System and method for manufacturing a tower structure
AssigneeGE Infrastructure Technology LLC
InventorsNorman Arnold Turnquist, Gregory Edward Cooper, Xiaopeng Li, Christopher James Kenny, Biao Fang, Pascal Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for manufacturing a tower structure. Accordingly, one or more layers of a wall element are deposited with a printhead assembly. At least one recess is defined in the wall element. The recess(es) has a single, circumferential opening positioned along an inner reference curve or an outer reference curve of the wall element. The recess(es) also has a depth which extends in a radial direction and intersects a midline reference curve. A reinforcing element is placed entirely within the recess(es) at the midline reference curve.
Claims11
A method of manufacturing a tower structure, the method comprising:
- depositing one or more layers of a wall element with a printhead assembly, the wall element circumscribing a vertical axis of the tower structure, the wall element having an outer circumferential face defining an outer reference curve, an inner circumferential face defining an inner reference curve, and a midline reference curve which is equidistant between the outer reference curve and the inner reference curve;
- defining at least one recess of the wall element, the at least one recess having a single, circumferential opening positioned along the inner reference curve or the outer reference curve and a depth extending in a radial direction, the depth intersecting the midline reference curve;
- and
- placing a reinforcing element entirely within the at least one recess at the midline reference curve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.