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A method for producing microporous objects with fiber, wire or foil core with periodic welding of nodes by movement of the substrate and the making of a porous mat. Microporous objects are created by deposition of small dimension of solid from liquid streams undergoing solidification with the simult

A method for producing microporous objects with fiber, wire or foil core with periodic welding of nodes by movement of the substrate and the making of a porous mat. Microporous objects are created by deposition of small dimension of solid from liquid streams undergoing solidification with the simultaneous welding of the streams at various nodal locations concurrently during the deposition process. Bulk porous material objects are created containing open spaces within the microstructure. Inserts can be added to create internal geometries. Variations in pore density from near-zero to about 95% with gradient densities can be created. Screens can be used for forming column-like supports within the microporous object. Holes can be punched in the fiber core to create desired properties of denser regions and to limit the thermal expansion of the mat in a single direction. The initial heat contact of the liquid metal is used to create the shape of the deposited segments as well as to remelt immediately deposited solid for in-situ welding. No additional heat source is employed to weld and create the network structure.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for producing microporous objects with fiber, wire or foil core with periodic welding of nodes by movement of the substrate and the making of a porous mat. Microporous objects are created by deposition of small dimension of solid from liquid streams undergoing solidification with the simult

A method for producing microporous objects with fiber, wire or foil core with periodic welding of nodes by movement of the substrate and the making of a porous mat. Microporous objects are created by deposition of small dimension of solid from liquid streams undergoing solidification with the simultaneous welding of the streams at various nodal locations concurrently during the deposition process. Bulk porous material objects are created containing open spaces within the microstructure. Inserts can be added to create internal geometries. Variations in pore density from near-zero to about 95% with gradient densities can be created. Screens can be used for forming column-like supports within the microporous object. Holes can be punched in the fiber core to create desired properties of denser regions and to limit the thermal expansion of the mat in a single direction. The initial heat contact of the liquid metal is used to create the shape of the deposited segments as well as to remelt immediately deposited solid for in-situ welding. No additional heat source is employed to weld and create the network structure. ng to claim 5, wherein fluid flows from the first to the second chamber when the piston displaces from the second to the first position. 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein fluid flows from the input to the first chamber when the piston displaces from the first to the second position. 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the valve is disposed at least partially within the piston, the valve displacing at least partially with the piston. 9. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the valve engages an abutment when the piston displaces from the first to the second position, the engagement with the abutment permitting the valve to be opened and causing the latching device to secure the valve in the open configuration when the piston displaces from the second to the first position. 10. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the latching device engages an abutment when the piston displaces from the second to the first position, the valve closing in response to the engagement of the latching device with the abutment. 11. A method of metering a known volume of fluid into an actuator for a well tool positioned in a subterranean well, the method comprising the steps of: interconnecting a hydraulic output of a fluid metering apparatus to a hydraulic input of the actuator; and applying pressure to a hydraulic input of the fluid metering apparatus, thereby displacing a piston of the fluid metering apparatus while a valve of the fluid metering apparatus is closed, admitting fluid from the fluid metering apparatus input into a first chamber of the fluid metering apparatus, and discharging the known volume of fluid from a second chamber of the fluid metering apparatus to the fluid metering apparatus output. 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of relieving pressure on the fluid metering apparatus input, and opening the valve in response to the pressure relieving step. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the opening step further comprises displacing at least a portion of the piston relative to at least a portion of the valve. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the opening step further comprises operating a latching device of the fluid metering apparatus to thereby secure the valve in an open configuration. 15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of displacing the piston in response to the pressure relieving step, the piston displacing while the valve is open. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the relieving pressure step further comprises closing the valve in response to displacement of the piston. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the closing step further comprises engaging an abutment of the fluid metering apparatus, the engagement with the abutment closing the valve. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the closing step further comprises operating a latching device of the fluid metering apparatus to thereby permit the valve to close. 19. A fluid metering apparatus for use in a subterranean well, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a bore formed therein; a piston reciprocably received in the bore, the piston sealingly engaging the bore at a first diameter and defining first and second chambers on opposite sides of the piston, and the piston being sealingly engageable with the housing at a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; first and second hydraulic inputs, the second input being in fluid communication with the first chamber; first and second hydraulic outputs, the first output being in fluid communication with the first input; a first check valve permitting fluid flow from the first input and the first output to the second chamber, but preventing fluid flow from the second chamber to the first input and first output; and a second check valve preventing fluid flow from the second input and the second output to the second chamber, but permitting fluid flow from the second