# US 11,441,586 B2 · Apparatus for injecting fluids in node based connections > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,586 B2 - Document ID: US11441586B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/990,522 - Filed: 2018-05-25 - Published: 2019-11-28 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-25 - Assignees: Divergent Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Divergent Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Eahab Nagi El Naga; David Brian TenHouten; Eli Rogers; Kenneth James Goodstein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441586B2 ## CPC - F15D 1/02: in pipes or conduits - B22F 5/10: of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B62D 23/005: {with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence)} - B62D 27/023: {Assembly of structural joints} - B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)} - F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)} - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS - 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 - 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 - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract An additively manufactured node is disclosed. A node is an additively manufactured (AM) structure that includes a feature, e.g., a socket, a receptacle, etc., for accepting another structure, e.g., a tube, a panel, etc. An additively manufactured node can include a surface with an opening to a feed channel through the node. A second surface of the node can include with a plurality of openings to an array of outlet channels. Each of the outlet channels can extend through the node and can connect to the feed channel. Tortuous paths can be used between channels created by the node surface and adjacent structures as well as node interior surfaces. These tortuous paths can be tuned to allow for optimal fluid flow processes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A node comprising: a first surface that provides a boundary of a first channel, the first channel being configured to provide a path for a fluid, wherein the fluid is an adhesive; and a second surface that provides a boundary of a second channel, the second channel being connected to the first channel and configured to provide a tortuous path for the fluid relative to the first channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The node of claim 1, wherein the first surface is an interior surface of the node. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The node of claim 2, further comprising: a third surface with an opening to the first channel, the third surface being an exterior surface of the node; and a fourth surface with an opening to the second channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The node of claim 3, wherein the fourth surface is an exterior surface of the node. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The node of claim 1, wherein the second surface is an exterior surface of the node, and the second surface is configured to provide the tortuous path based on an arrangement of the second surface in proximity to a surface of a structure, the node configured to be connected to the structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The node of claim 5, wherein the first surface is an exterior surface of the node. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The node of claim 6, wherein the first surface is a recessed surface of the node. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The node of claim 1, wherein the node includes a plurality of surfaces providing boundaries of a plurality of channels, including the second channel, each of the plurality of channels configured to provide a corresponding tortuous path for the fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The node of claim 8, wherein the first channel is configured to maximize fluid flow relative to the plurality of channels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The node of claim 9, wherein the plurality of channels is configured to restrict the fluid from flowing through each channel of the plurality of channels before flowing through the first channel. ### Claim 11 An additively manufactured node comprising: a first surface with an opening to a first channel through the node, the first channel configured to provide a fluid; a second surface with a plurality of openings to an array of second channels, each of the second channels extending through the node and connecting to the first channel, wherein the second channels are configured to provide a tortuous path for the fluid relative to the first channel, and wherein a cross-sectional area of, and a distance of separation between, the second channels are tunable in accordance with a required distribution of fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The node of claim 11, further comprising: a third surface extending from the second surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The node of claim 11, wherein a length of each of the second channels is the same. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The node of claim 11, wherein a cross-sectional area of each of the second channels is less than a cross-sectional area of the first channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The node of claim 14, wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional area of each second channel to the cross-sectional area of the first channel is approximately 1:50. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The node of claim 11, wherein the first channel and the second channels are configured such that an uncured fluid injected into the opening on the first surface will flow through the first channel and the second channels to arrive at the openings on the second surface at approximately the same instant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The node of claim 11, further comprising: a fourth surface with an opening to a third channel that extends through the node and connects to the first channel, wherein the third channel is longer than each of the second channels. ### Claim 18 An apparatus comprising: an additively manufactured node including a first surface with an opening to a first channel through the node, a second surface with a plurality of openings to an array of second channels, each of the second channels extending through the node and connecting to the first channel, and a third surface; a structure including a fourth surface that opposes the second surface at a first distance, and a fifth surface that opposes the third surface at a second distance that is less than the first distance; a sealant extending through the first channel and the second channels, wherein the sealant seals the second surface to the fourth surface; and an adhesive adhering the third surface to the fifth surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the third surface extends from the second surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a cross-sectional area of, and a distance of separation between, the second channels are tunable in accordance with a required distribution of the sealant. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a length of each of the second channels is the same. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a cross-sectional area of each of the second channels is less than a cross-sectional area of the first channel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional area of each second channel to the cross-sectional area of the first channel is approximately 1:50. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second distances are average distances. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the node further includes a fourth surface with an opening to a third channel that extends through the node and connects to the first channel, wherein the third channel is longer than each of the second channels.