Patents by Inventor Yoshimasa Funakawa

Yoshimasa Funakawa 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: 11965222
    Abstract: A method of producing a hot-rolled steel sheet and a method for producing a cold-rolled full hard steel sheet are provided. The methods comprising heating a steel slab having a composition containing, in terms of mass %, C: 0.010% or more and 0.150% or less, Si: 0.20% or less, Mn: 1.00% or less, P: 0.100% or less, S: 0.0500% or less, Al: 0.001% or more and 0.100% or less, N: 0.0100% or less, and the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, in which 0.002%?[% P]+[% S]?0.070% ([% M] denotes a content (mass %) of M element in steel) is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Minami, Yoshimasa Funakawa
  • Patent number: 11946111
    Abstract: A steel sheet is provided, having a tensile strength of 590 MPa or more, a particular composition and a steel structure that contains, in terms of area fraction, particular amounts of ferrite and martensite, in which the ferrite average crystal grain size is 20 ?m or less, the martensite average size is 15 ?m or less, the ratio of the average crystal grain size of the ferrite to the average size of the martensite (ferrite average crystal grain size/martensite average size) is 0.5 to 10.0, the ratio of the hardness of the martensite to the hardness of the ferrite (martensite hardness/ferrite hardness) is 1.0 or more and 5.0 or less, and, in the texture of the ferrite, the inverse intensity ratio of ?-fiber to the ?-fiber is 0.8 or more and 7.0 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Minami, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Shinjiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11939640
    Abstract: A method for producing a hot-rolled steel sheet, a method for producing a cold-rolled full-hard steel sheet, and a method for producing a heat-treated sheet are provided herein. The methods comprising hot rolling a steel material of a composition comprising, in mass %, C: 0.05 to 0.12%, Si: 0.80% or less, Mn: 1.30 to 2.10%, P: 0.001 to 0.050%, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.01 to 0.10%, N: 0.010% or less, one or more selected from Cr in an amount of 0.05 to 0.50%, and Mo in an amount of 0.05 to 0.50%, one or more selected from Ti in an amount of 0.01 to 0.10%, Nb in an amount of 0.01 to 0.10%, and V in an amount of 0.01 to 0.10%, and the balance Fe and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takashima, Yoshimasa Funakawa
  • Publication number: 20240084412
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method for producing a hot-rolled steel sheet, a method for producing a cold-rolled full hard steel sheet, and methods for producing a heat-treated steel sheet that serve as the methods for producing intermediate products for obtaining a steel sheet having a tensile strength of 590 MPa or more, a particular composition and a particular steel structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Minami, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Shinjiro Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20240052464
    Abstract: A high strength steel sheet has a yield-point elongation of 1.0% or greater and a tensile strength of 980 MPa or greater. The high strength steel sheet has a specific chemical composition and microstructure. The ferrite has an average grain size of 5.0 ?m or less, the retained austenite has an average grain size of 2.0 ?m or less, a value obtained by dividing a Mn content of the retained austenite by a Mn content of steel is 1.50 or greater, 15% or more of all retained austenite grains in the retained austenite have an aspect ratio of 3.0 or greater, and 15% or more of all the retained austenite grains in the retained austenite have an aspect ratio of less than 2.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Muneka Iwasawa, Yuki Toji, Yoshimasa Funakawa
  • Publication number: 20240026477
    Abstract: A high-strength galvanized steel sheet is disclosed which has a specified chemical composition, has a steel microstructure including, in terms of area fraction, 35% or more and 80% or less of ferrite, 0.1% or more and less than 5.0% of as-quenched martensite, 3.0% or more and 35% or less of tempered martensite, and 8% or more of retained austenite, in which an average grain diameter of the ferrite is 6 ?m or less, in which an average grain diameter of the retained austenite is 3 ?m or less, in which a value calculated by dividing an average Mn content (mass %) in the retained austenite by an average Mn content (mass %) in the ferrite is 1.5 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Endoh, Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Yuki Toji, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Mai Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11788163
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet includes a steel structure with: ferrite being 35% to 80% and tempered martensite being greater than 5% and 20% or less in terms of area fraction; retained austenite being 8% or more in terms of volume fraction; an average grain size of: the ferrite being 6 ?m or less; and the retained austenite being 3 ?m or less; a value obtained by dividing an area fraction of blocky austenite by a sum of area fractions of lath-like austenite and the blocky austenite being 0.6 or more; a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average Mn content in the retained austenite by an average Mn content in the ferrite being 1.5 or more; and a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average C content in the retained austenite by an average C content in the ferrite being 3.0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Endo, Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Yuki Toji, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Mai Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20230323503
