IP Library Granted Patent US 10,174,780
Granted Patent B2
US 10,174,780 · App. 15/067,561 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Systems and methods for structurally interrelating components using inserts made from metallic glass-based materials

Inventors: Douglas C. Hofmann (Altadena, CA); Samuel C. Bradford (Pasadena, CA)
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
F16B35/041F16B33/006F16B33/02B29K2063/00B29L2009/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,174,780
App. No.
15/067,561
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention operate to structurally interrelate two components using inserts made from metallic glass-based materials. In one embodiment, a method of structurally interrelating two components includes: forming an insert from a metallic glass-based composition; where the formed insert includes a metallic glass-based material; affixing the insert to a first component; and structurally interrelating the second component to the first component using the insert.

Claims (23)

1. A method of structurally interrelating two components comprising:

forming an insert from a metallic glass-based composition;

wherein the formed insert comprises a metallic glass-based material having an elastic limit of at least 1.4%;

affixing the insert to a first component by press fitting the insert into the first component and

engaging the insert with a second component, such that the engagement elastically deforms and laterally expands the insert to adhere to the first component; and

structurally interrelating the second component to the first component using the insert.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming an insert from a metallic glass-based composition comprises using one of:

a thermoplastic forming technique; and

a casting technique.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formed insert includes a textured outer surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formed insert is a threaded insert.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the formed insert includes extensions that are configured to deploy as the insert is engaged by a screw.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formed insert includes an eye-hook structure.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the formed insert conforms to one of a cup-shaped geometry and a cone-shaped geometry.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic glass-based composition is based on one of: Ti, Zr, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Al, Hf, W, Ti—Zr—Be, Cu—Zr, Zr—Be, Ti—Cu, Zr—Cu—Ni—Al, Ti—Zr—Cu—Be, and combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metallic glass-based composition is based on titanium.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein affixing the insert to the first component further comprises epoxy bonding the insert to the first component.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first component is a carbon composite material.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the metallic glass-based material is a titanium-based metallic glass-based material.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the formed insert is a threaded insert; and

structurally interrelating the second component to the first component comprises fastening the second component to the first component using a screw and the threaded insert.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein structurally interrelating the second component to the first component comprises structurally aligning the second component to the first component.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2017
From: HOFMANN, DOUGLAS C.; BRADFORD, SAMUEL C.
To: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 043908/0238 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Apr 10, 2017
From: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
To: NASA
Reel/Frame 042225/0697 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62131467 · Mar 11, 2015
Related Publication 20160265576A1 · Sep 15, 2016