An outer space-based reusable manufacturing and assembly system including at least one joint that comprises at least one receiver component, at least one strut that engages the at least one receiver component on the at least one joint and a joining element that provides for engaging and disengaging the at least one joint with at least the at least one strut so that either the at least one joint and the at least one strut are usable for another mission. Two other systems are also disclosed.
H01R 24/68 - Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
B64G 4/00 - Tools specially adapted for use in space
B29C 64/118 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
B29C 64/20 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
B33Y 80/00 - Products made by additive manufacturing
B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
A system, is disclosed having a polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem, a metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem, an exchanger to place at least one of the polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and the metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem into a position to provide a manufacturing process, a build area where a part is created with the polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and the metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem, and an environmental control unit to collect debris produced during operation of the polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and the metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem. Another system and method are also disclosed.
The present disclosure provides distributed drive systems and methods of use thereof A distributed drive system may comprise one or more coils, one or more magnets, and at least one tread. A method for a distributed drive system may comprise the utilization of a plurality of voltage phases. The coils may comprise conductive wiring wrapped in a predefined form. In some embodiments, the coils may alternate in polarity. In some implementations, the coils may be attached directly to the frame of a larger machine or vehicle for uniform heat distribution. The magnets may comprise composite materials with ferrous portions. When the system comprises at least one tread, magnets may be embedded within the tread. In some aspects, the distributed drive system may be contained within a motive system of a machine or vehicle, thereby limiting the need for a transmission between a power source and the motive components of the machine or vehicle.
An environmental control unit including a particulate filter located within an airstream, the filter created with an additive manufacturing device that creates at least one of randomly sized layering of the filter and randomly oriented layering of the filter to provide for impeding varying sized particulates from passing through the filter.
A system including a plurality of space-based satellites is disclosed where each satellite has at least one of an energy capture component and an energy generator component, an energy conversion component to convert the at least one of captured energy and generated energy into a power beam for wireless transmission, and a communication system to provide for each satellite in the plurality of space-based satellites to communicate between each other. The system also includes a controller to control power beam generation from at least one satellite of the plurality of satellites. Another system and method are also disclosed.
An additive manufacturing device build platform is disclosed having a build area having an initial build surface, the initial build surface further having an outer area that is separable from the initial build area for use as a secondary build surface, the outer area having a rotation mechanism wherein the secondary build surface is locatable in a different plane away from the initial build surface by placement of the outer area with the rotation mechanism. Another system and method are also disclosed.
A system to create a consumable good utilizing interchangeable ingredients is disclosed in which the system includes an ingredient storage location to hold a plurality of ingredients usable in the consumable good, a selector to gather ingredients selected for inclusion in the consumable good, a mixing device to prepare the ingredients, a processing device to convert the ingredients into the consumable good, and a completion location to at least one of store the consumable good and deliver the consumable good to a user. A method and another system are also disclosed.
Recycling devices for producing additive manufacturing filament from received materials including objects to be recycled, discarded objects, obsolete objects, and the like. A recycling device may include a material processing system an extrusion mechanism and a spooling assembly. The material processing system receives material, reduces the size of the received material via a material size reducer and actively pushes the material through at least a portion of the device. The extrusion mechanism produces filament from the material and the spooling assembly loads the filament onto a spool for later use. The spooling assembly may include detachable elements configured to interface with and supply filament to an additive manufacturing device. Depending on configuration, recycling devices may create filament from plastic, metal, in-situ material, or a combination thereof.
A system comprising an additive manufacturing device to create a macrostructure as a continuous piece, an applicator to apply a conductive coating to an inner surface of the macrostructure, and a signal attenuation tuner to attenuate a signal by modification of a physical dimension of the macrostructure. A method and another system are also disclosed.
An extended structure additive manufacturing device and method are provided. The device includes a movable material bonding component and a movement mechanism which enable the device to create parts outside the conventional additive manufacturing device print volumes defined by the device and its print-head. Methods of making parts involve creating a portion of a part and moving the extended structure additive manufacturing device relative to the part and printing a second portion of the part. Parts incapable of being formed using a conventional additive manufacturing device may be made using the extended structure additive manufacturing device and/or methods disclosed herein.
A system for drawing optical fiber in microgravity including a sealed housing to prevent infiltration of at least humidity and filled with a dry environment, a preform holder located within the sealed housing to hold preform material, a furnace located within the sealed housing to receive the preform material from the preform holder and to heat the preform material from which the optical fiber is pulled, a feed system to move the preform material from the preform holder to the furnace, a drawing mechanism located within the sealed housing to pull the optical fiber from the preform material within the furnace, a diameter monitor located within the sealed housing to measure a diameter of the optical fiber and a fiber collection mechanism located within the sealed housing to gather and store the optical fiber.
