Systems and methods for bridging components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019054532-A1
Application number	US-201715682385-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2017
Priority date	Aug 21, 2017
Publication date	Feb 21, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

One aspect is an apparatus including a node having a socket configured to receive a component and a detachable additively manufactured nozzle co-printed with the node and arranged for adhesive injection between the component and the socket. Another aspect is an additively manufactured apparatus including a first additively manufactured component having an area configured to receive a second additively manufactured component. The first component includes an adhesive channel for injecting adhesive into the area when the second component is being connected to the first component. Another 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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a node having a first portion configured to support a metal sheet and a second portion configured to support a component to thereby couple the metal sheet to the component.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the metal sheet supported by the first portion of the node and the component supported by the second portion of the node.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the component comprises a metal component.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the component comprises an additively manufactured component.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the component comprises a panel.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the node comprises a first socket and the second portion of the node comprises a second socket.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first socket is located at one end of the node and the second socket is located at an opposite end of the node.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the node is elongated between the one end of the node and the opposite end of the node.

9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the node further comprises an opening located between the first socket and the second socket.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the node comprises a first section including the first portion and a second section including the second portion, wherein the first section is interconnected with the second section.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein one of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of dovetail structures and the other one of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of sockets with each of the dovetail structures located in a corresponding one of the sockets.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first section is co-printed with the second section.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first section is joined to the second section.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first section is joined to the second section by welding.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising the metal sheet welded to the first portion of the first section of the node.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the node further comprises a socket having a plurality of protrusions.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising the metal sheet located in the socket, the metal having a plurality of holes with each of the protrusions extending through a corresponding one of the holes.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the protrusions is stitch welded to an internal surface of the socket.

19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , the first portion of the node further comprising a first weld protrusion and a second weld protrusion.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein further comprising the metal sheet welded to the node at the first and second weld protrusions.

21 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the node comprises one or more additively manufactured fasteners co-printed with the node.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein each of the one or more fasteners comprises a blind rivet.

23 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the node comprises a slot having a corrugated surface and a flat surface opposite the corrugated surface.

24 . The apparatus of claim 23 , further comprising an adhesive injection channel for injecting adhesive into the slot.

25 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the node comprises at least one of an additively manufactured node or an extruded node.

26 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a spacer, a seal, an insert, a gasket, a washer, a lining, a liner, or a sealant between at least one of the first portion and the metal sheet or the second portion and the component, wherein the at least one of a spacer, a seal, an insert, a gasket, a washer, a lining, a liner, or a sealant reduces galvanic corrosion by forming a gap between the at least one of the first portion and the metal sheet or the second portion and the component.

27 . A method, comprising:
manufacturing a node having a first portion configured to support a metal sheet and a second portion configured to support a component to thereby couple the metal sheet to the component.

28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising:
manufacturing the component supported by the second portion of the node; and coupling the component to the node.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the component comprising a metal component.

30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein manufacturing the component comprises additively manufacturing the component.

31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the component comprises a panel.

32 . The method of claim 27 , wherein additively manufacturing the first portion comprises additively manufacturing a first socket and additively manufacturing the second portion of the node comprises additively manufacturing a second socket.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein additively manufacturing the node comprises additively manufacturing the first socket located at one end of the node and the second socket located at an opposite end of the node.

34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein additively manufacturing the node comprises additively manufacturing the node with an elongation between the one end of the node and the opposite end of the node.

35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein additively manufacturing the node further comprises additively manufacturing an opening located between the first socket and the second socket.

36 . The method of claim 27 , wherein additively manufacturing the node comprises additively manufacturing a first section including the first portion and a second section including the second portion, wherein the first section is interconnected with the second section.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein additively manufacturing one of the first and second sections comprises additively manufacturing a plurality of dovetail structures and wherein additively manufacturing the other one of the first and second sections comprises additively manufacturing a plurality of sockets with each of the dovetail structures located in a corresponding one of the sockets.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein additively manufacturing the first section and the second section comprises co-printed the first section and the second section.

39 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising joining the first section to the second section.

40 . The method of claim 37 , wherein joining the first section to the second section comprises welding.

41 . The method of claim 36 , further comprising welding the metal sheet to the first portion of the first section of the node.

42 . The method of claim 27 , wherein additively manufacturing the node comprises additively manufacturing the node with a socket having a plurality of protrusions.

43 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising locating the metal sheet in the socket, the metal having a plurality of holes with

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Gunner Jon Paul
• Bucknell John Russell
• Tenhouten Broc William
• El Naga Eahab Nagi
• Balzer William Bradley
• Martinez Antonio Bernerd

Classifications

• B23K11/105 Primary

  Stitch welding · CPC title

• B22F12/52

  Hoppers · CPC title

• F16B5/0635

  fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates · CPC title

• B22F10/28

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

• B22F12/49

  Scanners · CPC title