Patents by Inventor Shushi Ikeda

Shushi Ikeda 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: 20150090377
    Abstract: A steel sheet for hot pressing use according to the present invention has a specified chemical component composition, wherein some of Ti-containing precipitates contained in the steel sheet, each of which having an equivalent circle diameter of 30 nm or less, have an average equivalent circle diameter of 6 nm or less, the precipitated Ti amount and the total Ti amount in the steel fulfill the relationship represented by formula (1) shown below, and the sum total of the fraction of bainite and the fraction of martensite in the metal microstructure is 80 area % or more. Precipitated Ti amount (mass %)?3.4[N]?0.5×[(total Ti amount (mass %))?3.4[N]]??(1) (In the formula (1), [N] represents the content (mass %) of N in the steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Toshio Murakami, Junya Naitou, Keisuke Okita, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150027602
    Abstract: A steel sheet for hot pressing use according to the present invention has a specified chemical component composition, wherein some of Ti-containing precipitates contained in the steel sheet, each of which having an equivalent circle diameter of 30 nm or less, have an average equivalent circle diameter of 3 nm or more, the precipitated Ti amount and the total Ti amount in the steel fulfill the relationship represented by formula (1) shown below, and the sum total of the fraction of bainite and the fraction of martensite in the metal microstructure is 80 area % or more. Precipitated Ti amount (mass %)?3.4[N]>0.5×[total Ti amount (mass %)?3.4[N]]??(1) (In the formula (1), [N] represents the content (mass %) of N in the steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Toshio Murakami, Junya Naitou, Keisuke Okita, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150013856
    Abstract: In the present invention, a press-formed product is manufactured by heating a steel sheet for hot pressing use to a temperature of 900° C. or above and 1,100° C. or below, the steel sheet for hot pressing use having a predetermined chemical component composition, some of Ti-containing precipitates contained in the steel sheet, each of which having an equivalent circle diameter of 30 nm or less, having an average equivalent circle diameter of 6 nm or less, and the precipitated Ti amount and the total Ti amount in the steel fulfilling the relationship represented by formula (1) shown below, thereafter starting press-forming, and holding at the bottom dead point and cooling to a temperature lower than the martensite transformation starting temperature Ms while securing the average cooling rate of 20° C./s or more within a tool. Precipitated Ti amount(mass %)?3.4[N]<0.5×[total Ti amount (mass %)?3.4[N]]??(1) (In the formula (1), [N] represents the content (mass %) of N in the steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Toshio Murakami, Hideo Hata, Junya Naitou, Keisuke Okita, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150007911
    Abstract: A method of the present invention includes the steps of heating a steel sheet for hot pressing use to a temperature of Ac3 transformation point or above and 950° C. or below, the steel sheet for hot pressing use containing a predetermined chemical component composition, some of Ti-containing precipitates contained in the steel sheet, each of which having an equivalent circle diameter of 30 nm or less, having an average equivalent circle diameter of 3 nm or more, and the precipitated Ti amount and the total Ti amount in the steel fulfilling the relationship represented by formula (1) shown below, thereafter starting press forming, and being held at the bottom dead point and being cooled to a temperature lower than martensite transformation starting temperature Ms while securing the average cooling rate of 20° C./s or more within a tool. Precipitated Ti amount (mass %)?3.4[N]?0.5×[total Ti amount (mass %)?3.4[N]]??(1) (In the formula (1), [N] represents the content (mass %) of N in the steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Toshio Murakami, Hideo Hata, Junya Naitou, Keisuke Okita, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150000802
    Abstract: Provided is a hot-press molded article that can achieve a high level of balance between high strength and extension by region and has a region corresponding to an energy absorption site and a shock resistant site within a single molded article without applying a welding method by means of having first region having a metal structure containing both 80-97 area % of martensite and 3-20 area % of residual austenite, the remaining structure comprising no more than 5 area %, and a second region having a metal structure comprising 30-80 area % of ferrite, less than 30 area % (exclusive of 0 area %) of bainitic ferrite, no greater than 30 area % (exclusive of 0 area %) of martensite, and 3-20 area % of residual austenite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Toshio Murakami, Shushi Ikeda, Keisuke Okita
  • Publication number: 20140367002
    Abstract: A hot-press formed product can be achieved which has regions corresponding to a shock resistant portion and an energy absorption portion within a single formed product without applying a welding method and achieves the balance of high strength and elongation with a high level according to each region by means of having a first forming region exhibiting a metal structure containing martensite: 80-97 area % and retained austenite: 3-20 area % respectively, the remaining structure being 5 area % or less, and a second forming region exhibiting a metal structure containing annealed martensite or annealed bainite: 30-97 area %, martensite as quenched: 0-67 area %, and retained austenite: 3-20 area %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Toshio Murakami, Shushi Ikeda, Keisuke Okita
