# US 10,478,916 B2 · Method and apparatus for joining components with friction pins > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,916 B2 - Document ID: US10478916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/801,821 - Filed: 2017-11-02 - Published: 2019-05-02 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-02 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Joseph M. Polewarczyk; Hesham A. Ezzat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478916B2 ## CPC - B21J 15/027: {Setting rivets by friction heating} - B23K 20/1225: {Particular aspects of welding with a non-consumable tool} - B23K 20/1235: {with temperature control during joining} - B23K 20/124: {at the beginning or at the end of a weld} - B23K 20/1255: {Tools therefor, e.g. characterised by the shape of the probe} - B23K 20/127: {Friction stir welding involving a mechanical connection} - B29C 65/0681: {created by a tool} - B29C 65/564: {hidden in the joint, e.g. dowels or Z-pins (B29C65/603 takes precedence)} - B29C 65/7437: {the tool being a perforating tool (perforating as mechanical pre-treatment B29C66/02242)} - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/41: {Joining substantially flat articles (B29C66/47 and subgroups take precedence); Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles (B29C66/51 and subgroups take precedence)} - B29C 66/721: {Fibre-reinforced materials (B29C66/729 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics} - B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis} - B29C 66/93441: {the speed being non-constant over time} - B29C 66/93451: {by controlling or regulating the rotational speed, i.e. the speed of revolution} - B21J: FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES (rolling of metal B21B; making particular products by forging or pressing B21K; cladding or plating B23K; finishing surfaces by hammering B23P9/04; compacting surfaces by blasting with particulate material B24C1/10; general features of presses, presses for consolidating scrap B30B; furnaces in general F27) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A system, apparatus, or method for joining components is provided. The system applies force along an axis, with a friction pin, to a first substrate, such as with a joiner or joining apparatus. The system also frictionally melts a portion of the first substrate adjacent the friction pin by rotating the friction pin about the axis at a first speed within the first substrate. The system also applies force to the second substrate along the axis and frictionally melts a portion of the second substrate adjacent the friction pin by rotating the friction pin at a second speed within the second substrate. The system embeds a portion of the friction pin within the first substrate and the second substrate. In some configurations, the first speed and the second speed are substantially equivalent. In other configurations, the first speed is different from the second speed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of joining components, comprising: applying force along an axis, via a friction pin, to a first substrate, wherein the friction pin has a first portion with a constant first diameter and a second portion with a constant second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter, such that there is a step between the first portion and the second portion of the friction pin; frictionally melting a portion of the first substrate adjacent the first portion of the friction pin by rotating the friction pin about the axis at a first speed within the first substrate; applying force along the axis, via the friction pin, to a second substrate; frictionally melting a portion of the second substrate adjacent the first portion of the friction pin by rotating the friction pin at a second speed within the second substrate while the second portion of the friction pin is melting a portion the first substrate, wherein the second speed is different from the first speed; and embedding a portion of the friction pin within the first substrate and the second substrate, such that the first substrate and the second substrate are joined with the friction pin, wherein the first substrate is formed from a first material and the second substrate is formed from a second material, different from the first material, and the first material has a higher melting temperature than the second material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the friction pin is a first friction pin and is directly attached to a substantially identical second friction pin, and further comprising: cutting the second friction pin that is not embedded within the first substrate and the second substrate, such that the first friction pin remains within the first substrate and the second substrate and the second friction pin is separated from the first friction pin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second speed is less than the first speed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the friction pin has a first surface treatment and the second portion has a second surface treatment, different than the first surface treatment, such that the first portion and the second portion have different coefficients of friction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the friction pin has a first surface treatment and the second portion has a second surface treatment, different than the first surface treatment, such that the first portion and the second portion have different coefficients of friction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the friction pin is a first friction pin and is directly attached to a substantially identical second friction pin, and further comprising: cutting the second friction pin that is not embedded within the first substrate and the second substrate, such that the first friction pin remains within the first substrate and the second substrate and the second friction pin is separated from the first friction pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the friction pin has a first surface treatment and the second portion has a second surface treatment, different than the first surface treatment, such that the first portion and the second portion have different coefficients of friction.