Late customization on valve body end connections using additive manufacturing
First Claim
1. A method of custom manufacturing a valve body, the method comprising:
- obtaining an existing valve body, the existing valve body having an initial valve body configuration having a first end connection and a second end connection, the first end connection having an initial first end connection configuration and the second end connection having an initial second end connection configuration;
receiving user requirements for a custom first end connection configuration and a custom second end connection configuration for the existing valve body;
adding material to the initial first end connection configuration using a first additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of the custom first end connection configuration based on the received user requirements, wherein the custom first end connection configuration is different than the initial first end connection configuration; and
adding material to the initial second end connection configuration using a second additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of the custom second end connection configuration based on the received user requirements, wherein the custom second end connection configuration is different than the initial second end connection configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided of custom manufacturing a valve body having an initial valve body configuration having a first end connection and a second end connection. The method includes adding material to the first end connection using a first additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of a custom first end connection configuration, and the custom first end connection configuration is different than an initial first end connection configuration. The method further includes adding material to the second end connection using a second additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of a custom second end connection configuration, and the custom second end connection configuration is different than an initial second end connection configuration.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of custom manufacturing a valve body, the method comprising:
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obtaining an existing valve body, the existing valve body having an initial valve body configuration having a first end connection and a second end connection, the first end connection having an initial first end connection configuration and the second end connection having an initial second end connection configuration; receiving user requirements for a custom first end connection configuration and a custom second end connection configuration for the existing valve body; adding material to the initial first end connection configuration using a first additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of the custom first end connection configuration based on the received user requirements, wherein the custom first end connection configuration is different than the initial first end connection configuration; and adding material to the initial second end connection configuration using a second additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of the custom second end connection configuration based on the received user requirements, wherein the custom second end connection configuration is different than the initial second end connection configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification