Self-piercing rivet

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-piercing rivet (100) having a rivet head (110), a rivet end (130) which is situated opposite the rivet head (110), and a rivet body (120) which is situated between the rivet head (110) and the rivet end (130), the rivet end (130) having a toothing structure (140) with at least four teeth.

Description

[0001] Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 12N2024PA1073DE

[0002] Punch rivet

[0003] The present invention relates to a punch rivet.

[0004] Technical background

[0005] Punch rivets for fastening or joining at least two different elements made of identical or different materials, such as high-strength steel, aluminum, cast iron, magnesium, carbon, or plastics with different strength properties, are generally known. A basic principle used here is that a punch rivet is driven through the elements to be joined by means of a punching device, i.e., a device that exerts a strong mechanical force on the punch rivet, thereby joining or fastening the elements to be joined together.

[0006] To join at least two elements with a typical self-piercing rivet, strong mechanical forces or a high impact load on the punching tools are necessary, as the design of typical self-piercing rivets requires a high punching and setting force to penetrate the elements to be joined. Since providing these strong mechanical forces is associated with high energy consumption, typical punching processes and the use of typical self-piercing rivets in typical punching tools are very energy-intensive and costly. Furthermore, typical or conventional punching processes can only be used in areas or manufacturing processes where no vibration-sensitive devices—that is, devices that can be damaged by vibrations—are used or processed.

[0007] Summary of the invention

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-piercing rivet for which a lower punching and setting force is required for joining at least two elements, so that punching devices can operate with reduced mechanical forces, which also leads to energy and cost savings. This is particularly relevant in times when reducing the CO2 footprint is a constant challenge.

[0009] At least one of the problems or further problems arising for a person skilled in the art from the present disclosure are solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description. Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 12N2024PA1073DE

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, a self-piercing rivet is described. The self-piercing rivet has a rivet head, a rivet end arranged opposite the rivet head, and a rivet body arranged between the rivet head and the rivet end. The rivet end has a toothed structure with preferably at least four teeth.

[0011] The term "tooth structure" here refers to any structure that reduces the required punching and setting force of the rivet through the use of teeth. For example, a tooth structure can have at least four teeth, but is not limited to this. The tooth structure can be located at the rivet end, but is not limited to this. The tooth structure can extend from a surface of the rivet end that is opposite or parallel to the rivet head. A tooth here refers to any structure that extends perpendicularly or at an angle from the surface of the rivet end that is opposite or parallel to the rivet head. A tooth can have a square, rectangular, triangular, or polygonal shape, but is not limited to this. A tooth can have a wall thickness that is less than the wall thickness of the rivet body or a side wall of the rivet body or rivet end.In other words, a tooth represents any semi-pointed or tapered structure that extends in some way from the surface of the rivet end opposite or parallel to the rivet head. An intermediate section is arranged between the teeth. In other words, each tooth of the tooth structure is spatially separated from another tooth by an intermediate section. The intermediate section is a structure or protrusion extending into the surface of the rivet end opposite or parallel to the rivet head. For example, the intermediate section may have a concave shape, a crescent shape, a triangular shape, or a semicircular shape. The intermediate sections are preferably of the same type, but can also differ from one another, i.e., be formed with different shapes.The tooth structure can extend over at least part or all of the surface of the rivet end that is opposite or parallel to the rivet head.

[0012] By forming the rivet end with a toothed structure, the required punching and setting force of the self-piercing rivet can be significantly reduced. This allows the use of punching devices operating with reduced mechanical forces for processing the self-piercing rivets according to the invention, resulting in significant energy and cost savings. The energy savings also reduce the CO2 footprint of the products manufactured using the punching process. Furthermore, the reduced punching and setting force allows the self-piercing rivets to be used in products or applications that contain or incorporate vibration-sensitive devices, i.e., devices that can be damaged by vibrations. This further expands the applicability of punching processes. Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 12N2024PA1073DE

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, an intermediate section between each of the at least four teeth of the tooth structure has a concave shape.

[0014] The design of the intermediate sections with a concave shape has the advantage that the intermediate sections are designed as a kind of cutting surface, which leads to a significant reduction in the punching and setting force of the punch rivets according to the invention.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the rivet body and the rivet end have a centrally arranged cavity, wherein a wall thickness of the at least four teeth of the tooth structure is smaller than a wall thickness of a side wall of the centrally arranged cavity.

[0016] The design of the at least four teeth with a wall thickness that is smaller than the wall thickness of a side wall of a centrally arranged cavity has the advantage that the teeth have a "cutting tooth" shape, which also significantly reduces the required punching and setting force of the punch rivets according to the invention.

[0017] Brief description of the characters

[0018] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to Figure 1, which shows a punch rivet according to the invention.

[0019] Detailed description

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a self-piercing rivet according to the invention. The self-piercing rivet 100 has a rivet head 110, a rivet end 130, and a rivet body 120. The rivet end 130 is arranged opposite the rivet head 110. The rivet body 120 is arranged between the rivet head 110 and the rivet end 130. The rivet end 130 has a toothed structure 140 with teeth, in particular four teeth.

[0021] Optionally, an intermediate section 150, arranged or provided between the teeth of the tooth structure 140, has a concave shape. The concave shape extends from the tooth between the surface of the rivet end 130 into the rivet body 120. The teeth 140 have a thinner wall than the concave sections. The teeth 140 may have an inward chamfer to facilitate cutting into the material.

[0022] Optionally, the rivet body 120 and the rivet end 130 have a centrally arranged cavity 160. The width of at least four teeth of the tooth structure 140 is less than the width of a side wall of the centrally arranged cavity 160.

Claims

Atlas Copco IAS GmbH, Case: 12N2024PA1073DE Claims 1. Punch rivet (100) comprising: a rivet head (110); a rivet end (130) which is arranged opposite the rivet head (110); and a rivet body (120) which is arranged between the rivet head (110) and the rivet end (130), wherein the rivet end (130) has a tooth structure (140) with teeth.

2. Punch rivet (100) according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate section (150) has a concave shape between each of the teeth of the tooth structure (140).

3. Punch rivet (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rivet body (120) and the rivet end (130) have a centrally arranged cavity (160) and / or the width of the teeth of the tooth structure (140) is less than the width of the intermediate section and / or the teeth have a lesser wall thickness than the wall thickness of the rivet body (120).

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