Method Of Joining Polymeric Composites And Other Materials Using Self-Piercing Rivets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017297084-A1
Application number	US-201615287432-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 6, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of joining first and second layers of material according to the principles of the present disclosure includes applying a layer of adhesive between the first and second layers and allowing the adhesive layer to at least partially cure. The method further includes piercing the first layer with a headless end of a rivet after the adhesive layer is cured, deforming the second layer with the headless end of the rivet, and bending the headless end of the rivet radially outward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of joining first and second layers of material, the method comprising:
applying a layer of adhesive between the first and second layers; allowing the adhesive layer to at least partially cure; piercing the first layer with a headless end of a rivet after the adhesive layer is at least partially cured; deforming the second layer with the headless end of the rivet; and bending the headless end of the rivet radially outward.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising piercing the second layer with the headless end of the rivet.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning the first and second layers on a die after applying the adhesive layer between the first and second layers and before piercing the first layer with the headless end of a rivet.

4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising bending the headless end of the rivet radially outward using a protrusion formed on a bottom surface of the die.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising:
clamping the first and second layers between a tube and the die;
holding the rivet using a piston disposed within the tube; and
moving the piston toward the bottom surface of the die to force the headless end of the rivet through the first layer and at least partially into the second layer.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first layer has a first thickness;
the second layer has a second thickness; and
the rivet has a length that is at least 40 percent greater than a sum of the first and second thicknesses.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first layer has a first thickness;
the second layer has a second thickness; and
the adhesive layer has a third thickness that is between 3 percent and 30 percent of a sum of the first and second thicknesses.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the third thickness of the adhesive layer is between 5 percent and 25 percent of the sum of the first and second thicknesses.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second layers each include a polymeric composite.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second layers includes a polymeric composite and the other one of the first and second layers includes a metal.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the rivet is a self-piercing rivet.

12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the adhesive layer to fully cure before piercing the first layer with the headless end of the rivet and deforming the second layer with the headless end of the rivet.

13 . A method of joining first and second layers of material, the method comprising:
applying a layer of adhesive between the first and second layers; allowing the adhesive layer to at least partially cure; piercing the first layer with a headless end of a rivet after the adhesive layer is at least partially cured; deforming the second layer with the headless end of the rivet; and bending the headless end of the rivet radially outward and axially upward toward the first layer.

14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising piercing the second layer with the headless end of the rivet.

15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising positioning the first and second layers on a die after applying the adhesive layer between the first and second layers and before piercing the first layer with the headless end of a rivet.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising bending the headless end of the rivet radially outward using a protrusion formed on a bottom surface of the die.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:
clamping the first and second layers between a tube and the die;
holding the rivet using a piston disposed within the tube; and
moving the piston toward the bottom surface of the die to force the headless end of the rivet through the first layer and at least partially into the second layer.

18 . The method of claim 13 wherein:
the first layer has a first thickness;
the second layer has a second thickness; and
the rivet has a length that is at least 40 percent greater than a sum of the first and second thicknesses.

19 . The method of claim 13 wherein:
the first layer has a first thickness;
the second layer has a second thickness; and
the adhesive layer has a third thickness that is between 3 percent and 30 percent of a sum of the first and second thicknesses.

20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the third thickness of the adhesive layer is between 5 percent and 25 percent of the sum of the first and second thicknesses.

21 . The method of claim 13 wherein the first and second layers each include a polymeric composite.

22 . The method of claim 13 wherein one of the first and second layers includes a polymeric composite and the other one of the first and second layers includes a metal.

23 . The method of claim 13 wherein the rivet is a self-piercing rivet.

24 . The method of claim 13 further comprising allowing the adhesive layer to fully cure before piercing the first layer with the headless end of the rivet and deforming the second layer with the headless end of the rivet.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Janis Richard C
• Blaski Bradley J
• Wang Pei-Chung

Classifications

• B29C65/7841

  Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04) · CPC title

• B21J15/025 Primary

  Setting self-piercing rivets · CPC title

• B29C66/81431

  comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove · CPC title

• B29C66/7212

  characterised by the composition of the fibres · CPC title

• B32B15/043

  of metal (B32B15/01 takes precedence) · CPC title