Blind Rivet Ridge Structure for Electrical Contact Through Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blind rivets struggle to establish effective electrical contact with components that have paint, lacquer, or coating layers, as the expansion of the sleeve does not penetrate these layers, preventing a good electrical connection.
Innovation Solution
A blind rivet fastener with a ridge configured to scratch components parallel to its longitudinal axis, allowing it to penetrate through paint or lacquer layers and establish electrical contact with the underlying material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the sleeve is expanded radially during fastening, then the blind rivet joins the components together, but the expansion does not penetrate the paint or lacquer layer to establish electrical contact
Solution Approach 1:
The blind rivet is segmented into two functional parts: the sleeve for mechanical joining and the ridge for electrical contact. The ridge is a separate protruding element that extends beyond the sleeve, allowing it to perform the electrical contact function independently while the sleeve provides the clamping force for mechanical joining.
Solution Approach 2:
The ridge extends in the longitudinal dimension beyond the sleeve's radial expansion zone. While the sleeve expands radially to clamp components, the ridge protrudes axially to penetrate the insulating paint or lacquer layer and establish electrical contact with the underlying conductive material.
2Ease of manufacture
If the blind rivet body is made simple and smooth, then manufacturing is easier, but it cannot scratch through insulating layers to establish electrical contact
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge is pre-formed as an integral part of the blind rivet body during manufacturing. This preliminary formation of the scratching element ensures that when the rivet is installed, the ridge is already positioned and shaped to effectively penetrate the insulating layer and establish electrical contact, without requiring additional manufacturing steps.
3Reliability
If the ridge projects from the rivet head, then it can scratch through coating layers, but the ridge structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge is designed with specific geometric parameters: a predetermined length that extends beyond the sleeve, a cross-sectional shape optimized for scratching, and a material composition that provides sufficient hardness. By optimizing these parameters, the ridge achieves effective electrical contact penetration while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using conventional processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ridge effectively penetrates and scratches through insulating layers, ensuring reliable electrical contact between components by establishing direct contact with the underlying material.
Implementation Method 1
the blind rivet fastener comprises: a rivet shaft comprising an elongated, hollow sleeve extending coaxially to a longitudinal center axis of the blind rivet fastener and having an outer sleeve surface; and a rivet head extending radially at a first end of the sleeve, wherein the rivet shaft comprises at least one ridge configured to scratch at least one component
Data Source
AI summary
A blind rivet fastener for an electrical contact assembly includes a rivet shaft and a rivet head. The rivet shaft includes an elongated, hollow sleeve extending coaxially to a longitudinal center axis of the blind rivet fastener and having an outer sleeve surface. The rivet head extends radially at a first end of the sleeve. The rivet shaft includes at least one ridge configured to scratch at least one component to which the blind rivet fastener is configured to attach. The at least one ridge projects from the rivet head and extends along a portion of the outer sleeve surface. A fastening arrangement includes such a blind rivet fastener.