Patents by Inventor Masaharu Amano

Masaharu Amano 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).

  • Publication number: 20180056438
    Abstract: The method includes a step of preparing a first member made of a first metal and a second member made of a second metal having a smaller deformation resistance than the first metal, and a step of joining the first member and the second member. The step of joining includes a step of heating the first member and the second member by relatively rotating the first member and the second member, while pressing the first member and the second member against each other, without changing a relative positional relationship therebetween, and a step of cooling the first member and the second member heated, while being pressed against each other. In a first contact surface which is a surface of the first member coming into contact with the second member, a recess is formed so as to include a region intersecting the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikazu MATSUYAMA, Masaharu AMANO, Yoshitaka SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20180051693
    Abstract: A sliding component and its producing method are provided. The sliding component includes a base section made of steel or cast iron, and a sliding section having a sliding surface, made of copper alloy including hard particles, and joined to the base section. The hard particles in the sliding section are arranged such that those in a region including an outer periphery of the interface with the base section have their longitudinal directions coinciding with the directions along the outer periphery as compared to those in an inner peripheral side. This improves the durability of the sliding section in its region including the outer periphery of the interface with the base section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Toshikazu MATSUYAMA, Masaharu AMANO, Yoshitaka SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 9833208
    Abstract: There are provided a gantry with an opening having a central axis inclined so that the opening is directed obliquely downward, a chair disposed obliquely below the gantry, and having an inclined surface for supporting a patient M so that the central axis of the opening and a body axis A of the patient M become parallel, and a chair moving mechanism for driving at least one of the gantry and the chair to insert the patient M into the opening parallel to the central axis of the opening of the gantry. Thus, images can be picked up of the patient M in a comfortable position safely and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masaharu Amano
  • Publication number: 20170216951
    Abstract: A tooth which is an example of a wear-resistant component includes a base made of a first metal, and an overlay disposed in contact with the base to cover a covered region that is a part of a surface of the base. In an overlay edge portion corresponding to a boundary between the covered region and an exposed region other than the covered region on the surface of the base, the exposed region and a surface of the overlay are flush with each other to form a forged surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki OHISHI, Masaharu AMANO
  • Publication number: 20170216976
    Abstract: A sprocket wheel, which is an example of the machine component, includes a base made of a first metal, and an overlay disposed in contact with the base to cover at least a part of a surface of the base. The overlay includes a matrix made of a second metal, and hard particles dispersed in the matrix. The overlay includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the base in a region including the interface between the overlay and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki OHISHI, Masaharu AMANO
  • Publication number: 20170216949
    Abstract: A sprocket wheel, which is an example of the machine component, includes a base made of a first metal, and an overlay disposed in contact with the base to cover at least a part of a surface of the base. The overlay includes a matrix made of a second metal, and hard particles dispersed in the matrix. The surface of the overlay is a forged surface. The hard particles located in an overlay surface region within an average particle diameter of the hard particles from the surface of the overlay are arranged side by side while being embedded in the overlay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki OHISHI, Masaharu AMANO
  • Publication number: 20170216950
    Abstract: A sprocket wheel, which is a machine component configured to slide relative to a bushing while being in contact with the bushing in an outer peripheral surface, includes a base made of a first metal, and an overlay that covers the base so as to constitute the outer peripheral surface. The surface of the overlay constituting the outer peripheral surface has been smoothed. Such a smoothed surface of the overlay makes the sprocket wheel less damaging to the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki OHISHI, Masaharu AMANO
  • Publication number: 20170217516
    Abstract: A sprocket wheel has an annular shape. The sprocket wheel has a plurality of projections formed on an outer peripheral surface for transmitting a driving force to a track. The sprocket wheel includes a base made of a first metal, and an overlay including a second metal that covers the base so as to constitute at least a part of the outer peripheral surface. The overlay is formed with a metallic structure that is continuous in the circumferential direction so as to connect between adjacent ones of the projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki OHISHI, Masaharu AMANO
  • Publication number: 20170203383
    Abstract: A metal member producing device includes a spindle, a base portion, and a driving portion which drives at least one of the spindle and the base portion in an axial direction of the spindle. Of the spindle and the base portion, one includes a first holding portion for holding a first member. The other has disposed thereon a mold for holding a second member to oppose the first holding portion. The mold includes a bottom wall and a sidewall that extends from the bottom wall in a direction intersecting the bottom wall. The sidewall has a resistive wall formed thereon, the resistive wall being a wall surface inclined with respect to a plane parallel to the axial direction of the spindle so as to face the bottom wall side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SHIBATA, Atsushi SAITOU, Masaharu AMANO
  • Publication number: 20160228977
    Abstract: A piston shoe as a sliding component includes a base section, which is made of steel, and a sliding section having a sliding surface, which is made of copper alloy and joined to the base section. The base section and the sliding section are joined, with a base section joint region being formed in the base section, the base section joint region including a base section joint surface that is a surface joined to the sliding section and having smaller grains than other regions in the base section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka SHIBATA, Masaharu AMANO, Takuya TSUMURA, Kazuhiro NAKATA
  • Patent number: 9060701
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image diagnosis apparatus which requires a small area for installation, has a short length in an axial direction of the apparatus, can reduce a problem of the strength of a top plate, and can simultaneously carry out dynamic PET-imaging of the entire body. A top plate (61) on which an examinee lies is moved through a tunnel of a CT gantry (2) and a PET gantry (3) to execute CT imaging and PET imaging. A PET unit consisting of a plurality (e.g. seven) of PET units (32) has a length of 2 m in the axis direction, the visual field thereof covers the whole body and the whole body can be simultaneously subjected to dynamic PET-imaging. For the maintenance of the PET gantry (3), the diagnosis apparatus is separated at an arbitrary PET unit (32) to be maintained, the apparatus slides on a rail (31) in the axis direction and is separated for maintenance operation. Accordingly, a large space for maintenance is not required and the area for installation is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8679207
