System and method for manufacturing a tower structure
AssigneeGE Infrastructure Technology LLC
InventorsNorman Arnold Turnquist, Xiaopeng Li, Gregory Edward Cooper
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for manufacturing a tower structure. Accordingly, an interlocking form ring is additively manufactured with a first printhead assembly. The interlocking form ring defines a plurality of recesses in a radially inner or a radially outer face. A cementitious material is deposited within one or more of the recesses with a second printhead assembly. At least one reinforcing member is positioned within the recess with the second printhead assembly. The second printhead assembly is positioned adjacent to the cementitious material during the curing thereof so as to provide a slip form for the curing of the cementitious material.
Claims13
A method of manufacturing a tower structure, the method comprising:
- depositing one or more layers of an interlocking form ring with a first printhead assembly, the interlocking form ring defining a plurality of recesses in at least one of a radially inner face or a radially outer face, the first printhead assembly including, at least, a first printhead oriented in a first direction;
- depositing a cementitious material within one or more of the plurality of recesses with a second printhead assembly so as to form at least one of an inner tower wall or an outer tower wall, the second printhead assembly including a second printhead oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction;
- positioning at least one reinforcing member at least partially within the recess with the second printhead assembly;
- and
- positioning an articulable forming element of the second printhead assembly below a point of deposition of the cementitious material, the articulable forming element having a shape corresponding to a shape of the inner or outer tower wall so as to provide a temporary slip form for the curing of the cementitious material as the second printhead moves in the second direction to deposit the cementitious material within the recesses, the articulatable forming element movable with the second printhead vertically along the inner or outer tower wall.
A method of manufacturing a tower structure, the method comprising:
- depositing one or more layers of an interlocking form ring with a first printhead assembly, the interlocking form ring defining a plurality of recesses in at least one of a radially inner face or a radially outer face, the first printhead assembly including, at least, a first printhead oriented in a first direction;
- depositing a cementitious material within one or more of the plurality of recesses with a second printhead assembly so as to form at least one of an inner tower wall or an outer tower wall, the second printhead assembly including a second printhead oriented in a second direction, the second direction being different than the first direction;
- positioning at least one reinforcing member at least partially within the recess with the second printhead assembly;
- positioning an articulable forming element of the second printhead assembly adjacent to the cementitious material during curing thereof so as to provide a slip form for the curing of the cementitious material;
- and
- simultaneously depositing the cementitious material at least partially within one or more of the plurality recesses with a third printhead assembly, the third printhead assembly being disposed radially opposite the second printhead assembly, the third printhead assembly including a third printhead oriented in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.