Patents by Inventor Satoshi Maruta

Satoshi Maruta 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: 11946572
    Abstract: A threaded tubular connection comprises a first tubular (12) component and a second tubular component (14). The first tubular component (12) includes a female portion (10) defined on an interior surface of the first tubular component. The female portion includes an inner threaded portion (16d) and an outer threaded portion (16b) which are offset radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first tubular component by a first shoulder (26). The second tubular component (14) includes a male portion (18) defined on an exterior surface of the second tubular component. The male portion is to be inserted into the female portion, and includes an inner threaded portion (18d) and an outer threaded portion (18b) which are offset radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second tubular component by a second shoulder (28). The second shoulder is to abut the first shoulder once the male portion is connected to the female portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: VALLOUREC OIL AND GAS FRANCE, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan Fothergill, Corey Dufrene, Satoshi Maruta
  • Patent number: 11828391
    Abstract: In a threaded connection of a two-step thread construction including intermediate shoulder surfaces, a break is prevented near the intermediate critical cross sections upon application of a tensile load, and the intermediate shoulder surfaces are easier to create, thus improving productivity. The outer periphery portion of a pin located between an intermediate shoulder surface of the pin and a second male thread is provided with a circumferential groove including a curved surface smoothly contiguous to the intermediate shoulder surface, thereby mitigating plastic strains generated near the pin intermediate critical cross section PICCS. The inner periphery portion of a box located between an intermediate shoulder surface of the box and a first female thread is provided with a circumferential groove including a curved surface smoothly contiguous to the intermediate shoulder surface, thereby mitigating plastic strains generated near a box intermediate critical cross section BICCS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION, VALLOUREC OIL AND GAS FRANCE
    Inventors: Yousuke Oku, Satoshi Maruta, Masaaki Sugino, Alan Fothergill
  • Publication number: 20230313620
    Abstract: In a threaded connection for pipe having a two-step thread construction with intermediate shoulder surfaces, compression resistance is further improved. Upon completion of make-up of the pin 2 and box 3, the diameter of a stabbing clearance is 0.15 mm or smaller, where the stabbing clearance is defined between the stab flank of a male thread including an inner thread portion 27 and an outer thread portion 23 and the stab flank of a female thread including an inner thread portion 36 and an outer thread portion 32, thereby causing the stab flanks of the male and female threads to start to be in contact before the angle of rotation ? of the intermediate shoulder surfaces 25 and 34 as appearing in a longitudinal cross section starts to rapidly increase, thus preventing accumulation of damage in the intermediate shoulder surfaces 25 and 34.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Yousuke OKU, Satoshi MARUTA
  • Patent number: 11753877
    Abstract: A threaded tubular connection includes a tubular female end extending from a main body of a first tubular member, and a tubular male end extending from a main body of a second tubular member, such that the tubular male end includes a first machined inner surface close to the male free end and a second machined inner cylindrical surface above a threaded portion of the male end such that a second inner diameter of the second machined inner cylindrical surface is smaller than a first inner diameter of the first machined inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: VALLOUREC OIL AND GAS FRANCE, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benoit Briane, Alan Fothergill, Satoshi Maruta, Yosuke Oku
  • Patent number: 11608692
    Abstract: A threaded connection includes a pin and a box. The pin includes, in the order from a free end side of the pin toward a tubular body side thereof, an inner sealing surface, an inner male threaded portion, a shoulder portion, an outer male threaded portion, and an outer sealing surface. The box includes, in the order from a tubular body side of the box toward a free end side thereof, an inner sealing surface, an inner female threaded portion, a shoulder portion, an outer female threaded portion, and an outer sealing surface. Between the inner sealing surface and the inner female threaded portion of the box, an inner groove along a circumferential direction is provided, and some threads of the inner male threaded portion of the pin are contained in the inner groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Vallourec Oil and Gas France
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Yousuke Oku, Tadashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20220412486
    Abstract: In a threaded connection for pipe with intermediate shoulder surfaces provided between two thread steps for functioning as torque shoulders, the compression resistance under repeatedly applied combined loads is improved. The axial distance between the box intermediate shoulder surface 33 and box end shoulder surface 34 of the box 3 before make-up, LB, is larger than the axial distance between the pin intermediate shoulder surface 23 and pin end shoulder surface 24 of the pin 2 before make-up, LP, such that, upon completion of make-up, the pin and box intermediate shoulder surfaces 23 and 33 are in strong pressure contact to function as torque shoulders, while the pin and box end shoulder surfaces 24 and 34 are not in contact or are in light contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi MARUTA, Yousuke OKU, Pierre MARTIN, Daly DALY
  • Publication number: 20220341518
    Abstract: A threaded tubular connection comprises a first tubular (12) component and a second tubular component (14). The first tubular component (12) includes a female portion (10) defined on an interior surface of the first tubular component. The female portion includes an inner threaded portion (16d) and an outer threaded portion (16b) which are offset radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first tubular component by a first shoulder (26). The second tubular component (14) includes a male portion (18) defined on an exterior surface of the second tubular component. The male portion is to be inserted into the female portion, and includes an inner threaded portion (18d) and an outer threaded portion (18b) which are offset radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the second tubular component by a second shoulder (28). The second shoulder is to abut the first shoulder once the male portion is connected to the female portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicants: VALLOUREC OIL AND GAS FRANCE, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan FOTHERGILL, Corey DUFRENE, Satoshi MARUTA
