Patents by Inventor Nobushiro Seo

Nobushiro Seo 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: 20240009757
    Abstract: A rotary tool used in a joining device that performs friction stir welding of a joint member. The rotary tool includes: a main body having a fixed unit attached and secured to the joining device, and a rotary shaft for transmitting a rotary force from the joining device; a stirring member that has a stirring pin inserted into the joint member to perform friction stirring on the joint member, that is arranged so as to be rotatable by receiving the rotary force from the rotary shaft, and that is provided on the main body so as to be movable relative to an axial direction of the rotary shaft; and an elastic member that biases the stirring member toward a distal-end side relative to the axial direction of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Ryo YOSHIDA, Shingo KOIZUMI, Keita OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240009754
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a joining method that can prevent poor joining. The present invention provides a joining method including: a measuring step that measures a height near a joint portion, which serves as a part for joining formed by a first metal member and a second metal member placed in a positional relationship for joining by abutting or overlapping, and obtains measured values; a setting step that sets a height position of a rotating tool based on the measured values obtained by the measuring step; and a friction stir step that relatively moves the turning rotating tool along the joint portion based on the height position set by the setting step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Ryo YOSHIDA, Shingo KOIZUMI, Keita OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240009753
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized by including a primary joining process to perform friction stirring to a first butted portion by moving a stirring pin one round around a sealing body with a predetermined depth along a set moving track set at an inner position relative to an outer peripheral side face in a state that only the stirring pin of a rotary tool being rotated is inserted into the sealing body and that an outer circumferential face of the stirring pin is slightly in contact with a step side face of a peripheral wall step portion. In the primary joining process, after only the stirring pin being rotated is inserted into a starting position set at a position on an inner side relative to the set moving track, the stirring pin is gradually inserted to the predetermined depth while an axis of the rotary tool is moved to a position on the set moving track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Hisashi HORI
  • Publication number: 20240001478
    Abstract: A rotary tool includes: a main body having a fixed unit and a rotary shaft; a stirring pin rotatable and movable relative to an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and inserted into a joint member to perform friction stirring; and a shoulder that is arranged on the main body so as not to receive a rotary force from the main body but to be movable relative to the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and that presses the joint member while in contact with the joint member, wherein the stirring pin and the shoulder are mounted to form an assembly so as to be relatively movable and to move integrally in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the rotary tool further includes a first elastic member that biases the assembly toward a distal-end side of the stirring pin relative to the axial direction of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Ryo YOSHIDA, Shingo KOIZUMI, Keita OIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240001479
    Abstract: A rotary tool includes: a main body, and a rotary shaft for transmitting a rotary force; a stirring pin that is arranged on the main body so as to be rotatable by receiving the rotary force and to be movable relative to an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and that is inserted into a joint member to perform friction stirring on the joint member; a shoulder that is formed separately from the stirring pin, that is arranged on the main body so as not to receive the rotary force from the main body but to be movable separately from the stirring pin relative to the axial direction of the rotary shaft, and that presses the joint member while in contact with the joint member; and a first elastic member that biases the stirring pin toward a distal-end side relative to the axial direction of the rotary shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Ryo YOSHIDA, Shingo KOIZUMI, Keita OIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11806802
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a joining method by which metal members can be suitably joined to each other. The present invention is characterized by including a friction stirring process in which the first metal member, the second metal member, and the auxiliary member are joined to one another by moving the rotary tool along the inner corner portion in a state where the tip side pin which is being rotated is inserted into the inner corner portion, is in contact with the first metal member, the second metal member, and the auxiliary member, and an outer circumferential face of the base side pin is pressed against the auxiliary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro Seo, Keita Oikawa
  • Patent number: 11806801
    Abstract: Provided is a joining method that can prevent a plastic flowing material from flowing out from a butt section and that can reduce the thickness and weight of metal members. The joining method is for joining a first metal member and a second metal member by using a rotary tool comprising a stirring pin, and is characterized in that: the stirring pin comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tool and comprises a protruding section protruding from the flat face; and in a friction stirring step, the flat surface is brought into contact with the first metal member and the second metal member, and a front end face of the protruding section is inserted deeper than an upper overlapping section to join an upper front butt section and the upper overlapping section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro Seo, Hisashi Hori
