Monolithic Fluid Conduit with Tear-Drop Flow Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fluid conduits are complex, difficult to assemble, heavy, and expensive due to their multiple components and discrete sealing members, with traditional manufacturing methods failing to minimize these challenges.
Innovation Solution
A fluid conduit formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing, featuring a body, first and second conduit portions, and a base with a mesh configuration, where the second conduit portion has a tear drop cross-sectional shape, eliminating the need for joints and internal seals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional manufacturing methods (machining, casting) are used to produce fluid conduits with multiple components and discrete sealing members, then the conduit can be manufactured with conventional processes, but the conduit becomes complex, difficult to assemble, heavy, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple discrete components (conduit body, sealing members, fasteners, support structures) into a single monolithic structure manufactured via additive manufacturing. This merging eliminates the need for assembly of multiple parts and discrete sealing members, directly resolving the contradiction by achieving simplicity and ease of manufacture through integration of previously separate elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The monolithic conduit structure performs multiple functions that were previously handled by separate components: the integrated design incorporates sealing features, support structures, and fluid flow paths within a single manufactured piece. This multi-functionality approach allows one component to replace multiple traditional parts, reducing overall complexity while maintaining manufacturing capability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional manufacturing methods are used with multiple components and fasteners, then the conduit can be assembled from standard parts, but the assembly process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all conduit components into a single monolithic structure, the patent eliminates the assembly process entirely. The conduit is produced as one piece through additive manufacturing, removing the need to fasten multiple components together with discrete sealing members and fasteners, thus making operation extremely easy and eliminating assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the assembly process from the manufacturing workflow by producing the entire conduit as a single monolithic component. This extraction of assembly operations eliminates the time and effort required to put together multiple parts, directly addressing the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple discrete sealing members and fasteners are used in traditional fluid conduits, then the conduit can be assembled from separate components, but the overall weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all structural and sealing elements into a single monolithic conduit produced by additive manufacturing. This integration eliminates the weight of discrete sealing members and fasteners, as these functions are incorporated into the unified structure, directly reducing overall conduit weight while maintaining production capability through modern manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of additive manufacturing enables the creation of a monolithic conduit that may utilize composite material structures or optimized material distribution, achieving weight reduction by placing material only where structurally necessary, rather than requiring additional fasteners and sealing components that add unnecessary weight.
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid conduit (20) includes a body (22), a first conduit portion (24) connected to the body, a second conduit portion (26) connected to the body, and a base (30) connected to the second conduit portion. The body (22), the first conduit portion (24), the second conduit portion (26), and the base (30) are formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing. A method of making a fluid conduit may include forming sets of layers. The set of layers may include parts or portions of the fluid conduit and/or supports.