  • Publication number: 20220333719
    Abstract: In a threaded connection for pipe with a two-step thread construction, including intermediate shoulders, during stabbing, the internal-pressure sealing surface of the pin near its tip is prevented from contacting the intermediate shoulder of the box and thus receiving damage. LP, LB, hP and hB shown in FIG. 2 satisfy Expressions (1) and (2), provided below. ?seal is the angle of slope of the straight line connecting the two ends, as determined along the axial direction, of the internal-pressure sealing surface of the pin. Expression (3), provided below, is also satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi MARUTA, Yousuke OKU
  • Publication number: 20220163143
    Abstract: In a threaded connection of a two-step thread construction including intermediate shoulder surfaces, a break is prevented near the intermediate critical cross sections upon application of a tensile load, and the intermediate shoulder surfaces are easier to create, thus improving productivity. The outer periphery portion of a pin located between an intermediate shoulder surface of the pin and a second male thread is provided with a circumferential groove including a curved surface smoothly contiguous to the intermediate shoulder surface, thereby mitigating plastic strains generated near the pin intermediate critical cross section PICCS. The inner periphery portion of a box located between an intermediate shoulder surface of the box and a first female thread is provided with a circumferential groove including a curved surface smoothly contiguous to the intermediate shoulder surface, thereby mitigating plastic strains generated near a box intermediate critical cross section BICCS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Yousuke OKU, Satoshi MARUTA, Masaaki SUGINO, Alan FOTHERGILL
  • Patent number: 11248725
    Abstract: A threaded connection connecting a pair of pipes includes a pin and a box. The pin has a male thread on its outer diameter. The box has a female thread on its inner diameter, the female thread corresponding to the male thread. The male thread includes constant-thread-width and varying-thread-width portions. The constant-thread-width portion has a constant thread-groove width. The varying-thread-width portion has a thread-groove width equal to or larger than the groove width of the constant-thread-width portion and gradually increasing, from the constant-thread-width portion toward the tip of the pin. The female thread includes constant-thread-width and varying-thread-width portions. The constant-thread-width portion has a constant thread-ridge width. The varying-thread-width portion has a thread-ridge width equal to or larger than the thread-ridge width of the constant-thread-width portion and gradually increasing from the constant-thread-width portion toward the center of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Vallourec Oil and Gas France
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Michihiko Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11149882
    Abstract: A threaded connection includes a pin including a wedge male thread having a varying-thread-width portion and a box including a wedge female thread having a varying-thread-width portion. The threaded connection is constructed such that, when both stab flanks and load flanks of the male thread of the pin contact the box, the shoulder on the pin is not in contact with the shoulder on the pin, and, with a further rotation in the make-up direction, the shoulder on the pin is capable of contacting the shoulder on the pin before the threads (i.e. male and female threads) yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Vallourec Oil and Gas France
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Michihiko Iwamoto
  • Publication number: 20210254414
    Abstract: A threaded tubular connection includes a tubular female end extending from a main body of a first tubular member, and a tubular male end extending from a main body of a second tubular member, such that the tubular male end includes a first machined inner surface close to the male free end and a second machined inner cylindrical surface above a threaded portion of the male end such that a second inner diameter of the second machined inner cylindrical surface is smaller than a first inner diameter of the first machined inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicants: VALLOUREC OIL AND GAS FRANCE, NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benoit BRIANE, Alan FOTHERGILL, Satoshi MARUTA, Yosuke OKU
  • Publication number: 20210231240
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a threaded connection that has high torque and still requires reduced machining time for the thread. A threaded connection (1) connects a pair of pipes. The threaded connection (1) includes a pin (10) and a box (20). The pin (10) has a male thread (11) on its outer diameter. The box (20) has a female thread (21) on its inner diameter, the female thread corresponding to the male thread (11). The box (20) and the pin (10) are made up. The male thread (11) includes a constant-thread-width portion (111) and a varying-thread-width portion (112). The constant-thread-width portion (111) has a constant thread-groove width. The varying-thread-width portion (112) has a thread-groove width equal to or larger than the groove width of the constant-thread-width portion (111) and gradually increasing, going from the constant-thread-width portion (111) toward the tip of the pin (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicants: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Vallourec Oil and Gas France
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Michihiko Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11067205
