Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Hatano

Hitoshi Hatano 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: 10526675
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing steel, by quenching and tempering a seamless pipe for use as a material of a hollow spring, where the seamless pipe including predetermined components is subjected to a heat treatment which is performed to satisfy quenching conditions (1) and tempering conditions (2), (1) quenching conditions: 26,000?(T1+273)×(log(t1)+20)?29,000 900° C.?T1?1,050° C., 10 seconds?t1?1,800 seconds,??formula (1) where T1 is a quenching temperature (° C.), and t1 is a holding time (seconds) in a temperature range of 900° C. or higher, and (2) tempering conditions: 13,000?(T2+273)×(log(t2)+20)?15,500 T2?550° C., and t2?3,600 seconds,??formula (2) where T2 is a tempering temperature (° C.), and t2 is a total time (seconds) from start of heating to completion of cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kochi, Hitoshi Hatano, Akira Tange, Kiyoshi Kurimoto, Yurika Goto
  • Publication number: 20180265952
    Abstract: Provided is a hollow seamless steel pipe for a spring, including by mass %, C: 0.2 to 0.7%; Si: 0.5 to 3%; Mn: 0.1 to 2%; Cr: more than 0% and 3% or less; Al: more than 0% and 0.1% or less; P: more than 0% and 0.02% or less; S: more than 0% and 0.02% or less; and N: more than 0% and 0.02%: or less, with the balance being iron and inevitable impurities, wherein, an uneven thickness ratio calculated by formula (1) below is 7.0% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), Shinko Metal Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya KOCHI, Hitoshi HATANO, Kotaro TOYOTAKE
  • Publication number: 20170306432
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing steel, by quenching and tempering a seamless pipe for use as a material of a hollow spring, where the seamless pipe including predetermined components is subjected to a heat treatment which is performed to satisfy quenching conditions (1) and tempering conditions (2), (1) quenching conditions: 26,000?(T1+273)×(log(t1)+20)?29,000??formula (1) 900° C.?T1?1,050° C., 10 seconds?t1?1,800 seconds, where T1 is a quenching temperature (° C.), and t1 is a holding time (seconds) in a temperature range of 900° C. or higher, and (2) tempering conditions: 13,000?(T2+273)×(log(t2)+20)?15,500??formula (2) T2?550° C., and t2?3,600 seconds, where T2 is a tempering temperature (° C.), and t2 is a total time (seconds) from start of heating to completion of cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya KOCHI, Hitoshi HATANO, Akira TANGE, Kiyoshi KURIMOTO, Yurika GOTO
  • Patent number: 9689051
    Abstract: A hollow seamless pipe for a high-strength spring with reduced occurrence of decarburization in the inner and outer peripheral surfaces, hardened surface layers in the inner and outer peripheral surfaces during quenching, and sufficient fatigue strength is provided. The hollow seamless pipe contains a steel material, which includes 0.2 to 0.7 mass % of C, 0.5 to 3 mass % of Si, 0.1 to 2 mass % of Mn, more than 0 and 0.1 mass % or less of Al, more than 0 and 0.02 mass % or less of P, more than 0 and 0.02 mass % or less of S, and more than 0 and 0.02 mass % or less of N. The C content in the inner and outer peripheral surfaces is 0.10 mass % or more. A thickness of a whole decarburized layer in each of the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface is 200 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., SHINKO METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD., NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hatano, Kotaro Toyotake
  • Patent number: 9650704
    Abstract: A seamless steel pipe for a hollow spring includes C: 0.2 to 0.7 mass %, Si: 0.5 to 3 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 2 mass %, Cr: 3 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %), Al: 0.1 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %), P: 0.02 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %), S: 0.02 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %) and N: 0.02 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %). A residual austenite content in an inner surface layer part of the steel pipe is 5 vol. % or less. An average grain size of a ferrite-pearlite structure in the inner surface layer part of the steel pipe is 18 ?m or less. A number density of a carbide having a circle equivalent diameter of 500 nm or more and being present in the inner surface layer part of the steel pipe is 1.8×10?2 particles/?m2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.), SHINKO METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kochi, Hitoshi Hatano, Eiichi Tamura, Kotaro Toyotake
