Interchangeable die, joining tool and joining method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11077486-B2
Application number	US-201715656368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2017
Priority date	Jan 22, 2015
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

An interchangeable die comprises a die head, on which a die feature is formed, and a die shank extending in an axial direction from the die head. The die shank includes a first axial shank section, which is adjacent to the die head, and a second axial shank section, which is arranged on the opposite axial side of the first axial shank section from the die head. The first axial shank section has a first diameter and the second axial shank section has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The die shank is introducible into a shank receptacle of a die receiving section of a joining tool. A fastening contour for fastening the interchangeable die to the joining tool is formed on the interchangeable die. The fastening contour is configured such that a plug-and-turn connection is establishable between the interchangeable die and the joining tool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An interchangeable die introducible into a shank receptacle of a die receiving section of a joining tool, wherein the interchangeable die comprises:
a die head including a first axial end, a second axial end, and a first cylindrical section in-between, on the first axial end a die feature is formed, and a rotary driving contour extends as a chord through the first cylindrical section;
a die shank extending in an axial direction from the second axial end of the die head, the die shank being introducible into the shank receptacle of the die receiving section of the joining tool, and the die shank includes:
a circumferential groove below the second axial end of the die head and defining a groove diameter;
a first axial shank section axially below the circumferential groove and which is cylindrical and has a first shank section diameter greater than the groove diameter;
an intermediate shank section located axially below the first axial shank section and frusto-conically shaped tapering axially downward;
a second axial shank section which is below the intermediate shank section and includes a second cylindrical section of a second shank section diameter which is smaller than the first shank section diameter; and
a locking member including a peg for fastening the interchangeable die to the joining tool is formed on the second axial shank section, and the locking member is configured such that a plug-and-turn connection is establishable between the interchangeable die and the joining tool, and the peg is radially extending for a peg length, and the peg length is equal to or less than the first shank section diameter, and the peg length is equal to or greater than the second shank section diameter.

2. The interchangeable die according to claim 1 , wherein the first axial section defines a first axial length, and the second axial section defines a second axial length greater than the first axial length.

3. The interchangeable die according to claim 2 , wherein the intermediate axial section defines a third axial length less than the first axial length.

4. A joining tool comprising:
an interchangeable die including:
a die head including a first axial end, a second axial end, and a cylindrical section in-between, on the first axial end a die feature is formed and a rotary driving contour extends as a chord through the cylindrical section;
a die shank extending in an axial direction from the second axial end of the die head, and the die shank includes:
a circumferential groove below the second axial end of the die head and defining a groove diameter;
a first axial shank section axially below the grooved section and which is cylindrical and has a first shank section diameter greater than the groove diameter;

an intermediate shank section located axially below the first axial shank section and frusto-conically shaped tapering axially downward;
a second axial shank section which is below the intermediate shank section and includes a cylindrical section of a second shank section diameter which is smaller than the first shank section diameter; and
a locking member including a peg operable for fastening the interchangeable die to the joining tool with a plug-and-turn connection is formed on the second axial shank section; and

a die receiving section for receiving the die shank of the interchangeable die, the die receiving section including a first axial receiving section which is adjacent to an introduction opening of the die receiving section and which has a first receiving diameter, and the die receiving section has a second axial receiving section which is arranged on the opposite side of the first axial receiving section from the introduction opening and has a second receiving diameter which is smaller than the first receiving diameter; and
a fastening device for fastening the interchangeable die to the joining tool is formed on the die receiving section, and the fastening device is configured such that a plug-and-turn connection is establishable between the interchangeable die and the joining tool.

5. The joining tool according to claim 4 , and further comprising a pretensioning spring arrangement by means of which the interchangeable die in the die receiving section is pretensioned in a direction away from the introduction opening of the die receiving section.

6. The joining tool according to claim 5 , wherein the die receiving section further includes a main body and a receiving sleeve; and a receiving bore, into which the receiving sleeve is inserted, is formed in the main body; and the receiving sleeve is pretensioned with respect to the main body in an axial direction away from the introduction opening.

7. The joining tool according to claim 4 , wherein the die receiving section further includes a main body and a receiving sleeve; and a receiving bore, into which the receiving sleeve is inserted, is formed in the main body.

8. The joining tool according to claim 7 , wherein the second axial receiving section is formed by the receiving sleeve.

9. The joining tool according to claim 6 , wherein the receiving sleeve is pretensioned, in the region of its end directed away from the introduction opening, by means of the pretensioning spring arrangement, which acts between the receiving sleeve and a pretensioning peg which is firmly connected to the main body.

10. The joining tool according to claim 7 , wherein a receiving sleeve contour, which can interact with the locking member including a peg of the interchangeable die in order to establish the plug-and-turn connection, is formed on the receiving sleeve.

11. The joining tool according to claim 10 , wherein the receiving sleeve contour has a sleeve bayonet slot in which a radial protrusion of the interchangeable die can engage in order to establish the plug-and-turn connection.

Assignees

• Newfrey Llc

Inventors

• Tripp Andreas
• Moeser Joachim

Classifications

• B21J15/36 Primary

  Rivet sets, i.e. tools for forming heads; Mandrels for expanding parts of hollow rivets · CPC title

• B21J15/025

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• B23B31/113

  Retention by bayonet connection · CPC title

• B21J15/10

  Riveting machines (electric heating elements H05B) · CPC title

• F16D1/112

  the interengaging parts comprising torque-transmitting surfaces, e.g. bayonet joints · CPC title