Fluid calming member

Abstract

A fluid calming member ( 18, 118, 218 ) for use in a fluid carrying arrangement ( 10 ) is disclosed. The fluid calming member is formed of a material that includes a porous metallic material.

1 . A fluid calming member for use in a fluid carrying arrangement, wherein the fluid calming member comprises a porous metallic material. 
   
   
       2 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid calming member is formed of a sintered metallic material, formed by a solid free form fabrication process. 
   
   
       3 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 2  in the solid free form fabrication process comprises selective melting or sintering. 
   
   
       4 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 2  wherein the solid free form fabrication process comprises selective laser or electron melting or sintering. 
   
   
       5 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid calming member comprises an inner wall member mounted on the fluid carrying arrangement wall. 
   
   
       6 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid calming member comprises a baffle. 
   
   
       7 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid calming member comprises a shroud. 
   
   
       8 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid calming member is formed of a metal foam material, and comprises substantially non-porous regions to allow the fluid calming member to be secured within the fluid carrying arrangement. 
   
   
       9 . A fluid calming member according to  claim 8  wherein lug portions are provided on the wall of the fluid carrying arrangement at which the fluid calming member can be secured, the lug portions being arranged on the wall to be in register with the substantially non-porous regions when the inner wall member is secured to the chamber wall. 
   
   
       10 . A fluid carrying arrangement comprising a wall defining a space for a fluid, and a fluid calming member as claimed in  claim 1  in the space, wherein the fluid calming member comprises a porous metallic material. 
   
   
       11 . A fluid carrying arrangement according to  claim 10  wherein the fluid carrying arrangement comprises a fluid chamber. 
   
   
       12 . A fluid carrying arrangement according to  claim 10  wherein the fluid carrying arrangement has a plurality of fluid calming members. 
   
   
       13 . A fluid carrying arrangement according to  claim 10  wherein lug portions are provided on the wall at which the fluid calming member can be secured. 
   
   
       14 . A method of forming a fluid calming member, comprising providing a powder of a metallic material and processing the powder into a porous material to form the fluid calming member. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the step of processing the powder may comprise solid freeform fabrication. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the step of processing the powder comprises selective sintering of the material to provide the fluid calming member formed of the porous material. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the step of processing the powder comprises selective laser or electron beam melting or sintering. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein the method includes forming substantially non-porous regions in the fluid calming member, at which the fluid calming member can be secured to a chamber wall of a fluid chamber. 
   
   
       19 . A fluid carrying arrangement comprising a first part and a second part in the first part wherein at least one of the first and second parts is adapted to carry a fluid, and at least one of the first and second parts is formed by a solid free form fabrication process. 
   
   
       20 . A fluid carrying arrangement according to  claim 19  wherein the solid free form fabrication process comprises a selective melting or sintering process. 
   
   
       21 . A fluid carrying arrangement according to  claim 19  wherein the free form fabrication process comprise selective laser or electron bean melting or sintering. 
   
   
       22 . A fluid carrying arrangement according to  claim 19  wherein at least one of the first and second parts comprises a porous metallic material, the part comprising the porous metallic material being formed by the solid free form fabrication process. 
   
   
       23 . A method of forming a fluid carrying arrangement, comprising providing a first part and a second part in the first part, wherein at least one of the first and second parts can carry a fluid, and the method comprises forming at least one of the first and second parts by a solid free form fabrication process. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the solid free form fabrication process comprises a selective melting or sintering process. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the solid free form fabrication process comprises selective laser or electron bean melting or sintering. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein at least one of the first and second parts comprises a porous metallic material, the part comprising the porous metallic material being formed by the solid free form fabrication process.