B01D 29/60 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration
B01D 29/56 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection
C03B 37/027 - Fibres composed of different sorts of glass, e.g. fibre optics
Methods of collecting in-situ materials on a celestial body for return to Earth or another location and associated devices are described. These devices and methods facilitate collection of samples and creation of portions of the return spacecraft via an additive manufacturing device contained within the lander craft. The additive manufacturing device is configured to produce portions of the return spacecraft (e.g., sample return container, spacecraft structure, heat shield) and may also be configured to place samples within the spacecraft for return and analysis.
B29C 64/165 - Processes of additive manufacturing using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
B33Y 40/00 - Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
A preform material including a starter tip to facilitate an initial fiber draw from the preform within a furnace, wherein the tip comprises a vacuum-sealed tip to receive a plastic grip which attached to an end of a preform.
A sensor system to provide data for use to control manufacture of an optical fiber in microgravity including a diameter sensor to monitor a diameter of a fiber drawn from a preform material, a tension sensor to monitor tension of the fiber as the fiber is pulled from the preform material to a storage device and a controller in communication with at least one of the diameter sensor and the tension sensor to evaluate sensor data to determine at least one of a speed and rate at which the fiber is pulled from the preform material.
B01D 29/60 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration
B01D 29/56 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection
C03B 37/027 - Fibres composed of different sorts of glass, e.g. fibre optics
A system for precoating a preform for drawing optical fiber including a diameter sensor to determine a diameter of pulled optical fiber, a cooling system to cool the optical fiber once it is pulled from a furnace, a coating system to apply a coating to the optical fiber once it has cooled and an ultra-violet lamp to cure the coating.
C03B 37/02 - Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding
B01D 29/60 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration
C03B 37/027 - Fibres composed of different sorts of glass, e.g. fibre optics
B01D 29/56 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection
A system for controlling an ambient microgravity environment of a system for drawing optical fiber including a filter arranged to cleanse an environment from contaminants, a molecular sieve arranged in a series of at least one of meshes and baffles to dehumidify the environment, at least one of a pump and a fan to draw an environmental gas through the filter, through the molecular sieve and back in to an ambient environment and a housing in which the filter, molecular sieve and at least one of pump and fan reside.
C03B 37/02 - Manufacture of glass fibres or filaments by drawing or extruding
B01D 29/56 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor with multiple filtering elements, characterised by their mutual disposition in series connection
B01D 29/60 - Filters with filtering elements stationary during filtration, e.g. pressure or suction filters, not covered by groups Filtering elements therefor integrally combined with devices for controlling the filtration
C03C 13/04 - Fibre optics, e.g. core and clad fibre compositions
A system for producing an object is disclosed including a build device having a build area and a material bonding component to receive portions of a material that are used to produce the object, at least one gripper within the build area to contact the object to provide support and to provide for at least one of a heat sink for the object, a cold sink for the object, and electrical dissipation path from the object, and a movement mechanism to move the build device relative to the object to position the build device at a position to further produce the object. Another system and methods are also disclosed.
B23K 9/04 - Welding for other purposes than joining, e.g. built-up welding
B23K 37/04 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work
A system for producing an object is disclosed including a build device having a build area and a material bonding component to receive portions of a material that are used to produce the object, at least one gripper within the build area to contact the object to provide support and to provide for at least one of a heat sink for the object, a cold sink for the object, and electrical dissipation path from the object, and a movement mechanism to move the build device relative to the object to position the build device at a position to further produce the object. Another system and methods are also disclosed.
B23K 37/04 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass for holding or positioning work
B29C 64/106 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
A method including breaking down a component with a recycler to reduce the component to a recycled material composition that includes an original material of the component and debris that attached to the component during prior use, applying the recycled material composition within an additive manufacturing device to create a recycled component, and producing the recycled component from the additive manufacturing device, the recycled component material composition includes both the original material of the component and the debris attached to the component.
A system including an additive manufacturing device to perform at least one additive manufacturing process and to include a prefabricated component during the at least one additive manufacturing process to accelerate build completion of a produced object. Another system and a method are also disclosed.
B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
B29C 70/68 - Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers
B33Y 40/00 - Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
B29C 64/106 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
B29C 64/20 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
Additive manufacturing devices operable in various external force environments are disclosed. In an aspect, an additive manufacturing device operable in microgravity is disclosed. In other aspects, devices which are operable in high-vibration environments or varying external force environments are disclosed. Additive manufacturing devices herein may produce parts from metal, polymer, or other feedstocks.
B29C 67/00 - Shaping techniques not covered by groups , or
B01D 45/14 - Separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours by gravity, inertia, or centrifugal forces by centrifugal forces generated by rotating vanes, discs, drums or brushes
B01D 46/00 - Filters or filtering processes specially modified for separating dispersed particles from gases or vapours
B01D 46/44 - Auxiliary equipment or operation thereof controlling filtration
A system including an additive manufacturing device to perform at least one additive manufacturing process and to include a prefabricated component during the at least one additive manufacturing process to accelerate build completion of a produced object. Another system and a method are also disclosed.
