Acoustic softening of non-newtonian material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12564863-B2
Application number	US-202217743199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2022
Priority date	May 12, 2022
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A viscosity reduction system includes: a dispenser including: an inlet configured to receive a fluid; an outlet configured to dispense the fluid onto a surface; and a flow channel that fluidly connects the inlet with the outlet; and a vibrating device that directly contacts the dispenser at one or more locations and that is configured to vibrate the dispenser and the fluid when power is applied to the vibrating device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A viscosity reduction system comprising:
a dispenser including:
an inlet configured to receive a fluid;
an outlet configured to dispense the fluid onto a surface; and
a flow channel that fluidly connects the inlet with the outlet;
a first vibrating device that directly contacts the dispenser at one or more locations and that is configured to vibrate the dispenser and the fluid when power is applied to the first vibrating device; and a second vibrating device that directly contacts the surface at one or more locations and that is configured to vibrate the surface and the fluid on the surface when power is applied to the second vibrating device.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first vibrating device includes a transducer that encircles the inlet of the dispenser and that vibrates when power is applied to the transducer.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first vibrating device includes:
a transducer that vibrates when power is applied to the transducer; and
a booster that boost an amplitude of the vibration from the transducer and that directly contacts the dispenser.

4 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a control module configured to apply power to the first vibrating device at a frequency of 200 kilohertz (kHz) or less.

5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a heater configured to heat at least one of the dispenser, the fluid, and the surface.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the heater includes an infrared (IR) lamp.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a thermal interface material.

8 . The system of claim 7 wherein the thermal interface material is disposed between the surface and a face of a battery.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the dispenser includes a tube though which the fluid flows; and
the first vibrating device directly contacts the tube at one or more locations.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
the dispenser includes:
a central portion;
outer walls; and,

the flow channel is disposed between the central portion and the outer walls.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a non-Newtonian thixotropic material.

12 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid exhibits shear sheer-thinning.

13 . The system of claim 1 wherein a viscosity of the fluid decreases as a shear rate of the fluid increases.

14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the outlet is one of circular and ovular.

15 . A method comprising:
using a dispenser, dispensing a thermal interface material onto a first surface of a cooling plate, the cooling plate having the first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; using a press, applying force to the second surface of the cooling plate and urging the thermal interface material into direct contact with a face of a battery; using a first vibrating device, applying vibration to the dispenser; and using a second vibrating device, vibrating at least one of the cooling plate and the press when power is applied to the second vibrating device.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the applying vibration to at least one of the cooling plate and the press includes applying vibration to the cooling plate.

17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising heating the thermal interface material.

18 . The method of claim 15 wherein the thermal interface material is a non-Newtonian thixotropic material.

19 . The method of claim 15 wherein the thermal interface material exhibits shear thinning.

20 . A viscosity reduction method, comprising:
by a first vibrating device that directly contacts a dispenser at one or more locations, vibrating the dispenser and a fluid when power is applied to the first vibrating device, the dispenser including:
an inlet configured to receive the fluid;
an outlet configured to dispense the fluid onto a surface; and
a flow channel that fluidly connects the inlet with the outlet; and
by a second vibrating device that directly contacts the surface at one or more locations, vibrating the surface and the fluid on the surface when power is applied to the second vibrating device.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dietze Jr Robert H
• Brady Christopher
• Mcgovern Megan E
• Bruder Dmitriy
• James Robin
• Abell Jeffrey A

Classifications

• B05C5/02

  {the liquid or other fluent material being discharged through an outlet orifice by pressure, e.g.} from an outlet device in contact or almost in contact, with the work · CPC title

• H01M10/653

  characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials · CPC title

• B05C5/001

  incorporating means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material (B05C11/1042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05D1/26

  performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface · CPC title

• B05C5/0225

  characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036) · CPC title