    Abstract: A threaded connection for steel pipe is provided that prevents cross-threading and provides good compression load resistance. A threaded connection (10) includes a pin (30) and a box (40). The male thread stabbing flank (34) of the pin (30) includes two male thread stabbing flank portions (341) and (342). The male thread stabbing flank portion (341) is located farther from the pipe axis (X) of the steel pipe (20) and has a stabbing flank angle (?1) of ?10 to 15 degrees. The male thread stabbing flank portion (342) is located closer to the pipe axis (X) and has a stabbing flank angle (?2) of 20 to 60 degrees. The female thread stabbing flank (44) of the box (40) includes two female thread stabbing flank portions (441) and (442). The female thread stabbing flank portion (441) is located farther from the pipe axis (X) and has a stabbing flank angle (?1) equal to the stabbing flank angle (?1) of the male thread stabbing flank portion (341).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Michihiko Iwamoto, Yusuke Takeda, Yasuhiro Kochi, Satoshi Maruta, Yusuke Toyota
  • Publication number: 20210156204
    Abstract: A threaded connection includes a pin and a box. The pin includes, in the order from a free end side of the pin toward a tubular body side thereof, an inner sealing surface, an inner male threaded portion, a shoulder portion, an outer male threaded portion, and an outer sealing surface. The box includes, in the order from a tubular body side of the box toward a free end side thereof, an inner sealing surface, an inner female threaded portion, a shoulder portion, an outer female threaded portion, and an outer sealing surface. Between the inner sealing surface and the inner female threaded portion of the box, an inner groove along a circumferential direction is provided, and some threads of the inner male threaded portion of the pin are contained in the inner groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Yousuke Oku, Tadashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11015746
    Abstract: A threaded connection that provides high sealing performance is provided. A threaded connection (10) includes a pin (1) and a box (2). An inner male thread (13) of the pin (1) includes a parallel portion (131). The parallel portion (131) is located at an end portion of the inner male thread (13) adjacent to the pin inner sealing surface (11), and has thread roots parallel to the pipe axis. An inner female thread (23) of the box (2) includes a tapered portion (231). The thread height in the tapered portion (231) is larger than that in the parallel portion (131). Da<Db is satisfied, where Da is the difference in diameter between adjacent thread crests (231a) in the tapered portion (231) in a longitudinal cross section of the pin (1) and box (2) as found when the connection is not made up, and Db is the difference between the diameter of the thread root (131a) in the parallel portion (13) and the maximum diameter of the pin inner sealing surface (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Vallourec Oil and Gas France
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Yousuke Oku
  • Patent number: 10783365
    Abstract: An image processing device or a method of processing an image is disclosed. The method includes receiving an image, detecting a plurality of person images in the image, identifying at least a first person image from among the plurality of person images by a preferential method, identifying at least a second person image from among the plurality of person images excluding the first person image, by an exhaustive method, and extracting a first feature amount as to the first person image and a second feature amount as to the second person image during a time interval. For example, the total number of the first person images and the second person images is no more than a maximum number of person images, identified by performance corresponding to process the person images during the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Shinya Ogura, Ryosuke Kimura, Seiichi Hirai, Satoshi Maruta, Sho Nishino
  • Patent number: 10618529
    Abstract: The vehicle monitoring system includes a plurality of cameras provided corresponding to a plurality of doors provided on both sides (A side and B side) of each vehicle, and a management device for determining a camera corresponding to an open door. The management device determines a camera whose initial position is on the B side as the display use camera to be used for display, with respect to a vehicle in which the initial position of the door open camera corresponding to the open door identified by the open door identification information, and the door opening-side information match with the B side. With respect to a vehicle in which the initial position of the door open camera and the door opening-side information do not match with the B side, the management device determines a camera whose initial position is on the A side as the display use camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Maruta
  • Publication number: 20200025315
    Abstract: A threaded connection for steel pipe is provided that prevents cross-threading and provides good compression load resistance. A threaded connection (10) includes a pin (30) and a box (40). The male thread stabbing flank (34) of the pin (30) includes two male thread stabbing flank portions (341) and (342). The male thread stabbing flank portion (341) is located farther from the pipe axis (X) of the steel pipe (20) and has a stabbing flank angle (?1) of ?10 to 15 degrees. The male thread stabbing flank portion (342) is located closer to the pipe axis (X) and has a stabbing flank angle (?2) of 20 to 60 degrees. The female thread stabbing flank (44) of the box (40) includes two female thread stabbing flank portions (441) and (442). The female thread stabbing flank portion (441) is located farther from the pipe axis (X) and has a stabbing flank angle (?1) equal to the stabbing flank angle (?1) of the male thread stabbing flank portion (341).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Michihiko Iwamoto, Yusuke Takeda, Yasuhiro Kochi, Satoshi Maruta, Yusuke Toyota
  • Publication number: 20190360619
    Abstract: A threaded connection that provides high sealing performance is provided. A threaded connection (10) includes a pin (1) and a box (2). An inner male thread (13) of the pin (1) includes a parallel portion (131). The parallel portion (131) is located at an end portion of the inner male thread (13) adjacent to the pin inner sealing surface (11), and has thread roots parallel to the pipe axis. An inner female thread (23) of the box (2) includes a tapered portion (231). The thread height in the tapered portion (231) is larger than that in the parallel portion (131). Da<Db is satisfied, where Da is the difference in diameter between adjacent thread crests (231a) in the tapered portion (231) in a longitudinal cross section of the pin (1) and box (2) as found when the connection is not made up, and Db is the difference between the diameter of the thread root (131a) in the parallel portion (13) and the maximum diameter of the pin inner sealing surface (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Satoshi Maruta, Yousuke Oku