WO2017196336A1

WO2017196336A1 - Inlet for a vacuum hose

Info

Publication number: WO2017196336A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/032056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreu OLIVER; Ismael CHANCLON; Josep FERREIRO; Xavier Alonso; Marc MORROS; Marc NICOLAU
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2016-05-12
Filing date: 2016-05-12
Publication date: 2017-11-16

Abstract

In one example, an inlet for a vacuum hose, comprising an irregularly shaped intake opening defined by an undulating perimeter.

Description

INLET FOR A VACUUM HOSE

BACKGROUND

[0001] Additive manufacturing machines, sometimes called 3D printers, produce objects by building up layers of material. Digital data may be processed into slices each defining that part of a layer or layers of build material to be formed into the object. In some additive manufacturing machines, the object slices are formed in a powdered build material spread in layers over the work area. Heat may be used to fuse together the particles in each of the successive layers of powder to form a solid object. Heat to fuse build material in each layer may be generated, for example, by applying a liquid fusing agent to the powder in the pattern of a single slice of the object and then exposing the patterned area to a light or other energy source. The fusing agent absorbs energy to help sinter, melt or otherwise fuse the patterned powder.

Manufacturing may proceed layer by layer and slice by slice until the object is complete.

DRAWINGS

[0002] Figs. 1 and 2 are perspectives illustrating a vacuum system with a hose assembly implementing one example of an undulating inlet.

[0003] Figs. 3 and 4 are front and rear perspectives, respectively, illustrating the example inlet in the hose assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0004] Figs. 5 and 6 are rear and front elevations, respectively, illustrating the example inlet shown in Figs. 1 -4.

[0005] Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

[0006] Figs. 8A-1 1 A are sections taken along the corresponding section lines in Fig. 6.

[0007] Figs. 8B-1 1 B are side elevations showing the example inlet of Figs. 1 - 6 at the positions shown in the sections of Figs.8A-1 1 A.

[0008] Figs. 12 and 13 are perspectives illustrating other examples of an inlet for a hose assembly in a vacuum system. [0009] Figs. 14 and 15 are perspectives illustrating one example of an undulating inlet with a quick release magnetic connector to connect to a vacuum hose.

[0010] Figs. 16-19 are perspectives illustrating other examples of a vacuum inlet, in which the leading edge is surrounded by lateral intake openings.

DESCRIPTION

[0011] In additive manufacturing with powdered build material, a vacuum is sometimes used to collect unfused powder from the work area after an object or group of objects is completed. A new vacuum inlet has been developed to help more effectively vacuum unfused build material powder from around the manufactured objects and from the manufacturing work area. In one example, a bullet shaped vacuum inlet includes an irregularly shaped intake opening defined by a perimeter that undulates in the direction air flows through the inlet. Thus, the intake opening is not planar laterally across the opening, to help keep flat surfaces from blocking the opening. The tapered bullet shape increases the rate of air flow into the opening at the upstream, narrower part of the inlet, for better suction. In one example, the undulating perimeter edge of the opening is beveled, sloping back away from the opening, to help break up clumps of powder and to help break loose powder from around the manufactured objects. Also, the inlet may include a screen to block smaller objects from being sucked through the intake opening.

[0012] These and other examples described below and shown in the figures illustrate but do not limit the scope of the patent, which is defined in the Claims following this Description.

[0013] Figs. 1 and 2 are perspectives illustrating a vacuum system 10 with a hose assembly 12 implementing one example of an undulating inlet 14. Inlet 14 is exploded away from vacuum hose 16 in Fig. 2. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, system 10 includes inlet 14 attached to hose 16 and an air pump or other suitable vacuum source 18 operatively connected to inlet 14 through hose 16. Inlet 14 and hose 16 make up hose assembly 12. Inlet 14 may be detachable from hose 16 or not detachable from hose 16. [0014] Figs. 3-7, 8A-1 1A, and 8B-1 1 B show vacuum inlet 14 from Figs. 1 and 2 in more detail. Referring to Figs. 3-7, 8A-1 1A, and 8B-1 1 B, inlet 14 includes a tapered shell 20 that tapers from a narrower upstream end 22 to a broader downstream end 24. Air enters inlet 14 through an intake opening 26 at the narrower upstream end 22 of shell 20. Air leaves inlet 14 through a discharge opening 28 at the broader downstream end 24 of shell 20.

