Patents by Inventor Kimihiro Nogiwa

Kimihiro Nogiwa 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: 11845121
    Abstract: A metal pipe forming method includes: disposing a metal pipe material having a hollow shape between a pair of dies; and forming a metal pipe including a pipe portion and a flange portion by expanding the metal pipe material by supplying a fluid and bringing the metal pipe material into contact with the pair of dies. In the forming of the metal pipe, a gap which is positioned between a pair of inner surfaces of the flange portion and communicates with an internal space of the pipe portion is formed, and the flange portion is provided with a through-hole connected to the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Saika, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Akihiro Ide
  • Publication number: 20230321713
    Abstract: A forming system includes a heating unit that causes a current to flow through a plated metal material to heat the metal material, a forming die that forms the heated metal material, and a plating deviation suppression mechanism that suppresses a deviation of a plating in the metal material due to energization heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Kimihiro NOGIWA, Akihiro IDE, Masashi KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11691192
    Abstract: A forming system includes: a forming apparatus which supplies gas into a cylindrical metal pipe material having a welded portion to expand the metal pipe material; a supply device for supplying the metal pipe material to the forming apparatus; and a control device for controlling an operation of the supply device, in which in a case where a position where a distance from a center of the metal pipe material is the longest, on a surface of the die, when viewed from an extension direction of the metal pipe material in a state where the metal pipe material is disposed between the dies, is a longest position, the control device includes a control unit which controls supply of the metal pipe material to the forming apparatus such that the welded portion is not located on a straight line connecting the longest position and the center of the metal pipe material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Masayuki Saika, Norieda Ueno
  • Publication number: 20230160050
    Abstract: A treatment device that performs treatment for forming a plating layer on a metal pipe material that is used as a material for hot forming, the treatment device includes a supply unit that supplies a plating material to an inner periphery-side surface of a welded portion formed in the metal pipe material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Kimihiro NOGIWA, Akihiro IDE
  • Publication number: 20230148390
    Abstract: A forming device is a forming device that forms a metal pipe with a flange and includes a forming tool for forming the metal pipe, in which the forming tool includes a first die and a second die that face each other in a first direction in a cross-sectional view, and a third die for regulating a planned flange portion of a metal pipe material, and the third die continues to correct misalignment of the planned flange portion until the first die and the second die are clamped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Kimihiro NOGIWA, Akihiro IDE
  • Patent number: 11642715
    Abstract: A forming device which expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe having a pipe portion and a flange portion includes first and second dies paired with each other and including pipe forming surfaces for forming the pipe portion and flange forming surfaces for forming the flange portion, a drive unit that drives at least one of the first and second dies, and a controller that controls the drive unit, in which, on at least one of the flange forming surfaces of the first and second dies, a protrusion portion protruding by an amount not to abut against the other flange forming surface when the dies are closed is formed and the controller controls the drive unit to form a thin wall portion at which a thickness of the flange portion becomes partially small at the flange portion by the protrusion portion pressing the flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ide, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kimihiro Nogiwa
  • Publication number: 20220410242
    Abstract: Provided is a forming device that forms a heated metal material, the forming device including: a die that performs quench forming by coming into contact with the metal material; a cooling unit that is provided inside the die to cool the die; and a temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the die, in which the cooling unit adjusts a cooling capacity on the basis of a detection result of the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Kimihiro NOGIWA, Masayuki ISHIZUKA
  • Patent number: 11518325
    Abstract: There is provided a reinforcement member for a vehicle which includes a cylindrical body section having a continuously closed cross section intersecting with a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical body section has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The third surface has a fourth surface extending away from the second surface, and a fifth surface connecting the fourth surface and the first surface to each other. In a sectional view when viewed in the longitudinal direction, in a case where a virtual line connecting a first intersection portion where the first surface and the third surface intersect with each other and a second intersection portion where the second surface and the third surface intersect with each other is set, a third intersection portion where the fourth surface and the fifth surface intersect with each other protrudes outward with respect to the virtual line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kenta Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11453037
    Abstract: A forming system forming a metal pipe by expanding a metal pipe material, includes: a main body part having a forming die for forming the metal pipe; an electrode causing a current to flow through the metal pipe material disposed in the forming die such that the metal pipe material is heated; a power supply unit disposed at a position separated from the main body part and supplying power to the electrode; and a power supply line connecting the power supply unit and the electrode, in which the power supply line includes a lower-side passing portion passing through a lower side of a placing surface on which the main body part is placed, a first connection portion drawn to an upper side of the placing surface and connecting the lower-side passing portion and the electrode, and a second connection portion connecting the lower-side passing portion and the power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Saika, Masayuki Ishizuka, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Akihiro Ide, Norieda Ueno
  • Patent number: 11440074
    Abstract: A forming device which expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe having a pipe portion and a flange portion includes a hardness lowering portion which lowers a hardness of the flange portion to be lower than a hardness of the pipe portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Ide, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kimihiro Nogiwa
  • Patent number: 11298738
