Additively Manufactured Curved Canister for Aircraft Nitrogen Generation

The patent applies curved and complex geometries to the canister structure, transitioning from conventional straight cylindrical canisters to curved, S-shaped, banana-shaped, and helical configurations. This curvature principle allows the canister to utilize restricted installation volumes more effectively while increasing the internal surface area available for membrane installation, thereby resolving the contradiction between membrane capacity and device complexity.

The patent employs additively manufactured canisters with complex three-dimensional geometries that utilize spatial volume more efficiently. By transitioning from simple one-dimensional straight cylinders to multi-dimensional curved and helical structures, the design maximizes the use of available installation envelope space, increasing membrane capacity without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

The patent replaces conventional mechanical manufacturing methods (such as sheet metal forming or extrusion) with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution enables the production of complex curved and helical canister geometries that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture using traditional mechanical processes, thereby achieving increased internal surface area while managing manufacturing complexity through advanced fabrication techniques.

The patent utilizes additive manufacturing to achieve precise control over canister geometric parameters, including curvature radius, helical pitch, and wall thickness distribution. By changing manufacturing parameters in the additive process, the design optimizes the balance between internal surface area and manufacturing feasibility, allowing complex shapes to be produced with controlled complexity.