Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Wakahara

Hitoshi Wakahara 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: 8080120
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord, wherein, while rotating an annular core at a fixed position in a peripheral direction, a reel, upon which a lateral wire is wound, repeatedly performs a pendulum swinging movement and a perpendicular movement with respect to the annular core, thereby spirally winding the lateral wire upon the annular core to form a sheath layer. When forming the sheath layer, a fulcrum of the pendulum swinging movement of the reel is determined so that, with reference to a tangential line of a circle of the annular core passing through a winding point where the lateral wire is wound upon the annular core, the lateral wire is wound upon the winding point of the annular core within 15 degrees at a position above the tangential line and within a range of 55 degrees at a position below the tangential line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Sumitomo (SEI) Steel Wire Corp., Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Sano, Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7775028
    Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion and an outer layer portion. The annular core portion is formed by connecting together both ends of a first strand material which is made up of six twisted first metal filaments. The outer layer portion is formed by winding spirally a second strand material which is made up of six twisted second metal filaments around the annular core portion. The second strand material is wound at a predetermined winding angle relative to a center axis of the annular core portion, and a winding initiating end portion and a winding terminating end portion are connected together. As a result, the breaking strength of the annular metal cord can be made large, and the production thereof can be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Sumitomo (SEI) Steel Wire Corp., Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano, Kenichi Okamoto, Koji Kato, Masaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20100200142
    Abstract: An annular core stranded bead wire having a reduced weight and offering ease in manufacturing and handling and a vehicle tire using such a bead wire are provided. The annular core stranded bead wire 2 has a metal annular core 11 and a sheath layer 13 constituted of a side wire 12 wound in a spiral pattern around the annular core: the side wire 12 is prepared by wrapping a side wire main body 21 made of aramid fiber with a pair of steel wires 22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicants: SUMITOMO (SEI) STEEL WIRE CORP., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20100200143
    Abstract: There are provided an annular concentric stranded bead cord which can realize a reduction in weight while ensuring its strength, a method for manufacturing the same and a vehicle tire. The manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord by forming a sheath layer by winding spirally a lateral wire round an annular core. After the sheath layer has been formed, the lateral wire is annealed in a pressure-reduced inactive gaseous atmosphere with an annealing quantity which exceeds a heating quantity (temperature×time) which is necessary for vulcanization of a vehicle tire with the annular concentric stranded bead cord embedded in a rubber of the vehicle tire when building the same and is shaped so that “Diameter shaping ratio (%)=H/D×100” becomes 20% or larger and 105% or smaller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Okamoto, Hitoshi Wakahara
  • Patent number: 7735307
    Abstract: The disclosed bead cord which is lightweight and inexpensive and high in formability includes an annular core and a wrap wire helically wrapped around the annular core, the annular core being made of a medium carbon steel or an alloy steel having a lower carbon content and containing specific elements in suitable amounts. The diameter dC of alular core satisfies 1.04?dC/dS?1.30 where dS is the diameter of the wrap wire. The wrap wire has a coil diameter DS which is 0.5 to 1.3 times diameter DC of an annular shape of the annular core. The annular core may be formed with a plating layer of an Al—Zn alloy or a thick plating layer of Zn, or the annular core may be made of stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignees: Sumitomo (SEI) Steel Wire Corp., Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090260735
    Abstract: A bead cord is described including an annular core and a side wire. The side wire is helically wound around the annular core. Further, the annular core is made of a strand wire. The strand wire includes a plurality of twisted core wires. The plurality of core wires may have substantially the same diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: SUMITOMO (SEI) STEEL WIRE CORP., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090205741
    Abstract: A connection method for connecting metal linear objects facing each other includes disposing a pair of rotators with a space interposed therebetween. Each rotator including a pair of holding portions that are provided with a space interposed therebetween and that are able to hold the metal linear objects. The connection method also includes holding the vicinities of end portions of the metal linear objects at the holding portions of the rotators to hang the metal linear objects therebetween so that the vicinities of the end portions of the metal linear objects are overlapped with each other in an axis direction and rotating the rotators relatively in the opposite directions around between the pair of holding portions as a rotation center. As a result, the metal linear objects are twisted with each other between the rotators to perform connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicants: SUMITOMO (SEI) STEEL WIRE CORP., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Wakahara, Masayoshi Nishida, Kenichi Okamoto, Yuichi Sano
  • Publication number: 20090136697
    Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion formed in an annular shape, and an outer layer portion spirally wound around the annular core portion while running over an annular circumference thereof plural times and covering an outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion. Each of the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by a strand material which is formed by intertwisting a plurality of metal filaments. At least part of the outer layer portion is covered with an outer layer sheath made of a coating material having elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicants: SUMITOMO (SEI) STEEL WIRE CORP., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Sano, Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto, Hiroshi Sasabe
  • Publication number: 20090133798
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bead cord wire includes the steps of subjecting a steel wire to a descaling treatment, subjecting the descaling-treated steel wire to a chemical conversion coating treatment through electrolysis so as to form a phosphate coating on a surface of the steel wire, and subjecting the chemical-conversion-coating-treated steel wire to drawing so as to produce a bead cord wire. In producing the bead cord wire, the drawing is conducted in such a way that the phosphate coating remains on the surface of the bead cord wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicants: SUMITOMO (SEI) STEEL WIRE CORP., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090088278
    Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion formed in an annular shape, and an outer layer portion spirally wound around the annular core portion while running over an annular circumference thereof plural times and covering an outer peripheral surface of the annular core portion. Each of the annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by a strand material which is formed by intertwisting a plurality of metal filaments. The annular core portion and the outer layer portion are formed by a continuous strand material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicants: SUMITOMO (SEI) STEEL WIRE CORP., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC TOCHIGI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20090087678
    Abstract: An annular metal cord and an endless metal belt are provided which have superior breaking strength and which are easy to be produced. The annular metal cord includes an annular core portion 3 and an outer layer portion 4. The annular core portion 3 is formed by connecting together both ends of a first strand material 1 which is made up of six twisted first metal filaments 5. The outer layer portion 4 is formed by winding spirally a second strand material 2 which is made up of six twisted second metal filaments 6 around the annular core portion 3. The second strand material 2 is wound at a predetermined winding angle relative to a center axis of the annular core portion 3, and a winding initiating end portion and a winding terminating end portion thereof are connected together. Since it is not that six second strand materials 2 are not wound but that the second strand material 2 is wound six rounds, there only has to be the single second strand material 2, and there is only one connecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano, Kenichi Okamoto, Koji Kato, Masaki Saito
  • Publication number: 20090008018
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to impart long-lasting, stable corrosion resistance to an annular core of an annular concentric-lay bead cord at a low cost. Corrosion-resistant coating is provided on the surface of the steel wire forming the annular core 1 to cover the surface of the steel wire with a thick coating film 3, thereby preventing exposure of the surface of steel wire even if fretting develops between the annular core 1 and the wrap wire 2. With this arrangement, it is possible to impart long-term, stable corrosion resistance to the annular core 1 at a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Kenichi Okamoto, Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano
  • Publication number: 20080277040
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent shifting of a connector for a wrap wire, reduced strength of the connector, and deterioration in balance, and to make it possible to easily connect the ends of the wrap wire. The connector is formed by pressing the ends of a columnar metallic member inwardly with punches to define a central thick portion 11 as a partition, and recessed sleeves 12 at both ends of the thick portion 11 into which leading and trailing ends 51 of the wrap wire 50 are inserted. The axial length (l) of the central thick portion 11 and the diameter (d) of the wrap wire satisfies the relation: diameter (d) of the wrap wire?axial length (l)?8×diameter (d) of the wrap wire. The wrap wire 50 is cut so that the distance between the leading and trailing ends 51 of the wrap wire 50 is shorter than the axial length of the thick portion 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicants: Sumitomo (SEI) Steel Wire Corp., Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Okamoto, Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Yuichi Sano
  • Publication number: 20080135156
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an annular concentric stranded bead cord, wherein, while rotating an annular core at a fixed position in a peripheral direction, a reel, upon which a lateral wire is wound, repeatedly performs a pendulum swinging movement and a perpendicular movement with respect to the annular core, thereby spirally winding the lateral wire upon the annular core to form a sheath layer. When forming the sheath layer, a fulcrum of the pendulum swinging movement of the reel is determined so that, with reference to a tangential line of a circle of the annular core passing through a winding point where the lateral wire is wound upon the annular core, the lateral wire is wound upon the winding point of the annular core within 15 degrees at a position above the tangential line and within a range of 55 degrees at a position below the tangential line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicants: Sumitomo (SEI) Steel Wire Corp., Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Sano, Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20080087369
    Abstract: A system for producing an annular coaxial stranded bead cord in which speedy winding operation, good winding performance and good shaping performance causing no disturbance in the arrangement of a siding wire (2) are ensured. A reel (21) is made to reciprocate on the core surface of an annular core (1) transversely at a predetermined position and the annular core (1) is made to perform pendulum motion about a fulcrum, i.e. a clamp unit (13) becoming the winding point of the siding wire (2). Since a substantially constant distance is kept from the reel (21) to the winding point of the siding wire (2), the siding wire (2) being fed out from the reel (21) does not slack at the time of winding and is wound around the annular core (1) with a constant tension. In a system for winding the siding wire around the annular core by moving the reel in a box type with respect to the annular core, the siding wire is prevented from slacking by turning the reel reversely when the reel approaches the annular core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20070289686
    Abstract: A bead cord which is lightweight and inexpensive, high in formability, and includes an annular core that is high in corrosion resistance. The bead cord which is lightweight and inexpensive and high in formability includes an annular core 1 and a wrap wire 2 helically wrapped around the annular core 1, the annular core 1 being made of a medium carbon steel or an alloy steel having a lower C content and containing specific elements in suitable amounts, and having a diameter dC that satisfies the following relation 1.04?dC/dS?1.30 with respect to the diameter dS of the wrap wire 2, the wrap wire 2 having a coil diameter DS which is 0.5 to 1.3 times the coil diameter DC of the annular core 1. In order to improve the corrosion resistance of the annular core 1, the annular core 1 may be formed with a plating layer 4 of an Al—Zn alloy or a thick plating layer 4 of Zn, or the annular core 1 may be made of stainless steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasabe, Hitoshi Wakahara, Kenichi Okamoto