Patents by Inventor Michiharu Nakaya

Michiharu Nakaya 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: 20170088914
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high-strength galvannealed steel sheet having a galvannealed layer on a surface of a base steel sheet and containing predetermined steel components. The steel sheet sequentially has, from the interface of the base steel sheet and the galvannealed layer, towards the base steel sheet: an internal oxide layer and containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Si and Mn; a soft layer including the internal oxide layer, and satisfying a predetermined Vickers hardness; and a hard layer made up of a structure mainly composed of martensite. The average depth D of the soft layer is 20 ?m or greater, and the average depth d of the internal oxide layer is 4 ?m or greater and smaller than D. A coefficient of variation of KAM of the base steel sheet at the portion t/4 is 0.66 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Muneaki IKEDA, Michiharu NAKAYA
  • Patent number: 9605335
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet for stamping, which has excellent cold workability, has such satisfactory surface quality as to be free from unplating and other defects even in the absence of dedicated facilities, and ensures a strength of 1370 MPa or more after quenching even when cooled at a low rate. Also disclosed is a method effective for the produce of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet for stamping. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet for stamping comprises a base steel sheet and a hot-dip galvanized layer on a surface of the base steel sheet, in which the base steel sheet has a predetermined chemical composition and has a microstructure comprising equiaxed ferrite having an average aspect ratio of 4.0 or less and cementite and/or pearlite having an average major axis of grains of 20 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., VOESTALPINE STAHL GmbH
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Tatsuya Asai, Andreas Pichler, Thomas Kurz
  • Publication number: 20170009315
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high-strength hot-dip galvannealed steel sheet excellent in bake hardenability and bendability and having a component composition containing, in mass %, C: from 0.05 to 030%, Si: from 0.5 to 3.0%, Mn: from 0.2 to 3.0%, P: from 0 to 0.10%, S: from 0 to 0.010%, N: form 0 to 0.010%, and Al: from 0.001 to 0.10%, with the remainder being iron and unavoidable impurities. The steel sheet has a steel structure containing, in terms of area percentage, martensite: form 50 to 85% and ferrite: 0% or more and less than 5%, with the remainder being bainite. The steel sheet has a dislocation density of 5.0×1015 m?2 or more, a solute carbon amount of 0.08 mass % or more and a tensile strength of 1180 MPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Kosuke SHIBATA, Toshio MURAKAMI, Muneaki IKEDA, Michiharu NAKAYA
  • Publication number: 20160355920
    Abstract: Provided are: a high-strength steel sheet which is improved in both elongation and local formability and thus exhibits excellent workability; and a manufacturing method thereof. The high-strength steel sheet contains C, Si, Mn, Al, P and S with the remainder including iron and unavoidable impurities, and has a metal structure which includes polygonal ferrite, bainite, tempered martensite, and retained austenite. In the metal structure, (1) the bainite has a composite microstructure including both a high-temperature-formed bainite having an average distance between adjacent regions of retained austenite and/or carbide of 1 ?m or more and a low-temperature-formed bainite having an average distance between adjacent regions of retained austenite and/or carbide of less than 1 ?m each identified upon observation with a scanning electron microscope; and (2) the retained austenite is present in a volume percentage of 5% or more of the entire metal structure as determined by a saturation magnetization measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yuichi FUTAMURA, Michiharu NAKAYA, Takayuki KIMURA
  • Patent number: 9464337
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high strength steel sheet having excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance. The steel sheet has a tensile strength of 1180 MPa or more, and satisfies the following conditions: with respect to an entire metallographic structure thereof, bainite, bainitic ferrite and tempered martensite account for 85 area % or more in total; retained austenite accounts for 1 area % or more; and fresh martensite accounts for 5 area % or less (including 0 area %).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO, VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH
    Inventors: Yoichi Mukai, Kouji Kasuya, Michiharu Nakaya, Michitaka Tsunezawa, Fumio Yuse, Junichiro Kinugasa, Sandra Traint, Andreas Pichler
  • Publication number: 20150167133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to high strength cold rolled steel sheet suitable for applications in automobiles, construction materials and the like, specifically high strength steel sheet excellent in formability. In particular, the invention relates to cold rolled steel sheets having a tensile strength of at least 980 MPa and a method for producing such steel sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Stefan Paul, Daniel Krizan, Andreas Pichler, Michiharu Nakaya
  • Publication number: 20150101712
    Abstract: Provided is a method that enables manufacture, with good productivity, of a high-strength cold-rolled steel with improved elongation (EL), stretch-flangeability (?), bendability (R), and balance of these properties (TS×EL×?/1000), outstanding composite workability as evaluated by Erichsen test, and a tensile strength of at least 980 MPa. A steel material satisfying a prescribed constituent composition is held and soaked for at least fifty seconds at a temperature at or above the Ac3 point, after which the steel material is cooled at an average cooling rate of at least 15° C./sec to a discretionary temperature (T) that satisfies expression (1) below, held for 5-180 seconds in a temperature range that satisfies expression (1) below, then heated to a temperature region that satisfies expression (2) below, held for at least 50 seconds in this temperature region, and then cooled. 300° C.?T1 (° C.)<400° C. ??(1) 400° C.?T2 (° C.)<540° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.)
