Patents by Inventor Mitsuo Nihei

Mitsuo Nihei 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: 6708547
    Abstract: There are disclosed a rolling mill capable of keeping a uniform plate of thickness distribution and manufacturing a good-quality plate, and a rolling method. The rolling mill comprises working rolls movable in roll axis directions, profile-measuring means for measuring the profile of each of the working rolls, profile-estimating means for estimating the profile thereof, and a grinder for grinding each of the working rolls. The rolling mill also comprises instructing means for sending a command of grinding to the grinder at a time when the measured profile value or the estimated profile value regarding each of the working rolls reaches a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Narita, Mitsuo Nihei, Takehiko Saito, Toshiyasu Shinmura, Shinichi Kaga, Takashi Kamoshita
  • Patent number: 6446477
    Abstract: The invention intends to always maintain a distance between a hydrostatic pressure bearing and a roll even in a transient state before and after the start of rolling, thereby sufficiently and surely preventing damage of those components upon contact with each other, and to prevent a lowering of yield. In a plate rolling mill comprising upper and lower work rolls, and hydrostatic pressure bearings for supporting barrel portions of idler rolls in a non-contact manner with fluid pressure substantially along the horizontal direction, the idler rolls supporting the work rolls substantially along the horizontal direction, gap restraining rolls are provided to prevent gaps between the hydrostatic pressure bearings and the idler rolls from becoming lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Yasuda, Mitsuo Nihei, Yukio Hirama, Yoshio Takakura
  • Publication number: 20020100307
    Abstract: There are disclosed a rolling mill capable of keeping a uniform plate of thickness distribution and manufacturing a good-quality plate, and a rolling method. The rolling mill comprises working rolls movable in roll axis directions, profile-measuring means for measuring the profile of each of the working rolls, profile-estimating means for estimating the profile there of, and a grinder for grinding each of the working rolls. The rolling mill also comprises instructing means for sending a command of grinding to the grinder at a time when the measured profile value or the estimated profile value regarding each of the working rolls reaches a given value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Narita, Mitsuo Nihei, Takehiko Saito, Toshiyasu Shinmura, Shinichi Kaga, Takashi Kamoshita
  • Patent number: 6408666
    Abstract: There are disclosed a rolling mill capable of keeping a uniform plate thickness distribution and manufacturing a good-quality plate, and a rolling method. The rolling mill comprises working rolls movable in roll axis directions, profile-measuring means for measuring the profile of each of the working rolls, profile-estimating means for estimating the profile thereof, and a grinder for grinding each of the working rolls. The rolling mill also comprises instructing means for sending a command of grinding to the grinder at a time when the measured profile value or the estimated profile value regarding each of the working rolls reaches a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Narita, Mitsuo Nihei, Takehiko Saito, Toshiyasu Shinmura, Shinichi Kaga, Takashi Kamoshita
  • Publication number: 20010020380
    Abstract: The invention intends to always maintain a distance between a hydrostatic pressure bearing and a roll even in a transient state before and after the start of rolling, thereby sufficiently and surely preventing damage of those components upon contact with each other, and to prevent a lowering of yield. In a plate rolling mill comprising upper and lower work rolls, and hydrostatic pressure bearings for supporting barrel portions of idler rolls in a non-contact manner with fluid pressure substantially along the horizontal direction, the idler rolls supporting the work rolls substantially along the horizontal direction, gap restraining rolls are provided to prevent gaps between the hydrostatic pressure bearings and the idler rolls from becoming lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Yasuda, Mitsuo Nihei, Yukio Hirama, Yoshio Takakura
  • Patent number: 6286354
    Abstract: The work rolls of two sets of roller groups are held within one-piece metal chock in a rolling mill. A one-piece metal chock in which the driving side and operating side are separate then provides support at the upper part of the rolling material, with support similarly being provided at the lower part using another pair of single piece metal chocks. Two sets of roll groups can then be arranged close to each other, strip walking and strip curving can be prevented, and a rolling mill, rolling method and rolling installation that are easy to maintain and provide superior rolling efficiency can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Yoshihiko Iida, Yasutsugu Yoshimura, Kouichi Seki, Ryohei Konose, Mitsuo Nihei
  • Patent number: 6250126
    Abstract: The invention intends to always maintain a distance between a hydrostatic pressure bearing and a roll even in a transient state before and after the start of rolling, thereby sufficiently and surely preventing damage of those components upon contact with each other, and to prevent a lowering of yield. In a plate rolling mill comprising upper and lower work rolls, and hydrostatic pressure bearings for supporting barrel portions of idler rolls in a non-contact manner with fluid pressure substantially along the horizontal direction, the idler rolls supporting the work rolls substantially along the horizontal direction, gap restraining rolls are provided to prevent gaps between the hydrostatic pressure bearings and the idler rolls from becoming lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Yasuda, Mitsuo Nihei, Yukio Hirama, Yoshio Takakura
  • Patent number: 6213381