  • Publication number: 20140338802
    Abstract: Provided is a press-forming product manufacturing method of manufacturing a forming product having satisfactory formability for a drawing process by press-forming a metal sheet using a press-forming tool with high productivity, including: heating the metal sheet to a transformation temperature Ac1 or more; cooling the metal sheet to 600° C. or lower; forming the metal sheet by a forming tool; ending the forming process at a martensite transformation start temperature Ms or more; taking out the metal sheet from the forming tool; and cooling the metal sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Keisuke Okita, Junya Naitou, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20140186655
    Abstract: The present invention is to produce press hardened parts having excellent properties while avoiding a peeling of a plated layer or an intergranular cracking of a base material during a press forming, in such a manner that when a surface-treated steel sheet in which a Zn—Fe-based plated layer is formed on a surface of a base steel sheet is manufactured by a press hardening process, the forming is started after the surface-treated steel sheet is heated to a temperature that is not lower than an Ac1 transformation point of the base steel sheet and 950° C. or lower and the surface-treated steel sheet is then cooled to a temperature that is not higher than a solidifying point of the plated layer depending on the content of Fe in the plated layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Keisuke Okita, Shushi Ikeda, Junya Naitou
  • Publication number: 20140065007
    Abstract: There is provided a hot press-formed product, including a thin steel sheet formed by a hot press-forming method, and having a metallic structure that contains martensite at 80% to 97% by area and retained austenite at 3% to 20% by area, the remainder structure of which is at 5% by area or lower, whereby balance between strength and elongation can be controlled in a proper range and high ductility can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Toshio Murakami, Shushi Ikeda, Keisuke Okita
  • Publication number: 20140056753
    Abstract: There is provided a hot press-formed product, including a steel sheet formed by a hot press-forming method, and having a metallic structure that contains ferrite at 30% to 80% by area, bainitic ferrite at lower than 30% by area (not including 0% by area), martensite at 30% by area or lower (not including 0% by area), and retained austenite at 3% to 20% by area, whereby balance between strength and elongation can be controlled in a proper range and high ductility can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Toshio Murakami, Shushi Ikeda, Keisuke Okita
  • Publication number: 20140056754
    Abstract: There is provided a hot press-formed product, including a thin steel sheet formed by a hot press-forming method, and having a metallic structure that contains bainitic ferrite at 70% to 97% by area, martensite at 27% by area or lower, and retained austenite at 3% to 20% by area, the remainder structure of which is at 5% by area or lower, whereby balance between strength and elongation can be controlled in a proper range and high ductility can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Toshio Murakami, Shushi Ikeda, Keisuke Okita
  • Publication number: 20140044585
    Abstract: There is provided a hot press-formed product, including a thin steel sheet formed by a hot press-forming method, and having a metallic structure that contains retained austenite at 3% to 20% by volume, whereby balance between strength and elongation can be controlled in a proper range and high ductility can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Toshio Murakami, Shushi Ikeda, Keisuke Okita
  • Patent number: 8597439
    Abstract: A high-strength cold rolled steel sheet contains: 0.10 to 0.28% of C, 1.0 to 2.0% of Si, 1.0 to 3.0% of Mn, and 0.03 to 0.10% of Nb in terms of % by mass, Al is controlled to 0.5 or less, P is controlled to 0.15% or less, and S is controlled to 0.02% or less, and residual austenite accounts for 5 to 20%, bainitic ferrite accounts for 50% or more, and polygonal ferrite accounts for 30% or less (containing 0%), of the entire structure, and a mean number of residual austenite blocks is 20 or more as determined when the random area (15 ?m×15 ?m) is observed by EBSP (electron back scatter diffraction pattern).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shushi Ikeda, Yoichi Mukai, Hiroshi Akamizu, Koichi Makii, Koichi Sugimoto, Shunichi Hashimoto, Kenji Saito
  • Publication number: 20130199258
    Abstract: There is provided a useful method for producing a press-formed product without making the structure of a press tool complicated, which product has favorable formability in a level so as to be able to be produced by deep drawing, and which product is produced by press-forming a thin steel sheet with a punch and a die, in which the thin steel sheet is heated to a temperature not lower than an Ac3 transformation point thereof, and the press-forming is then started, wherein the forming is carried out so that a temperature difference in the thin steel sheet is adjusted to be not higher than 200° C. at a stage when the thin steel sheet has reached one third of a forming height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Junya Naitou, Keisuke Okita, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20130180635