    Inventors: Yuichi Futamura, Michiharu Nakaya
  • Publication number: 20150044502
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet for stamping, which has excellent cold workability, has such satisfactory surface quality as to be free from unplating and other defects even in the absence of dedicated facilities, and ensures a strength of 1370 MPa or more after quenching even when cooled at a low rate. Also disclosed is a method effective for the produce of the hot-dip galvanized steel sheet for stamping. The hot-dip galvanized steel sheet for stamping comprises a base steel sheet and a hot-dip galvanized layer on a surface of the base steel sheet, in which the base steel sheet has a predetermined chemical composition and has a microstructure comprising equiaxed ferrite having an average aspect ratio of 4.0 or less and cementite and/or pearlite having an average major axis of grains of 20 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Tatsuya Asai, Andreas Pichler, Thomas Kurz
  • Publication number: 20150034218
    Abstract: The present invention relates to high strength cold rolled steel sheet suitable for applications in automobiles, construction materials and the like, specifically high strength steel excellent in formability. In particular, the invention relates to cold rolled steel sheets having a tensile strength of at least 980 MPa and a method for producing such steel sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Krizan, Stefan Paul, Andreas Pichler, Michiharu Nakaya
  • Publication number: 20140044988
    Abstract: Provided are: a high-strength steel sheet which is improved in both elongation and local formability and thus exhibits excellent workability; and a manufacturing method thereof. The high-strength steel sheet contains C, Si, Mn, Al, P and S with the remainder including iron and unavoidable impurities, and has a metal structure which includes polygonal ferrite, bainite, tempered martensite, and retained austenite. In the metal structure, (1) the bainite has a composite microstructure including both a high-temperature-formed bainite having an average distance between adjacent regions of retained austenite and/or carbide of 1 ?m or more and a low-temperature-formed bainite having an average distance between adjacent regions of retained austenite and/or carbide of less than 1 ?m each identified upon observation with a scanning electron microscope; and (2) the retained austenite is present in a volume percentage of 5% or more of the entire metal structure as determined by a saturation magnetization measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yuichi Futamura, Michiharu Nakaya, Takayuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 8257513
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength steel sheet with 780 MPa class tensile strength excellent in bending workability and fatigue strength. The high strength steel sheet is (1) a steel sheet whose steel composition contains: C: 0.05-0.20%; Si: 0.6-2.0%; Mn: 1.6-3.0%; P: 0.05% or below; S: 0.01% or below; Al: 0.1% or below; and N: 0.01% or below, the balance comprising iron and inevitable impurities, in which (2) a microstructure comprises a polygonal ferrite structure and a structure formed by low-temperature transformation, in which, when a sheet plane located at a depth of 0.1 mm from a surface of the steel sheet is in the observation under a scanning electron microscope with respect to twenty sights in total in different positions in the sheet-width direction, the maximum value of the areal proportion of the polygonal ferrite (Fmax) and the minimum value of the areal proportion of the ferrite (Fmin) in a 50 ?m×50 ?m area in each sight satisfy Fmax?80%, Fmin?10%, and Fmax?Fmin?40%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Tetsuji Hoshika
  • Patent number: 8197617
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-strength steel sheet which has a 980 MPa class tensile strength as well as has excellent elongation, stretch flangeability and weldability, and also has excellent anti-delayed fraction property. The high-strength steel sheet comprises steel satisfying: C: 0.12 to 0.25%, Si: 1.0 to 3.0%, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0%, P: 0.15% or less, S: 0.02% or less, Al: 0.4% or less, and comprising the remnant made from iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein a ratio of the contents of Si and C (Si/C) is within the range from 7 to 14 in terms of a mass ratio, and a microstructure in a longitudinal section comprises, by an occupancy ratio based on the entire structure, 1) bainitic ferrite: 50% or more, 2) lath-type residual austenite: 3% or more, and 3) block-type residual austenite: 1% or more to ½×occupancy ratio of lath-type residual austenite, and 4) average size of block-type second phase is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Yoichi Mukai, Koichi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20120132327
