US 11,939,762 B2
System and method for manufacturing a tower structure
Norman Arnold Turnquist, Carlisle, NY (US); Gregory Edward Cooper, Greenfield Center, NY (US); Xiaopeng Li, Niskayuna, NY (US); Christopher James Kenny, Schoharie, NY (US); Biao Fang, Clifton Park, NY (US); and Pascal Meyer, Burnt Hills, NY (US)
Assigned to GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/241,553.
Prior Publication US 2022/0341152 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. E04B 1/16 (2006.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); F03D 13/20 (2016.01)
CPC E04B 1/166 (2013.01) [B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); F03D 13/20 (2016.05); F05B 2240/912 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a tower structure, the method comprising:
depositing one or more layers of a wall element with a printhead assembly, the wall element circumscribing a vertical axis of the tower structure, the wall element having an outer circumferential face defining an outer reference curve, an inner circumferential face defining an inner reference curve, and a midline reference curve which is equidistant between the outer reference curve and the inner reference curve;
defining at least one recess of the wall element, the at least one recess having a single, circumferential opening positioned along the inner reference curve or the outer reference curve and a depth extending in a radial direction, the depth intersecting the midline reference curve; and
placing a reinforcing element entirely within the at least one recess at the midline reference curve.