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US 9,823,143 B2Granted
Additively grown enhanced impact resistance features for improved structure and joint protection
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsWendell V. Twelves, Jr., Evan Butcher, Lexia Kironn, Gary A. Schirtzinger, Joe Ott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes designing a part. The part includes at least one internal structure. The internal structure is designed to provide strain mitigation, energy dissipation, or impact resistance for the part during an emergency condition. The part is built by a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process. While building the part, the internal structure is connected to the part.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- designing a part to include at least one internal structure, wherein the at least one internal structure is designed to provide strain mitigation, energy dissipation, or impact resistance for the part during an emergency condition, wherein the part comprises a strut end fitting or bolt bushing for use in an aircraft engine, airframe, or automobile, wherein the internal structure includes voids, and further wherein a size of the voids increases or decreases as a distance from the voids to a center of the part increases, wherein the internal structure further comprises a pocket, rib, strut, blade, truss matrix, honeycomb, gradient honeycomb, cellular element, shear core, or spring element;
- building the part by a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process;
- and
- connecting, while building the part, the internal structure to the part.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a part designed for and built by a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process, wherein the part comprises a strut end fitting or bolt bushing for use in an aircraft engine, airframe, or automobile;
- an internal structure disposed within the part, wherein the internal structure is integrally formed to the part and is designed to provide strain mitigation, energy dissipation, or impact resistance for the part during an emergency condition, and
- a sensor disposed in the internal structure during the additive manufacturing process, the sensor for measuring a strain rate experienced by the part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.