Patents by Inventor Hirokazu Murata

Hirokazu 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: 11111875
    Abstract: In a sliding structure for an internal combustion, a cylinder has recesses in a stroke center region. Piston rings have inclined surfaces on an outer circumferential surface, and a lubricating oil flows between the inner wall surface and the outer circumferential surface that relatively move via the inclined surfaces. At any RPM equal to or greater than at idle, a center friction coefficient at the stroke center region through which the piston rings pass at the highest speed is less than a center friction coefficient when no recesses are formed in the stroke center region. Contrarily, at the RPM, an outside friction coefficient when the piston rings pass through a region outside the stroke center region is less than an outside friction coefficient when the recesses are formed in the outside region. As a result, further improved low fuel efficiency is achieved for the dimple liner technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventors: Mitsuru Urabe, Hirokazu Murata, Kazuhiko Kanno, Jyuta Tase, Kazumi Moroi
  • Publication number: 20200325844
    Abstract: In a sliding structure for an internal combustion, a cylinder has recesses in a stroke center region. Piston rings have inclined surfaces on an outer circumferential surface, and a lubricating oil flows between the inner wall surface and the outer circumferential surface that relatively move via the inclined surfaces. At any RPM equal to or greater than at idle, a center friction coefficient at the stroke center region through which the piston rings pass at the highest speed is less than a center friction coefficient when no recesses are formed in the stroke center region. Contrarily, at the RPM, an outside friction coefficient when the piston rings pass through a region outside the stroke center region is less than an outside friction coefficient when the recesses are formed in the outside region. As a result, further improved low fuel efficiency is achieved for the dimple liner technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Mitsuru URABE, Hirokazu MURATA, Kazuhiko KANNO, Jyuta TASE, Kazumi MOROI
  • Patent number: 10693135
    Abstract: A production method for a composite of fine particles (A) and carbon particles (B), including the steps of: mixing fine particles (A) formed of a substance comprising at least one kind of Si, Sn, Al, Ge and In; and molten pitch, to obtain a mixture (1); pulverizing the mixture (1) to obtain a pulverized product (2a); dry-mixing the pulverized product (2a) and carbon particles (B) to obtain a mixture (3a); and firing the mixture (3a), followed by pulverization; or including the steps of: adding carbon particles (B) to the mixture (1), followed by dry mixing and pulverizing, to obtain a pulverized product (2b); and firing the pulverized product (2b), followed by pulverization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: SHOWA DENKO K.K., UMICORE
    Inventors: Arihiro Mutoh, Hirokazu Murata, Masataka Takeuchi, Jan Gilleir, Kris Driesen, Stijn Put
  • Patent number: 10164257
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery containing a composite material, the composite material including silicon-containing particles, graphitic carbon material particles, and a carbonaceous carbon material, in which the composite material has a ratio (A/B) of an area (A) of a peak near 100 eV derived from metal Si to an area (B) of a peak near 103 eV derived from silicon oxide, as measured by XPS, of not less than 0.10 and not more than 2.30. Also disclosed is a paste including the negative electrode material, as well as a negative electrode for a lithium ion battery including a formed body of the paste and a lithium ion battery including the negative electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: SHOWA DENKO K.K., UMICORE
    Inventors: Yasunari Otsuka, Hirokazu Murata
  • Patent number: 10109848
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery, made of a composite material comprising silicon-containing particles, artificial graphite particles and a carbon coating layer, wherein the silicon-containing particles are silicon particles having a SiOx layer (0<x?2) on a particle surface, have an oxygen content ratio of 1 mass % or more and 18 mass % or less, and mainly comprise particles having a primary particle diameter of 200 nm or less; and the artificial graphite particles have a scale-like shape. By using the negative electrode material, a lithium ion battery having a high capacitance and excellent charge-discharge cycle characteristics can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignees: SHOWA DENKO K.K., UMICORE
    Inventors: Hirokazu Murata, Masataka Takeuchi, Nobuaki Ishii, Sam Siau, Nicolas Marx, Stijn Put
  • Patent number: 9583760
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries is obtained by a method which includes: mixing carbon particles (B) such as graphite particles, particles (A), such as Si particles, containing an element capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, a carbon precursor such as sucrose, a carboxylic acid compound such as acetic acid, and a liquid medium such as water or isopropyl alcohol to prepare a slurry; drying and solidifying the slurry; and heat-treating the resulting solidified material to carbonize the carbon precursor. A lithium ion battery is obtained using this negative electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Arihiro Mutoh, Yoshiaki Ikenoue, Masashi Sakaguchi, Hirokazu Murata, Masataka Takeuchi, Nobuaki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20170040610
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery containing a composite material, the composite material including silicon-containing particles, graphitic carbon material particles, and a carbonaceous carbon material, in which the composite material has a ratio (A/B) of an area (A) of a peak near 100 eV derived from metal Si to an area (B) of a peak near 103 eV derived from silicon oxide, as measured by XPS, of not less than 0.10 and not more than 2.30. Also disclosed is a paste including the negative electrode material, as well as a negative electrode for a lithium ion battery including a formed body of the paste and a lithium ion battery including the negative electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicants: SHOWA DENKO K.K., UMICORE