  • Patent number: 9429255
    Abstract: A hollow seamless pipe for a high-strength spring in the present invention includes a steel material in which chemical component compositions are properly adjusted, wherein a depth of a whole decarburized layer in an inner surface layer part is 100 ?m or less, a depth of a flaw which is present in an inner surface is 40 ?m or less, a width of the flaw is 60 ?m or less, and a number density of a carbide which has a circle equivalent diameter of 500 nm or more and is present in the inner surface layer part is 1.8×10?2 particles/?m2 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: KOBE STEEL, LTD., SHINKO METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD., NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kochi, Hitoshi Hatano, Eiichi Tamura, Kotaro Toyotake, Takashi Yajima, Akira Tange
  • Publication number: 20150285410
    Abstract: A hollow seamless pipe for a high-strength spring in the present invention includes a steel material in which chemical component compositions are properly adjusted, wherein a depth of a whole decarburized layer in an inner surface layer part is 100 ?m or less, a depth of a flaw which is present in an inner surface is 40 ?m or less, a width of the flaw is 60 ?m or less, and a number density of a carbide which has a circle equivalent diameter of 500 nm or more and is present in the inner surface layer part is 1.8×10?2 particles/?m2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD), SHINKO METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD., NHK SPING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kochi, Hitoshi Hatano, Eiichi Tamura, Kotaro Toyotake, Takashi Yajima, Akira Tange
  • Publication number: 20150159245
    Abstract: A seamless steel pipe for a hollow spring includes C: 0.2 to 0.7 mass %, Si: 0.5 to 3 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 2 mass %, Cr: 3 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %), Al: 0.1 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %), P: 0.02 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %), S: 0.02 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %) and N: 0.02 mass % or less (excluding 0 mass %). A residual austenite content in an inner surface layer part of the steel pipe is 5 vol. % or less. An average grain size of a ferrite-pearlite structure in the inner surface layer part of the steel pipe is 18 ?m or less. A number density of a carbide having a circle equivalent diameter of 500 nm or more and being present in the inner surface layer part of the steel pipe is 1.8×10?2 particles/?m2 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.), SHINKO METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Kochi, Hitoshi Hatano, Eiichi Tamura, Kotaro Toyotake
  • Patent number: 9023159
    Abstract: A steel for heat treatment, which exhibits high strength and high toughness even when the heat treatment (such as quenching and tempering) of the steel is conducted under conventional conditions in an after stage. The steel for heat treatment contains C: 0.10 to 0.70 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 3.0 mass %, Al: 0.005 to 2.0 mass %, P: 0.050 mass % or less, S: 0.50 mass % or less, O: 0.0030 mass or less, N: 0.0200 mass % or less, and one or more selected from the group consisting of Ti: 0.30 mass % or less and Nb: 0.30 mass or less with the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and has a TH value of 1.0 or above as calculated according to the formula: ({Ti}/48+{Nb}/93) 104 and grain diameters of 10 ?m or below. {Ti} and {Nb} refer respectively to the contents of Ti and Nb in precipitates of 5 to 100 nm in size as determined about their respective extraction residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hatano, Takuya Kochi
  • Publication number: 20120325364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seamless steel pipe for a high-strength hollow spring, which comprises 0.20 to 0.70 mass % of C, 0.5 to 3.0 mass % of Si, 0.1 to 3.0 mass % of Mn, 0.030 mass % or less (including 0%) of P, 0.030 mass % or less (including 0%) of S, 0.02 mass % or less (including 0%) of N, and the remainder made up by Fe and unavoidable impurities, and which is characterized in that carbide has an equivalent circle diameter of 1.00 ?m or less. The seamless steel pipe enables the production of a hollow spring having high strength and excellent durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel Ltd.)
