Anti-Shingle Rivet Head Geometry for Jam-Free Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rivet delivery systems experience jamming and shingling issues due to the point-to-point contact of rivets with beveled edges, leading to wedging forces that prevent consistent feeding and engagement with resistance spot rivet welding apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The development of anti-shingle rivets with a blunt outer edge or a cylindrical/shallow tapered outer edge that inhibits shingling, allowing for smooth passage through feed channels and predictable engagement with rivet holders, featuring a head portion and shank configuration that minimizes wedging forces and facilitates automatic feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rivets have beveled edges for easy insertion, then insertion ease is improved, but shingling and jamming occur in delivery systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the rivet head outer edge, changing it from a beveled edge to a blunt or rounded edge with specific radius values (0.002-0.010 times the rivet shank diameter). This parameter change eliminates the point-to-point contact that causes shingling while preserving the rivet's functional performance in joining operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of optimizing the edge geometry for insertion ease (beveled edge), the patent inverts the approach by designing an edge geometry optimized for delivery system reliability (blunt/rounded edge). The insertion process is adapted to work with this inverted geometry, accepting that the edge shape prioritizes feeding consistency over insertion ease.
2Ease of manufacture
If rivets have point-to-point contact edges, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but wedging forces cause jamming in feed tracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the outer edge from a sharp point (beveled) to a blunt or rounded profile with controlled radius. This parameter modification distributes contact forces across a larger area, eliminating the concentration of forces that generate harmful wedging effects in precision feed tracks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of edge geometry by transforming the sharp beveled edge into a blunt/rounded edge. What was originally a simple manufacturing feature becomes a source of harmful wedging forces, but by intentionally redesigning the edge geometry, the patent turns this challenge into a benefit where the rounded edge actively prevents jamming while remaining manufacturable.
3Ease of manufacture
If rivets have traditional head geometry, then manufacturing ease is improved, but shingling prevents reliable delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies specific geometric parameters of the head outer edge (radius, profile shape) while maintaining compatibility with existing cold heading processes. The parameter changes are designed to work within conventional manufacturing capabilities, ensuring that the modified geometry can be produced efficiently without requiring entirely new manufacturing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the outer edge geometry of the rivet head while leaving the rest of the rivet structure unchanged. This localized modification targets the specific area causing shingling problems without altering the overall rivet design or requiring comprehensive manufacturing process changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Anti-shingle rivets are provided. The anti-shingle rivets comprise a head portion comprising an outer edge configured to inhibit shingling in a rivet delivery system and a shank extending from the head portion.