Clinch Joining Sleeve Radial Widening for Force Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clinching dies face challenges in transmitting high forces due to the need for costly and difficult-to-machine hard materials in the sleeve, which increases manufacturing costs and time.
Innovation Solution
The sleeve design features radially inwardly widened areas between slots to distribute the force over a larger surface, allowing for the use of less expensive materials and incorporating a spring element and guide elements for enhanced force absorption and guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the sleeve is made of hard and tough material to transmit high forces, then the force transmission capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and machining difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is designed with radially inwardly widened areas at specific locations where forces act, rather than requiring the entire sleeve to be made of expensive hard material. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary strength where needed while allowing other areas to use less expensive materials, resolving the contradiction between force transmission capability and manufacturing cost.
2Strength
If the sleeve wall is thickened to increase force absorption, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve wall is segmented into different regions: thinner walls in non-critical areas and radially inwardly widened areas in critical force transmission zones. This segmentation allows the sleeve to achieve sufficient strength through strategic reinforcement rather than uniform thickening, reducing overall device complexity and manufacturing time while maintaining force absorption capability.
3Ease of operation
If the slots in the sleeve are deepened to accommodate sliding pieces, then the guidance function is improved, but the structural integrity and force transmission are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The radially inwardly widened areas are positioned to provide structural reinforcement at critical locations where slots are present. This localized reinforcement compensates for the structural weakness introduced by deep slots, allowing the slots to extend sufficiently for proper sliding piece guidance while maintaining overall sleeve structural integrity and force transmission capability.
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 configuration enables higher force absorption by the sleeve, allowing for the selection of different materials for the anvil and sleeve, reducing manufacturing costs and improving the die's efficiency in joining operations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element encompassing all the sliding pieces can be inserted into the grooves to exert the restoring force on the sliding pieces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A die for a joining tool, in particular for clinch joining, comprising an anvil (12) and a shoulder (11, 51) coaxially surrounding the anvil (12), which is formed on a base body (10) of the anvil (12) or by an end (51) of a bushing (50), and a sleeve (20) surrounding the base body (10) or the bushing (50), which has radial slots (22) extending through its wall (21) around its circumference, in each of which a sliding piece (30) is movably guided in the radial direction (R), which is supported in the axial direction (A) at least on the shoulder (11, 51), is characterized in that the wall (21) of the sleeve (20) has radially inwardly widened areas (23) at the end (20.1) surrounding the shoulder (11, 51) in the area between the slots (22). which each extend between two adjacent sliding pieces (30) and project at least partially beyond the shoulder (11) in a radial direction (R).