公开(公告)号：US20220097185A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-31

申请号：US17487952

申请日：2021-09-28

Applicant: Divergent Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Lukas Philip CZINGER ,  Alex James HAMADE

IPC: B23P21/00

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling structures is provided. The apparatus includes an assembly robot and a mobile unit coupled to or integrated with the assembly robot. A controller coupled to the assembly robot and the mobile unit can selectively operate the assembly robot and the mobile unit based at least in part on an assembly being produced, such that the controller selectively operates the mobile unit when at least one of the assembly being produced and a sequence of assembly of is altered.

公开(公告)号：US11269311B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-08

申请号：US16046462

申请日：2018-07-26

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Alexander Pai-chung Teng ,  Eahab Nagi El Naga ,  Steven Blair Massey, Jr.

IPC: G06F19/00 ,  G05B19/4099 ,  C23C24/04 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and method for manufacturing a structure are disclosed. The structure includes a first portion, a second portion, and a structural joint. The apparatus is configured to receive instructions for printing the structural joint. The instructions are based on a data model of the structural joint. The apparatus is also configured to receive the first portion and the second portion, the first portion having a first conical tip and the second portion having a second conical tip. The apparatus is further configured to receive material. Additionally, the apparatus is configured to print the structural joint based on the instructions. The printing may include spray forming the material to produce the structural joint. The structural joint connects the first portion to the second portion.

公开(公告)号：US20220055317A1

公开(公告)日：2022-02-24

申请号：US16999494

申请日：2020-08-21

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Chukwubuikem Marcel Okoli ,  David Brian TenHouten ,  Muhammad Faizan Zafar ,  Antonio Bernerd Martinez ,  Lukas Philip Czinger

IPC: B29C65/78 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y40/20 ,  B29C65/48

Abstract: Part retention features are disclosed for securing additively manufactured (AM) parts or for securing an AM part with another component, such as a node, panel, tube, extrusion, and the like, while an adhesive is being applied and/or while the adhesive is undergoing expansion due to a subsequent curing process. The retention features described herein can be used in the context of one or more AM parts such that the elements used to house the retention features (e.g., grooves, apertures, elastic elements, etc.) can advantageously be co-printed with the AM part, thereby removing a manufacturing step. The retention features also can be made with flatter profiles than existing solutions, making the overall structure smaller and less cumbersome to assemble.

公开(公告)号：US11254381B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-22

申请号：US15925672

申请日：2018-03-19

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Oussama Rawas ,  Alex James Hamade

IPC: B62D65/02 ,  B23P19/04 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B62D27/02 ,  F16B11/00 ,  B05C5/02 ,  B29C65/48

Abstract: Manufacturing cell based vehicle manufacturing systems and methods for a wide variety of vehicles are disclosed. In one aspect, a manufacturing cell configured for assembling a frame of a vehicle is disclosed. The manufacturing cell includes a positioner, a robot carrier and a robot. The positioner is configured to receive a fixture table configured to hold the frame. The robot carrier includes a vertical lift. The robot is configured to assemble the frame. The positioner is configured to support the frame in a vertical position during an assembling process. In another aspect of the disclosure, a system for manufacturing a vehicle based on a manufacturing cell is disclosed. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for manufacturing a vehicle based on a manufacturing cell is disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11110514B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-07

申请号：US15841857

申请日：2017-12-14

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： William David Kreig ,  David Brian TenHouten ,  Chukwubuikem Marcel Okoli ,  Kevin Robert Czinger ,  Broc William TenHouten ,  Antonio Bernerd Martinez ,  Narender Shankar Lakshman

IPC: B22F5/10 ,  F16B11/00 ,  B22F10/20 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B29L31/26

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for joining nodes to tubes with node to tube joints are presented herein. Joining techniques allow the connection of additively manufactured nodes to tubes. In an embodiment, at least one node may be joined to a tube and may be a part of a vehicle chassis. The node to tube joint connection incorporates adhesive bonding between the node to tube to realize the connection. Sealants may be used to provide sealed regions for adhesive injection, which are housed in sealing interfaces co-printed with the additively manufactured nodes. Additionally, seals may act as isolators and reduce galvanic corrosion.

