Patents by Inventor Gang Hou

Gang Hou 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: 11132651
    Abstract: A conveyor belt management system is capable of determining in detail the state of a conveyor belt. A state of the conveyor belt is monitored by a calculation unit based on data of an indicator indicating a status of a belt conveyor device and data of an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt installed on a belt conveyor device; at least one data from an amount of wear of an upper cover rubber, an impact force acting on the conveyor belt, a tensile force, an indicator indicating a state of a core, and an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion input to the server by the input unit; and a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items is input in advance per belt specification stored in a storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Publication number: 20210293680
    Abstract: Provided is a rubber wear testing device including a holding portion for holding a test sample of rubber, and a compression bonding mechanism for applying an additional force oriented to a circular circumferential surface of a rotation body rotating such that the test sample is pressed to the circular circumferential surface at a predetermined fixed position and the movement of the test sample in a direction opposite to the additional force is always allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Susumu Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 11125666
    Abstract: A hose to be evaluated is installed on a fixing frame in a preset shape, and a strain gauge and markers are attached to a surface of the hose. During a course of application of predetermined internal pressure to the hose, strain data is acquired using the strain gauge and an image of an external shape of the hose is captured using a camera device to acquire image data. Based on the strain data and the image data acquired, a change in the shape of the hose between a plurality of time points at identical internal pressure is determined. Such hose fatigue resistance evaluation method can determine changes in the degree of deformation of a hose over time due to repeated application of internal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 11053648
    Abstract: A pneumatic fender monitoring system is provided. Image data captured by using at least one of a front view imaging device that successively images an external shape in a front view of a pneumatic fender used disposed between a vessel and a vessel or a side view imaging device that successively images the external shape in a side view of the pneumatic fender is successively input into a control unit and successively displayed on a monitor, and the control unit determines, on the basis of the image data, whether an amount of deformation of the external shape of the pneumatic fender is within a preset tolerance range or outside of a preset tolerance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Masahiko Miyamoto, Taro Takahashi, Masaharu Manishi, Koko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 10989641
    Abstract: Provided is a rubber wear resistance evaluation method including compressing and bonding a test sample of rubber with additional force to a circular circumferential surface of a rotation body rotated by a drive motor at a predetermined fixed position, holding the test sample in a state where movement of the test sample in a direction opposite to the addition force is always allowed, performing a wear test in which the test sample is worn, and using, at the time of evaluating wear resistance, an index based on at least one item out of two items including power required for driving and rotating the drive motor and a temperature of the test sample during the wear test, in addition to an amount of wear of the test sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Susumu Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 10968587
    Abstract: In a pneumatic fender, reinforcing layers of a body portion and reinforcing layers of a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of a fender near a boundary between each hemispherical portion and the body portion are formed by aligning cords of reinforcing layers of the body portion and that of the predetermined range in parallel, and in a neutral state without expansion, the cords of the reinforcing layers of the body portion meet each other and the cords of the reinforcing layers of the predetermined range meet each other, and cord angles A and B are each set to from 15° to 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fender. When the interior of the fender is set to a specified internal pressure, the cord angles A and B increase to extent of a static angle, and the body portion and the predetermined range expand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouko Tsuchiya, Minami Shibuya, Keiichi Hasegawa, Gang Hou, Satoshi Shibayama, Akihiro Iemoto, Shunichi Ono, Michito Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20210095634
    Abstract: A wave receiving plate is pivotably supported by a support device in the wave force generation system and includes a flexible plate in at least a part of the wave receiving plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Gang HOU, Shigehiko AMANO, Masato TADOKORO, Koji MOTOYAMA, Koki MARUYAMA, Chang-Kyu RHEEM, Hidetaka KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 10928284