B29C 67/00 - Shaping techniques not covered by groups , or
G05B 19/4099 - Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
B33Y 30/00 - Apparatus for additive manufacturingDetails thereof or accessories therefor
B33Y 40/00 - Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
B29C 64/106 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
B29C 70/68 - Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers
23.
In-situ resource preparation and utilization methods
Methods of collecting in-situ materials on a celestial body for return to Earth or another location and associated devices are described. These devices and methods facilitate collection of samples and creation of portions of the return spacecraft via an additive manufacturing device contained within the lander craft. The additive manufacturing device is configured to produce portions of the return spacecraft (e.g., sample return container, spacecraft structure, heat shield) and may also be configured to place samples within the spacecraft for return and analysis.
B33Y 40/00 - Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
B29C 67/00 - Shaping techniques not covered by groups , or
B29C 64/00 - Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
B29C 64/165 - Processes of additive manufacturing using a combination of solid and fluid materials, e.g. a powder selectively bound by a liquid binder, catalyst, inhibitor or energy absorber
Recycling devices for producing additive manufacturing filament from received materials including objects to be recycled, discarded objects, obsolete objects, and the like. A recycling device may include a material processing system an extrusion mechanism and a spooling assembly. The material processing system receives material, reduces the size of the received material via a material size reducer and actively pushes the material through at least a portion of the device. The extrusion mechanism produces filament from the material and the spooling assembly loads the filament onto a spool for later use. The spooling assembly may include detachable elements configured to interface with and supply filament to an additive manufacturing device. Depending on configuration, recycling devices may create filament from plastic, metal, in-situ material, or a combination thereof.
Apparatus and methods for creating cast metal objects in space and other environments. Molds are created using additive manufacturing and are injected with a castable metal having a melting point lower than a mold melting point. In some aspects, the additive manufacturing device and the metal casting unit are contained in the same unit.
B29C 33/38 - Moulds or coresDetails thereof or accessories therefor characterised by the material or the manufacturing process
B22D 17/20 - AccessoriesPressure die casting or injection die casting, i.e. casting in which the metal is forced into a mould under high pressure Details
B22D 17/22 - DiesDie platesDie supportsCooling equipment for diesAccessories for loosening and ejecting castings from dies
B29C 64/118 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
Additive manufacturing devices operable in various external force environments are disclosed. In an aspect, an additive manufacturing device operable in microgravity is disclosed. In other aspects, devices which are operable in high-vibration environments or varying external force environments are disclosed. Additive manufacturing devices herein may produce parts from metal, polymer, or other feedstocks.
B29C 64/118 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
B29C 64/259 - Enclosures for the building material, e.g. powder containers interchangeable
Environmental control units are disclosed. In an aspect, an environmental control unit for use with additive manufacturing and other VOC and particle emitting processes are disclosed. In an aspect, an environmental control unit comprising one or more filters, an air handler, a temperature control device, one or more sensors and a control unit is disclosed.
Node-based remote operations of additive manufacturing device are disclosed. In an aspect, a system for operating a remote additive manufacturing device is disclosed. Each computing device is a node in a communications path and contains an instance of a command software program configured to receive and send a single set of commands, ensure the integrity of such commands and/or operate communicatively connected additive manufacturing devices.
An extended structure additive manufacturing device and method are provided. The device includes a movable material bonding component and a movement mechanism which enable the device to create parts outside the conventional additive manufacturing device print volumes defined by the device and its print-head. Methods of making parts involve creating a portion of a part and moving the extended structure additive manufacturing device relative to the part and printing a second portion of the part. Parts incapable of being formed using a conventional additive manufacturing device may be made using the extended structure additive manufacturing device and/or methods disclosed herein.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Three dimensional (3D) printers; space-based additive manufacturing devices; satellite components and portions thereof, namely, satellite dishes, transmitters, receivers, bus components, and satellite structural components; software for facilitating the downloading, modification and sharing of three dimensional designs for use in connection with three dimensional printers; automated processors of three dimensional (3D) printer feedstock Fabrication and finishing services, namely, plastic, polymer, composite and metal fabrication and post production finishing of parts, jigs, fixtures, tools, collectibles, memorabilia, computer peripherals and computer equipment Research and development in the field of additive manufacturing; research and development in the field of space-based manufacturing
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Three dimensional (3D) printers; space-based additive manufacturing devices; satellite components and portions thereof, namely, satellite dishes, transmitters, receivers, bus components, and satellite structural components; software for facilitating the downloading, modification and sharing of three dimensional designs for use in connection with three dimensional printers; automated processors of three dimensional (3D) printer feedstock Research and development in the field of additive manufacturing; research and development in the field of space-based manufacturing
