Fluid conduit and method of making same

Abstract

A fluid conduit includes a body, a first conduit portion connected to the body, a second conduit portion connected to the body, and a base connected to the second conduit portion. The body, the first conduit portion, the second conduit portion, and the base are formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing.

1 . A fluid conduit, comprising:
 a body;   a first conduit portion connected to the body;   a second conduit portion connected to the body; and   a base connected to the second conduit portion;   wherein the body, the first conduit portion, the second conduit portion, and the base are formed as a monolithic component via additive manufacturing.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit portion is connected to a first fluid port of the body; the second conduit portion is connected to a second fluid port of the body; and the body includes a third fluid port configured for connection with a fluid pump. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid conduit of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the second conduit portion includes a tear drop configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a mesh configured to receive fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid conduit of  claim 4 , wherein the mesh includes a rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid conduit of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid conduit does not include sealing members between any of the base, the mesh, the first conduit portion, the body, or the second conduit portion. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid conduit of  claim 1 , further including an internal fluid passage extending from the base, through the second conduit portion, through the base, and through the first conduit portion. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid conduit of  claim 7 , wherein the base includes a nozzle and the nozzle extends at least partially into the internal fluid passage. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes an internal nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit including a body, a first conduit portion, a second conduit portion, and a base, the method comprising:
 forming a first set of layers, the first set of layers including parts of a first support, a second support, a third support, and a fourth support;   forming a second set of layers, the second set of layers including portions of the body, the first support; the second support, and the base;   forming a third set of layers, the third set of layers including portions of the body, the first support, the second conduit portion, and the base;   forming a fourth set of layers, the fourth set of layers including portions of the body and the first support; and   forming a fifth set of layers, the first set of layers including portions of the first conduit portion.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including removing the first support, the second support, and the third support. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the second set of layers and the third set of layers includes parts of a nozzle disposed within the body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein forming the first set of layers includes forming at least portions of a cavity and a channel connected to the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including removing powder from the base. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein removing powder from the base includes providing a fluid to one of a channel and a nozzle of the base, and the powder moving through the other of the channel and the nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein forming the first set of layers includes forming, in the first support, at least portions of a cavity, a first channel connected to the cavity, and a second channel connected to the cavity; and removing powder from the base includes providing a fluid to one of the first channel and the second channel, and the powder moving through the other of the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein forming the second set of layers includes forming portions of a mesh of the base; the mesh includes a rectangular configuration and a plurality of rectangular apertures; and the base includes a circular section from which the mesh extends. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the third support includes a plurality of columns of different lengths and the plurality of columns are configured for removal from the base. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first support includes a plurality of columns extending from a first end of the body to a flange of the body, and the flange is disposed at a second end of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the plurality of columns includes at least three parallel column sections disposed at a distance from each other.