    Abstract: An impact test method and an impact test device is provided, wherein an impact application member is caused to fall freely onto a test sample placed on a placement platform. When the impact application member collides with the test sample, an impact force applied to the test sample and an indentation amount of the impact application member with respect to the test sample are measured by a load meter and a displacement meter, respectively. Based on the measured impact force and the measured indentation amount, a calculation unit calculates energy loss absorbed by the test sample when the impact application member and the test sample collide with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Publication number: 20200399847
    Abstract: In a pneumatic fender, reinforcing layers of a body portion and reinforcing layers of a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of a fender near a boundary between each hemispherical portion and the body portion are formed by aligning cords of reinforcing layers of the body portion and that of the predetermined range in parallel, and in a neutral state without expansion, the cords of the reinforcing layers of the body portion meet each other and the cords of the reinforcing layers of the predetermined range meet each other, and cord angles A and B are each set to from 15° to 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fender. When the interior of the fender is set to a specified internal pressure, the cord angles A and B increase to extent of a static angle, and the body portion and the predetermined range expand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kouko TSUCHIYA, Minami SHIBUYA, Keiichi HASEGAWA, Gang HOU, Satoshi SHIBAYAMA, Akihiro IEMOTO, Shunichi ONO, Michito KANEKO
  • Patent number: 10865051
    Abstract: In addition to the amount of wear of a rubber comprising at least an upper cover rubber of a conveyor belt installed at a use site, data of at least one input item from six input items consisting of an impact force acting on the conveyor belt, a tensile force, an indicator indicating a state of a core, an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion, an indicator indicating a state of a belt conveyor device, and an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt is input into a server via an input unit, and a calculation unit calculates a remaining service life of the conveyor belt based on the data input and, stored in a storage unit, a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items is input in advance per belt specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 10865052
    Abstract: Surface image data relating to an upper cover rubber is continuously and successively captured by a surface camera device and input to a computation device. Each piece of surface image data is stored in a database in association with data on the circumferential position of that surface image data on a conveyor belt and data on the time at which that surface image data was captured. An input unit is used to display any piece of surface image data on a monitor, register surface image data in which a predetermined defect is present on the surface of the upper cover rubber in the database as data to be monitored, and automatically register in the database surface image data having the same circumferential position data as the data to be monitored as related data to be monitored. Such monitoring system determines the state of damage of a cover rubber surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gang Hou, Masahiko Miyamoto, Taro Takahashi, Kazuya Kanno
  • Publication number: 20200333227
    Abstract: An abrasion tester and testing method. The testing method comprises setting a running speed of a rubber sample fixed to an outer surface of an annular belt member stretched between a pair of pulleys to a desired speed; setting a pressing load applied by a contact member to a desired pressing load via an anchor member; selecting, as the contact member, a desired contact member from a plurality of types of contact members with different rubber sample surface contacting tip specifications; pressing the contact member against the surface of the rubber sample running by the rotation of the pulleys; and obtaining an amount of scratch abrasion of the rubber sample using a calculation unit on the basis of a cross-sectional shape of the surface of the rubber sample detected by a shape sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 10793371
    Abstract: A conveyor belt management system is capable of determining in detail the state of a conveyor belt, more reliably preventing the conveyor belt becoming unusable, determining a suitable replacement period, and lowing the running costs of the conveyor belt. A state of the conveyor belt is monitored by a calculation unit and an expected service life before use is calculated based on data of an indicator indicating a status of a belt conveyor device and an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt; at least one data from an amount of wear, an impact force, a tensile force, a state of a core, and an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion; and a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items in input in advance per belt specification stored in a storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 10783461
    Abstract: A conveyor belt management system is capable of determining a suitable replacement period of the conveyor belt. Data of an amount of wear of an upper cover rubber of the conveyor belt installed at a use site is input into a server via an input unit. A calculation unit is configured to calculate a remaining service life of the conveyor belt based on the input data and, stored in a storage unit, a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range is input in advance for the amount of wear per belt specification; and calculate an expected service life of the conveyor belt before use of the conveyor belt based on a correlation between a use condition and belt specifications of the conveyor belt used up until present, the use condition of the conveyor belt, and the specifications of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 10745207
