Mechanical part retention features for additively manufactured structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022055317-A1
Application number	US-202016999494-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2020
Priority date	Aug 21, 2020
Publication date	Feb 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Part retention features are disclosed for securing additively manufactured (AM) parts or for securing an AM part with another component, such as a node, panel, tube, extrusion, and the like, while an adhesive is being applied and/or while the adhesive is undergoing expansion due to a subsequent curing process. The retention features described herein can be used in the context of one or more AM parts such that the elements used to house the retention features (e.g., grooves, apertures, elastic elements, etc.) can advantageously be co-printed with the AM part, thereby removing a manufacturing step. The retention features also can be made with flatter profiles than existing solutions, making the overall structure smaller and less cumbersome to assemble.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a first additively manufactured (AM) part configured to connect to a second part via an adhesive applied at an interface between the first and second parts; and a retention element arranged for placement across the interface and securing the first and second parts during at least application of the adhesive or curing of the adhesive.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first AM part comprises a first interface feature configured to connect to a second interface feature of the second part, and
wherein the interface is defined at least in part by the first and second interface features.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a first member protruding from the first AM part and configured to connect to a second member protruding from the second part.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts each comprise a protrusion, each protrusion having a generally flat portion, the flat portion of the protrusion corresponding to first part configured to be flush, at least in part, against the flat portion of the protrusion corresponding to the second part when the first and second parts are positioned for connection via the adhesive,
wherein the retention element comprises a snap ring, and wherein the protrusions further comprise a generally continuous groove having a shape configured to receive a snap ring.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a length of each protrusion from its respective part comprises a value comparable to a thickness of the snap ring and just large enough to accommodate the snap ring.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shim connected to the retention element.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the shim comprises an insulating material configured to provide electrical isolation between the first and second parts.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the screw comprises one of an electrically insulating or conducting material in response to desired electrical characteristics of the first and second parts.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a clip, the clip further comprising an elastic element pre-loaded to apply a force in a direction that secures the first and second parts.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second parts include a plurality of corresponding apertures distributed along respective sides of the interface and into which clips comprising the elastic element are inserted.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a snap feature coupled to the first part and configured to engage a corresponding receptacle on the second part.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the snap feature is deflected to clear the second part when the second part is first brought into contact with the first part.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the snap feature is configured to deflect into the receptacle when the snap feature is slidably moved along a surface of the second part.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retention element comprises a clip appended to the first part following AM of the first part, the clip configured to engage a corresponding receptacle located on the second part.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the clip comprises an insulating material configured to maintain a separation space between the first and second parts prior to application of the adhesive.

16 . An additively manufactured (AM) node, comprising:
a first portion configured to connect to another part via an adhesive applied to an interface between the first portion and the other part; and a retention element arranged for placement across the interface and configured to secure the first portion and the other part during at least application of the adhesive or curing of the adhesive.

17 . The AM node of claim 16 , wherein the other part comprises a panel and the interface comprises a node-to-panel connection.

18 . The AM node of claim 16 , wherein the retention element comprises a pin press fit into the first portion and the other part.

19 . The AM node of claim 16 , wherein the retention element comprises a Christmas tree fastener.

20 . The AM node of claim 16 , wherein the retention element comprises a magnet and corresponding magnetic field.

21 . An apparatus, comprising:
a first additively manufactured (AM) part configured to connect to a second AM part via an adhesive applied at an interface between the first and second parts; and a retention element arranged for placement across the interface and securing the first and second parts during curing of the adhesive.

22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first and second parts comprise opposing grooves adjacent the interface, the grooves being configured to receive magnets oriented to create an attractive magnetic force across the interface for securing the first and second parts.

23 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the retention element comprises clecos.

24 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first and second parts comprise a plurality of features distributed on opposite sides of the interface and configured to receive the clecos for positioning across the interface at a plurality of regions.

25 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein
the first part comprises a node, the second part comprises a panel, and at least one cleco is positioned on an interior side of the node relative to the panel.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Okoli Chukwubuikem Marcel
• Tenhouten David Brian
• Zafar Muhammad Faizan
• Martinez Antonio Bernerd
• Czinger Lukas Philip

Classifications

• F16B2200/83

  Use of a magnetic material · CPC title

• F16B2/20

  Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening · CPC title

• F16B2/06

  external, i.e. with contracting action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16B5/0664

  at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• F16B5/0621

  in parallel relationship (fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02) · CPC title