    Abstract: A material characteristic value prediction system that can predict material characteristic values with high accuracy is provided. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a metal sheet that can improve the product yield rate, by changing manufacturing conditions of subsequent processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mayumi OJIMA, Yoshimasa FUNAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230321706
    Abstract: Provided is a steel strip that can provide accurate material information and a method of producing the same. A steel strip (9) comprises a medium that provides material information including a material distribution associating each position in a two-dimensional direction of a rolling direction and a transverse direction with a material characteristic value. The material information is predicted using a prediction model to which input data including a line output factor in a production line for the steel strip, a disturbance factor, and a component value of the steel strip being produced is input. The prediction model includes: a machine learning model that receives the input data as input and outputs a production condition factor and that is generated by machine learning; and a metallurgical model that receives the production condition factor as input and outputs the material characteristic value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mayumi OJIMA, Yoshimasa FUNAKAWA
  • Patent number: 11661642
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet includes a steel structure with: ferrite being 35% to 80%, martensite being 5% to 35%, and tempered martensite being 0% to 5% in terms of area fraction; retained austenite being 8% or more in terms of volume fraction; an average grain size of: the ferrite being 6 ?m or less; and the retained austenite being 3 ?m or less; a value obtained by dividing an area fraction of blocky austenite by a sum of area fractions of lath-like austenite and the blocky austenite being 0.6 or more; a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average Mn content in the retained austenite by an average Mn content in the ferrite being 1.5 or more; and a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average C content in the retained austenite by an average C content in the ferrite being 3.0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki Endo, Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Yuki Toji, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Mai Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20230145099
    Abstract: A method and device capable of calculating required material properties from a part shape, and determining a set of manufacturing conditions for a material satisfying the material properties are provided. A product information determining method includes a property acquisition step (S300) for acquiring, based on input information including shape data on a part, material properties required to work a material of the part into the part; and a product information determination step (S400) for determining product information including chemical compositions and a set of manufacturing conditions to manufacture the material satisfying the material properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshimasa FUNAKAWA
  • Patent number: 11643700
    Abstract: A high-strength steel includes a steel structure with: in area fraction, 60.0% to less than 90.0% of ferrite, 0% to less than 5.0% of unrecrystallized ferrite, 2.0% to 25.0% of martensite, 0% to 5.0% of carbide, and 0% to 3.0% of bainite; in volume fraction, more than 7.0% of retained austenite; in a cross-sectional view of 100 ?m×100 ?m, a value obtained by dividing number of retained austenite that are not adjacent to retained austenite whose crystal orientations are different by a total number of retained austenite being less than 0.80, an average crystal grain size of the ferrite being 6.0 ?m or less, an average crystal grain size of the retained austenite being 3.0 ?m or less, and a value obtained by dividing, by mass %, an average content of Mn in the retained austenite by an average content of Mn in steel being 1.50 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Kazuki Endo, Yuki Toji, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Satoshi Maeda, Mai Aoyama
  • Publication number: 20230071793
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet with a tensile strength of 1,180 MPa or more has a predetermined chemical composition and a steel microstructure in which the area fraction of ferrite is 5% or less, the area fraction of martensite is 2% to 10%, the area fraction of bainite is 5% to 37%, the area fraction of tempered martensite is 42% to 65%, the volume fraction of retained austenite is 3% to 15%, the average grain size of ferrite and bainite is 3 ?m or less, in a region extending 50 ?m from a surface of the steel sheet in a through-thickness direction, and the average grain size of prior austenite grains is 10 ?m or less, the average grain size of the prior austenite grains in the through-thickness direction is 0.9 or less of the average grain size thereof in a rolling direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Mayumi Ojima, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Takeshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 11453926
    Abstract: A steel sheet having excellent fatigue resistance as a material for automobile parts and a TS of 590 MPa or more, and a method for producing the same. The steel sheet having a specified chemical composition and a microstructure of 50% or more and 90% or less of martensite, 10% to 50% of ferrite and bainite in total, in terms of an area ratio, and an average concentration of solute Mn in ferrite in a region from a surface of a base steel to a depth of 0.5 ?m is 60% or more relative to an average concentration of solute Mn in ferrite at a location of ¼ in the thickness of the steel sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Nakagaito, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Yoshihiko Ono, Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11447840
