Multiple feed powder splitter
Abstract
A device for providing uniform powder flow to the nozzles when creating solid structures using a solid fabrication system such as the directed light fabrication (DLF) process. In the DLF process, gas entrained powders are passed through the focal point of a moving high-power laser light which fuses the particles in the powder to a surface being built up in layers. The invention is a device providing uniform flow of gas entrained powders to the nozzles of the DLF system. The device comprises a series of modular splitters which are slidably interconnected and contain an integral flow control mechanism. The device can take the gas entrained powder from between one to four hoppers and split the flow into eight tubular lines which feed the powder delivery nozzles of the DLF system.
- Inventors:
-
- Los Alamos, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 874575
- Patent Number(s):
- 6418955
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F15 - FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS F15D - FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- multiple; feed; powder; splitter; device; providing; uniform; flow; nozzles; creating; solid; structures; fabrication; directed; light; dlf; process; gas; entrained; powders; passed; focal; moving; high-power; laser; fuses; particles; surface; built; layers; series; modular; splitters; slidably; interconnected; contain; integral; control; mechanism; hoppers; split; eight; tubular; lines; delivery; laser light; control mechanism; solid structure; /137/251/
Citation Formats
Lewis, Gary K, and Less, Richard M. Multiple feed powder splitter. United States: N. p., 2002.
Web.
Lewis, Gary K, & Less, Richard M. Multiple feed powder splitter. United States.
Lewis, Gary K, and Less, Richard M. Tue .
"Multiple feed powder splitter". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/874575.
@article{osti_874575,
title = {Multiple feed powder splitter},
author = {Lewis, Gary K and Less, Richard M},
abstractNote = {A device for providing uniform powder flow to the nozzles when creating solid structures using a solid fabrication system such as the directed light fabrication (DLF) process. In the DLF process, gas entrained powders are passed through the focal point of a moving high-power laser light which fuses the particles in the powder to a surface being built up in layers. The invention is a device providing uniform flow of gas entrained powders to the nozzles of the DLF system. The device comprises a series of modular splitters which are slidably interconnected and contain an integral flow control mechanism. The device can take the gas entrained powder from between one to four hoppers and split the flow into eight tubular lines which feed the powder delivery nozzles of the DLF system.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2002},
month = {1}
}