IP Library Granted Patent US 11,179,927
Granted Patent B2
US 11,179,927 · App. 16/230,585 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Systems and methods for the construction of structures utilizing additive manufacturing techniques

Inventors: Jason Ford (Austin, TX); Alex Le Roux (Austin, TX)
Assignee: ICON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
B33Y30/00B29C64/153B33Y10/00B33Y80/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,179,927
App. No.
16/230,585
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods of constructing a structure and related non-transitory computer readable medium. In an embodiment, the method includes (a) defining a vertical first slice and a second vertical slice of the structure. A lateral cross-section of the structure within the first vertical slice is different than the lateral cross-section of the structure for the second vertical slice. In addition, the method includes (b) depositing a plurality of first vertically stacked layers of an extrudable building material with a printing assembly to form the first vertical slice. Further, the method includes depositing a plurality of second vertically stacked layers of the extrudable building material atop the first vertical slice with the printing assembly to form the second vertical slice.

Claims (24)

1. A method of constructing a structure, the method comprising:

(a) depositing a plurality of first vertically stacked layers of an extrudable building material with a printing assembly upon a reinforced concrete foundation to form a first vertical slice;

(b) depositing a plurality of second vertically stacked layers of the extrudable building material atop the first vertical slice with the printing assembly to form a second vertical slice, wherein a lateral cross-section of the structure within the first vertical slice is different than the lateral cross-section of the structure for the second vertical slice;

(c) forming border members vertically stacked upon each other from extrudable building materials in each of the plurality of first and second vertically stacked layers within the first vertical slice and the second vertical slice around a wall of the structure adjacent to a door or window opening within the structure;

(d) forming rib members vertically stacked upon each other from extrudable building materials that extend perpendicular between opposing sides of the border members a spaced distance from end cap rib members that are formed as a portion of the stacked border members adjacent the door or window opening while forming infill lattice members stacked upon each other from extrudable building materials outside of vertically stacked polygonal hollow cores that are formed between the rib members and the end cap rib members vertically the height of the door or window opening; and

(e) following all printing of the extrudable building material from a printing assembly, filling the polygonal hollow cores with elongate steel members and a cement mixture extending vertically the height of the door or window opening.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein (c) comprises:

inserting a header above the door or window opening after forming the second vertical slice and prior to or concurrent with forming a third vertical slice of the extrudable building material atop the second vertical slice.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein (a) comprises:

(a1) forming a first layer of the plurality of first layers; and

(a2) forming a second layer of the plurality of first layers on top of the first layer;

wherein (a1) and (a2) each further comprise:

forming an enclosure of the border members around the wall of the structure; and then

forming the rib members and the infill lattice members within the enclosed border.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein forming the rib members and the infill lattice members comprises:

forming a plurality of the rib members that extend perpendicularly between opposing sides of the enclosed border to define a plurality of polygonal hollow cores with the rib members and the enclosed border; and

forming a plurality of infill lattice members that extends in a zig zag pattern within the enclosed border between two of the polygonal hollow cores.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein (a2) further comprises depositing the enclosed border, the plurality of rib members, and the plurality of infill lattice members of the second layer atop the enclosed border, the plurality of rib members, and the plurality of infill lattice members, respectively, of the first layer.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

(a3) aligning the plurality of polygonal hollow cores of the first layer with the plurality of polygonal hollow cores of the second layer during a2; and

(a4) following all printing of all layers of extrudable building material, inserting at least one of the elongate steel members and the cement mixture that is not extruded from an additive manufacturing printing assembly within each of the aligned polygonal hollow cores of the first layer and the second layer after a3.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein (a) and (b) comprise extruding beads of a cement mixture from the printing assembly.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein (a) and (b) further comprise maneuvering the printing assembly with a gantry coupled to the foundation of the structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising not using forms to contain the extruded beads of the cement mixture during (a) and (b).

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 22, 2019
From: ICON LLC
To: ICON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050133/0086 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2019
From: FORD, JASON; LE ROUX, ALEX
To: ICON LLC
Reel/Frame 048071/0916 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200198318A1 · Jun 25, 2020
Cited By (3)
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