    Abstract: There is provided a useful method for producing a press-formed product without causing disadvantages such as hardness variation, which product has favorable formability in a level so as to be able to be produced by deep drawing, and which method is carried out by heating a thin steel sheet to a temperature not lower than an Ac3 transformation point thereof; and then cooling the thin steel sheet at a rate not lower than a critical cooling rate, during which the thin steel sheet is formed into the press-formed product, wherein the forming is started from a temperature higher than a martensitic transformation start temperature Ms thereof, the cooling rate is kept to be 10° C./sec. or higher during the forming, and the forming is finished in a temperature range not higher than the martensitic transformation start temperature Ms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Keisuke Okita, Junya Naitou, Shushi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7833363
    Abstract: A high-strength forged part is disclosed which comprises a base phase structure, comprising 30% or more of ferrite in terms of a space factor, and a second phase structure, comprising bainite and/or martensite, and retained austenite having an average gain diameter of 5 ?m or less and a content represented by 50X[C]<[V?R]<150x[C], wherein [V?R] represents a space factor of the retained austenite (?R) and [C] represents the mass % of C in the forged part. Furthermore, a high-strength forged part is disclosed which comprises a base phase structure, comprising 50% or more of tempered bainite or tempered martensite in terms of a space factor, and a second phase structure, comprising martensite and 3% to 30% retained austenite in terms of a space factor, wherein the portion of the retained austenite and martensite having an aspect ratio of 2 or less is 25% or less in terms of a space factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shushi Ikeda, Koichi Makii, Hiroshi Akamizu, Yoichi Mukai, Koh-ichi Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20100092332
    Abstract: To provide a high-strength cold rolled steel sheet that has well-balanced tensile strength and elongation as well as well-balanced tensile strength and stretch-flangeability, and a plated steel sheet manufactured by plating the steel sheet. The high-strength cold rolled steel sheet contains: 0.10 to 0.28% of C, 1.0 to 2.0% of Si, 1.0 to 3.0% of Mn, and 0.03 to 0.10% of Nb in terms of % by mass, wherein the content of Al is controlled to 0.5 or less, the content of P is controlled to 0.15% or less, and the content of S is controlled to 0.02% or less, and wherein residual austenite accounts for 5 to 20%, bainitic ferrite accounts for 50% or more, and polygonal ferrite accounts for 30% or less (containing 0%), of the entire structure, and wherein a mean number of residual austenite blocks is 20 or more as determined when the random area (15 ?m×15 ?m) is observed by EBSP (electron back scatter diffraction pattern).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shushi IKEDA, Yoichi Mukai, Hiroshi Akamizu, Koichi Makii, Koichi Sugimoto, Shunichi Hashimoto, Kenji Saito
  • Publication number: 20090277547
    Abstract: A high strength steel sheet with both excellent elongation and stretch-flanging performance is provided. The high strength steel sheet of the present invention comprises, in percent by mass, C: 0.05 to 0.3%, Si: 0.01 to 3.0%, Mn: 0.5 to 3.0%, Al: 0.01 to 0.1%, and Fe and inevitable impurities as the remainder, and has a structure mainly composed of tempered martensite and annealed bainite. The space factor of the tempered martensite is 50 to 95%, the space factor of the annealed bainite is 5 to 30%, and the mean grain size of the tempered martensite is 10 ?m or smaller in terms of the equivalent of a circle diameter. The steel sheet has a tensile strength of 590 MPa or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO
    Inventors: Kenji Saito, Tomokazu Masuda, Masaaki Miura, Yoichi Mukai, Shushi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20090242085
    Abstract: A dual phase steel sheet with good bake-hardening properties is provided. The steel sheet is characterized in containing (in terms of percent by mass) C: no less than 0.06% and less than 0.25%; Si+Al: 0.5 to 3%; Mn: 0.5 to 3%; P: no more than 0.15%; and S: no more than 0.02%; and also meeting the following condition (in terms of space factor) that retained austenite is at least 3%, bainite is at least 30%, and ferrite is no more than 50%, and further characterized in differing in stress larger than 50 MPa before and after application of 2% pre-strain and ensuing heat treatment for paint baking at 170° C. for 20 minutes. The steel sheet has well-balanced strength and workability, exhibits good bake-hardening properties at the time of paint baking, and offers good resistance to natural aging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd)
    Inventors: Shushi IKEDA, Koichi Makii, Hiroshi Akamizu
  • Patent number: 7591977
    Abstract: To provide a high strength and low yield ratio cold rolled steel sheet having high elongation property and high flange drawing property, or a plated steel sheet made by plating the same. The high strength and low yield ratio cold rolled steel sheet or the plated steel sheet made by plating the same has such a constitution as 0.10 to 0.25% of C, 1.0 to 2.0% of Si and 1.5 to 3.0% of Mn, are contained in terms of weight percentage, while other elements are controlled such as Al within 0.2%, P within 0.15% and S within 0.02%, with residual austenite occupying at least 5%, bainitic ferrite occupying at least 60% (preferably 80% or more), and polygonal ferrite within 20% (containing 0%), so that a tensile strength is 980 MPa or higher, while an elongation (El in %), a flange drawing property (?in %), a tensile strength (TS in MPa) and a yield strength (YP in MPa) satisfy the following inequality (1): [(El ×?×TS)/YP]?645.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Kabuhsiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Shushi Ikeda, Hiroshi Akamizu, Koichi Makii, Yoichi Mukai, Koichi Sugimoto