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus for bonding metal plates, includes an overlapping mechanism for overlapping end portions of the metal plates, at least two supports for supporting the overlapped portion of the metal plates at one side of the metal plates, and a shearing blade disposed opposite the supports so as to sandwich the overlapped portion of the metal plates therebetween, wherein a moving mechanism is provided for relatively moving at least one of the shearing blade and the supports so as to press the shearing blade into the overlapped portion of the metal plates disposed between the supports and the shearing glade. A method for bonding is characterized by bonding metal plates by using the above apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Funamoto, Gen Nagakubo, Takashi Mashiko, Fuminori Ishikawa, Tadashi Nishino, Yusutsugu Yoshimura, Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Kenichi Yasuda, Mitsuo Nihei, Yoshio Takakura, Hironori Shimogama
  • Patent number: 6151943
    Abstract: There are provided a rolling machine and a rolling method in which the strip crown and shape control capability for a narrow-width strip is improved, so that the adequate strip crown and shape control capability for strips of various widths from a narrow width to a larger width can be secured. In the rolling machine, a pair of upper and lower working rolls are supported respectively by a pair of upper and lower intermediate rolls, and the intermediate rolls are supported respectively by a pair of upper and lower reinforcing rolls. The reinforcing rolls have an effective barrel length which is smaller than an effective barrel length of the working rolls and the intermediate rolls, and is larger than a width of a minimum-width strip to be rolled. The intermediate rolls are arranged in such a manner that their axes, disposed respectively in substantially horizontal planes, cross each other, and are crossed relative to the working rolls and the reinforcing rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nihei, Minoru Igari, Takehiko Saito, Yoshio Takakura
  • Patent number: 6012319
    Abstract: A rolling mill is provided with a pair of work rolls 2, a pair of intermediate rolls 3 and a pair of backup rolls 4 in a mill stand 5, wherein the pair of backup rolls are arranged so that their axial lines cross perpendicularly a plate travelling direction and do not incline to the direction in a horizontal plane, the intermediate rolls and work rolls are arranged so that the axial lines of the intermediate rolls and the axial line of the work rolls incline to (cross) the axes of the backup rolls in a counter direction to each other in a horizontal plane, and a lubricant supplying apparatus 6 is provided for supplying a lubricant to the roll surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Narita, Mitsuo Nihei, Kenichi Yasuda, Takehiko Saito, Yukio Hirama, Kouji Satou
  • Patent number: 5934130
    Abstract: A rolling mill drive apparatus for driving any rolls of a pair of work rolls, 2 to 4 intermediate rolls and 2 to 4 backup rolls comprises a drive roller without tooth, rotated by an electric motor, at least one driven roller without tooth, contacting with the drive roller, a load imparting device for imparting a contact load between the drive roller and the driven roller to rotate the driven roller with frictional force caused by the contact load, and a spindle connected to at least the driven roller of the drive roller and the driven roller and transmitting rotation of the driven roller to the rolls. A rolling mill uses the rolling mill drive apparatus. A rolling method is for rolling using the rolling mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Hidetoshi Nishi, Yasutsugu Yoshimura, Mitsuo Nihei, Toyotsugu Masuda, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5884832
    Abstract: A bonding apparatus for bonding metal plates, includes an overlapping mechanism for overlapping end portions of the metal plates, at least two supports for supporting the overlapped portion of the metal plates at one side of the metal plates, and a shearing blade disposed opposite the supports so as to sandwich the overlapped portion of the metal plates therebetween, wherein a mechanism is provided for moving relatively moving at least one of the shearing blade and the supports so as to press the shearing blade into the overlapped portion of the metal plates disposed between the supports and the shearing blade. A method for bonding is characterized by bonding metal plates by using the above apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Funamoto, Gen Nagakubo, Takashi Mashiko, Fuminori Ishikawa, Tadashi Nishino, Yusutsugu Yoshimura, Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Kenichi Yasuda, Mitsuo Nihei, Yoshio Takakura, Hironori Shimogama
  • Patent number: 5461770
    Abstract: In a continuous process for continuous casting and hot-rolling of metal sheet, off-line storage of a slab takes place in a thermally insulated storage chamber located alongside a thermally insulated zone through which the slab lengths travel in the production line between a cutter for the slab and the hot-rolling mill train. On stoppage of the hot-rolling mill train, at least one slab length is transferred laterally to the off-line thermally insulated storage chamber. To improve ductility, an induction heating stage is combined with a subsequent temperature-maintaining stage in the furnace for homogenization of temperature within the slab. Both these stages are performed on the slab at its casting thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kimura, Mitsuo Nihei, Kenji Horii, Kenichi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 4941251
    Abstract: A roller for rolling mill comprising an entirely non-metallic sintered body composed principally of at least one material selected from silicon carbide, silicon nitride, sialon, alumina and zirconia and having a relative density which is at least 96% of the theoretical density, the roller having an initial crown in the range of -300 .mu.m to +300 .mu.m, is provided. This roller for rolling mill has a high hardness and high wear resistance and can be used as a work roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Sobue, Sensuke Okada, Kimihiko Akahori, Keiichi Kuniya, Toshimi Sasaki, Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Tomoaki Kimura, Mitsuo Nihei
