IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,889,067
Granted Patent B1
US 10,889,067 · App. 15/096,026 · Granted Jan 12, 2021

Tension-wound solid state additive manufacturing

Inventors: Michael R. Eller (New Orleans, LA); Randy J. Brown (Slidell, LA)
Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
B29C67/0081B29C31/042B23K20/10B23K20/122B33Y10/00B33Y30/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,889,067
App. No.
15/096,026
Granted
Jan 12, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A manufacturing system includes a tension-wound system having a feedstock system and a shape fixture. The tension-wound system is configured to feed a feedstock from the feedstock system and to wind the feedstock under tension in successive layers around the shape fixture to allow the feedstock to form a component having a shape represented by the shape fixture. The manufacturing system includes a solid-state joining tool configured to additively join the successive layers of the feedstock. In a spiral tension-winding process, with a continuously-fed strip of aluminum feedstock around a piece of tooling, the feedstock can be friction stir welded and additively joined in successive layers to produce a large, near-net structure.

Claims (14)

1. A tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system, comprising:

a tension-wound system comprising a feedstock system and a shape fixture, the tension-wound system configured to feed a feedstock from the feedstock system and to wind the feedstock under tension in successive layers around the shape fixture to allow the feedstock to form a shape represented by the shape fixture, the shape fixture having an outside surface defining a plurality of laterally offset notches, wherein each layer of the feedstock is disposed against an adjacent notch of the plurality of laterally offset notches and each layer of feedstock is laterally offset from a previous layer of the feedstock; and

a solid-state joining tool, at least a portion of which is configured to extend through the feedstock to additively join the successive layers of the feedstock.

2. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the feedstock system is rotatable, and the solid-state joining tool is movable relative to the shape fixture.

3. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the tension-wound system comprises a rotatable turntable, wherein the shape fixture is on the rotatable turntable.

4. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable turntable comprises a drive motor configured to direct movement of the rotatable turntable.

5. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the tension-wound system comprises at least one guide positioned between the shape fixture and the feedstock system, the at least one guide configured to direct the feedstock, received from the feedstock system, to the shape fixture.

6. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one guide comprises a pair of elongated rollers to allow the feedstock to be received between the pair of elongated rollers.

7. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the feedstock comprises a first side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the first side surface having one or more grooves extending between the top surface and the bottom surface.

8. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , comprising a substrate ring placed around a bottom portion of the shape fixture, the substrate ring configured to receive a first portion of the feedstock.

9. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 8 , wherein the substrate ring comprises a varying depth between a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the depth increases along a length of the substrate ring.

10. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state joining tool is a friction stir welding tool.

11. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state joining tool is an ultrasonic consolidation tool.

12. The tension-wound solid-state additive manufacturing system of claim 1 , comprising a boom coupled to the solid-state joining tool, the boom configured to move the solid-state joining tool in relation to the shape fixture.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2016
From: ELLER, MICHAEL R.; BROWN, RANDY J.
To: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038286/0276 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62146837 · Apr 13, 2015
Cited By (2)
US 12,576,455 US 12,708,940