Patents by Inventor Kazuya Ehara

Kazuya Ehara 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: 11630085
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection method in which a pulse signal is output to an ultrasonic sensor to generate and transmit ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic waves reflected or scattered by an object are received and converted into a waveform signal by the ultrasonic sensor, and the waveform signal is digitized to acquire waveform data, includes: executing modulation processing for modulating a plurality of waveform data acquired in multiple inspections and under the same inspection conditions by a phase modulation method to generate composite waveform data; and executing demodulation processing for demodulating the composite waveform data to generate compressed waveform data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sou Kitazawa, Yasuhiro Nidaira, Kazuya Ehara, Junichiro Naganuma
  • Patent number: 11169121
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detection method and device identifies echoes appearing in flaw detection images. By selecting and controlling combinations of transmitting elements and receiving elements, plural waveform signals c are recorded. For each position in an inspection object, intensities of plural waveform signals are extracted based on the propagation time of ultrasonic waves and are totalized. A flaw detection image showing distribution of totalized intensities is generated. By selectively using at least three sound velocities for calculating propagation time of ultrasonic waves, at least three flaw detection images are generated. The areas of at least three echoes respectively appearing in the flaw detection images are calculated and the echo area which is the smallest is identified according to whether or not the flaw detection image showing the echo is one generated using one of a longitudinal sound velocity, a transverse sound velocity and a medium sound velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sou Kitazawa, Hidetaka Komuro, Junichiro Naganuma, Kazuya Ehara
  • Publication number: 20210164943
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection method in which a pulse signal is output to an ultrasonic sensor to generate and transmit ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic waves reflected or scattered by an object are received and converted into a waveform signal by the ultrasonic sensor, and the waveform signal is digitized to acquire waveform data, includes: executing modulation processing for modulating a plurality of waveform data acquired in multiple inspections and under the same inspection conditions by a phase modulation method to generate composite waveform data; and executing demodulation processing for demodulating the composite waveform data to generate compressed waveform data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Sou KITAZAWA, Yasuhiro NIDAIRA, Kazuya EHARA, Junichiro NAGANUMA
  • Publication number: 20200209195
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flaw detection method and device identifies echoes appearing in flaw detection images. By selecting and controlling combinations of transmitting elements and receiving elements, plural waveform signals c are recorded. For each position in an inspection object, intensities of plural waveform signals are extracted based on the propagation time of ultrasonic waves and are totalized. A flaw detection image showing distribution of totalized intensities is generated. By selectively using at least three sound velocities for calculating propagation time of ultrasonic waves, at least three flaw detection images are generated. The areas of at least three echoes respectively appearing in the flaw detection images are calculated and the echo area which is the smallest is identified according to whether or not the flaw detection image showing the echo is one generated using one of a longitudinal sound velocity, a transverse sound velocity and a medium sound velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sou KITAZAWA, Hidetaka KOMURO, Junichiro NAGANUMA, Kazuya EHARA
  • Patent number: 8250923
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection method and ultrasonic inspection apparatus is capable of inspecting a weld line and of detecting a circumferential crack and an axial crack that are present in the weld line. An ultrasonic probe is placed on the surface of a structure and transmits an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted at an angle in an X?-Z plane. The direction of a normal to the surface is defined as an X axis. The direction in which the weld line extends is defined as a Y axis. The direction perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis is defined as a Z axis. An axis obtained by rotating the X axis around the Z axis is defined as an X? axis. A control mechanism performs signal processing of signals reflected from the defect or defects to detect the defect or defects and to measure the length of the defect or defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Ehara, Naoyuki Kono, Masahiro Miki, Yoshio Nonaka
  • Publication number: 20090235749
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic inspection method and ultrasonic inspection apparatus capable of easily inspecting a weld line and detecting a circumferential crack and an axial crack that are present in the weld line. An ultrasonic probe is placed on the surface of a structure and transmits an ultrasonic wave. A welded part is present on the opposite surface to the surface on which the ultrasonic probe is placed. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted at an optional in an X?-Z plane defined by an X? axis and a Z axis, when the direction of a normal to the surface on which the ultrasonic probe is placed is defined as an X axis, the direction in which the weld line extends is defined as a Y axis, the direction perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis is defined as a Z axis, and an axis obtained by rotating the X axis around the Z axis is defined as an X? axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuya Ehara, Naoyuki Kono, Masahiro Miki, Yoshio Nonaka