Direct inject joint architecture enabled by quick cure adhesive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022194020-A1
Application number	US-202117548180-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 10, 2021
Priority date	Dec 18, 2020
Publication date	Jun 23, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for assembling components are described. An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a first structure having a first tongue, a second tongue, and a third tongue, the second tongue being between the first tongue and the third tongue, a second structure having a first groove, a second groove, and a third groove, the second groove being between the first groove and the third groove, a first adhesive, coupled to the first tongue and the first groove and coupled to the third tongue and the third groove when the first structure is coupled to the second structure, and a second adhesive coupled to the second tongue and the second groove when the first structure is coupled to the second structure, wherein the first adhesive is injected into the first groove and the third groove and the second adhesive is injected into the second groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a first structure having a first tongue, a second tongue, and a third tongue, the second tongue being between the first tongue and the third tongue; a second structure having a first groove, a second groove, and a third groove, the second groove being between the first groove and the third groove; a first adhesive, coupled to the first tongue and the first groove and coupled to the third tongue and the third groove when the first structure is coupled to the second structure; and a second adhesive coupled to the second tongue and the second groove when the first structure is coupled to the second structure, wherein the first adhesive is injected into the first groove and the third groove and the second adhesive is injected into the second groove.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive is an ultraviolet (UV) curable adhesive.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first adhesive is cured prior to the application of the second adhesive.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second adhesive is applied through at least one of the first groove and the third groove into the second groove.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein UV light travels through the second groove to cure the first adhesive in the first groove and the second groove.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second tongue and the second groove are larger than the first tongue and the first groove.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second tongue and the second groove are larger than the third tongue and the third groove.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second adhesive is a structural adhesive.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a light beam is passed through the first groove and the second groove to cure the first adhesive in the third groove.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the light beam reflects from at least one surface of the first groove and the second groove.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the light beam further reflects from at least one surface of the first tongue and the second tongue.

12 . A method for coupling a first component having a first groove, a second groove, and a third groove, and a second component having a first tongue, a second tongue, and a third tongue, comprising:
injecting a first adhesive into the first groove and the third groove; coupling the first component and the second component such that the first tongue enters into the first groove and contacts the first adhesive, and the third tongue enters into the third groove and contacts the first adhesive; curing the first adhesive in the first groove and the third groove; injecting a second adhesive into the second groove.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein injecting a second adhesive into the second groove comprises injecting the second adhesive through at least one of the first groove and the third groove.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein curing the first adhesive comprises exposing the first adhesive to ultraviolet (UV) light.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising passing the UV light through the first groove and through the second groove to expose the first adhesive in the third groove to the UV light.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising reflecting the UV light from at least one surface of the first groove and the second groove.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising reflecting the UV light from at least one surface of the first tongue and the second tongue.

18 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising structurally coupling the first component and the second component with the second adhesive.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Lukas Philip

Classifications

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F7/062 Primary

  involving the connection or repairing of preformed parts · CPC title

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/153

  using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting · CPC title