Patents by Inventor Norihiro Amano

Norihiro 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).

  • Patent number: 9700935
    Abstract: There are provided a manufacturing method of a casting capable of easily manufacturing a casting having a complex form and of increasing the degree of freedom of form of the casting to be manufactured, a manufacturing device thereof and a casting. At the time of forming a casting by drawing out molten metal from a bath surface of a molten metal bath and solidifying the molten metal which has been drawn out, an outer contour unit configured from a plurality of outer contour defining members for defining the outer contour of a casting is arranged in a region between the bath surface of the molten meth bath and a solid region where the molten metal is solidified and the molten metal which has been drawn out from the bath surface is drawn out through a region determined by the outer contour unit, and the form of the casting is changed by moving at least one of the plurality of outer contour defining members according to the drawing out of the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Yu Sasaki, Yuichi Furukawa, Norihiro Amano, Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9457396
    Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area (P) provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films (F) generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal (MS) led out along a set passage (L1) depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Norihiro Amano, Noriyuki Ueno, Takehito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9120146
    Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal led out along a set passage depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Norihiro Amano, Noriyuki Ueno, Takehito Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150239038
    Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area (P) provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films (F) generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal (MS) led out along a set passage (L1) depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Jun YAOKAWA, Yasushi IWATA, Yoshio SUGIYAMA, Hiroaki IWAHORI, Norihiro AMANO, Noriyuki UENO, Takehito KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150071817
    Abstract: There are provided a manufacturing method of a casting capable of easily manufacturing a casting having a complex form and of increasing the degree of freedom of form of the casting to be manufactured, a manufacturing device thereof and a casting. At the time of forming a casting by drawing out molten metal from a bath surface of a molten metal bath and solidifying the molten metal which has been drawn out, an outer contour unit configured from a plurality of outer contour defining members for defining the outer contour of a casting is arranged in a region between the bath surface of the molten meth bath and a solid region where the molten metal is solidified and the molten metal which has been drawn out from the bath surface is drawn out through a region determined by the outer contour unit, and the form of the casting is changed by moving at least one of the plurality of outer contour defining members according to the drawing out of the molten metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Yu Sasaki, Yuichi Furukawa, Norihiro Amano, Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8712750
    Abstract: A molten alloy solidification analyzing method of the invention is characterized in that the amount of change in fraction solid is calculated based on the solidification rate of molten alloy and the solidification rate parameter that is a parameter for evaluating the influence of the solidification rate on solidification of the molten alloy, according to the fraction solid. By conducting such a simulation that takes into consideration the supercooling, a highly accurate solidification analysis is relatively easily performed for various molten alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Shuxin Dong, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Takashi Nakamichi, Norihiro Amano, Hiroyuki Ikuta
  • Publication number: 20130171021
    Abstract: A free casting method according to the present invention includes, a lead-out step for leading out molten metal from a lead-out area provided in a source of supply, e.g. a surface level of the molten metal, to retain the molten metal temporarily by surface films generated on an outer surface, and a forming step for obtaining a formed body by solidifying retained molten metal led out along a set passage depending on a desired casting shape, wherein the retained molten metal is solidified after being formed into the desired casting shape by applying an external force thereto at positions between an unrestrained root portion of the retained molten metal in vicinity of the surface level of the molten metal and a solidification interface defined as a boundary between the retained molten metal and the formed body in the forming step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Norihiro Amano, Noriyuki Ueno, Takehito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8104528
    Abstract: A vacuum die casting method according to the present invention solves the problems relating to seal performance, differential pressure, and the stability of the degree of vacuum. The method carries out the casting with a casting cavity evacuated. In the method, a molten metal is poured from a molten metal inlet of a plunger sleeve, followed by forming a vacuum chamber surrounding the inlet and an open end of the plunger sleeve located on the opposite side of the die, and an evacuation of the vacuum chamber and the cavity starts before starting an operation of a plunger tip. When the evacuation starts, the plunger tip is positioned between the open end of the plunger sleeve and the inlet so that the vacuum chamber is communicated to the inside of the plunger sleeve through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Tsuchiya, Norihiro Amano
  • Publication number: 20110264425
    Abstract: A molten alloy solidification analyzing method of the invention is characterized in that the amount of change in fraction solid is calculated based on the solidification rate of molten alloy and the solidification rate parameter that is a parameter for evaluating the influence of the solidification rate on solidification of the molten alloy, according to the fraction solid. By conducting such a simulation that takes into consideration the supercooling, a highly accurate solidification analysis is relatively easily performed for various molten alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Shuxin Dong, Yoshio Sugiyama, Hiroaki Iwahori, Takashi Nakamichi, Norihiro Amano, Hiroyuki Ikuta
  • Publication number: 20090194246
    Abstract: A vacuum die casting method according to the present invention solves the problems relating to seal performance, differential pressure, and the stability of the degree of vacuum. The method carries out the casting with a casting cavity evacuated. In the method, a molten metal is poured from a molten metal inlet of a plunger sleeve, followed by forming a vacuum chamber surrounding the inlet and an open end of the plunger sleeve located on the opposite side of the die, and an evacuation of the vacuum chamber and the cavity starts before starting an operation of a plunger tip. When the evacuation starts, the plunger tip is positioned between the open end of the plunger sleeve and the inlet so that the vacuum chamber is communicated to the inside of the plunger sleeve through the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Shoichi Tsuchiya, Norihiro Amano
  • Publication number: 20020124815
    Abstract: In a cylinder head, a cooling water passage with a circular shape (an elliptical shape) in cross section in radial direction is formed at an area (lower layer deck) closer to a combustion chamber than a water jacket in which a cooling water flows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumihisa Ishiguro, Hiroyuki Ikuta, Norihiro Amano
  • Patent number: 5739505
    Abstract: In an electric furnace including a heating device which includes a cooling water passage for cooling the heating device to prevent the heating device from melting, estimation of a molten metal temperature in the electric furnace using a heat equilibrium model is conducted taking into account a thermal loss by the cooling water, i.e., the amount of a heat taken away by the cooling water. Further, the amount of the cooling water flowing through the heating device is adjusted so that the thermal loss by the cooling water is in a predetermined optimum thermal loss range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tamotsu Hasegawa, Norihiro Amano, Katsuhito Yamada, Masuji Oshima