Self-punching functional element, component assembly, and method of manufacturing a component assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11971060-B2
Application number	US-202217729478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 26, 2022
Priority date	Apr 27, 2021
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

A self-punching functional element serves for the fastening to a workpiece and comprises a head part that has an abutment surface for introducing a punching force directed in a punching direction into the functional element and a rivet section that extends away from the head part in the punching direction and that comprises a free end that is provided with a first punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece. The functional element further comprises a functional section that has a punching pilot that is radially surrounded by the rivet section, that extends away from the head part in the punching direction, and that has a second punching edge for punching a hole into the slug. The second punching edge is set back with respect to the first punching edge in the punching direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-punching functional element for fastening to a workpiece, said self-punching functional element comprising
a head part that has an abutment surface for introducing a punching force directed in a punching direction into the functional element and a rivet section that extends away from the head part in the punching direction and that comprises a free end that is provided with a first punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece; and
a functional section that has a punching pilot that is radially surrounded by the rivet section, that extends away from the head part in the punching direction, and that has a second punching edge for punching a hole into the slug forming a slug ring, wherein the second punching edge is set back with respect to the first punching edge in the punching direction.

2. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the workpiece is a sheet metal part.

3. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein a gap for receiving the slug ring is formed between the rivet section and the punching pilot.

4. The functional element in accordance with claim 3 ,
wherein the gap is an annular gap.

5. The functional element in accordance with claim 3 ,
wherein the gap is bounded by a radial outer surface of the punching pilot and by a radial inner surface of the rivet section.

6. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the rivet section and the punching pilot is annular.

7. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein at least one of the rivet section and the punching pilot is one of circular, oval, and polygonal.

8. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the head part is a flange that has a workpiece contact section, with the rivet section and the punching pilot extending away from said workpiece contact section.

9. The functional element in accordance with claim 8 ,
wherein the workpiece contact section comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface that are annular, with the first contact surface being arranged between the punching pilot and the rivet section and the second contact surface being arranged radially outside the rivet section.

10. The functional element in accordance with claim 9 ,
wherein the first contact surface is set back with respect to the second contact surface in the punching direction.

11. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the ratio of an extent of the rivet section in the punching direction to an extent of the punching pilot in the punching direction amounts to approximately two to approximately six.

12. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the rivet section and the punching pilot extend in parallel with one another.

13. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the gap forms an undercut.by a conical outer wall of the punching pilot extending divergently in the punching direction.

14. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the free end of the rivet section is radially outwardly rounded or inclined at least in sections.

15. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
further comprising at least one feature providing security against rotation at the rivet section and/or at the workpiece contact section.

16. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the functional section is provided with a thread.

17. The functional element in accordance with claim 1 ,
wherein the functional element is configured as a self-punching nut element.

18. A component assembly, comprising: a workpiece having a punched hole and a self-piercing functional element extending through the punched hole, said self-punching functional element fastened to the workpiece and comprising a head part that has an abutment surface for introducing a punching force directed in a punching direction into the functional element and a rivet section that extends away from the head part in the punching direction and that comprises a free end that is provided with a first punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece; and a functional section that has a punching pilot that is radially surrounded by the rivet section, that extends away from the head part in the punching direction, and that has a second punching edge for punching a hole into the slug forming a slug ring, wherein the second punching edge is set back with respect to the first punching edge in the punching direction, and reshaped material of the rivet section at least sectionally engages behind material of the workpiece adjoining the punched hole.

19. The component assembly in accordance with claim 18 ,
wherein the slug ring separated from the punched slug by means of the punching pilot is received in a radial direction between the rivet section and the punching pilot.

20. The component assembly in accordance with claim 18 ,
wherein the reshaped material forms an undercut closed in a peripheral direction.

21. The component assembly in accordance with claim 20 ,
wherein the material of the rivet section is radially outwardly reshaped to form the undercut.

22. The component assembly in accordance with claim 18 ,
wherein a punched margin produced by the first punching edge is flanged by the reshaping of the rivet section.

23. The component assembly in accordance with claim 18 ,
wherein an assembly region of the workpiece surrounding the punched hole is reshaped while forming a recess, with the reshaped rivet section and the punching pilot being completely received in the recess in the punching direction.

Assignees

• Profil Verbindungstechnik Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Mordelt André

Classifications

• F16B19/1027 Primary

  Multi-part rivets · CPC title

• B23P19/062

  Pierce nut setting machines · CPC title

• F16B37/068

  by deforming the material of the support, e.g. the sheet or plate · CPC title

• F16B19/08 Primary

  Hollow rivets; Multi-part rivets · CPC title

• F16B37/065 Primary

  by deforming the material of the nut · CPC title