A seed crystal 9 is immersed in a melt 10 containing a flux and a single crystal material in a growth vessel 7 to produce a nitride single crystal 8 on the seed crystal 9. A difference (TS?TB) of temperatures at a gas-liquid interface of the melt (TS) and at the lowermost part of the melt (TB) is set to 1° C. or larger and 8° C. or lower. Preferably, the substrate of seed crystal is vertically placed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicants: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Osaka UniversityInventors: Mikiya Ichimura, Katsuhiro Imai, Chikashi Ihara, Takatomo Sasaki, Yusuke Mori, Fumio Kawamura
-
Publication number: 20080280244Abstract: A to-be-burned object including a metal Si component or SiC or Si3N4 can be burned in such a manner that vaporized SiO can be safely exhausted without causing SiO attached to a wall of a furnace or an inner face of an exhaust duct. An exhaust method of a continuous furnace for continuously burning a to-be-burned object containing a metal Si component or highly-fire-resistant SiC or Si3N4 includes steps of 1) exhausting in-furnace gas including SiO vaporized during a burning process. An exhaust duct 2 used for this exhaust is provided at an upper part of a side wall 12 of the furnace having a higher temperature (1300 degrees C. or more) than a concentration temperature of SiO vaporized during a burning process. 2) oxidizing the exhausted SiO at the outside of the furnace to detoxify SiO. The in-furnace gas exhausted by the exhaust duct 2 is guided to an exhaust pipe 3 connected to an outlet of the exhaust duct 2 at the outside of the furnace. This exhaust pipe 3 includes oxygen supply holes 31a and 31b.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2008Publication date: November 13, 2008Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.Inventors: Jotaro MIYATA, Takashi GOSHIMA, Chikashi IHARA