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US 10,882,249 B2Granted
Head and system for continuously manufacturing composite hollow structure
AssigneeContinuous Composites Inc.
InventorKenneth Lyle Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A head is disclosed for use with a continuous manufacturing system. The head may have a housing configured to receive a matrix and a continuous fiber, and a diverter located at an end of the housing. The diverter may be configured to divert radially outward a matrix-coated fiber. The head may also include a cutoff having an edge configured to press the matrix-coated fiber against the diverter.
Claims20
A method of additively manufacturing tubular structures, comprising:
- passing matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements over a diverter, wherein the diverter is within a head of an additively manufacturing system;
- moving the head during the passing of the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements over the diverter;
- exposing the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements to a cure energy;
- and
- selectively moving a cutoff toward the diverter at a location upstream of cure energy exposure to sever the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements.
2 more elements
A method of additively manufacturing tubular structures, comprising:
- passing matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements over a diverter to form a tube;
- exposing the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements to a cure energy, wherein the diverter is within a head of an additively manufacturing system;
- moving the head during the passing of the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements over the diverter;
- selectively moving the diverter to reduce a wall thickness of the tube;
- and
- selectively moving a cutoff toward the diverter at a time of reduced wall thickness to sever the matrix-wetted continuous reinforcements.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.