Blind Rivet Fastening Element With Controlled Sleeve Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind rivet connections require multiple assembly steps and are inefficient due to the need for separate components and complex deformation processes.
Innovation Solution
A fastening element with a deformation area and mounting spacer that undergoes axial length reduction through elastic or plastic deformation, facilitated by abutment rings with conical chamfers, allowing for a one-piece assembly and controlled deformation upon axial preload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fastening element with a one-piece head and shaft is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the head cannot be separated from the shaft even when damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening element is divided into two separable parts: a head portion and a shaft portion. The head can be detached from the shaft when damaged, allowing selective replacement of only the head component rather than the entire fastening element, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining structural simplicity through the modular design.
2Strength
If the head is made of a different material than the shaft, then damage resistance can be optimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head and shaft are manufactured as separate components allowing each to be made from materials optimized for their specific functional requirements. The head can be made from a material with superior damage resistance while the shaft uses a different material suitable for its load-bearing function, reducing overall manufacturing complexity compared to creating a monolithic multi-material component.
Solution Approach 2:
The head portion and shaft portion are joined through a threading mechanism where the head's internal threads engage with the shaft's external threads. This merging of separate components achieves the functional benefits of multi-material construction while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized threading processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If the fastening element is designed as a single integrated component, then manufacturing is straightforward, but repair requires replacing the entire element even if only the head is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the fastening element into a head portion and a shaft portion that can be separately manufactured and assembled, the design allows replacement of only the damaged head component. This eliminates the need to discard and replace the entire fastening element, significantly reducing material waste when only the head is damaged while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular production.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
A fastening element (10) for producing a blind rivet connection between components, comprising a screw (1) with a screw head (11) and a sleeve-shaped rivet arrangement (2) through which the screw (1) passes. Starting from the screw head, the rivet arrangement (2) has consecutively an installation spacer region (21), a deformation region (22) and a drive region (23) into which the screw is screwed. As seen from the drive region (23) to the screw head, the circumferential boundaries of the drive region (23) lie within the circumferential boundaries of the deformation region (22), the circumferential boundaries of the installation spacer region (21) protrude radially over the circumferential boundaries of the deformation region (22), and the circumferential boundaries of the screw head protrude radially over the circumferential boundaries of the installation spacer region (21). The installation spacer region (21) and the deformation region (22) are designed in such a manner that, as the screw is tightened, first of all plastic deformation of the deformation region (22) occurs in such a manner that the axial length thereof is shortened and the circumferential boundaries thereof are radially enlarged, and then a shortening of the axial length of the installation spacer region (21) occurs.