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high strength steel sheet having excellent hydrogen embrittlement resistance. The steel sheet has a tensile strength of 1180 MPa or more, and satisfies the following conditions: with respect to an entire metallographic structure thereof, bainite, bainitic ferrite and tempered martensite account for 85 area % or more in total; retained austenite accounts for 1 area % or more; and fresh martensite accounts for 5 area % or less (including 0 area %).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: VOESTALPINE STAHL GMBH, Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Yoichi Mukai, Kouji Kasuya, Michiharu Nakaya, Michitaka Tsunezawa, Fumio Yuse, Junichiro Kinugasa, Sandra Traint, Andreas Pichler
  • Publication number: 20100221138
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-strength composite steel sheet which has a tensile strength of 980 MPa class as well as excellent and excellent anti-delayed fraction property, and also has excellent spot-weldability. The high-strength composite steel sheet comprises a steel satisfying: C: 0.10 to 0.25% (% by mass in case of a chemical component, the same shall apply hereinafter), Si: 1.0 to 3.0%, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0%, P: 0.15% or less, S: 0.02% or less, Al: 0.4% or less, and comprising the remnant made from iron and unavoidable impurities; the contents of Si, Al, Mn and Cr satisfy the relationship of “(Si+Al)/Mn or (Si+Al)/(Mn+Cr)=0.74 to 1.26”; and microstructure is specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, Shinshu TLO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Yoichi Mukai, Koichi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20100183472
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high strength steel sheet with 780 MPa class tensile strength excellent in bending workability and fatigue strength. The high strength steel sheet is (1) a steel sheet whose steel composition contains: C: 0.05-0.20%; Si: 0.6-2.0%; Mn: 1.6-3.0%; P: 0.05% or below; S: 0.01% or below; Al: 0.1% or below; and N: 0.01% or below, the balance comprising iron and inevitable impurities, in which (2) a microstructure comprises a polygonal ferrite structure and a structure formed by low-temperature transformation, in which, when a sheet plane located at a depth of 0.1 mm from a surface of the steel sheet is in the observation under a scanning electron microscope with respect to twenty sights in total in different positions in the sheet-width direction, the maximum value of the areal proportion of the polygonal ferrite (Fmax) and the minimum value of the areal proportion of the ferrite (Fmin) in a 50 ?m×50 ?m area in each sight satisfy Fmax?80%, Fmin?10%, and Fmax?Fmin?40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel Ltd.)
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Tetsuji Hoshika
  • Publication number: 20100172786
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high-strength steel sheet which has a 980 MPa class tensile strength as well as has excellent elongation, stretch flangeability and weldability, and also has excellent anti-delayed fraction property. The high-strength steel sheet comprises steel satisfying: C: 0.12 to 0.25%, Si: 1.0 to 3.0%, Mn: 1.5 to 3.0%, P: 0.15% or less, S: 0.02% or less, Al: 0.4% or less, and comprising the remnant made from iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein a ratio of the contents of Si and C (Si/C) is within the range from 7 to 14 in terms of a mass ratio, and a microstructure in a longitudinal section comprises, by an occupancy ratio based on the entire structure, 1) bainitic ferrite: 50% or more, 2) lath-type residual austenite: 3% or more, and 3) block-type residual austenite: 1% or more to ½×occupancy ratio of lath-type residual austenite, and 4) average size of block-type second phase is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO, SHINSHU TLO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michiharu Nakaya, Yoichi Mukai, Koichi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6280538
    Abstract: A hot rolled high strength steel sheet having a satisfactory strength-elongation balance and an stretch frangibility and with excellent formability comprising a steel, which contains: C :0.05 ˜ 0.15% Si :0.5 ˜ 2.0% Mn :0.5 ˜ 2.0% P :0.05% or less S :0.010% or less Al :0.005 ˜ less than 0.10%, and the balance of Fe and inevitable impurities, and in which the metal structure mainly comprises three phases of ferrite, retained austenite and bainite, the amount of the ferrite [V(F)] is 60˜95 area %, the amount of the retained austenite [V(&ggr;)] is 3˜15 vol %, the amount of the bainite [V(B)] in the area ratio is 1.5 times or more of the amount of the retained austenite [V(&ggr;)], and the average hardness of the bainite is 240-400 Hv.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Tetsuo Soshiroda, Yoichi Mukai, Michiharu Nakaya