# US 10,307,959 B2 · Concrete delivery system

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- Number: US 10,307,959 B2
- Document ID: US10307959B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/280,967
- Filed: 2016-09-29
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-29
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
- Applicants: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
- Inventors: Gerald R. Northrup; William Jacob Wagner; Megan A. Kreiger; Bruce A. MacAllister; Michael Patrick Case; Ghassan Al-Chaar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307959B2

## CPC

- B29C 64/165: using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
- B25J 9/026: {Gantry-type}
- B28B 1/001: {Rapid manufacturing of 3D objects by additive depositing, agglomerating or laminating of material (selective deposition modelling of metallic powder B22F10/00; rapid manufacturing of 3D objects in general and in particular of plastics B29C64/00)}
- B28C 7/163: {using a pump}
- B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles
- B29C 64/321: Feeding
- B29C 64/343: Metering
- E04G 21/00: Preparing, conveying, or working-up building materials or building elements in situ; Other devices or measures for constructional work (conveying in general B65G; lifting devices B66; working stone-like materials B28D; measuring instruments G01)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50})
- B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B)
- B28C: PREPARING CLAY; PRODUCING MIXTURES CONTAINING CLAY OR CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (preparing material for foundry moulds B22C5/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS

## Abstract

The present invention is a three-dimensional printing system which is capable of printing with multiple different printing materials, including homogenous materials, such as cement paste, or heterogeneous materials, such as concrete. Functionality is accomplished by novel, critical structures including but not limited to a movable gate capable of controlling the flow of printing materials without clogging or becoming otherwise damaged. The system has a print head that discharges printing material through a discharge aperture. The movable gate is rotatably connected to the print head, allowing it to cover the discharge aperture and cut off the flow of printing material when actuated and rotated into position. Certain embodiments also include hose positioning systems to prevent hoses delivering printing material from disconnecting or damaging the printed structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A three dimensional printing system, comprised of: a print head having a discharge aperture for discharge of printing material; a movable gate positionable over said discharge aperture, wherein said moveable gate is externally actuated and selectively positioned to block discharge of said printing material from said discharge aperture when positioned over said discharge aperture, wherein said movable gate includes at least one base plate substantially perpendicularly affixed to at least one externally actuated mounting plate that is rotatably mounted to said print head.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one externally actuated mounting plate is comprised of a first mounting plate connected to a first side surface of said print head and a second mounting plate connected to a second side surface of said print head, wherein said at least one base plate connects said first mounting plate and said second mounting plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said first mounting plate and said second mounting plate are substantially parallel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one base plate is a curved plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one externally actuated mounting plate is a circular sector plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one base plate and said at least one externally actuated mounting plate are integrally constructed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said movable gate includes at least one trowel extension, wherein said trowel extension is a planar projection extending from said at least one externally actuated mounting plate.

### Claim 8

A three dimensional printing system, comprised of: a print head having a discharge aperture for discharge of printing material; a movable gate positionable over said discharge aperture, wherein said moveable gate is externally actuated and selectively positioned to block discharge of said printing material from said discharge aperture when positioned over said discharge aperture, wherein said movable gate is mounted to a sleeve at least partially surrounding said print head.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein said sleeve is rotatable around said print head by an actuator.