Fluid redistribution device for containers having a working fluid
OwnerMax Eric Schlienger, Paul Anthony Witheyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A container having a working fluid that can be used to build freeform fabricated components is disclosed. A distributing member and a fluid moving device are used in conjunction with the container. The fluid moving device can take the form of a pump and the distributing member is moveable across a surface of the working fluid to either deposit working fluid or withdraw working fluid from the surface. The distributing member is in fluid communication with the fluid moving device, which is in fluid communication with an opening in the container.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a vat having an upper portion and a lower portion and containing a rapid prototyping liquid that can be operated upon to produce a solid body;
- a movable device having an opening located near a surface of the rapid prototyping liquid and disposed within the vat through which a portion of the rapid prototyping liquid is conveyed when the movable device is moved;
- and
- wherein the rapid prototyping liquid is circulated through the opening between the surface and a location disposed toward the lower portion of the vat.
The apparatus of claim 7, which further includes a fluid shearing device in flow communication with the movable device.
An apparatus comprising:
- a vessel having a rapid prototyping multi-component fluid that can be formed into a solid object, the vessel having an opening located beneath a surface of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid;
- a pump for conveying the rapid prototyping multi-component, the pump in fluid communication with the opening in the vessel;
- and
- a moving orifice having an orifice opening located near the surface of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid and operable to pass a portion of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid, the pump operable to provide work to convey the portion between the surface and the opening of the vessel.
An apparatus comprising:
- a vat of rapid prototyping fluid;
- a pump for conveying the rapid prototyping fluid;
- and
- means for distributing the rapid prototyping fluid.
A method comprising:
- filling a vessel with a rapid prototyping liquid;
- moving an orifice across a surface of the rapid prototyping liquid;
- and
- circulating the rapid prototyping fluid between the surface and a relatively deeper part of the vessel.
The method of claim 19, which further includes mixing a relatively lower density portion of the rapid prototyping liquid with a relatively higher density portion of the rapid prototyping liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.