Method of reducing cycle time for flow drill screw operations
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsThomas Norton, Amanda Kay Freis, Anthony J. Grima, Garret Sankey Huff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of reducing the cycle time required for flow-drill screw operations by providing a dimple on a part that is engaged by a flow-drill screw. A tip of the flow-drill screw engages a contact band at a location spaced from the tip of the distal end of the flow-drill screw and base portion of the dimple. Friction between the flow-drill screw tip and dimple creates a heat concentration area and results in displaced material forming a threaded sleeve. The flow-drill screw is secured by the threads of the threaded sleeve to secure the top part to the bottom part.
Claims17
A part assembly method comprising:
- forming a dimple on an insertion side and a protrusion on a contact side of a first part before assembling the first part to a second part;
- inserting a flow-drill screw into the first part with the protrusion contacting the second part;
- and
- rotating the flow-drill screw to drive the flow drill screw through the dimple and the second part to secure the first part to the second part.
An assembly method comprising:
- forming a dimple having a conical sidewall on a part;
- assembling the part to a second part;
- providing a screw having a tip on a distal end and a convex sidewall;
- heating a contact band on the conical sidewall by rotating the convex sidewall against the contact band with the tip spaced from the part;
- and
- driving the tip into the part and the second part after heating the contact band.
An assembly method comprising:
- forming an elongated recess including tapered sides extending from an insertion side of a part to a base area;
- assembling the part to a second part;
- providing a screw having a tip on a distal end and a convex sidewall;
- heating a contact area on the tapered sides by rotating the convex sidewall against the contact area with the tip spaced from the base area;
- and
- driving the tip into the base area and the second part after heating the contact band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.