Fused filament fabrication of vacuum insulator

US11707788B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Rolls-Royce Corporation · US
• Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc. · US

Inventors

• Quinlan Yee Shuck · Indianapolis, US
• Scott Nelson · Carmel, US
• Raymond Ruiwen Xu · Carmel, US
• Brandon David Ribic · Noblesville, US
• Matthew R. Gold · Carmel, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 13, 2020
• Grant date: Jul 25, 2023
• Expiry date: Jun 3, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In some examples, an additive manufacturing technique for forming a vacuum insulator. For example, a method including forming an article including a first layer, a second layer, and at least one support member extending between the first and second layer by depositing a filament via a filament delivery device, wherein the filament includes a sacrificial binder and a powder, and wherein the first layer, second layer, and at least one support member define an open cavity within the article; removing the binder; and sintering the article to form the vacuum insulator, wherein the vacuum insulator defines a vacuum environment in the cavity.