Systems and methods for fabricating joint members

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975179-B2
Application number	US-201514788154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A method for fabricating a joint designed to connect tubes for a space frame, where a space frame may be a vehicle chassis, is provided. The method may generate joints with variable geometry and fine features which may reduce production costs, reduce production time, and generate joints configured for highly specific applications. The joint may include centering features which may create a space between a surface of the tube and a surface of the joint through which adhesive may flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle chassis comprising:
a plurality of connecting tubes; and
a plurality of joint members produced by a 3-D printer, each joint member sized and shaped to mate with at least a subset of the plurality of the connecting tubes in the plurality of connecting tubes to form a three-dimensional frame structure,
wherein the plurality of joint members comprise 3-D printed mounting features, the mounting features providing panel mounts for mounting of panels on the three-dimensional frame structure.

2. The vehicle chassis of claim 1 , wherein each joint member of the plurality of joint members is sized and shaped such that the joint member contacts an inner surface and an outer surface of a connecting tube when the connecting tube is mated to the joint member.

3. The vehicle chassis of claim 1 , wherein at least one joint member of the plurality of joint members comprises internal routing features formed during 3-D printing of the joint member.

4. The vehicle chassis of claim 3 , wherein the internal routing features provide a network of passageways for transport of fluid through the vehicle chassis when the three-dimensional frame structure is formed.

5. The vehicle chassis of claim 3 , wherein the internal routing features provide a network of passageways for transport of electricity through electrical components throughout the vehicle chassis when the three-dimensional frame structure is formed.

6. The vehicle chassis of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of joint members comprises one or more 3-D printed nipples.

7. The vehicle chassis of claim 6 , wherein the one or more 3-D printed nipples comprise a pathway for adhesive injection or vacuum infusion.

8. The vehicle chassis of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of joint members comprises nipples positioned on opposite sides of the joint member.

9. The vehicle chassis of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of joint members comprises a protrusion for mating with a corresponding connecting tube.

10. The vehicle chassis of claim 9 , wherein the one or more 3-D printed nipples are configured to connect with injection equipment to distribute adhesive into a space between the protrusion and the corresponding connecting tube.

11. The vehicle chassis of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of joint members further comprises a lip configured to fit over an outer diameter of the corresponding connecting tube wherein the protrusion is configured to fit inside the corresponding connecting tube.

12. The vehicle chassis of claim 11 wherein an annular region is formed between a surface of the protrusion and an inner diameter of the lip.

13. The vehicle chassis of claim 12 , wherein the one or more 3-D printed nipples are configured to allow injection of adhesive or creation of vacuum in the annular region.

14. The vehicle chassis of claim 9 , wherein a surface of the protrusion comprises a plurality of centering features disposed thereon.

15. The vehicle chassis of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of centering features are configured to create fluid pathways to spread adhesive injected via one of the 3-D printed nipples.

16. The vehicle chassis of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of joint members comprises mounting features for shear panels or body panels.

17. The vehicle chassis of claim 1 , wherein the mounting features comprise a flange.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Kevin R
• Balzer William Bradley
• Penmetsa Praveen Varma
• Omohundro Zachary Meyer
• O'Brien Matthew M

Classifications

• B62D21/17

  forming fluid or electrical conduit means or having other means to accommodate the transmission of a force or signal · CPC title

• F16B11/008

  of tubular elements or rods in coaxial engagement · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B62D23/005 Primary

  with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F30/17

  Mechanical parametric or variational design · CPC title