公开(公告)号：US20210268738A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-02

申请号：US16803799

申请日：2020-02-27

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Michael Thomas Kenworthy

IPC: B29C64/314 ,  B22F1/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/10

Abstract: Techniques for dehumidifying powder used as print material in a powder bed fusion (PBF) three-dimensional (3-D) system are disclosed. A hopper includes one or more ultrasonic transducers (UTs) positioned at strategic locations. When activated, the UTs use sound pressure at ultrasonic frequencies to agitate the powder particles held in the hopper. The movement of the particles drives moisture trapped between the particles into one or more desiccants. In various embodiments, the desiccants may be supported by desiccators suspended in the powder, such as via the casing of the hopper. In other embodiments, the desiccants may be desiccant bags provided in a desiccant insert. The moisture accumulates in the desiccants. Among other advantages, no separate thermal source is needed to dry the powder, which can be provided directly to the PBF 3-D system via the re-coater for depositing layers to form a build piece.

公开(公告)号：US20210252803A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-19

申请号：US16792124

申请日：2020-02-14

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： John Russell Bucknell ,  Broc William TenHouten ,  Eahab Nagi El Naga

IPC: B29C69/00 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B29C64/35 ,  B29C64/393 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y40/20 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B22F3/105 ,  B22F3/24 ,  B25J11/00

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3-D) printer and technique for integrating additive and non-print manufacturing operations is disclosed. In an aspect, the 3-D printer includes an energy source and a powder bed regions for selectively fusing layers of a build piece. The 3-D printer further includes a robotic arm. The 3-D printing is interrupted responsive to instructions from a controller, upon which the robotic arm may perform one or more non-printing operations using the build piece such as milling, casting, molding, pressing, and the like. Following the non-printing operations, the 3-D printing operation continues, and a resulting assembly including the build piece is produced.

公开(公告)号：US11035511B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-15

申请号：US16000137

申请日：2018-06-05

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Kenneth James Goodstein

IPC: F16L37/62 ,  B05B1/22 ,  B23K26/354 ,  F16L21/08 ,  B23K26/34 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B22F10/20

Abstract: An end effector for interfacing with a nozzle is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first end, which includes a receptacle. The end effector comprises one or more retention features positioned along a perimeter of the receptacle, where each of the one or more retention features is movable between a first position and a second position. Each of the one or more retention features is configured to lock the nozzle by securing onto a corresponding one of the one or more nozzle retention features in the first position, and to release the nozzle in the second position. The end effector may further comprise one or more actuators and a first channel, which includes a first inlet and a first outlet. A method of using an end effector to interface with a nozzle is also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11022375B2

公开(公告)日：2021-06-01

申请号：US15643405

申请日：2017-07-06

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： John Russell Bucknell

IPC: F28F1/10 ,  F28D7/00 ,  B23P15/26 ,  B21D53/06 ,  F28F9/02 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B23K26/342 ,  F28F1/16 ,  F28F1/02 ,  F28D1/053 ,  B23K101/14

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for additively manufacturing microtube heat exchangers are disclosed herein. A heat exchanger header is additively manufactured with high density microtube arrays to achieve an integrated structure achieving values of heat transfer effectiveness Eff up to ninety percent and values of transfer surface area densities up to 20,000 m2/m3. The heat exchanger header can be printed with a high density microtube array to separate different types of fluids or liquids into different microtubes and to form a high quality seal. Additionally, microtubes and/or microtube arrays can be additively manufactured to be curved or to have pleats; and microtube lattice arrays can be compactly positioned within hollow support structures.

公开(公告)号：US20210154950A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-27

申请号：US16950802

申请日：2020-11-17

Applicant: DIVERGENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Lukas Philip Czinger

IPC: B29C65/00 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B29C65/14 ,  B29C65/48

Abstract: A computing system may direct a first robotic arm to a first position based on a first set of coordinates. The computing system may cause the first robotic arm to engage with a first structure based on the first position of the first robotic arm. Further, the computing system may direct the first robotic arm to a second position based on a second set of coordinates such that the first structure is brought within a joining proximity of a second structure without a fixture retaining the first structure and without a fixture retaining the second structure, wherein the first structure is configured to be joined with the second structure when the first and second structures are within the joining proximity, the joining proximity being a proximity at which the first and second structures can be joined together.