US 11,946,216 B2
Additive manufacturing of support structures
Jason Rust Cotrell, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to RCAM Technologies, Inc., Boulder, CO (US)
Filed by RCAM Technologies, Inc., Boulder, CO (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/214,510.
Application 17/214,510 is a continuation of application No. 16/554,313, filed on Aug. 28, 2019, granted, now 10,988,909.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/804,952, filed on Feb. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/724,445, filed on Aug. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0214913 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E02D 27/32 (2006.01); E02D 27/02 (2006.01); E02D 27/04 (2006.01); E02D 27/42 (2006.01); E02D 27/52 (2006.01); F03D 13/20 (2016.01); F03D 13/25 (2016.01)
CPC E02D 27/425 (2013.01) [E02D 27/02 (2013.01); E02D 27/04 (2013.01); E02D 27/52 (2013.01); F03D 13/22 (2016.05); F03D 13/25 (2016.05); E02D 2200/1621 (2013.01); E02D 2250/0061 (2013.01); F05B 2230/21 (2013.01); F05B 2230/31 (2013.01); F05B 2240/95 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a support structure for wind turbines, the method comprising:
constructing a plurality of modular sections that assemble to define the support structure, at least one modular section having a body constructed by an additive manufacturing process comprising:
depositing layers of printable material successively on top of each other to form the body, and
hardening the deposited layers of printable material; and
joining the plurality of modular sections to assemble the support structure;
wherein one or more of the plurality of modular sections are configured to anchor to ground or an underwater floor;
wherein the plurality of modular sections comprises a first modular section having a first body and a second modular section having a second body, the second modular section constructed after the first modular section;
wherein the at least one modular section comprises the second modular section; and
wherein joining the plurality of modular sections comprises:
depositing second layers of printable material successively on top of each other to form the second body, at least one of the second layers contacting a surface of the first body; and
hardening the second deposited layers of printable material.