Systems and methods for joining nodes and other structures

Abstract

An additively manufactured node is disclosed. A node is an additively manufactured (AM) structure that includes a feature, e.g., a socket, a channel, etc., for accepting another structure, e.g., a tube, a panel, etc. The node can include a node surface of a receptacle extending into the node. The receptacle can receive a structure, and a seal interface on the node surface can seat a seal member between the node surface and the structure to create an adhesive region between the node and the structure, the adhesive region being bounded by the node surface, the structure, and the seal member. The node can also include two channels connecting an exterior surface of the node to the adhesive region. In this way, adhesive can be injected into the adhesive region between the node and the structure, and the adhesive can be contained by the seal member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an additively manufactured node having a receptacle extending into the node, the receptacle including a first surface, and the node including an exterior surface, a first channel connecting the exterior surface to the first surface, and a second channel connecting the exterior surface to the first surface;   a structure inserted in the receptacle, the structure including a second surface opposing the first surface;   a seal member arranged between the node and the structure, wherein an adhesive region between the node and the structure is bounded by the first surface, the second surface, and a surface of the seal member, the adhesive region connecting to each of the first and second channels; and   an adhesive arranged in the adhesive region, wherein the adhesive adjoins the seal member surface and attaches the first surface to the second surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fill material filling the first and second channels.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes a hole. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive region is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive region extends around a perimeter of the structure, a first end of the adhesive region opposes a second end of the adhesive region, the first channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the first end, and the second channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the second end. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a first portion of the adhesive region overlaps a second portion of the adhesive region in a direction of insertion of the structure in the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the adhesive region extends around a perimeter of the structure and a portion of a first end of the adhesive region overlaps a portion of a second end of the adhesive region in a direction of insertion of the structure in the receptacle, and   the first channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the first end, and the second channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the second end.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the seal member includes a first seal member portion around the structure, a second seal member portion around the structure, and a third seal member portion extending from the first seal member portion to the second seal member portion and spiraling around the structure, the first channel connecting to the adhesive region proximate to the first seal member portion, and the second channel connecting to the adhesive region proximate to the second seal member portion. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second seal member around the structure, wherein the second seal member is arranged outside the adhesive region.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a third seal member around the structure, wherein the third seal member is arranged outside the adhesive region, and the adhesive region is arranged between the second and third seal members.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the node includes one or more grooves, and a portion of the seal member is arranged in the one or more grooves. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the seal member includes a seal attached to the structure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first surface includes a chamfered edge of the node, and the seal member attached to the structure abuts the chamfered edge. 
     
     
         14 . An additively manufactured node comprising:
 a first surface of a receptacle extending into the node, the receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of a structure, the first surface including a seal interface configured to seat a seal member between the first surface and the structure to create an adhesive region between the node and the structure, the adhesive region being bounded by the first surface, the structure, and the seal member;   a second surface; and   a portion having a first channel connecting the second surface to the first surface and having and a second channel connecting the second surface to the first surface, such that each of the first and second channels is configured to connect to the adhesive region.   
     
     
         15 . The node of  claim 14 , wherein the receptacle includes a hole. 
     
     
         16 . The node of  claim 14 , wherein the seal interface is further configured to extend around a perimeter of the structure, such that a first end of the adhesive region opposes a second end of the adhesive region, the first channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the first end, and the second channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The node of  claim 16 , wherein the seal interface is further configured such that a first portion of the adhesive region overlaps a second portion of the adhesive region in a direction of insertion of the structure in the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The node of  claim 14 , wherein the seal interface is further configured to extend around a perimeter of the structure, such that a portion of a first end of the adhesive region overlaps a portion of a second end of the adhesive region in a direction of insertion of the structure in the receptacle, and the first channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the first end, and the second channel connects to the adhesive region proximate to the second end. 
     
     
         19 . The node of  claim 18 , wherein the seal interface includes a portion of the first surface configured to seat a first seal member portion around the structure, a portion of the first surface configured to seat a second seal member portion around the structure, and a portion of the first surface configured to seat a third seal member portion extending from the first seal member portion to the second seal member portion and spiraling around the structure, such that the first channel is configured to connect to the adhesive region proximate to the first seal member portion, and the second channel is configured to connect to the adhesive region proximate to the second seal member portion. 
     
     
         20 . The node of  claim 14 , wherein the seal interface includes a portion of the first surface configured to seat a second seal member around the structure, wherein the second seal member is arranged outside the adhesive region. 
     
     
         21 . The node of  claim 20 , wherein the seal interface further includes a portion of the first surface configured to seat a third seal member around the structure, wherein the third seal member is arranged outside the adhesive region, and the adhesive region is arranged between the second and third seal members. 
     
     
         22 . The node of  claim 14 , wherein the seal interface includes a portion of the first surface having a groove configured to receive a portion of the seal member. 
     
     
         23 . The node of  claim 14 , wherein the seal interface includes a portion of the first surface configured to receive a seal attached to the structure. 
     
     
         24 . The node of  claim 23 , wherein the portion of the first surface configured to receive the seal attached to the structure includes a chamfered edge. 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 arranging a seal member in a receptacle extending into an additively manufactured node, the receptacle having a first surface;   inserting a structure into the receptacle, the structure including a second surface opposing the first surface, wherein an adhesive region is formed between the node and the structure, the adhesive region being bounded by the first surface, the second surface, and the seal member; and   injecting an adhesive into the adhesive region.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 creating a vacuum in the adhesive region to evacuate the adhesive region, wherein the adhesive is injected into the evacuated adhesive region.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the node has a channel from an exterior surface to the first surface, and evacuating the adhesive region is performed at least through the channel. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein injecting the adhesive includes injecting the adhesive through the channel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the node further has a second channel from the exterior surface to the first surface, and injecting the adhesive includes injecting the adhesive through the second channel.