Fluid redistribution device for containers having a working fluid

Abstract

A container having a working fluid that can be used to build freeform fabricated components is disclosed. A distributing member and a fluid moving device are used in conjunction with the container. The fluid moving device can take the form of a pump and the distributing member is moveable across a surface of the working fluid to either deposit working fluid or withdraw working fluid from the surface. The distributing member is in fluid communication with the fluid moving device, which is in fluid communication with an opening in the container.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vat having an upper portion and a lower portion and containing a rapid prototyping liquid that can be operated upon to produce a solid body;   a movable device having an opening located near a surface of the rapid prototyping liquid and disposed within the vat through which a portion of the rapid prototyping liquid is conveyed when the movable device is moved; and   wherein the rapid prototyping liquid is circulated through the opening between the surface and a location disposed toward the lower portion of the vat.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , which further includes pump in fluid communication with the opening and the location toward the lower portion of the vat. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the moveable device is a scanned opening. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the speed of the rapid prototyping liquid through the opening is matched with a speed of the opening relative to the surface to mitigate a turbulence behind the moveable device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a front and a back of the opening are at different heights relative to the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rapid prototyping liquid can be conveyed toward the surface from the location disposed toward the lower portion of the vat or away from the surface and toward the location disposed toward the lower portion of the vat. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , which further includes a fluid shearing device in flow communication with the movable device. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vessel having a rapid prototyping multi-component fluid that can be formed into a solid object, the vessel having an opening located beneath a surface of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid;   a pump for conveying the rapid prototyping multi-component, the pump in fluid communication with the opening in the vessel; and   a moving orifice having an orifice opening located near the surface of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid and operable to pass a portion of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid, the pump operable to provide work to convey the portion between the surface and the opening of the vessel.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pump conveys the portion from the opening in the vessel to the surface of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pump conveys the portion from the surface of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid to the opening in the vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the speed between the moveable device relative to the surface and a rate of the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid through the orifice is different 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the rapid prototyping multi-component fluid is a non-newtonian fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , which further includes a fluid shearing device in communication with the pump. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a vat of rapid prototyping fluid;   a pump for conveying the rapid prototyping fluid; and   means for distributing the rapid prototyping fluid.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 filling a vessel with a rapid prototyping liquid;   moving an orifice across a surface of the rapid prototyping liquid; and   circulating the rapid prototyping fluid between the surface and a relatively deeper part of the vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , which further includes powering a pump to drive the circulating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 19 , which further includes mixing a relatively lower density portion of the rapid prototyping liquid with a relatively higher density portion of the rapid prototyping liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , which further includes building a layer of a freeform fabricated object from the rapid prototyping liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , which further includes scanning the orifice after the building. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , which further includes shear mixing the rapid prototyping liquid.