    Abstract: To provide a high-strength steel sheet with excellent ductility and hole expansion formability, a yield ratio of less than 68%, and a tensile strength of 980 MPa or more, by having a predetermined chemical composition and a microstructure where ferrite is 15% or more and 55% or less and martensite is 15% or more and 30% or less in area ratio, retained austenite is 12% or more in volume fraction, the average grain size of ferrite, martensite and retained austenite is 4.0 ?m or less, 2.0 ?m or less and 2.0 ?m or less respectively, the average aspect ratio of crystal grain of ferrite, martensite and retained austenite is each more than 2.0 and 15.0 or less, and the value obtained by dividing the Mn content (mass %) in retained austenite by the Mn content (mass %) in ferrite is 2.0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Takako Yamashita, Masayasu Ueno, Yuki Toji, Takashi Kobayashi, Yoshimasa Funakawa
  • Patent number: 11447841
    Abstract: To provide a high-strength steel sheet with excellent ductility and hole expansion formability, a yield ratio of less than 68%, and a tensile strength of 590 MPa or more, by having a predetermined chemical composition and a microstructure where ferrite is 35% or more and 80% or less and martensite is 5% or more and 25% or less in area ratio, retained austenite is 8% or more in volume fraction, the average grain size of ferrite, martensite and retained austenite is 6.0 ?m or less, 3.0 ?m or less and 3.0 ?m or less respectively, the average aspect ratio of crystal grain of ferrite, martensite and retained austenite is each more than 2.0 and 15.0 or less, and the value obtained by dividing the Mn content (mass %) in retained austenite by the Mn content (mass %) in ferrite is 2.0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Kawasaki, Takako Yamashita, Masayasu Ueno, Yuki Toji, Takashi Kobayashi, Yoshimasa Funakawa
  • Patent number: 11447852
    Abstract: A high-strength galvanized steel sheet having improved post-work impact resistance, a method for producing the high-strength galvanized steel sheet, and a high-strength member produced using the steel sheet. The high-strength galvanized steel sheet includes a steel sheet having a microstructure including ferrite and carbide-free bainite, martensite and carbide-containing bainite, and retained austenite, the total area fraction of ferrite and carbide-free bainite being 0% to 55%, the total area fraction of martensite and carbide-containing bainite being 45% to 100%, and the area fraction of retained austenite being 0% to 5%. Additionally, a galvanizing layer is disposed on the steel sheet. The density of gaps that cut across the entire thickness of the galvanizing layer in a cross section of the galvanizing layer, which is taken in the thickness direction so as to be perpendicular to the rolling direction, is 10 gaps/mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Hiromi Yoshitomi, Yoichi Makimizu, Yoshitsugu Suzuki, Gentaro Takeda, Yoshikazu Suzuki, Yoshimasa Himei
  • Patent number: 11420247
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hot-pressed member that can exhibit very high tensile strength after hot pressing of 1780 MPa or more, excellent delayed fracture resistance, and high cross tensile strength after resistance spot welding by properly adjusting its chemical composition and its microstructure such that a prior austenite average grain size is 8 ?m or less, a volume fraction of martensite is 90% or more, and at least 10 cementite grains having a grain size of 0.05 ?m or more are present on average per 200 ?m2 of a cross section parallel to a thickness direction of the member, and such that at least 10 Ti-based precipitates having a grain size of less than 0.10 ?m are present on average per 100 ?m2 of the cross section parallel to the thickness direction of the member in a range of 100 ?m in the thickness direction from a surface of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takashima, Takashi Kobayashi, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Seiji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11414720
    Abstract: A high-strength steel sheet for warm working having excellent warm workability, and a method for manufacturing the steel sheet. The steel sheet has a chemical composition including, by mass %, C: 0.05% to 0.20%, Si: 3.0% or less, Mn: 3.5% to 8.0%, P: 0.100% or less, S: 0.02% or less, Al: 0.01% to 3.0%, N: 0.010% or less, one or more selected from Nb: 0.005% to 0.20%, Ti: 0.005% to 0.20%, Mo: 0.005% to 1.0%, and V: 0.005% to 1.0%. The steel sheet has a microstructure including, in terms of area ratio, 10% to 60% of retained austenite, 10% to 80% of ferrite, 10% to 50% of martensite, and 0% to 5% of bainite, in which a C content in the retained austenite is less than 0.40 mass % and the average crystal grain diameter of the retained austenite, the martensite, and the ferrite is 2.0 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Yoshimasa Funakawa
  • Patent number: 11377709
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hot-pressed member that can exhibit very high tensile strength after hot pressing, excellent delayed fracture resistance, and high tensile shear stress after resistance spot welding by properly adjusting its chemical composition and its microstructure such that at least 20 Nb-based precipitates having a grain size of less than 0.10 ?m are present on average per 100 ?m2 of a cross section parallel to a thickness direction of the member, a prior austenite average grain size is 8 ?m or less, an average aspect ratio of prior austenite grains is 2.5 or less, and a volume fraction of martensite is 90% or more, and such that a standard deviation of Vickers hardness measured every 200 ?m on a surface of the member is 40 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Takashima, Takashi Kobayashi, Yoshimasa Funakawa, Seiji Nakajima