GAS VENTING/INTRODUCING STRUCTURE

Abstract

A gas venting/introducing structure (1) including a body (2) and a porous portion (3) integrated with the body (2) having a plurality of gas venting/introducing paths (4) each in communication with the porous portion (3) at one end. The plurality of gas venting/introducing paths 4 are open to the outside of the body (2) at other ends thereof such that at least two gas venting/introducing paths (4) merge into a single path (5). The body (2) is made of a porous metal denser than the material of the porous portion (3). The gas venting/introducing paths (4) each has an inner wall (4a) defined by a smooth surface. The distance between a communication side (3a) of the porous portion (3) and an opposite side (3b) is on the order of 4 mm. A concavity is formed at the communication part between the gas venting/introducing paths (4) and the porous portion (3).

Claims

1. A gas venting/introducing structure comprising a body and a porous portion integrated with the body, said body being provided with a plurality of gas venting/introducing paths formed therein, each of said plurality of gas venting/introducing paths being in communication with the porous portion at its one end, said plurality of gas venting/introducing paths are open to the outside of the body at the other ends thereof in such a manner that at least two gas venting/introducing paths are so constructed as to merge into a single path, wherein at the communication part between said gas venting/introducing paths and said porous portion, a concavity which is in communication with the plurality of gas venting/introducing paths is formed.

2. The gas venting/introducing structure according to claim 1, wherein said body is made of a porous metal denser than the material of said porous portion.

3. The gas venting/introducing structure according to claim 1, wherein said gas venting/introducing paths each has an inner wall which is defined by a smooth surface finished by numerical control machining.

4. The gas venting/introducing structure according to claim 1, wherein the distance between a communication side of said porous portion with which the plurality of gas venting/introducing paths are in communication and the opposite side of said porous portion is in a range of 1 mm to 5 mm.

5. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of one embodiment of a gas venting/introducing structure according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of one embodiment of a gas venting/introducing structure according to the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] In the following, the embodiment of the gas venting/introducing structure of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a gas venting/introducing structure 1 according to the embodiment has a body 2 and a porous portion 3 integrated with the body 2. In the body 2, a plurality of gas venting/introducing paths 4 are formed. Each of the plurality of gas venting/introducing paths 4 is in communication with the porous portion 3 at its one end. The plurality of gas venting/introducing paths 4, i.e., at least two gas venting/introducing paths 4 are so constructed as to merge into a single path 5 open to the outside of the body 2 at their other ends.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, even if the gas venting/introducing structure 1 has an outer surface conforming to an article shape, in particular, in the porous portion, the gas venting/introducing structure is capable of releasing or introducing a gas from various sites through the plurality of gas venting/introducing paths.

[0022] The body 2 is made of a porous metal which is denser than the material of the porous portion 3. The gas venting/introducing paths 4 each have an inner wall 4a which is defined by a smooth surface (not shown) finished by numerical control machining. This precisely eliminates variations in the cross-section X of the gas venting/introducing path 4 to thereby prevent resin deposits from remaining in the gas venting/introducing path.

[0023] The distance between the communication side 3a of the porous portion 3 with which the plurality of gas venting/introducing paths 4 are in communication and the opposite side 3b is of the order of 4 mm. The porous portion 3 has a thickness of the order of 4 mm.

[0024] At the communication part between the gas venting/introducing paths 4 and the porous portion 3, a concavity 6 is formed.

[0025] The above-described gas venting/introducing structure 1 according to this embodiment may be produced in the following process.

1. Squeegeeing

[0026] On a shaping/machining table, a metal powder as a material for the gas venting/introducing structure 1 is squeegeed in a layer having a thickness of 0.05 mm.

2. Laser Sintering

[0027] Subsequently, the metal powder, as a material for the gas venting/introducing structure 1, squeegeed in the layer on the shaping/machining table is irradiated with a laser beam to sinter the metal powder in a shape of an article. After completion of the sintering, the same metal powder is squeegeed on the sintered metal layer in a next layer with a thickness of 0.05 mm. Then, the next metal powder layer is irradiated with a laser beam and thereby sintered. The steps of 1. Squeegeeing and 2. Laser Sintering are repeated 10 times to form a laminate having a thickness of 0.5 mm, followed by Machining.

3. Machining

[0028] By means of an end mill, a contour of the product resulting from 1. Squeegeeing and 2. Laser Sintering is precisely machined at a high speed to effect finishing.

4. Repetition of Squeegeeing-Laser Sintering-Machining Steps

[0029] By repeating the steps of 1. Squeegeeing, 2. Laser Sintering and 3. Machining (finishing by machining), the gas venting/introducing structure 1 is constructed from the lower layer to the upper layer.

[0030] Since the gas venting/introducing structure is prepared through the above-described steps, the body 2 and the porous portion 3 are bonded by the sintering. As a result, the gas venting/introducing structure 1 is obtained as a one pierce wherein the body 2 and the porous portion are integrated. Further, through the production process, the gas venting/introducing structure can be so constructed as to have a desired complicated inner form. Accordingly, the gas venting/introducing paths 4 as inner paths of the body 2 can be so constructed as to have smooth surface 4a finished by numerical control machining.

[0031] As a resin to be subjected to (for, used in) injection molding by means of the above-described mold, there may be mentioned thermoplastic resins such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a polybutylene-ethylene terephthalate (PBT-PET copolymer resin), a polyether ether ketone (PEEK resin), a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), a polyetherimide (PEI), nylon 6 (PA6), nylon 66 (PA66), nylon 6T (PA6T), a polyphthalamide (PPA), a polystyrene (PS), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin (ABS resin), a vinyl chloride resin (PVC), a polyacetal (polyoxymethylene: POM), a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a polysulphone (PSU), a polypropylene (PP), a polycarbonate (PC), and the like. These may be used alone or in combination. There may also be mentioned thermosetting resins such as a phenolic resin (PF), an epoxy resin (EP), a diallyl phthalate resin (PDAP), a silicone resin (SI), a polyimide resin (PI), a melamine resin (MF), a urea resin (UF), and the like. In these thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins, an inorganic filler such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, glass beads, talc, or the like may be incorporated with a view to improving heat resistance, dimensional stability or the like, if desired. Further, an organic filler such as cellulose nanofibers or the like may be incorporated therein, if desired.

NOTE ON REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0032] 1 . . . gas venting/introducing structure, [0033] 2 . . . body, [0034] 4 . . . gas venting/introducing path, [0035] 5 . . . path, [0036] 6 . . . concavity