Nodes with integrated adhesive ports and channels for construction of complex structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10668965-B2
Application number	US-201715716217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A joint design to connect tubes for a space frame, where a space frame may be a vehicle chassis, is provided. The joint may connect carbon fiber tubes and may be designed with different shapes and configurations. The joint may include acceptor ports that may mate with a tube and simultaneously contact an inner surface and outer surface of the tube for a strong connection. The joint may also include centering features which may create a space between a surface of the tube and a surface of the joint through which adhesive may flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A joint member comprising:
a central hub;
at least one acceptor port extending from the central hub and comprising (i) an inner protrusion with an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of a connecting tube, said inner protrusion sized and shaped to be inserted into an end of the connecting tube, (ii) an outer protrusion concentric with the inner protrusion and configured to fit over the end of the connecting tube; and
one or more fluid ports connected to the at least one acceptor port, the one or more fluid ports in fluid communication with an internal channel inside of a wall of the inner protrusion.

2. The joint member of claim 1 , wherein the internal channel is in fluid communication with a space between an outer surface of the inner protrusion and an inner surface of the connecting tube when the connecting tube is fitted on the inner protrusion.

3. The joint member of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more fluid ports is connected to an adhesive source.

4. The joint member of claim 3 , wherein adhesive is provided from the adhesive source to the space between an outer surface of the inner protrusion and an inner surface of the connecting tube through the one or more fluid ports in fluid communication with the internal channel.

5. The joint member of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more fluid ports is connected to a negative pressure source.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Kevin Robert
• Balzer William Bradley
• Penmetsa Praveen Varma
• Omohundro Zachary Meyer
• O'Brien Matthew M

Classifications

• B62D27/023

  Assembly of structural joints · CPC title

• B62D23/005 Primary

  with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D65/02 Primary

  Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title