Assembling structures comprising 3D printed components and standardized components utilizing adhesive circuits

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12311446-B2
Application number	US-202217992653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2022
Priority date	Dec 27, 2017
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

One aspect is an apparatus including a plurality of additively manufactured components each having an adhesive injection channel. The components are connected together such that adhesive injection channels are aligned to form an adhesive path that allows adhesive flow between the components. Another aspect is an apparatus, including an additively manufactured component having an adhesive injection channel and an adhesive flow mechanism comprising at least one of an adhesive side end effector or a vacuum side end effector, the adhesive flow mechanism configured to provide adhesive to the adhesive injection channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of additively manufactured components, each additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components including a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel includes an enclosed passage within each additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components, wherein the additively manufactured components are configured to be connected together such that the fluid channels form a fluid path that allows the fluid to flow between the additively manufactured components within the fluid path, wherein a first additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components includes two discontinuous sections of the fluid channel, wherein the fluid path is configured to connect the two discontinuous sections through the fluid channel of at least a second additively manufactured component, and wherein at least one of the additively manufactured components in the plurality of additively manufactured components comprises a fluid flow orifice configured to provide fluid to the fluid channels, wherein the fluid flow orifice comprises at least one of a fluid side end effector or a vacuum side end effector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flow of the fluid within the fluid path is assisted via a vacuum.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the additively manufactured components in the plurality of additively manufactured components comprises a vacuum port for providing the vacuum to the fluid path.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the fluid extending along the fluid path.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more apertures in each additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components in communication with the fluid path to provide a visual indication of the flow of the fluid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the additively manufactured components comprises a component connecting a second one of the additively manufactured components to a third one of the additively manufactured components.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second one of the additively manufactured components comprises a panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second one of the additively manufactured components comprises a tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the additively manufactured components comprise a subassembly for a vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the additively manufactured components comprise a subassembly for a vehicle chassis.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the additively manufactured components comprise a subassembly for a vehicle body.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a standoff between at least two of the plurality of additively manufactured components.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a member having a fluid channel interconnecting the plurality of additively manufactured components via the fluid path.

14. An apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of additively manufactured components, each additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components including a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel includes an enclosed passage within each additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components, wherein the additively manufactured components are configured to be connected together such that the fluid channels form a fluid path that allows the fluid to flow between the additively manufactured components within the fluid path; and
a fluid flow orifice configured to provide fluid to the fluid channels, wherein the fluid flow orifice comprises at least one of a fluid side end effector or a vacuum side end effector.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the flow of the fluid within the fluid path is assisted via a vacuum.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the additively manufactured components in the plurality of additively manufactured components comprises a vacuum port for providing the vacuum to the fluid path.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising the fluid extending along the fluid path.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising one or more apertures in each additively manufactured component in the plurality of additively manufactured components in communication with the fluid path to provide a visual indication of the flow of the fluid.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a first one of the additively manufactured components comprises a component connecting a second one of the additively manufactured components to a third one of the additively manufactured components.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the second one of the additively manufactured components comprises a panel.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the second one of the additively manufactured components comprises a tube.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the additively manufactured components comprise a subassembly for a vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the additively manufactured components comprise a subassembly for a vehicle chassis.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the additively manufactured components comprise a subassembly for a vehicle body.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a standoff between at least two of the plurality of additively manufactured components.

26. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a member having a fluid channel interconnecting the plurality of additively manufactured components via the fluid path.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Kevin Robert
• Martinez Antonio Bernerd
• Tenhouten Broc William
• Okoli Chukwubuikem Marcel
• Rogers Eli

Classifications

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title

• B22F12/49

  Scanners · CPC title

• B22F10/28

  Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] · CPC title

• B22F7/062

  involving the connection or repairing of preformed parts · CPC title

• C09J5/00

  Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers · CPC title