  • Patent number: 4852383
    Abstract: A press apparatus for reducing widths of hot slabs comprises a pair of anvils movable toward and away from each other in width directions of the hot slabs, width reduction heads to which the pair of anvils are attached, respectively, and eccentric presses for reciprocatively driving the width reduction heads through sliders, respectively. The apparatus further comprises width adjusting means incorporated in the eccentric presses, respectively, for changing distances between the width reduction heads and the sliders. Each of the anvils has a parallel portion in parallel to a feeding direction of the hot slabs and an inclined portion on an entry side in the feeding direction. With this arrangement, the reducing distance can be set according to the desired distance of reduction in width in continuous width reduction and the reduction in width can be continuously effected with the set reducing distance with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignees: Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nikaido, Naoi Takayuki, Atsushi Komori, Mitsuo Nihei
  • Patent number: 4839949
    Abstract: A roller for rolling mill comprising an entirely non-metallic sintered body composed principally of at least one material selected from silicon carbide, silicon nitride, sialon, alumina and zirconia and having a relative density which is at least 96% of the theoretical density of the sintered body, the roller having an initial crown in the range of -300 .mu.m to +300 .mu.m, is provided. This roller for rolling mill has a high hardness and high wear resistance and can be used as a work roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahisa Sobue, Sensuke Okada, Kimihiko Akahori, Keiichi Kuniya, Toshimi Sasaki, Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Tomoaki Kimura, Mitsuo Nihei
  • Patent number: 4760728
    Abstract: A press apparatus for reducing widths of hot slabs comprises a pair of anvils movable toward and away from each other in width directions of the hot slabs, width reduction heads to which the pair of anvils are attached, respectively, and eccentric presses for reciprocatively driving the width reduction heads through sliders, respectively. The apparatus further comprises width adjusting means incorporated in the eccentric presses, respectively, for changing distances between the width reduction heads and the sliders. Each of the anvils has a parallel portion in parallel to a feeding direction of the hot slabs and an inclined portion on an entry side in the feeding direction. With this arrangement, the reducing distance can be set according to the desired distance of reduction in width in continuous width reduction and the reduction in width can be continuously effected with the set reducing distance with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignees: Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nikaido, Takayuki Naoi, Atsushi Komori, Mitsuo Nihei
  • Patent number: 4706871
    Abstract: A continuous steel hot-rolling method and apparatus for successively bonding a plurality of steel pieces of a predetermined length and maintained at a high temperature so as to form a continuous train of the steel pieces for roll by a rolling mill. The apparatus includes a holding device for holding a trailing end of a preceding steel piece and a leading end of a succeeding steel piece. A device is provided for shearing the ends of the steel pieces while the ends are held by the holding device. A device heats the sheared trailing end of the preceding steel piece and the sheared leading end of the succeeding steel piece to a predetermined temperature, with a device being provided for driving at least one of the preceding and following steel pieces along a travel path of the steel pieces to press and bond the heated trailing end surface of the preceding steel piece and the heated leading end surface of the succeeding steel piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kajiwara, Tomoaki Kimura, Mitsuo Nihei
  • Patent number: 4651550
    Abstract: For decreasing the width of a thin slab: a turning roll contacts the thin slab being conveyed at a certain contact angle to curve the thin slab; a tension applying device disposed in front and at the back of the turning roll, applys a tension to the thin slab forwardly and rearwardly in the direction of conveyance of the slab. Thus, the slab can be decreased in its width to a satisfactory section with no buckling loop forming portions for forming loops of the hot thin slab at the inlet and the outlet sides of the apparatus for decreasing the width of the thin slab absorb the intermittent proceeding of the hot thin slab in the direction of flow of the material. Thus, the continuous receipt and the delivery of the slab are made possible while the intermittent width decrease is performed, and the combination of the continuous casting equipment with the hot finish rolling equipment is materialized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nihei, Tomoaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 4499748
    Abstract: A rolling mill comprising a roll housing in which are mounted a pair of work rolls which can be bent by work roll benders and a pair of support rolls therefor which are displaceable relative to each other in their axial direction and are bent by support roll benders. To minimize the size of the window of the rolling mill housing while including a plurality of mechanisms such as roll benders and means for roll displacement, said support roll benders are disposed closer to the center plane of the rolling mill than the work roll benders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Nihei, Hidetoshi Nishi