    Abstract: A forming device of forming a metal pipe having a pipe portion includes a first die and a second die constituting a first cavity portion configured to form the pipe portion and a second cavity portion configured to form a flange portion, a drive mechanism configured to move at least one of the first die and the second die, and a gas supply unit configured to supply a gas into a metal pipe material which is held between the first die and the second die and is heated, in which each of the first die and the second die has flange forming surfaces which face each other and constitute the second cavity portion, and a protrusion portion, which protrudes from one flange forming surface to the other flange forming surface, is formed on at least one of the flange forming surfaces of the first die and the second die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Masayuki Saika, Norieda Ueno
  • Patent number: 11267034
    Abstract: The controller controls the gas supply of the gas supply unit so as to maintain a pressure in a metal pipe material at a first pressure when a gas is supplied into the metal pipe material which is formed into a pipe portion in a main cavity portion in a state where an upper die and a lower die are joined to each other. It is possible to prevent pressure drop in the pipe portion caused by cooling of the pipe portion due to a contact between the dies, and the pipe portion. Thus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in a force for pressing the pipe portion against the dies. It is possible to suppress a decrease in adhesion between the pipe portion and the dies when the metal pipe is formed, and it is possible to suppress occurrence of variations in hardenability in the pipe portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishizuka, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Norieda Ueno, Masayuki Saika
  • Patent number: 11253900
    Abstract: A forming apparatus which forms a metal pipe by expanding a metal pipe material, includes: a forming die for forming the metal pipe; a first electrode and a second electrode which clamp the metal pipe material at both end sides and heat the metal pipe material by causing an electric current to flow through the metal pipe material; and a first fluid supply unit and a second fluid supply unit which supply a fluid into the metal pipe material heated by the first electrode and the second electrode to expand the metal pipe material, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is provided with a movement restriction mechanism which restricts a movement of the metal pipe material in an axial direction of the metal pipe material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Masayuki Saika, Norieda Ueno, Akihiro Ide, Hiroyuki Kan
  • Publication number: 20210362208
    Abstract: A forming apparatus that forms a metal pipe material includes an electrode that holds the metal pipe material and supplies electric power to the metal pipe material to heat the metal pipe material, a forming die that quenches and forms the expanded metal pipe, and a member that suppresses quenching, in which a region where quenching is not performed in the metal pipe is adjusted by adjusting a length of the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishizuka, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Akihiro Ide, Norieda Ueno
  • Publication number: 20210346933
    Abstract: A metal pipe forming method includes: disposing a metal pipe material having a hollow shape between a pair of dies; and forming a metal pipe including a pipe portion and a flange portion by expanding the metal pipe material by supplying a fluid and bringing the metal pipe material into contact with the pair of dies. In the forming of the metal pipe, a gap which is positioned between a pair of inner surfaces of the flange portion and communicates with an internal space of the pipe portion is formed, and the flange portion is provided with a through-hole connected to the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Masayuki Saika, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Akihiro Ide
  • Publication number: 20210346934
    Abstract: A forming system for forming a metal pipe having a hollow shape includes a forming apparatus including a gas supply portion that supplies gas into a heated metal pipe material when forming the metal pipe, and a discharge unit that discharges the gas into the formed metal pipe, in which an exhaust port of the discharge unit is positioned in an internal space of a structure including the internal space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishizuka, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Akihiro Ide
  • Publication number: 20210094493
    Abstract: There is provided a reinforcement member for a vehicle which includes a cylindrical body section having a continuously closed cross section intersecting with a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical body section has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The third surface has a fourth surface extending away from the second surface, and a fifth surface connecting the fourth surface and the first surface to each other. In a sectional view when viewed in the longitudinal direction, in a case where a virtual line connecting a first intersection portion where the first surface and the third surface intersect with each other and a second intersection portion where the second surface and the third surface intersect with each other is set, a third intersection portion where the fourth surface and the fifth surface intersect with each other protrudes outward with respect to the virtual line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Kimihiro Nogiwa, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kenta Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200406329
    Abstract: A forming device which expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe having a pipe portion and a flange portion includes first and second dies paired with each other and including pipe forming surfaces for forming the pipe portion and flange forming surfaces for forming the flange portion, a drive unit that drives at least one of the first and second dies, and a controller that controls the drive unit, in which, on at least one of the flange forming surfaces of the first and second dies, a protrusion portion protruding by an amount not to abut against the other flange forming surface when the dies are closed is formed and the controller controls the drive unit to form a thin wall portion at which a thickness of the flange portion becomes partially small at the flange portion by the protrusion portion pressing the flange portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiro Ide, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kimihiro Nogiwa
  • Publication number: 20200406330
    Abstract: A forming device which expands a metal pipe material to form a metal pipe having a pipe portion and a flange portion includes a hardness lowering portion which lowers a hardness of the flange portion to be lower than a hardness of the pipe portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiro Ide, Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Kimihiro Nogiwa
  • Publication number: 20200391273
    Abstract: An electrical heating apparatus for supplying electric power to a metal body to electrically heat the metal body, includes: at least two electrodes that come into contact with the metal body; a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the electrodes; a warning unit that issues a warning that abnormality has occurred in the electrical heating of the metal body; and an abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality of the electrodes, in which the abnormality detection unit includes a resistance value acquisition unit that acquires a resistance value between the electrodes, and an abnormality determination unit that determines that abnormality has occurred in the electrodes and controls the warning unit to issue a warning that abnormality has occurred in the electrodes, in a case where the resistance value reaches a predetermined setting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiro Ide, Masayuki Ishizuka, Masayuki Saika, Kimihiro Nogiwa, Norieda Ueno