US 12,319,001 B2
Methods of additively manufacturing tower structures with coiled polymer reinforcement members
James Robert Tobin, Greenville, SC (US); Xiaopeng Li, Niskayuna, NY (US); and Ryan Eric Vogel, Greer, SC (US)
Assigned to GE Vernova Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/988,234.
Prior Publication US 2024/0157644 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/321 (2017.01); B29C 64/165 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/321 (2017.08) [B29C 64/165 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B29L 2031/766 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a tower structure, the method comprising:
printing and depositing, via a printhead assembly of an additive printing system, one or more printed layers of a wall of the tower structure;
securing a portion of at least one continuous roll of a reinforcement material to a fixture;
rotating the fixture about a central axis to unwind the at least one continuous roll of the reinforcement material to form the at least one continuous reinforcement ring member layer, the reinforcement material comprising a pultruded polymer material, the at least one continuous reinforcement ring member layer comprises one or more coils, the fixture comprising a plurality of arm members extending radially from the central axis, each arm member of the plurality of arm members comprising a locating guide for receiving and securing the one or more coils of the at least one continuous reinforcement ring member layer therein;
placing the at least one continuous reinforcement ring member layer atop the one or more printed layers of the wall of the tower structure; and
printing and depositing, via the printhead assembly of the additive printing system, one or more additional printed layers of the wall of the tower structure atop the at least one continuous reinforcement ring member layer.