  • Patent number: 11794271
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized by including a primary joining process to perform friction stirring to a first butted portion by moving a stirring pin one round around a sealing body with a predetermined depth along a set moving route set at an inner position relative to an outer peripheral side face in a state that only the stirring pin of a rotary tool being rotated is inserted into the sealing body and that an outer face of the stirring pin is slightly in contact with a step side face of a peripheral wall step portion. In the primary joining process, after only the stirring pin being rotated is inserted into a starting position set at a position on an inner side relative to the set moving route, the stirring pin is gradually inserted to the predetermined depth while an axis of the rotary tool is moved to a position on the set moving route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro Seo, Hisashi Hori
  • Patent number: 11712748
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid-cooled jacket, to reduce the size of a recessed groove on a surface of a metal member and also to reduce roughness of a jointed surface. The method includes: a placing step of placing a sealing body on a jacket body, a first main joining step of performing friction stirring by moving a main joining rotary tool around to a first overlapped portion, and a second main joining step of performing friction stirring to a second overlapped portion. The main joining rotary tool has a base-end-side pin and a tip-end-side pin. A taper angle of the base-end-side pin is greater than a taper angle of the tip-end-side pin and a stairs-like pin step portion is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the base-end-side pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11707798
    Abstract: A liquid cooling jacket is produced by forming a first butted portion where a step side face of a peripheral wall portion and an outer peripheral side face of a sealing body butt each other and a third butted portion where a step side face of a support pillar portion and a hole wall of the hole portion of the sealing body portion butt each other with a gap, and friction-stirring by inserting a tip side pin and a base side pin of a primary joining rotary tool that is rotating into the sealing body and moving the primary joining rotary tool along the third butted portion with an outer circumferential face of the tip side pin being kept off the step side face while having a second aluminum alloy of the sealing body flow into the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20230166350
    Abstract: Provided is a joining method that can prevent a plastic flowing material from flowing out from a butt section and that can reduce the thickness and weight of metal members. The joining method is for joining a first metal member and a second metal member by using a rotary tool comprising a stirring pin, and is characterized in that: the stirring pin comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tool and comprises a protruding section protruding from the flat face; and in a friction stirring step, the flat surface is brought into contact with the first metal member and the second metal member, and a front end face of the protruding section is inserted deeper than an upper overlapping section to join an upper front butt section and the upper overlapping section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Hisashi HORI
  • Publication number: 20230158599
    Abstract: Provided is a joining method that can prevent a plastic flowing material from flowing out from a butt section and that can reduce the thickness and weight of metal members. The joining method is for joining a first metal member and a second metal member by using a rotary tool comprising a stirring pin, and is characterized in that: the stirring pin comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tool and comprises a protruding section protruding from the flat face; and in a friction stirring step, the flat surface is brought into contact with the first metal member and the second metal member, and a front end face of the protruding section is inserted deeper than an upper overlapping section to join an upper front butt section and the upper overlapping section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro SEO, Hisashi HORI
  • Patent number: 11654507
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid-cooling jacket (1) where heat transfer fluid flows in a hollow part (14) defined by a jacket body (2) and a sealing body (3) includes: an overlapping process in which the sealing body (3) is placed on an end surface (11a) of a peripheral wall part (11) in such a way that the end surface (11a) and a back surface of the sealing body (3) are overlapped each other to form a first overlapped part (H1); and a primary joining process in which primary joining is performed by friction stirring in such a way that a rotary tool (FD) is moved once around a recessed part (13) along the first overlapped part (H1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11654508
