# US 2021/0276088 A1 · Methods and apparatuses for sealing mechanisms for realizing adhesive connections with additively manufactured components

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- Number: US 2021/0276088 A1
- Document ID: US20210276088A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/812,116
- Filed: 2020-03-06
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-06
- Assignees: Divergent Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Divergent Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Chukwubuikem Marcel Okoli; Antonio Bernerd Martinez; Eahab Nagi El Naga; William David Kreig; David Brian TenHouten
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276088A1

## CPC

- B22F 10/00: Additive manufacturing of workpieces or articles from metallic powder (apparatus or devices therefor B22F12/00)
- B33Y 40/00: Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
- B22F 5/10: of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups
- B22F 10/20: Direct sintering or melting
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- F16J 15/068: {the packing swelling under working conditions}
- F16J 15/46: with packing ring expanded or pressed into place by fluid pressure, e.g. inflatable packings (connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; {for sealing arrangements in vehicles B60J10/244; for sealing arrangements of openings in buildings E06B7/2318}; for tube connections F16L)
- B22F 10/10: Formation of a green body
- B22F 2998/00: Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
- F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)}
- 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
- 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
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- 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)
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

A node may be additively manufactured. The node may include a first surface and a second surface, and the second surface may bound a recess of the node. A structure may be inserted into the recess. A sealing member extend away from the second surface and contact the structure, such that a sealed space may be created between the node and the structure. An adhesive may be applied in the sealed space to at least partially attach the structure to the node. In an exemplary embodiment,

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an additively manufactured node including a first surface, a second surface, and a channel from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the channel is configured to carry an injected substance from the first surface to the second surface; and
a seal member configured to extend away from the second surface in response to a pressure applied by the injected substance.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal member includes a bladder configured to receive the injected substance, such that the bladder expands in response to the pressure applied by the injected substance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second surface bounds a concavity in the node, and the bladder is arranged in the concavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface bounds a concavity in the node, and the seal member includes a seal material arranged in the concavity, such that the seal material extends outward from the concavity in response to the pressure applied by the injected substance.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal member includes a first flap connected to the second surface, such that the first flap shifts away from the second surface in response to the pressure applied by the injected substance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first flap is co-printed with the node.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the seal member further includes a second flap connected to the second surface, the second flap being arranged opposing the first flap with a distal end of the second flap overlapping a distal end of the first flap, such that the second flap shifts away from the second surface in response to the pressure applied by the injected substance.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first flap includes an outer surface that faces away from the second surface, and the seal member further includes a sealant bead arranged on the outer surface of the first flap.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal member includes an elastomeric material configured to deform in response to the pressure applied by the injected substance, such that the deformed elastomeric material extends away from the second surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second surface bounds a recess in the node, and the apparatus further comprises:
the injected substance; and
a structure inserted in the recess, such that the second surface surrounds a portion of the structure,
wherein the seal member is arranged between the second surface and the portion of the structure, such that the seal member provides a seal between the second surface and the portion of the structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the structure includes one or more tubes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the seal creates an enclosed, sealed space between the node and the portion of the structure, the apparatus further comprising:
an adhesive applied in the space, the adhesive adhering the second surface to the portion of the structure.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the seal member includes a flap that is co-printed with the node to connect to the second surface, such that the flap deflects toward the second surface in response to pressure applied by the structure inserted into the recess, the flap including an outer surface that faces away from the second surface, the seal member further including a sealant bead arranged on the outer surface of the flap, and the injected substance includes an adhesive that adheres the second surface to the portion of the structure.

### Claim 14

An apparatus, comprising:
an additively manufactured node including a surface; and
an elastomeric member attached to the surface; and
an expandable substance arranged between the surface and the elastomeric member, wherein the elastomeric member is configured to deform in response to a pressure applied by the substance when the substance is expanded, such that the deformed elastomeric material extends away from the surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the substance includes a substance that expands in response to thermal activation.

### Claim 16

A method of forming a seal between an additively manufactured node and a structure, the node including a recess and a channel to a sealing member in the recess, the method comprising:
inserting the structure into the recess; and
injecting a substance into the channel, such that the sealing member extends from a surface of the recess to a surface of the structure to create an enclosed, sealed space between the node and the structure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the injected substance includes compressed air.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the injected substance includes a curable material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
creating a vacuum in the space.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
applying an adhesive into the space.

### Claim 21

A method of forming a seal between an additively manufactured node and a structure, the node including a surface bounding a recess, the method comprising:
attaching an elastomeric material to the surface;
depositing an expandable substance, such that the substance is arranged between the surface and the elastomeric material;
inserting the structure into the recess; and
expanding the substance, wherein the elastomeric material deforms in response to a pressure applied by the substance when the substance is expanded, such that the deformed elastomeric material extends away from the surface and contacts the structure.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the substance includes a thermally activated expanding substance.