[0015] A tapered shell 20 increases the speed of the air at the intake compared to inlets that are not tapered. Faster air at the intake may be desirable for sucking up 3D printer powder to increase the suction pressure at the intake. In this example, shell 20 is bullet shaped, forming a curved taper from intake opening 26 to discharge opening 28. Other tapering configurations are possible. For example, a cone shaped shell, forming a straight taper from intake to discharge, may be desirable in some implementations.

[0016] Intake opening 26 is defined by an undulating perimeter 30 that lies along the inboard part of a leading edge 34 of shell 20 surrounding opening 26. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 8B-1 1 A, perimeter 30 undulates in a Y direction, parallel to an axis 35 (Fig. 7) along which air flows through shell 20, so that perimeter 30 and thus edge 34 surrounding opening 26 do not lie in an XZ plane (or any other single plane). An inlet opening 26 that is not planar laterally across the opening helps keep flat surfaces from blocking the opening during vacuuming. Also in this example, as best seen in Fig. 6, the projection of perimeter 30 into an XZ plane (looking straight into the inlet as in Fig. 6) is not circular.

[0017] Leading edge 34 surrounding opening 26 may be beveled, sloping back away from opening 26, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 7, to help break up clumps of powder and to help break loose powder from around manufactured objects in 3D printing.

[0018] Inlet 14 may also include a screen 36 to block smaller objects from being sucked through opening 26. Screen 36 is positioned inside opening 26, just behind the most forward parts of perimeter 30. In the example shown, screen 36 is configured as a cross in which each of the cross pieces 38, 40 intersect at right angles near the center of opening 26. As best seen in Figs. 8A-1 1 A and 8B-1 1 B, the most forward (upstream) part of cross 36 is behind (downstream from) the most forward (upstream) part of perimeter 30 so that screen 36 does not negate the anti-blocking effect of the Z direction

undulations. Also in this example, cross piece 38 forms a line of symmetry in the Z direction between the corresponding two sides of perimeter 30, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0019] Lateral channels 42 may be formed across leading edge 34. In the example shown, inlet 14 includes two channels 42 positioned on either side of the line of symmetry (cross piece 38) and extending to a depth past the outboard perimeter 44 the bevel edge 34 to expand the effective suction area laterally, for example to improve suction when opening 26 is against a flat surface. More or fewer channels 42 may be used and at different locations and/or depths around perimeter 30.

[0020] In another example, shown in Fig. 12, a vacuum inlet 14 includes a cylindrical shell 20 with an intake opening 26 defined by an undulating perimeter 30 that lies along the inboard part of a flat (not beveled) leading edge 34 of shell 20 surrounding opening 26.

[0021] In another example, shown in Fig. 13, a vacuum inlet 14 includes a tapered shell 20 with an intake opening 26 defined by a planar (not undulated) perimeter 30 that lies along the inboard part of a beveled leading edge 34 of shell 20 surrounding opening 26.

