US 12,138,858 B2
Systems and methods for continuous flow control of printable material in additive manufacturing
James Douglas Marcel Pickard, Kitchener (CA); and Jesus Zozaya, Waterloo (CA)
Assigned to Voltera Inc., Kitchener (CA)
Filed by Voltera Inc., Kitchener (CA)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/237,583.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,709, filed on May 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0339471 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/106 (2017.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01); G01L 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/209 (2017.08) [B29C 64/106 (2017.08); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12); G01L 19/0023 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for measuring a pressure of a material flowing through a channel for continuous feedback flow control, the system comprising:
a pressure coupler comprising:
a body having a first opening and a second opening;
a channel spanning the first opening and the second opening, wherein the channel passes through a longitudinal center of the body;
a membrane embedded in the body, wherein the membrane is contiguous with, and forms a region of, the channel passing through the body such that a material flowing through the channel imparts a force on the membrane in a substantially perpendicular direction to the direction of material flow; and
a pressure sensor removable from the pressure coupler, the pressure sensor comprising:
a pressure sensing element for sensing the force imparted on the membrane to measure the pressure of the material flowing through the channel in real-time, wherein the pressure sensing element is an electric sensor; and
a pressure pin having opposable ends, wherein a first end of the pressure pin contacts the pressure sensing element and a second end of the pressure pin contacts the membrane, wherein the force imparted on the membrane is transferred to the pressure sensing element by the pressure pin.