The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 13, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 07, 2009
Bryan David Woods, Andover, KS (US);
Rahbar Nasserrafi, Andover, KS (US);
Helen Ehlers, Wichita, KS (US);
Bryan David Woods, Andover, KS (US);
Rahbar Nasserrafi, Andover, KS (US);
Helen Ehlers, Wichita, KS (US);
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., Wichita, KS (US);
Abstract
A system and method for direct manufacturing and stress relieving a metal part without removing the metal part from a vacuumed chamber. The system may comprise the chamber, a wire feeder for depositing a metal wire onto a metal plate, an electron beam (EB) source for providing an electron beam to melt the metal wire during deposition, and a current-providing apparatus for joule heating the metal plate to provide heat treatment to the metal part. The method may comprise depositing the metal wire onto the metal plate within the vacuumed chamber, then providing intermediate stress relief after a portion of the metal wire is deposited onto the metal plate by applying an electrical current to the metal part. The electron beam may also be set at a temperature below a melting point of a particular metal of the metal part for relieving stress in the metal part.