Patents by Inventor CHRISTIAN GEAY

CHRISTIAN GEAY has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11518103
    Abstract: A powder-based additive manufacturing installation (10) comprises a powder layering device (14) that can be displaced along a path linking a start zone (A) and an end zone (B). The layering device (14) comprises powder deposition means (18) for depositing powder in a powder deposition zone (D) situated between the start zone (A) and the end zone (B). The installation comprises a cleaning device (40) situated on the path of the layering device (14). The cleaning device (40) comprises a blowing device (42) configured to blow a gas flow onto at least one surface of the powder deposition means (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Christian Geay, Miguel Torres-Castellano, Olivier Lauwers, Jeremy Chagnard, Alexis Treilhes
  • Patent number: 11207733
    Abstract: A device is provided for conveying additive manufacturing container/tray assemblies or additive manufacturing trays, the conveying device including at least two chambers for conveying an additive manufacturing container/tray assembly, each conveying chamber including at least one opening allowing the entry/exit of an additive manufacturing container/tray assembly, and each opening being provided with a door for closing the conveying chamber in a sealed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Benoît Pourcher, Christophe De Lajudie, Gilles Walrand, Frédéric Pialot, Christian Geay
  • Patent number: 11130179
    Abstract: An additive-manufacturing facility and a method for managing a powder transported to and from additive-manufacturing machines of the facility are provided. According to the method, a volume of feedstock powder is stored, and the machines are automatically fed with powder from the volume of feedstock powder. For each machine, the powder fed to the machine undergoes at least one layering operation during an additive-manufacturing cycle, and excess powder in the layering operation is moved away and conveyed from the machine to the volume of feedstock powder. For each machine, recovered powder, which is derived from cleaning rough components produced by the machine, is reintroduced into the volume of feedstock powder. A same collection circuit is used to convey the excess powder and the recovered powder to the volume of feedstock powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Christophe de Lajudie, Jean-Luc Petitjean, Christian Geay
  • Publication number: 20210197477
    Abstract: A device is provided for conveying additive manufacturing container/tray assemblies or additive manufacturing trays, the conveying device including at least two chambers for conveying an additive manufacturing container/tray assembly, each conveying chamber including at least one opening allowing the entry/exit of an additive manufacturing container/tray assembly, and each opening being provided with a door for closing the conveying chamber in a sealed manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: BENOÎT POURCHER, CHRISTOPHE DE LAJUDIE, GILLES WALRAND, FRÉDÉRIC PIALOT, CHRISTIAN GEAY
  • Patent number: 11040400
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing facility operating in an automated and contained manner. The facility includes a containment chamber inside which a plurality of additive manufacturing machines is installed, each machine comprising a manufacturing chamber, inside the containment chamber, a supply device and a supply circuit for supplying the various machines of the facility with an additive manufacturing powder, a conveying device for conveying additive manufacturing container/tray assemblies comprising at least one conveying chamber circulating between the various machines, and (4) a cleaning device comprising at least one cleaning chamber for cleaning, in an automated and contained manner, the additive manufacturing trays in the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Albin Effernelli, Gilles Walrand, Frédéric Pialot, Christian Geay
  • Patent number: 10926336
    Abstract: A machine for additive manufacturing of components by sintering powder includes a framework, a working zone, at least two beam emission and control modules, and at least two actuators. Each module, which is structured to emit an energy beam and to control the energy beam, is mounted inside the framework and is provided with an emission source and an optical system for focusing the energy beam emitted from the source. Each module acts on the working zone to manufacture a same component. Each optical system is axially movable in translation with respect to the framework. The actuators are associated with the optical systems, respectively, and are arranged to adjust axial positions of the optical systems with respect to the working zone, the axial positions being adjustable independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Gilles Walrand, Christian Geay, Jean-Baptiste Allard
  • Publication number: 20200230698