    Inventors: Takuya Kochi, Hitoshi Hatano, Kotaro Toyotake
  • Publication number: 20120070682
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow seamless pipe for high-strength springs, in which the occurrence of decarburization in an inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface is reduced as much as possible, surface layer parts can be sufficiently hardened in the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface in a quenching step at the time of spring production, and sufficient fatigue strength can be secured in springs to be formed. The present invention relates to a hollow seamless pipe for a high-strength spring, which is composed of a steel material comprising 0.2 to 0.7 mass % of C, 0.5 to 3 mass % of Si, 0.1 to 2 mass % of Mn, more than 0 mass % and 0.1 mass % or less of Al, more than 0 mass % and 0.02 mass % or less of P, more than 0 mass % and 0.02 mass % or less of S, and more than 0 mass % and 0.02 mass % or less of N, wherein the C content in an inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface of the hollow seamless pipe is 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), NHK SPRING CO., LTD., SHINKO METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hatano, Kotaro Toyotake
  • Publication number: 20110091348
    Abstract: A steel for heat treatment, which exhibits high strength and high toughness even when the heat treatment (such as quenching and tempering) of the steel is conducted under conventional conditions in an after stage. The steel for heat treatment contains C: 0.10 to 0.70 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 3.0 mass %, Al: 0.005 to 2.0 mass %, P: 0.050 mass % or less, S: 0.50 mass % or less, O: 0.0030 mass or less, N: 0.0200 mass % or less, and one or more selected from the group consisting of Ti: 0.30 mass % or less and Nb: 0.30 mass or less with the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and has a TH value of 1.0 or above as calculated according to the formula: ({Ti}/48+{Nb}/93) 104 and grain diameters of 10 ?m or below. {Ti} and {Nb} refer respectively to the contents of Ti and Nb in precipitates of 5 to 100 nm in size as determined about their respective extraction residues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hatano, Takuya Kochi
  • Patent number: 7820958
    Abstract: An improved laser scanning microscope and method of use are disclosed that enable polarization anisotropy measurements to be made with greater sensitivity and accuracy. A controllable optical element is provided in a light path between a laser source and a sample, and is controlled so that the sample is alternately irradiated with light beams that are orthogonally polarized. This enables the signal strength to be higher than with previous laser scanning microscopes. Moreover, because the orthogonally polarized light beams that are alternately incident onto a sample may be switched at a high rate, a reduction may be achieved in the influence of molecular motion within a sample in which high speed biological reactions are observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Katashi Ishihara, Hitoshi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20080225906
    Abstract: An improved laser scanning microscope and method of use are disclosed that enable polarization anisotropy measurements to be made with greater sensitivity and accuracy. A controllable optical element is provided in a light path between a laser source and a sample, and is controlled so that the sample is alternately irradiated with light beams that are orthogonally polarized. This enables the signal strength to be higher than with previous laser scanning microscopes. Moreover, because the orthogonally polarized light beams that are alternately incident onto a sample may be switched at a high rate, a reduction may be achieved in the influence of molecular motion within a sample in which high speed biological reactions are observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Katashi Ishihara, Hitoshi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20060179974
    Abstract: Disclosed is a weld metal which comprises 0.02 to 0.10% of C (% by mass; the same holds also hereinafter), 0.05 to 0.4% of Si, 0.3 to 1.3% of Mn, 0.8 to 3.25% of Cr, at most 2% (inclusive of 0%) of Mo, 0.30 to 1.0% of V, and at most 0.03% of N, wherein the contents of Al, Ti and Ni are suppressed to at most 0.03%, at most 0.03% and at most 0.40% respectively; sum total ([Mn]+[Ni]) of Mn content [Mn] and Ni content [Ni] is at most 1.2% the balance is Fe and inevitable impurities; the contents of P, S, Sn, As and Sb among the inevitable impurities are suppressed each to at most 0.01%; the content of O is suppressed to at most 0.040%; EV value as defined by related expressions satisfies EV?0.00; and the number of carbides which have an equivalent circle diameter of at least 0.2 ?m and which are present in non heat affected zone of the weld zone after being subjected to stress relieving annealing at 625° C. for 10 hours is at most 1.0 number/?m2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hatano, Ken Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20050257853
    Abstract: A welding wire for a modified 9Cr-1Mo steel is provided which comprises C: 0.070 to 0.150% by mass, Si: more than 0.15% by mass, but not more than 0.30% by mass, Mn: not less than 0.30% by mass, but less than 0.85% by mass, Ni: 0.30 to 1.20% by mass, Cr: 8.00 to 13.00% by mass, Mo: 0.30 to 1.40% by mass, V: 0.03 to 0.40% by mass, Nb: 0.01 to 0.15% by mass, N: 0.016 to 0.055% by mass, P: not more than 0.010% by mass, S: not more than 0.010% by mass, Cu: less than 0.50% by mass, Ti: not more than 0.010% by mass, Al: less than 0.10% by mass, B: less than 0.0010% by mass, W: less than 0.10% by mass, Co: less than 1.00% by mass, and O: not more than 0.03% by mass, wherein the total amount of Mn and Ni being not more than 1.50%. The welding wire provides good toughness without degradation of creep rupture strength even at the PWHT temperature of 760° C. or above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel Ltd.)