    Inventors: Yasunari OTSUKA, Hirokazu MURATA
  • Publication number: 20160190552
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery, made of a composite material comprising silicon-containing particles, artificial graphite particles and a carbon coating layer, wherein the silicon-containing particles are silicon particles having a SiOx layer (0<x?2) on a particle surface, have an oxygen content ratio of 1 mass % or more and 18 mass % or less, and mainly comprise particles having a primary particle diameter of 200 nm or less; and the artificial graphite particles have a scale-like shape. By using the negative electrode material, a lithium ion battery having a high capacitance and excellent charge-discharge cycle characteristics can be produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicants: SHOWA DENKO K.K., UMICORE
    Inventors: Hirokazu MURATA, Masataka TAKEUCHI, Nobuaki ISHII, Sam SIAU, Nicolas MARX, Stijn PUT
  • Publication number: 20160181602
    Abstract: A production method for a composite of fine particles (A) and carbon particles (B), including the steps of: mixing fine particles (A) formed of a substance comprising at least one kind of Si, Sn, Al, Ge and In; and molten pitch, to obtain a mixture (1); pulverizing the mixture (1) to obtain a pulverized product (2a); dry-mixing the pulverized product (2a) and carbon particles (B) to obtain a mixture (3a); and firing the mixture (3a), followed by pulverization; or including the steps of: adding carbon particles (B) to the mixture (1), followed by dry mixing and pulverizing, to obtain a pulverized product (2b); and firing the pulverized product (2b), followed by pulverization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicants: SHOWA DENKO K.K., UMICORE
    Inventors: Arihiro MUTOH, Hirokazu MURATA, Masataka TAKEUCHI, Jan GILLEIR, Kris DRIESEN, Stijn PUT
  • Patent number: 9299978
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery, in which a fine particle (A) containing an element selected from Si, Sn, Ge and In and a carbon particle (B) obtained by heat-treating a petroleum-based coke and/or a coal-based coke at a temperature of 2,500° C. or more are connected through a chemical bond such as urethane bond, urea bond, siloxane bond and ester bond. Also disclosed are a negative electrode sheet obtained by coating a current collector with a paste containing the negative electrode material, a binder and a solvent, and then drying and pressure-forming the paste; and a lithium ion battery incorporating the negative electrode sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Murata, Nobuaki Ishii, Masataka Takeuchi, Mohit Jain, Nader M. Hagh, Farid Badway, Krista Martin
  • Publication number: 20150303460
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for use in a lithium-ion battery is obtained by a method comprising subjecting a carbon particle (B) comprising a graphite material or the like to surface treatment with an oxidizing agent and then removing a residue of the oxidizing agent, modifying the carbon particle (B) from which the residue of the oxidizing agent has been removed with a silane coupling agent, modifying a particle (A) comprising an element capable of occluding and releasing a lithium ion, such as a Si particle, with a silane coupling agent, linking the modified carbon particle (B) and the modified particle (A) via a chemical bond, and coating a composite particle comprising the particle (A) and the carbon particle (B) linked to the particle (A) via a chemical bond with carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hirokazu MURATA, Masataka TAKEUCHI, Nobuaki ISHII
  • Publication number: 20150295233
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries is obtained by a method which includes: mixing carbon particles (B) such as graphite particles, particles (A), such as Si particles, containing an element capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions, a carbon precursor such as sucrose, a carboxylic acid compound such as acetic acid, and a liquid medium such as water or isopropyl alcohol to prepare a slurry; drying and solidifying the slurry; and heat-treating the resulting solidified material to carbonize the carbon precursor. A lithium ion battery is obtained using this negative electrode material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicants: UMICORE, SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Arihiro Mutoh, Yoshiaki Ikenoue, Masashi Sakaguchi, Hirokazu Murata, Masataka Takeuchi, Nobuaki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20130295446
    Abstract: A negative electrode material for a lithium ion battery, in which a fine particle (A) containing an element selected from Si, Sn, Ge and In and a carbon particle (B) obtained by heat-treating a petroleum-based coke and/or a coal-based coke at a temperature of 2,500° C. or more are connected through a chemical bond such as urethane bond, urea bond, siloxane bond and ester bond. Also disclosed are a negative electrode sheet obtained by coating a current collector with a paste containing the negative electrode material, a binder and a solvent, and then drying and pressure-forming the paste; and a lithium ion battery incorporating the negative electrode sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hirokazu MURATA, Nobuaki ISHII, Masataka TAKEUCHI, Mohit JAIN, Nader M. HAGH, Farid BADWAY, Krista MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20130234400
