Method of attaching sheets together

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11028865-B2
Application number	US-201716345534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2017
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

The method includes the step of positioning the sheets in an at least partially overlapping relationship. The method continues with the step of inserting a rivet that has a height through an overlapping area of the sheets. The method proceeds with the step of, with the rivet at a temperature in the range of 15-30° Celsius, collapsing the rivet between a pair of ramming surfaces to shorten the rivet and partially expand the rivet outwardly to lock the rivet with the sheets. The entire method results in a very strong connection between the sheets and with a great durability at a low cost.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of attaching two or more metal sheets together, comprising the steps of:
positioning the sheets in an at least partially overlapping relationship;
piercing or drilling a hole through an overlapping area of the sheets;
inserting a rivet that has a height into the hole in the overlapping area of the sheets, the rivet having a pair of end faces and a diameter at an axial midpoint that is greater than at either of the end faces and the diameter at the axial midpoint being similar to a diameter of the hole;
with the rivet at a temperature in the range of 15-30° Celsius, collapsing the rivet between a pair of ramming surfaces to shorten the rivet and partially expand the rivet outwardly to lock the rivet with the sheets, each of the ramming surfaces having a spike surrounded by a fully planar area.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the sheets is made of a different metal than at least one of the other sheets.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rivet is made of a different metal than at least one of the sheets.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rivet is made of magnesium or a magnesium alloy.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one of the sheets is made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, steel or a steel alloy.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein before the step of inserting the rivet into the hole, the rivet has no head or tail.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein before the step of collapsing the rivet, the rivet projects out of the hole on opposite sides of the sheets.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the ramming surfaces having said spike projecting outwardly therefrom such that the step of collapsing the rivet causes metal of the rivet to plastically deform outwardly whereby a pair of flanges are created in the rivet.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rivet is solid throughout.

Assignees

• Magna Int Inc
• Potocki John Richard
• Kokosza William Andrew
• Falter Steven Reece

Inventors

• Potocki John Richard
• Kokosza William Andrew
• Falter Steven Reece

Classifications

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title

• B21J15/147

  Composite articles · CPC title

• B21J15/10

  Riveting machines (electric heating elements H05B) · CPC title

• F16B19/06

  Solid rivets made in one piece · CPC title

• B21J15/40

  for forming rivet heads · CPC title