    Abstract: Provided are a conveyor belt further enhancing the durability of loop coils embedded in the conveyor belt so as to detect vertical tears in the conveyor belt; and a belt conveyor system using the conveyor belt. A conveyor belt includes a core layer having a plurality of metal cords extending in the belt longitudinal direction arranged in parallel in the belt width direction; an upper cover rubber and a lower cover rubber disposed so as to interpose a core layer from above and below; a plurality of loop coils embedded at intervals in the belt longitudinal direction in the lower cover rubber; and protective layers being disposed between the core layer above and each of the loop coils below and embedded in the lower cover rubber at intervals in the belt longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Patent number: 10732084
    Abstract: An abrasion tester and testing method. The testing method comprises setting a running speed of a rubber sample fixed to an outer surface of an annular belt member stretched between a pair of pulleys to a desired speed; setting a pressing load applied by a contact member to a desired pressing load via an anchor member; selecting, as the contact member, a desired contact member from a plurality of types of contact members with different rubber sample surface contacting tip specifications; pressing the contact member against the surface of the rubber sample running by the rotation of the pulleys; and obtaining an amount of scratch abrasion of the rubber sample using a calculation unit on the basis of a cross-sectional shape of the surface of the rubber sample detected by a shape sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Gang Hou
  • Publication number: 20200189854
    Abstract: Surface image data relating to an upper cover rubber is continuously and successively captured by a surface camera device and input to a computation device. Each piece of surface image data is stored in a database in association with data on the circumferential position of that surface image data on a conveyor belt and data on the time at which that surface image data was captured. An input unit is used to display any piece of surface image data on a monitor, register surface image data in which a predetermined defect is present on the surface of the upper cover rubber in the database as data to be monitored, and automatically register in the database surface image data having the same circumferential position data as the data to be monitored as related data to be monitored. Such monitoring system determines the state of damage of a cover rubber surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Gang HOU, Masahiko MIYAMOTO, Taro TAKAHASHI, Kazuya KANNO
  • Publication number: 20200160282
    Abstract: A conveyor belt management system is capable of determining in detail the state of a conveyor belt, preventing the conveyor belt becoming unusable, determining a suitable replacement period, and lowering the running costs thereof. A state of the conveyor belt is monitored by a calculation unit and an expected service life before use is calculated based on data of an indicator indicating a state of a belt conveyor device and an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt; data from an amount of wear of a cover rubber, an impact force, a tensile force, a state of a core, and an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion; and a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items is input in advance per belt specification; an updated correlation database being used when calculating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Gang HOU
  • Publication number: 20200156879
    Abstract: A conveyor belt management system is capable of determining in detail the state of a conveyor belt, more reliably preventing the conveyor belt becoming unusable, determining a suitable replacement period, and lowing the running costs of the conveyor belt. A state of the conveyor belt is monitored by a calculation unit and an expected service life before use is calculated based on data of an indicator indicating a status of a belt conveyor device and an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt; at least one data from an amount of wear, an impact force, a tensile force, a state of a core, and an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion; and a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items in input in advance per belt specification stored in a storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Gang HOU
  • Publication number: 20200156878
    Abstract: In addition to the amount of wear of a rubber comprising at least an upper cover rubber of a conveyor belt installed at a use site, data of at least one input item from six input items consisting of an impact force acting on the conveyor belt, a tensile force, an indicator indicating a state of a core, an indicator indicating a state of an endless portion, an indicator indicating a state of a belt conveyor device, and an indicator indicating a use environment of the conveyor belt is input into a server via an input unit, and a calculation unit calculates a remaining service life of the conveyor belt based on the data input and, stored in a storage unit, a belt specification database and a tolerance range database in which a tolerance range for each of the input items is input in advance per belt specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: Gang HOU