Methods and apparatus for additively manufactured exoskeleton-based transport structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019030605-A1
Application number	US-201715659601-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 25, 2017
Priority date	Jul 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to additively manufactured vehicle exterior structures, designed to enclose the vehicle surface and support required operational loads. The vehicle structure includes cavities into which components that require an external interface are inserted. A plurality of components are assembled and integrated into the vehicle structure. The structure may be 3-D printed using multiple printing techniques applied in parallel or in series. In an embodiment, the components and structure are modular, use multiple materials and manufacturing techniques, and enable reparability and replacement of single parts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for assembly into a transport structure, comprising:
an additively-manufactured (AM) structure comprising an exterior surface, the AM structure configured to accept operational loads and to protect an occupant in an event of impact, wherein the exterior surface comprises a plurality of cavities for housing components that use an external interface.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AM structure comprises an exoskeleton.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the AM structure further comprises an interior surface.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the structure comprises at least one of a honeycomb matrix and a lattice structure arranged between inner surfaces of the interior and exterior surfaces.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the honeycomb matrix or the lattice structure is co-printed with at least one of the interior and exterior surfaces of the 3-D printed frame.

6 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the AM structure is configured to provide a majority of impact protection associated with the transport structure.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein impact protection capability of the AM structure eliminates a need for crash rails.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a set of general components integrated in part or in whole within the AM structure, wherein the set of general components comprises a subset representing the components that use an external interface.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least some of the general components in the set are additively manufactured or are co-printed with the AM structure.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the components that use an external interface include one or more of headlights, tail-lights and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface comprises a smooth surface configured to optimize air flow during motion of the transport structure.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the components that use an external interface include one or more vehicle pillars.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the vehicle pillars comprises a modular, additively-manufactured structure.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the set of general components includes at least one solid state electric circuit printed into the 3-D printed frame and configured to perform one or more functions of an electric harness.

15 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein at least some of the general components in the set comprise modular components.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the modular components each comprise connection ports configured to couple to or interconnect with connection ports of at least one other modular component.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the modular components are 3-D printed.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least portions of the AM structure are modular.

19 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising one or more greenhouse cavities in a rear portion of the AM structure configured to house panels or glass.

20 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising door cavities arranged in side portions of the AM structure and configured to house interior door panels.

21 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the exoskeleton comprises one or more cavities configured to house respective panel inlays in an interior of the exoskeleton to thereby seal the one or more cavities.

22 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein one or more panels are co-printed with at least a portion of the AM structure.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the one or more panels are assembled using a Voronoi pattern.

24 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the one or more panels are configured to provide discrete crumple zones operable for structural reinforcement in the impact event.

25 . A transport structure, comprising:
a 3-D printed contoured sandwich panel; and a plurality of components assembled in the interior of the sandwich panel, wherein the sandwich panel is configured to support principal structural loads of the transport structure.

26 . The transport structure of claim 25 , wherein the sandwich panel is contoured to be aerodynamic.

27 . The transport structure of claim 25 , wherein the sandwich panel comprises a custom honeycomb structure arranged between inner panel surfaces.

28 . A method of producing a transport structure, comprising:
3-D printing a frame, the 3-D printed frame comprising a structure configured to accept operational loads and to protect an occupant in an event of an impact; and assembling a plurality of components into the 3-D printed frame,
wherein the 3-D printed frame comprises a plurality of cavities for housing components of the plurality of components that use an external interface.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the 3-D printing the frame comprises 3-D printing interior and exterior panels having a lattice or honeycomb structure disposed therebetween.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the 3-D printing the frame comprising the structure further comprises 3-D printing the lattice or honeycomb structure for coupling the interior and exterior panels.

31 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising co-printing the lattice or honeycomb structure with at least one of the interior and exterior panels.

32 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the assembling the plurality of components further comprises co-printing the plurality of components with the 3-D printed frame.

33 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the components that use an external interface include one or more of headlights, tail-lights and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

34 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising forming an outer surface of the exterior panel with a smooth surface finish configured to optimize air flow during motion of the transport structure.

35 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the plurality of components comprise modular components.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the modular components are 3-D printed.

37 . The method of claim 28 , wherein at least portions of the 3-D printed frame are modular.

38 . A multi-aspect printer, comprising:
a substrate defining a build region; an applicator configured to provide material for building a structure in the build region; and first and second processor-controlled arm assemblies configured to extend over the build region, wherein the first and second arm assemblies are each configured to perform a function corresponding to a distinct additive manufacturing (AM) technology.

39 . The printer of claim 38 , further comprising at least one print head coupled to one or both of the first and second arm assemblies.

40 . The printer of claim 38 , wherein the AM technologies comprise at least one of direct metal deposition (DMD), powder bed fusion (PBF), or fused deposition modeling (FDM).

41 . The printer of claim 38 , wherein the AM technologies comprises at least one of Directed Energy Deposit

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Tenhouten Broc William
• Czinger Kevin Robert
• Macey Stuart Paul
• O'Connell David Charles
• Gunner Jon Paul
• Martinez Antonio Bernerd
• Lakshman Narender Shankar

Classifications

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B22F2998/10

  Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps · CPC title

• B23K26/0884

  in at least three axial directions, e.g. manipulators, robots · CPC title

• B23K2101/006

  Vehicles · CPC title