Infusion bolt, method of use and method of manufacture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527273-B2
Application number	US-201414260720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2014
Priority date	Apr 24, 2014
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

Various embodiments include an infusion bolt and methods of manufacturing such a bolt. In one embodiment an infusion bolt includes: a head having an axially accessible opening extending therethrough; and a shaft extending from the head, the shaft having: an inner cavity fluidly connected with the axially accessible opening of the head; a radially outer surface surrounding the inner cavity; and a set of axially extending apertures along the radially outer surface, the set of axially extending apertures fluidly connected with the inner cavity and the axially accessible opening in the head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An infusion bolt comprising:
a head having an axially accessible opening extending therethrough, wherein the head has a diameter D h ;
a set of axially extending passages extending entirely through the head located radially outward of the axially accessible opening, wherein the set of axially extending passages open in a direction parallel to a shaft; and
the shaft extending from the head, the shaft having a diameter D n , wherein D h is greater than D n , the shaft having:
an inner cavity fluidly connected with the axially accessible opening of the head;
a radially outer surface surrounding the inner cavity; and
at least two distinct apertures along the radially outer surface, the at least two distinct apertures fluidly connected with the inner cavity and the axially accessible opening in the head, wherein the at least two distinct apertures each have a greater axial length than a circumferential length, the circumferential length measured along the radially outer surface, wherein the at least two distinct apertures do not axially extend to a distal end of the shaft opposite the head, wherein the shaft terminates at a flat surface in a direction perpendicular to the shaft at the distal end of the shaft.

2. The infusion bolt of claim 1 , wherein the axially accessible opening is substantially circular.

3. The infusion bolt of claim 2 , wherein the head has a radial center, and wherein the axially accessible opening is substantially concentric about the radial center.

4. The infusion bolt of claim 1 , wherein the at least two distinct apertures and the axially accessible opening allow fluid to pass from a distal end of the head to the radially outer surface of the shaft.

5. The infusion bolt of claim 1 , wherein the two distinct apertures oppose one another along the radially outer surface.

6. The infusion bolt of claim 1 , wherein the head has a greater diameter than a diameter of the shaft, and wherein the axially accessible opening has a lesser diameter than the diameter of the shaft.

7. The infusion bolt of claim 1 , wherein the head and the shaft are substantially unitary and include metal or plastic.

8. A method comprising:
three-dimensionally printing an infusion bolt, the infusion bolt having:
a head having an axially accessible opening extending therethrough, wherein the head has a diameter D h ;
a set of axially extending passages extending entirely through the head located radially outward of the axially accessible opening, wherein the set of axially extending passages open in a direction parallel to a shaft; and
the shaft extending from the head, the shaft having a diameter D n , wherein D h is greater than D n , the shaft having:
an inner cavity fluidly connected with the axially accessible opening of the head;
a radially outer surface surrounding the inner cavity; and
at least two distinct apertures along the radially outer surface, the at least two distinct fluidly connected with the inner cavity and the axially accessible opening in the head, wherein the at least two distinct apertures each have a greater axial length than a circumferential length, the circumferential length measured along the radially outer surface, wherein the at least two distinct apertures do not axially extend to a distal end of the shaft opposite the head, wherein the shaft terminates at a flat surface in a direction perpendicular to the shaft at the distal end of the shaft.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the infusion bolt is printed from a plastic or a laser-sintered powder metal.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Moors Thomas Michael

Classifications

• B29L2031/727

  Fastening elements (bolts B29L2001/002; nuts B29L2001/005; screws B29L2001/007; slide fasteners B29L2005/00; buttons for haberdashery B29L2019/00) · CPC title

• F16B13/141

  Fixing plugs in holes by the use of settable material · CPC title

• F16B3/005

  the key being formed by solidification of injected material (joining of preformed parts by applying molten plastics B29C65/40; non-disconnectible pipe joints obtained using a hardenable filler F16L13/11) · CPC title

• B33Y80/00 Primary

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F5/10

  of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups · CPC title