Powder handling device
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsAnthony Charlebois, Mathieu Roy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powder handling device is provided, along with apparatus and methods of its use. The powder handling device includes a mounting portion defining a plane and comprising a mounting interface; a fixture device configured to mount the mounting portion over an opening of a powder container at a mounting interface; and a powder suction unit attached to the mounting portion and passing through the plane. The powder suction unit is movable relative to the mounting portion with at least one degree of freedom. The powder handling device may be mounted onto an opening of a powder container.
Claims17
A powder handling apparatus, comprising:
- a powder container defining an opening;
- and
- a powder handling device comprising:
- a mounting portion defining a plane and comprising a mounting interface;
- a fixture device connected to the mounting portion to secure the mounting portion over the opening of the powder container at the mounting interface;
- a powder suction unit attached to the mounting portion and passing through the plane, wherein the powder suction unit is movable relative to the mounting portion with at least one degree of freedom;
- and
- a flexible gasket sealingly disposed between the mounting portion and the powder suction unit.
A closed-loop powder handling apparatus, comprising:
- a powder container defining an opening;
- a mounting portion mounted over the opening of the powder container, the mounting portion comprising a mounting portion inlet;
- a powder suction unit attached to the mounting portion, the powder suction unit defining a suction unit inlet disposed inside the powder container and a suction unit outlet disposed outside the powder container;
- a handling unit disposed flow-wise between the suction unit outlet and the mounting portion inlet;
- and
- a flexible gasket sealingly disposed between the mounting portion and the powder suction unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.