# US 11,440,115 B2 · Assembly assistance

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- Number: US 11,440,115 B2
- Document ID: US11440115B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/217,826
- Filed: 2021-03-30
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-30
- Assignees: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
- Applicants: Delavan Inc.
- Inventors: Brett A. Pfeffer; Robert W. Vierhout; Dustin Andrew Borror; Troy Finton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440115B2

## CPC

- B22F 10/25: Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS]
- B23K 1/0008: {specially adapted for particular articles or work}
- B21D 39/046: {Connecting tubes to tube-like fittings}
- B22F 5/106: {Tube or ring forms}
- B22F 10/22: Direct deposition of molten metal
- B22F 2005/005: {Article surface comprising protrusions}
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency
- B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- 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
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A method including depositing a first material on a first member by an additive manufacturing process in a pattern intended to aid in an assembly of the first member and at least a second member and inserting the first member at least partially into the second member, with the first material being guide for insertion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising the steps of:
depositing a first material on a first member by an additive manufacturing process in a pattern intended to aid in an assembly of the first member and at least a second member;
inserting the first member at least partially into the second member, with the first material configured to act a guide for insertion;
deforming a portion of an outer surface of the first member by the deposition of the first material on the outer surface of the first member; and
removing the first material from the first member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein depositing the first material on the first member by an additive manufacturing process is done by directed energy deposition.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein deforming does not include melting the outer surface of the first member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, where a deformation of the outer surface of the first member is less than 0.020 inches deep.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising brazing a third material on the first member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising guiding the brazed material by the first material by capillary action.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a second material different than the first material.