US 12,264,490 B2
System and method for manufacturing a tower structure
Norman Arnold Turnquist, Carlisle, NY (US); Biao Fang, Clifton Park, NY (US); Pascal Meyer, Burnt Hills, NY (US); Gregory Edward Cooper, Greenfield Center, NY (US); and Collin McKee Sheppard, Greenville, SC (US)
Assigned to GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/988,047.
Prior Publication US 2024/0159077 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. E04H 12/34 (2006.01); B28B 1/00 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); E04C 5/07 (2006.01); E04G 21/04 (2006.01); E04H 12/08 (2006.01); E04H 12/12 (2006.01); F03D 13/20 (2016.01)
CPC E04H 12/341 (2013.01) [B28B 1/001 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); E04C 5/073 (2013.01); E04G 21/0427 (2013.01); E04H 12/085 (2013.01); E04H 12/12 (2013.01); F03D 13/20 (2016.05); E04G 2021/049 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a tower structure, the method comprising:
printing and depositing, with at least one variable-width deposition nozzle of a printhead assembly, one or more layers of at least one wall element of the tower structure, the at least one wall element having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface;
forming, with the at least one variable-width deposition nozzle, a plurality of voids into the at least one wall element, at least some of the plurality of voids arranged on the outer circumferential surface and the rest of the plurality of voids arranged on the inner circumferential surface; and
placing at least one reinforcement member within at least one of the plurality of voids so as to position the at least one reinforcement member at a neutral axis of the tower structure.
 
11. A tower structure, comprising:
a base tower section comprising at least one printed wall element including one or more layers, the at least one printed wall element having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface;
a transition assembly arranged adjacent to the base tower section;
a plurality of voids formed into the at least one printed wall element during printing and depositing of the at least one printed wall element, at least some of the plurality of voids arranged on the outer circumferential surface and the rest of the plurality of voids arranged on the inner circumferential surface; and
at least one reinforcement member positioned within at least one of the plurality of voids, the at least one reinforcement member extending through at least a portion of the base tower section and at least partially through the transition assembly;
wherein the at least one reinforcement member in the at least one void positions the at least one reinforcement member at a neutral axis of the tower structure.