Blind Rivet Shank with Material Removal for Partial Bead Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blind rivet elements often require a full circular bead formation, which can collide with adjacent objects or occupy unnecessary space, limiting their application in scenarios where space is restricted or partial bead formation is desired, especially when subjected to radial forces.

Innovation Solution

The blind rivet element design prevents bulge formation in specific areas by removing material from the shank, such as creating holes, ensuring that no bead forms in critical regions, allowing for partial bead formation and improved installation in confined spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a full circular bead is formed in the deformation section, then the clamping surface area is maximized, but the bead collides with adjacent objects or occupies unnecessary space in confined areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclamping surface areaVSAvoidadaptability to confined spaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bead formation is segmented into partial circular arcs rather than a complete circle. The deformation section forms beads only in specific angular regions, leaving other regions free of material protrusions. This segmentation allows the rivet to adapt to confined spaces while maintaining sufficient clamping surface area in the regions where beads are formed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the deformation section are given different functional qualities. Some angular regions are designed to form beads for clamping, while other regions are left without bead formation to avoid collision with adjacent objects. This local differentiation of quality allows simultaneous optimization of clamping performance and spatial adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If material is removed from the shank to prevent bulge formation in specific areas, then space is optimized and partial bead formation is enabled, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to confined spacesVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Material removal features (such as holes or grooves) are pre-formed in the shank during the manufacturing process before the rivet is installed. This preliminary action prepares the shank to deform in a controlled manner during setting, enabling partial bead formation without requiring complex post-processing or specialized installation equipment. The material removal is done once during manufacturing rather than requiring complex operations during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the shank is designed to deform radially outward to form a circumferential bead, then secure fixation is achieved, but sufficient space behind the thin-walled element is required which is not always available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation securityVSAvoidspace requirement behind thin-walled element
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The radial deformation is segmented to occur only in specific angular regions rather than uniformly around the entire circumference. The shank is designed with material removal features that guide the deformation to form partial circular arcs, concentrating the fixation effort in regions where space is available while avoiding regions where adjacent objects prevent full radial expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deformation characteristics are made local rather than uniform. Regions of the shank are selectively designed to deform radially outward to form beads, while other regions are prevented from deforming in the same manner. This creates a heterogeneous deformation pattern that achieves secure fixation in available spaces without requiring uniform radial expansion that would collide with adjacent objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This design enables the blind rivet element to be used in tight spaces without forming a bulge, providing secure fixation while optimizing space usage and accommodating radial forces without maximum clamping surface requirements.

Implementation Method 1

the deformation section, after the deformation of the shank and the closing head formed thereby, has a bead which extends in the circumferential direction of the shank on the outside thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2594813B1Blind rivet element
Publication Date: 2015.06.17 DREGISCHAN SIMONE
  • EP2594813B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP2594813B1 patent drawingFigure 7~12
  • EP2594813B1 patent drawingFigure 13~19

AI summary

The invention relates to a blind rivet element (1) with a setting head (2) and a shank (3), wherein the shank (3) has an internal thread (4) or a receptacle for a threaded bolt in the region of its end facing away from the setting head (2) and a deformation section (5) between the internal thread (4) or the receptacle for the threaded bolt and the setting head (2), and wherein the setting head (2) has a larger outer diameter than the shank (3), wherein the deformation section (5), after the deformation of the shank (3) and the closing head formed thereby, has a bead (10) which extends in the circumferential direction of the shank (3) on its outer side. In such a blind rivet element, the invention provides that the shank (3) is designed in such a way that in the area of ​​the deformation section (5), in which bead formation is not to occur, the formation of the bead (10) by removing material from the shank (3) is prevented.