US 12,115,722 B2
Flow device and flow method for an additive manufacturing device and an additive manufacturing device with such a flow device
Alexander Schilling, Wildpoldsried (DE); Sebastian Mehl, Puchheim (DE); and Franz-Josef Kerl, Kumhausen (DE)
Assigned to EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems, Krailling (DE)
Appl. No. 17/289,952
Filed by EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems, Krailling (DE)
PCT Filed Nov. 6, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/080396
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 29, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/099214, PCT Pub. Date May 22, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 102018219304.5 (DE), filed on Nov. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0009001 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/322 (2021.01); B22F 10/77 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B29C 64/153 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B22F 12/17 (2021.01)
CPC B29C 64/153 (2017.08) [B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/322 (2021.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/70 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B22F 10/77 (2021.01); B22F 12/17 (2021.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow device for an additive manufacturing device for the production of a three-dimensional object by layer-wise selective solidification of a building material in a build area, the flow device comprising:
a process chamber;
a gas supply device for generating a gas stream in the additive manufacturing device;
at least one gas inlet for introducing the gas stream into the process chamber and at least one gas outlet for directing the gas stream out of the process chamber; and
a gas supply line provided outside the process chamber, in order to conduct gas to the at least one gas inlet, the gas supply line comprising at least a first line section that adjoins the gas inlet and that extends a length along a first extension direction of the gas supply line, the first extension direction being substantially straight,
wherein the first line section extends a maximum value of a width that extends transverse to the first extension direction and parallel to the build area, and wherein a length of the first line section is at least as large as one half of the maximum value of the width;
wherein the first line section further comprises a first subsection that is arranged at a distance from the gas inlet and that comprises at least a first flow conditioning unit in addition to a wall of the first line section, the first flow conditioning unit being designed to substantially align the gas stream in the first extension direction; and
wherein the gas supply line comprises at least a second line section that adjoins the first subsection of the first line section and that extends along a second extension direction of the gas supply line that differs from the first extension direction, and wherein the first flow conditioning unit of the first line section extends into the second line section.