    Inventors: Ken Yamashita, Noriyuki Hara, Toshio Murakami, Hitoshi Hatano
  • Patent number: 6940042
    Abstract: A flux-cored wire for gas-shielded arc welding comprises a steel sheath, and a flux filled in the steel sheath. The flux-cored wire has a C content of 0.20% by mass or below, a Si content in the range of 0.06 to 1.10% by mass, a Mn content in the range of 0.55 to 1.60% by mass, a Cr content of 2.60% by mass or below, a Mo content in the range of 0.30 to 1.50% by mass, a Mg content in the range of 0.20 to 1.50% by mass, a N content in the range of 0.005 to 0.035% by mass and a B content in the range of 0.001 to 0.020% by mass on the basis of the total mass of the flux-cored wire. The flux has a TiO2 content in the range of 4.2 to 8.2% by mass and a fluorine compound content in terms of F content in the range of 0.025 to 0.55% by mass on the basis of the total mass of the flux-cored wire, and the flux-cored wire has an Al content of 0.50% by mass or below, a Nb content of 0.015% by mass or below, and a V content of 0.015% by mass or below on the basis of the total mass of the flux-cored wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Noriyuki Hara, Akinobu Goto, Hitoshi Hatano, Ken Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20040020912
    Abstract: A flux-cored wire for gas-shielded arc welding comprises a steel sheath, and a flux filled in the steel sheath. The flux-cored wire has a C content of 0.20% by mass or below, a Si content in the range of 0.06 to 1.10% by mass, a Mn content in the range of 0.55 to 1.60% by mass, a Cr content of 2.60% by mass or below, a Mo content in the range of 0.30 to 1.50% by mass, a Mg content in the range of 0.20 to 1.50% by mass, a N content in the range of 0.005 to 0.035% by mass and a B content in the range of 0.001 to 0.020% by mass on the basis of the total mass of the flux-cored wire. The flux has a TiO2 content in the range of 4.2 to 8.2% by mass and a fluorine compound content in terms of F content in the range of 0.025 to 0.55% by mass on the basis of the total mass of the flux-cored wire, and the flux-cored wire has an Al content of 0.50% by mass or below, a Nb content of 0.015% by mass or below, and a V content of 0.015% by mass or below on the basis of the total mass of the flux-cored wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Noriyuki Hara, Akinobu Goto, Hitoshi Hatano, Ken Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6560032
    Abstract: A low magnification liquid immersion objective lens system uses an immersion liquid having a refractive index for the d-line within a range defined by a condition (1) shown below, and has a magnification &bgr; and a working distance WDL which satisfy the following conditions (2) and (3): 1.34≦ND≦1.80  (1) &bgr;≦15  (2) WDL≦0.35 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20010043404
    Abstract: A low magnification liquid immersion objective lens system for use in a form observing apparatus, measuring apparatus and the like which uses an immersion liquid having a refractive index for the d-line within a range defined by a condition (1) shown below, and has a magnification &bgr; and a working distance WQDL which satisfy the following conditions (2) and (3):
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Hitoshi Hatano