Systems and methods for additive manufacturing flow control devices

US10814430B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Christian Thomas Wakelam · Munich, DE
• Rene du Cauze de Nazelle · Munich, DE
• Daniel Fischer · Furth, DE
• Hannes Haderlein · Bamberg, DE
• Viktor Engel · Ahorn, DE
• Florian Hoefler · Ismaning, DE
• Rachel Wyn Levine · Peising, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 9, 2018
• Grant date: Oct 27, 2020
• Expiry date: Aug 13, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A flow control device for an additive manufacturing system is provided. The flow control device includes a gas supply configured to discharge a gas, a first flow modifier configured to modify at least one flow characteristic of a first portion of the gas, and a second flow modifier configured to cooperate with the first flow modifier to modify the at least on flow characteristic of the first portion of the gas. The second flow modifier is further configured to modify at least one flow characteristic of a second portion of the gas, and the first flow modifier and the second flow modifier are configured to cooperate to direct at least a portion of the first portion and the second portion of the gas towards a melt pool in a plurality of particles.