    Abstract: A piston ring reduces reciprocating friction between a piston and an inner wall surface of a cylinder, while maintaining reduction effect of the reciprocating friction. The piston ring is mounted in a ring groove of the piston, and slides against the inner wall surface of a cylinder liner or a cylinder. The piston ring includes: plural fine recessed portions formed in a barrel width region on an outer peripheral sliding surface of the piston ring; and a non-recessed portion area where no recessed portions are formed in the barrel width region. The non-recessed portion area is configured to have an area percentage within a range from 20-85% in the barrel width region where an area percentage of the barrel width region before the recessed portions are formed is defined to be 100%. The non-recessed portion area exists through an entire cross section in an axial direction of the barrel width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON PISTON RING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Iijima, Hirokazu Murata, Michihiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8381696
    Abstract: A cylinder realizing reduced reciprocation friction between a piston ring and a bore surface of the cylinder in a region where the piston ring slides. The cylinder in which a piston slides on a bore surface of the cylinder. A plurality of recesses is formed in a stroke center region in the bore surface of the cylinder. The stroke center region is a region between an under face position of a ring groove for a bottom piston ring at a top dead center of the piston and a top face position of a ring groove for a top piston ring at a bottom dead center of the piston. The total of areas of all of the recesses is in the range of 1% to 80% when an area of the stroke center region is 100%, and the recesses are not formed in a region other than the stroke center region of the bore surface of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: Nippon Piston Ring., Ltd., Hino Jidosha Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Urabe, Hirokazu Murata
  • Publication number: 20100288222
    Abstract: A cylinder realizing reduced reciprocation friction between a piston ring and a bore surface of the cylinder in a region where the piston ring slides. The cylinder in which a piston slides on a bore surface of the cylinder. A plurality of recesses is formed in a stroke center region in the bore surface of the cylinder. The stroke center region is a region between an under face position of a ring groove for a bottom piston ring at a top dead center of the piston and a top face position of a ring groove for a top piston ring at a bottom dead center of the piston. The total of areas of all of the recesses is in the range of 1% to 80% when an area of the stroke center region is 100%, and the recesses are not formed in a region other than the stroke center region of the bore surface of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Mitsuru Urabe, Hirokazu Murata
  • Patent number: 6673316
    Abstract: A synthesis experiment automation system is provided with a robot, which transports synthesis reaction containers from a reaction container rack to a dispensing/separation position of a dispensing and separation device, and transports the synthesis reaction containers to a predetermined position in a temperature regulator unit of a reaction device, where a reaction is carried out under previously set experiment conditions; and with a computer, which controls the actions of the robot and the operations of the dispensing and separation device and the reaction device in accordance with a plurality of previously set experiment conditions. Accordingly, the synthesis experiment automation system is capable of simultaneously performing a plurality of different experiments as complex as those usually performed by researchers, and, moreover, has a large number of possible experiment operations, and can easily be improved and/or extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideho Okamoto, Kouji Deuchi, Hirokazu Murata, Norihiko Hirata, Toshio Koike, Kenji Tani, Yasuharu Kawata, Hideto Tojima
  • Patent number: 5969131
    Abstract: A 3-[(E)-1-propenyl]cephem compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents hydrogen, a protective group for an amino group, or the group shown by formula (II): ##STR2## in which R.sup.3 is a protective group for an amino group, R.sup.4 is a protective group for a hydroxyl group, and W is --CH.dbd. or --N.dbd.; R.sup.2 represents a protective group for a carboxyl group; and X represents hydrogen or chlorine. The compound is useful as an intermediate for producing cephem antibiotics and is prepared by isomerizing the corresponding 3-[(Z)-1-propenyl]cephem compound in an inert organic solvent in the presence of an aromatic thiol. The compound of formula (I) wherein X is chlorine can be converted into a 3-[(E)-3-ammonio-1-propenyl]cephem derivative through the reaction with a tertiary amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mari Yuasa, Kazuyuki Yamagata, Hirokazu Murata, Masashi Komatsu, Isao Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5708165
    Abstract: A 3-?(E)-1-propenyl!cephem compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents hydrogen, a protective group for an amino group, or the group shown by formula (II): ##STR2## in which R.sup.3 is a protective group for an amino group, R.sup.4 is a protective group for a hydroxyl group, and W is --CH.dbd. or --N.dbd.; R.sup.2 represents a protective group for a carboxyl group; and X represents hydrogen or chlorine. The compound is useful as an intermediate for producing cephem antibiotics and is prepared by isomerizing the corresponding 3-?(Z)-1-propenyl!cephem compound in an inert organic solvent in the presence of an aromatic thiol. The compound of formula (I) wherein X is chlorine can be converted into a 3-?(E)-3-ammonio-1-propenyl!cephem derivative through the reaction with a tertiary amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mari Yuasa, Kazuyuki Yamagata, Hirokazu Murata, Masashi Komatsu, Isao Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5679859
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for producing crystals of 3-amino-2-hydroxyacetophenone salt having a high bulk density and improved flow properties, by treating 3-amino-2-hydroxyacetophenone of formula (1) ##STR1## or hydrogen halide salt thereof with sulfuric acid, in a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Murata, Hideki Ushio, Atsushi Furutani, Hiroaki Hibino, Etsuko Fukuda