3d printed mechanical locks for end cap potting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020246729-A1
Application number	US-201916267850-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2019
Priority date	Feb 5, 2019
Publication date	Aug 6, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes providing a computer-readable three-dimensional model of a filter medium including a plurality of segments, each segment of the three-dimensional model being configured to be converted into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the filter medium, the filter medium including a first end defining a first cavity that extends from the first end along a predetermined direction that defines an undercut along the first predetermined direction; and successively forming each layer of the filter medium by additive manufacturing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A filter comprising:
a first end cap defining a Polar coordinate system including a radial direction, a circumferential direction, and a Z-axis; and a filter medium including a plurality of layers of solidified material and defining a first end disposed along the Z-axis and a second end disposed along the Z-axis; wherein the first end defines a first cavity defining a first undercut configured to prevent movement of the first end cap along the Z-axis relative to the filter medium.

2 . The filter of claim 1 further comprising a second end cap and wherein the second end defines a second cavity defining a second undercut configured to prevent movement of the second end cap along the Z-axis relative to the filter medium.

3 . The filter of claim 2 wherein the first end cap includes a first axially extending portion at least partially filling the first undercut of the first cavity of the first end and the second end cap includes a second axially extending portion at least partially filling the second undercut of the second cavity of the second end.

4 . The filter of claim 1 wherein the first undercut includes an arrow-shaped configuration.

5 . The filter of claim 2 wherein the second undercut includes an arrow-shaped configuration.

6 . The filter of claim 1 wherein the first cavity extends completely circumferentially about the first end of the filter medium and includes a first cavity axially extending portion that extends completely to the first end.

7 . A filter medium defining a longitudinal axis, the filter medium comprising:
a plurality of layers of solidified material and defining a first end disposed along the longitudinal axis and a second end disposed along the longitudinal axis; wherein the first end defines a first cavity defining a first undercut along the longitudinal axis.

8 . The filter medium of claim 7 wherein the filter medium includes an annular shape defining a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and defining an interior thru-hole and including a faceted exterior.

9 . The filter medium of claim 8 wherein the first cavity extends completely circumferentially about the first end.

10 . The filter medium of claim 8 wherein the second end defines a second cavity defining a second undercut along the longitudinal axis, the second cavity also extending completely circumferentially about the second end.

11 . The filter medium of claim 8 wherein the filter medium includes a faceted interior defining the interior thru-hole, and the faceted interior approximates an interior cylindrical surface and the faceted exterior approximates an exterior cylindrical surface.

12 . The filter medium of claim 7 wherein the first cavity includes an arrow-shaped configuration.

13 . The filter medium of claim 7 wherein the filter medium is manufactured using the infill settings of a 3D printing software.

14 . A method of creating a computer-readable three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the filter medium of claim 7 , the method comprising:
inputting data representing the filter medium to a computer; and using the data to represent the filter medium as a three-dimensional model, the three dimensional model being suitable for use in manufacturing the filter medium.

15 . A computer-readable three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the filter medium of claim 7 .

16 . A computer-readable storage medium having data stored thereon representing a three-dimensional model suitable for use in manufacturing the filter medium of claim 7 .

17 . A method for manufacturing a filter medium, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a computer-readable three-dimensional model of the filter medium including a plurality of segments, each segment of the three-dimensional model being configured to be converted into a plurality of slices that each define a cross-sectional layer of the filter medium, the filter medium including a first end defining a first cavity that extends from the first end along a predetermined direction and defines a first undercut along the predetermined direction; and successively forming each layer of the filter medium by additive manufacturing.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein successively forming each layer of the filter medium by additive manufacturing includes using the infill settings of a 3D printing software.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein using the infill settings of a 3D printing software include setting a different infill angle for different segments of the filter medium.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein using the infill settings of a 3D printing software include using a different infill density for different segments of the filter medium.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Rodriguez Javier A
• Morehouse Iii Darrell Lee

Classifications

• B01D29/111 Primary

  Making filtering elements · CPC title

• B01D29/012 Primary

  Making filtering elements (making bag, cage, hose, tube, sleeve or like filtering elements B01D29/111) · CPC title

• B22F10/40

  Structures for supporting workpieces or articles during manufacture and removed afterwards · CPC title

• B22F10/28

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

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title