Self-Piercing Rivet Head Projection for Bulk Coating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing self-piercing rivets face challenges in ensuring reliable setting behavior, reducing friction coefficient, minimizing dust in setting tools, and facilitating easy bulk coating for automated manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A self-piercing rivet with a three-layer coating and a projection on the top surface of the head, which prevents adhesion during coating and transport, allowing for easy bulk coating and automated processing without compromising joint performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If rivets are coated in bulk to improve corrosion protection and friction control, then coating efficiency and manufacturing speed improve, but rivets may adhere to each other causing incomplete coating and manufacturing defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating efficiencyVSAvoidcoating completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a spherical projection on the top surface of the rivet head, which prevents rivets from adhering to each other during bulk coating processes. This curvature-based feature ensures that rivets remain separated during immersion coating, allowing complete and uniform coating coverage without defects caused by rivet-to-rivet adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of manufacture

If a smooth top surface is used on rivets, then coating application is simplified, but rivets adhere to each other during transport and storage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating applicationVSAvoidadhesion between rivets
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical projection on the top surface creates a curved geometry that prevents flat-to-flat contact between rivets during storage and transport. This curvature ensures that even when rivets are stacked or handled, they cannot adhere to each other, eliminating the need for additional separation measures while maintaining ease of coating application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of operation

If the top surface of the rivet head is modified to prevent adhesion, then handling and coating improve, but the setting process may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehandlingVSAvoidsetting process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical projection is located exclusively on the top surface of the rivet head, which is the handling and coating interface. The shaft and setting-critical surfaces maintain their original smooth geometry and material properties, ensuring that the setting process is unaffected while gaining adhesion prevention benefits in the handling zone.

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

The rivet achieves improved corrosion resistance, reduced friction coefficient, and enhanced handling and manufacturing efficiency, ensuring reliable and efficient joining processes.

Implementation Method 1

The rivet (10) comprises a three-layers coating (B1, B2, B3) adapted to prevent corrosion of said rivet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroplating: Electroplating

Implementation Method 2

the first coating layer (B1) is an electroplated coating layer, the second coating layer (B2) is a passivation layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPassivation:

Implementation Method 3

The presence of the at least one projection on the top surface, as claimed, prevent adhesion during the coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction through geometry modification: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4545811A1Rivet and method for producing a rivet connection
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 NEWFREY LLC
  • EP4545811A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4545811A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4545811A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Method for joining components by means of a rivet and rivet (10) for a riveted connection, in particular self-piercing rivet, comprising: - a head (12) with a top surface (14), - a shaft (16) longitudinally extending along a longitudinal axis, - a transition portion (18) between the shaft and the head, wherein the rivet (10) is integrally made in a metal material and comprises a coating (B1, B2, B3) adapted to prevent corrosion of said rivet, and wherein at least one projection (20) is arranged on the top surface (14) of the head.