US 12,377,468 B2
Coupling system for an additive manufacturing process
Callum Healey, Liverpool (GB)
Assigned to LPW TECHNOLOGY LTD, Widnes (GB)
Appl. No. 17/787,200
Filed by LPW TECHNOLOGY LTD, Widnes (GB)
PCT Filed Dec. 16, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/053254
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 17, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/123782, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1918591 (GB), filed on Dec. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0023850 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B22F 12/52 (2021.01)
CPC B22F 12/52 (2021.01) [B33Y 30/00 (2014.12)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling system for an additive manufacturing process, comprising:
a conduit for the transfer of material between a container and a further component of the additive manufacturing process; and
one or more actuators for controlling operation of the conduit;
wherein the conduit comprises first and second portions connected via an extendable intermediate portion;
wherein the one or more actuators are operable to act on at least a portion of the conduit to extend or retract the intermediate portion to control the length of the conduit; and
wherein the coupling system comprises ring couplings which disengage or become slack when the or each actuator is fully extended so the or each actuator does not act on the first portion of the conduit.