[0022] In another example, shown in Figs. 14-15, magnets 46 are used to help connect inlet 14 and hose 16. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, the

downstream end 24 of inlet 14 includes a collar 48 with pockets 50 to hold magnets 46. The upstream end 52 of hose 16 includes a collar 54 with pockets 56 to hold magnets 46. The upstream end 52 of hose 16 fits into the

downstream end 24 of inlet 14 and, with pockets 50 and 56 aligned on collars 48 and 54, respectively, magnets 46 help secure the connection but are easily disengaged to disconnect inlet 14 from hose 16. In this example, inlet 14 also includes a keyway 58 to receive a mating key 60 on hose 16 to properly align the magnets 46. [0023] In another example, shown in Fig. 16, a vacuum inlet 14 includes a cylindrical shell 20 with an intake opening 26 defined by a circular perimeter 30 with an array of lateral intake openings 42. Like channels 42 in the example shown in Figs. 1 -7, lateral intake openings 42 enable vacuuming powder along the sides of shell 20 as well as through the end of shell 20. Lateral intake openings 46 will continue sucking even when vacuuming against and around flat surfaces. The number, size and shape of lateral openings 42 may be varied to achieve the desired suction characteristics of inlet 14. For another example, in the configuration shown in Fig. 16, circular openings 42 are arrayed around substantially the full perimeter of intake opening 26. In another example, shown in Fig. 17, four groups of three circular openings 42 are evenly spaced around the perimeter of intake opening 26. In other examples, shown in Figs. 18 and 19, lateral openings 42 are configured as channels 42 through the leading edge 34 of shell 20. Also, in the examples shown in Figs. 16-19, screen 36 is configured as a mesh for screening smaller objects compared to screen 36 shown in Figs. 1 -7.

[0024] In an example, an inlet for a vacuum hose comprises a shell, a first intake opening at one end of the shell, and an array of second, lateral intake openings surrounding the first intake opening. In an example, the shell is cylindrical. In an example, the array of lateral intake openings includes holes in the side of the shell completely surrounding the perimeter of the first intake opening. In an example, the array of lateral intake openings includes channels extending laterally through a leading edge of the shell surrounding the first intake opening.

[0025] The examples shown in the figures and described above illustrate but do not limit the patent, which is defined in the following Claims.

[0026] "A", "an", and "the" as used in the Claims means at least one.

Claims

1 . An inlet for a vacuum hose, comprising an irregularly shaped intake opening defined by an undulating perimeter.

2. The inlet of Claim 1 , where the perimeter undulates in a direction parallel to a direction that air is to flow through the inlet.

3. The inlet of Claim 2, where the undulating perimeter includes a beveled edge sloping back away the intake opening.

4. The inlet of Claim 3, comprising a screen across the opening to block smaller objects from being sucked through the intake opening.

5. The inlet of Claim 4, comprising multiple channels across the beveled edge of the perimeter.

6. The inlet of Claim 5, where the screen is positioned inside the intake opening behind the most forward parts of the beveled edge of the perimeter.

7. The inlet of Claim 6, comprising:

a collar surrounding a discharge opening opposite the intake opening, the collar to connect to a vacuum hose;

multiple pockets in the collar; and

a magnet in each pocket.

8. An inlet for a vacuum hose, comprising a tapered shell in which an opening into a narrower end of the shell is defined by a perimeter that undulates in a direction parallel to a direction that air is to flow through the shell.

9. The inlet of Claim 8, where the narrower end of the shell includes a beveled edge surrounding the opening.

10. The inlet of Claim 8, comprising a screen across the opening to block smaller objects from being sucked through the opening.

1 1 . The inlet of Claim 8, where the tapered shell comprises a bullet shaped shell.

12. The inlet of Claim 8, comprising a channel extending laterally across the perimeter of the opening.

13. An inlet for a vacuum hose, comprising a shell that tapers from an upstream end to a downstream end that is broader than the upstream end, the upstream end of the shell having an edge thereon that defines an opening and where the edge does not lie in any single plane.

14. The inlet of Claim 13, where:

the edge undulates in a direction parallel to a direction air is to flow through the shell from the upstream end to the downstream end; and

the edge is beveled so that the edge slopes back away the opening.

15. The inlet of Claim 14, comprising multiple magnets in the downstream end of the shell to adhere to magnets in an upstream end of a vacuum hose.