Sealed Blind Rivet Assembly for One-Sided Joint Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional riveted joints in aircraft construction require two-sided access and manual sealing, which is time-consuming and cumbersome, especially when connecting components that need to be sealed against the environment.
Innovation Solution
A blind rivet with a deformable body, support collar, and a sealing ring made of curable material that automatically seals gaps upon contraction, allowing one-sided access and reducing manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional riveted joints are used with two-sided access, then reliable connection is achieved, but installation time and labor cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rivet system is divided into two functional parts: a blind rivet body that creates the mechanical connection, and a separate sealing ring that provides environmental sealing. This segmentation allows the mechanical fastening function to be achieved with one-sided access while the sealing function is added independently, resolving the contradiction between installation ease and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring is pre-applied to the blind rivet body before insertion into the workpiece. This preliminary action ensures that sealing is already in place before the riveting operation, eliminating the need for post-riveting sealing operations and enabling automated one-sided installation while maintaining reliable environmental sealing.
2Reliability
If manual sealing operations are performed after blind riveting, then environmental sealing is achieved, but time and labor savings are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is integrated directly onto the blind rivet body, making the sealing function self-contained within the fastening operation itself. As the blind rivet is installed, the sealing ring is automatically positioned and compressed to create the seal, eliminating the need for separate manual sealing operations and enabling both high reliability and time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical connection function and environmental sealing function are merged into a single integrated fastening operation. The sealing ring is applied to the blind rivet body and activated simultaneously with the riveting process, combining what were previously separate operations (mechanical fastening and sealing) into one automated step, thereby eliminating post-treatment time while maintaining sealing quality.
3Extent of automation
If sealing ring is pre-applied to blind rivet, then automated installation is enabled, but material handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is pre-applied to the blind rivet body in a simple axial direction, creating a ready-to-install assembly. This preliminary action is designed to be straightforward and compatible with automated handling systems, allowing the sealed blind rivet to be fed directly into automated riveting machines without requiring complex assembly operations, thus enabling automation while keeping handling simple.
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 blind rivet system provides efficient, automated sealing of joints with reduced manual rework, maintaining time and cost savings while ensuring a seamless application of paint layers.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one sealing ring consists of a curable and not fully cured sealing material
Implementation Method 2
When the sealing ring is pressed, it flows radially and axially into gaps and spaces on the support collar and between the support collar and the workpieces
Implementation Method 3
adheres there
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A blind rivet for joining workpieces is proposed, comprising a hollow, deformable rivet body with a bearing collar and an adjoining sleeve, a rivet mandrel arranged in the sleeve and extending through the bearing collar with a tool-receiving head, and at least one sealing ring, wherein the at least one sealing ring is arranged between the bearing collar and the tool-receiving head, wherein the at least one sealing ring consists of a curable and not fully cured sealing material, wherein the at least one sealing ring is arranged such that, upon contraction of the blind rivet, it is pressed axially towards the bearing collar by a tool connectable to the tool-receiving head or by a section of the rivet mandrel, and wherein the at least one sealing ring is designed toDuring pressing of the sealing ring, the fluid flows radially and axially into gaps and spaces on the support collar and between the support collar and the workpieces, and adheres there.