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wear-resistant particle which can be substantially uniformly dispersed in a molten pool. Specifically disclosed is a wear-resistant particle (13) which is dispersed in a matrix metal for improving wear resistance thereof. The wear-resistant particle is characterized by being composed of a material containing a first hard material and a second hard material while having a particle diameter of 0.2-9 mm. The wear-resistant particle is further characterized in that the material consists of 60-96% by volume of a carbide and the balance of a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Japan New Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Amano, Takanori Nagata, Mitsushi Inoshita, Kenji Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8519341
    Abstract: This invention has one object to provide radiation tomography apparatus that allows suppression of arithmetic load of detection data with a wider detector ring. In order to achieve this purpose, the radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention performs coincidence only when two scintillation counter crystals that detect gamma rays coincidentally (A) belong to the same ring unit, or (B) belong to each of the ring units adjacent to each other. Accordingly, a distance in the central axis direction between the radiation detecting elements is limited to be equal to or less than a thickness of the ring unit in the central axis direction. Accordingly, radiation tomography apparatus may be provided that allows generation of the sectional image suitable for diagnosis while arithmetic load is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohtani, Masaharu Amano, Yoshihiro Inoue, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8461518
    Abstract: This invention has one object to provide a method of collecting calibration data in radiation tomography apparatus that allows reliable collection of calibration data with a wide detector ring. In order to achieve this purpose, in the method of collecting calibration data in radiation tomography apparatus according to this invention, the number of coincidence events is obtained while the phantom that emits annihilation gamma-ray pairs moves as to pass through an inner hole of the detector ring. Such configuration dose not need the phantom having a width equal or larger than the detector ring, and may realize reliable collection of calibration data. Moreover, it may be considered that annihilation gamma-ray pairs have been emitted in uniform property without depending on positions of the detector ring. As a result, calibration data that is more suitable for removal of a image artifact may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizuta, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8395128
    Abstract: One purpose of this invention is to provide radiation tomography apparatus with easier maintenance. A specific approach for this purpose is as follows. That is, a detector ring in the radiation tomography apparatus includes two or more rings. Moreover, a ring moves as to approach a next ring, whereby both the rings are connected. If radiation tomography is conducted while a clearance is provided between the rings, detection sensitivity of the detector ring decreases due to the clearance. On the other hand, according to this invention, the ring moves as to approach the next ring, which results in a narrower clearance. Accordingly, radiation that is not observed may be reduced as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumi Tanaka, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8344326
    Abstract: A PET instrument free from problems of maintenance of a detector when a field of view in a body axial direction of a subject is significantly enlarged. A gantry (1) is divided into a plurality of units (5) in the body axial direction of the subject. Each unit (5) is configured to be movable in an orthogonal direction to the body axial direction. Further, a number of detectors are provided in each unit (5) and arranged in its circumferential direction and the body axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masaharu Amano
  • Publication number: 20120324648
    Abstract: There are provided a gantry with an opening having a central axis inclined so that the opening is directed obliquely downward, a chair disposed obliquely below the gantry, and having an inclined surface for supporting a patient M so that the central axis of the opening and a body axis A of the patient M become parallel, and a chair moving mechanism for driving at least one of the gantry and the chair to insert the patient M into the opening parallel to the central axis of the opening of the gantry. Thus, images can be picked up of the patient M in a comfortable position safely and efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Masaharu Amano
  • Publication number: 20120001077
    Abstract: This invention has one object is to provide radiation tomography apparatus that allows production with low price through suppression in number of radiation detectors to be mounted. One of the detector rings in this invention is a first detector ring having a sufficient internal diameter to introduce shoulders of the subject M, and the other is a second detector ring having a smaller internal diameter than the first detector ring. In so doing, the radiation detectors forming the detector ring may be suppressed in number, which may provide radiation tomography apparatus of low price. Moreover, a smaller diameter of the detector ring may result in improved spatial resolution and detection sensitivity of radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20110297840
    Abstract: One purpose of this invention is to provide radiation tomography apparatus with easier maintenance. A specific approach for this purpose is as follows. That is, a detector ring in the radiation tomography apparatus includes two or more rings. Moreover, a ring moves as to approach a next ring, whereby both the rings are connected. If radiation tomography is conducted while a clearance is provided between the rings, detection sensitivity of the detector ring decreases due to the clearance. On the other hand, according to this invention, the ring moves as to approach the next ring, which results in a narrower clearance. Accordingly, radiation that is not observed may be reduced as much as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Kazumi Tanaka, Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20110288397
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image diagnosis apparatus which requires a small area for installation, has a short length in an axial direction of the apparatus, can reduce a problem of the strength of a top plate, and can simultaneously carry out dynamic PET-imaging of the entire body. A top plate (61) on which an examinee lies is moved through a tunnel of a CT gantry (2) and a PET gantry (3) to execute CT imaging and PET imaging. A PET unit consisting of a plurality (e.g. seven) of PET units (32) has a length of 2 m in the axis direction, the visual field thereof covers the whole body and the whole body can be simultaneously subjected to dynamic PET-imaging. For the maintenance of the PET gantry (3), the diagnosis apparatus is separated at an arbitrary PET unit (32) to be maintained, the apparatus slides on a rail (31) in the axis direction and is separated for maintenance operation. Accordingly, a large space for maintenance is not required and the area for installation is small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Masaharu Amano, Kazumi Tanaka, Tetsuro Mizuta, Atsushi Ohtani