    Abstract: An additive-manufacturing facility and a method for managing a powder transported to and from additive-manufacturing machines of the facility are provided. According to the method, a volume of feedstock powder is stored, and the machines are automatically fed with powder from the volume of feedstock powder. For each machine, the powder fed to the machine undergoes at least one layering operation during an additive-manufacturing cycle, and excess powder in the layering operation is moved away and conveyed from the machine to the volume of feedstock powder. For each machine, recovered powder, which is derived from cleaning rough components produced by the machine, is reintroduced into the volume of feedstock powder. A same collection circuit is used to convey the excess powder and the recovered powder to the volume of feedstock powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christophe de Lajudie, Jean-Luc Petitjean, Christian Geay
  • Publication number: 20200055247
    Abstract: A powder-based additive manufacturing installation (10) comprises a powder layering device (14) that can be displaced along a path linking a start zone (A) and an end zone (B). The layering device (14) comprises powder smoothing means (35) for depositing powder in a powder deposition zone (P) situated between the start zone (A) and the end zone (B). The installation furthermore comprises a cleaning device (60) situated on the path of the layering device (14), the cleaning device (60) comprising a brushing device (62) for brushing at least one surface of the powder smoothing means (35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN GEAY, MIGUEL TORRES-CASTELLANO, OLIVIER LAUWERS, JEREMY CHAGNARD, ALEXIS TREILHES
  • Publication number: 20190270249
    Abstract: A powder-based additive manufacturing installation (10) comprises a powder layering device (14) that can be displaced along a path linking a start zone (A) and an end zone (B). The layering device (14) comprises powder deposition means (18) for depositing powder in a powder deposition zone (D) situated between the start zone (A) and the end zone (B). The installation comprises a cleaning device (40) situated on the path of the layering device (14). The cleaning device (40) comprises a blowing device (42) configured to blow a gas flow onto at least one surface of the powder deposition means (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN GEAY, MIGUEL TORRES-CASTELLANO, OLIVIER LAUWERS, JEREMY CHAGNARD, ALEXIS TREILHES
  • Publication number: 20190009334
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing facility operating in an automated and contained manner. The facility includes a containment chamber inside which a plurality of additive manufacturing machines is installed, each machine comprising a manufacturing chamber, inside the containment chamber, a supply device and a supply circuit for supplying the various machines of the facility with an additive manufacturing powder, a conveying device for conveying additive manufacturing container/tray assemblies comprising at least one conveying chamber circulating between the various machines, and (4) a cleaning device comprising at least one cleaning chamber for cleaning, in an automated and contained manner, the additive manufacturing trays in the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: ALBIN EFFERNELLI, GILLES WALRAND, FRÉDÉRIC PIALOT, CHRISTIAN GEAY
  • Publication number: 20180021855
    Abstract: An additive-manufacturing facility and a method for managing a powder transported to and from additive-manufacturing machines of the facility are provided. According to the method, a volume of feedstock powder is stored, and the machines are automatically fed with powder from the volume of feedstock powder. For each machine, the powder fed to the machine undergoes at least one layering operation during an additive-manufacturing cycle, and excess powder in the layering operation is moved away and conveyed from the machine to the volume of feedstock powder. For each machine, recovered powder, which is derived from cleaning rough components produced by the machine, is reintroduced into the volume of feedstock powder. A same collection circuit is used to convey the excess powder and the recovered powder to the volume of feedstock powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHE DE LAJUDIE, JEAN-LUC PETIT-JEAN, CHRISTIAN GEAY
  • Publication number: 20170304897
    Abstract: A machine for additive manufacturing of components by sintering powder includes a framework, a working zone, at least two beam emission and control modules, and at least two actuators. Each module, which is structured to emit an energy beam and to control the energy beam, is mounted inside the framework and is provided with an emission source and an optical system for focusing the energy beam emitted from the source. Each module acts on the working zone to manufacture a same component. Each optical system is axially movable in translation with respect to the framework. The actuators are associated with the optical systems, respectively, and are arranged to adjust axial positions of the optical systems with respect to the working zone, the axial positions being adjustable independently of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: GILLES WALRAND, CHRISTIAN GEAY, JEAN-BAPTISTE ALLARD