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid-cooled jacket, to reduce the size of a recessed groove on a surface of a metal member and also to reduce roughness of an abutted surface. The method includes: a placing step of placing a jacket body and a sealing body, a first main joining step of performing friction stirring by moving a main joining rotary tool around along a first abutted portion, and a second main joining step of performing friction stirring by moving the main joining rotary tool around along a second abutted portion. The main joining rotary tool has a base-end-side pin and a tip-end-side pin. A taper angle of the base-end-side pin is grater than a taper angle of the tip-end-side pin and a stairs-like pin step portion is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tip-end-side pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20230135888
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a primary joining process in which a coarse portion having a predetermined width is formed in the vicinity of a step side face within a plasticized region while the rotary tool is being moved one round along a first butted portion to perform friction stirring in a state that a tip of a stirring pin of a rotary tool being rotated is inserted to the same depth as or slightly deeper than a step bottom face and a bottom face of a shoulder portion is in contact with a front face of a sealing body and the stirring pin is slightly in contact with at least an upper portion of a jacket body; and an inspection process in which a passed position of the stirring pin is specified by performing, after the primary joining process, a flaw detection to detect the coarse portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi HORI, Nobushiro SEO
  • Patent number: 11590605
    Abstract: Provided is a joining method that can prevent a plastic flowing material from flowing out from a butt section and that can reduce the thickness and weight of metal members. The joining method is for joining a first metal member and a second metal member by using a rotary tool comprising a stirring pin, and is characterized in that: the stirring pin comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tool and comprises a protruding section protruding from the flat face; and in a friction stirring step, the flat surface is brought into contact with the first metal member and the second metal member, and a front end face of the protruding section is inserted deeper than an upper overlapping section to join an upper front butt section and the upper overlapping section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobushiro Seo, Hisashi Hori
  • Publication number: 20230053077
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a primary joining process in which a coarse portion having a predetermined width is formed in the vicinity of a step side face within a plasticized region while the rotary tool is being moved one round along a first butted portion to perform friction stirring in a state that a tip of a tip side pin of a rotary tool being rotated is inserted to the same depth as or slightly deeper than a step bottom face and an outer circumferential face of a base side pin is in contact with a front face of a sealing body and the tip side pin is slightly in contact with at least an upper portion of a jacket body and an inspection process in which a passed position of the tip side pin is specified by performing, a flaw detection to detect the coarse portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi HORI, Nobushiro SEO, Kosuke YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 11559850
    Abstract: A jacket main body is formed of a first aluminum alloy. A seal body is formed of a second aluminum alloy. The first aluminum alloy is higher in hardness than the second aluminum alloy in material type. A method includes: a preparing step of forming on an peripheral wall part a step part having a step bottom surface and a step side surface obliquely rising; a mounting step of mounting the seal body on the jacket main body to form a first butt portion and putting the step bottom surface and a back surface of the seal body on each other to form a second butt portion; a main joining step of performing friction stir welding while only the stirring pin of the rotary tool rotating contacts with only the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo
  • Patent number: 11413700
    Abstract: The present invention is characterized by including a heat medium pipe insertion process to insert a heat medium pipe into a concave groove; a lid plate insertion process to insert a lid plate into a lid groove; and a joining process to perform friction stirring while a primary joining rotary tool provided with a base side pin and a tip side pin is moved along a butted portion of a side wall of the lid groove and a side face of the lid plate, wherein in the joining process, friction stirring is performed while the tip side pin of the primary rotary tool which is rotating is inserted into the butted portion and an outer circumferential face of the base side pin is in contact with the base member and the lid plate, and plastically fluidized material fluidized by frictional heat is flowed into a void portion formed adjacent to the heat medium pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo, Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11419237
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid-cooling jacket (1) where heat transfer fluid flows in a hollow part (14) defined by a jacket body (2) and a sealing body (3) includes: an overlapping process in which the sealing body (3) is placed on an end surface (11a) of a peripheral wall part (11) in such a way that the end surface (11a) and a back surface of the sealing body (3) are overlapped each other to form a first overlapped part (H1); and a primary joining process in which primary joining is performed by friction stirring in such a way that a rotary tool (F1) is moved once around a recessed part (13) along the first overlapped part (H1). In the primary joining process, the first overlapped part (H1) is joined in a state where the tip side pin is in contact with only the sealing body (3) or with the jacket body (2) and the sealing body (3) while the base side pin is in contact with the sealing body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hisashi Hori, Nobushiro Seo, Kosuke Yamanaka