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US 2026/0027640 A1Published application
Systems and Methods of Nozzles for Cryogenic Fluids
AssigneeRelativity Space, Inc.
InventorsJenna Johns, Fritz C. Gruber, Jeremy Krol, Michael Reid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for nozzles that can provide cryogenic shielding during wire-based additive manufacturing are described. Cryogenic fluid supplied by the cryogenic nozzles can provide ample coverage, great shielding, and efficient cooling during additive manufacturing processes.
Claims20
A nozzle, comprising:
- a nozzle head configured to couple with a welding torch, wherein the nozzle head is configured to connect to at least one cryogenic fluid;
- a heat plate comprising a plurality of heating elements;
- a shower plate comprising a plurality of holes, wherein the shower plate and the heat plate are coupled together, and wherein the plurality of heating elements are configured to heat the shower plate;
- and
- wherein the at least one cryogenic fluid is configured to flow through the plurality of holes such that the at least one cryogenic fluid expands in volume when exiting the plurality of holes to form a gas shroud.
2 more elements
A method for shielding in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), comprising:
- feeding a cryogenic fluid into a cryogenic nozzle, wherein the cryogenic nozzle comprises:
- a nozzle head configured to couple with a welding torch;
- a heat plate comprising a plurality of heating elements;
- a shower plate comprising a plurality of holes, wherein the shower plate and the heat plate are coupled together;
- and
- wherein the cryogenic fluid flows through the plurality of holes and expands in volume when exiting the cryogenic nozzle, and wherein the plurality of heating elements are configured to heat the shower plate to prevent condensation of the cryogenic fluid on the cryogenic nozzle.
3 more elements
A method for WAAM, comprising:
- feeding a wire through a weld torch;
- flowing a shielding gas through the weld torch such that the shielding gas surrounds the feed wire;
- melting the wire using an arc and depositing the melted wire on a substrate to form an article;
- and
- flowing a cryogenic fluid through a cryogenic nozzle coupled to the weld torch during deposition such that the cryogenic fluid expands in volume when exiting the cryogenic nozzle to form a secondary gas shield around the melted wire and the article.
2 more elements
A cryogenic shielding nozzle assembly comprising:
- a nozzle body with an inlet portion and a flange portion;
- wherein the nozzle body is configured to receive a cryogenic fluid from a cryogenic source via a fluid inlet disposed on the inlet portion of the nozzle body, and the nozzle body further comprising at least one mounting aperture disposed on the flange portion of the nozzle body;
- wherein the nozzle body is configured to selectively couple to a weld nozzle such that the cryogenic shielding nozzle assembly concentrically surrounds at least a portion of the weld nozzle;
- wherein each of the at least one mounting apertures is configured to receive a fastener element configured to couple the cryogenic shielding nozzle assembly to a shower plate assembly;
- and
- wherein at least one outlet is disposed on the flange portion of the nozzle body, the at least one outlet being in fluid communication with the inlet and the shower plate assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.