Method for attaching a joint element in a metal sheet and joint element
OwnerHeiko Schmidtinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for anchoring a joint element (1) in a metal sheet (7) so as to be secured against rotation, the hardness of the metal sheet being equal to or greater than the hardness of the material of the joint element. A locking and securing portion (4), which protrudes away from a head (2) of the joint element, is inserted into a joint opening (8), which is provided in the metal sheet and which has a cross section that deviates from the circular shape, such that an edge of the joint opening forms at least one region with a maximum distance to a central axis of the joint opening and at least one region with a minimum radial distance to the central axis of the joint opening, and the head of the joint element rests against the metal sheet after being anchored.
Claims13
A method for anchoring a joint element in a metal sheet so as to be secured against rotation by inserting a joining and securing section protruding from a head of the joint element into a non-circular shaped joint opening provided in the metal sheet which exhibits a cross section deviating from a circular shape, so that an edge of the non-circular shaped joint opening forms at least one region with a maximum radial distance (r1) to a middle axis (M) of the non-circular shaped joint opening and at least one region with a minimum radial distance (r2) to the middle axis (NI) of the non-circular shaped joint opening, wherein the joint element, comprised of a metal material and a joint element body with a threaded hole coaxial to a joint element axis, with the head resting against the metal sheet after being anchored, and wherein the joint element comprises a locking section in an area adjoining the head, and a joining and securing section in the form of a rivet collar adjoining the locking section, the locking section having a circular cross sectional shape, and wherein half a diameter of the locking section is equal to or approximately equal to the maximum radial distance (r1), but larger than the minimum radial distance (r2),
- the method comprising the step of:
- deforming the locking section into a cross sectional shape deviating from the circular cross sectional shape via permanent deformation while joining and affixing the joint element by riveting the rivet collar so as to clamp the metal sheet between the head and the formed rivet collar in an area of an edge of the joint opening, thereby yielding high rotating protection for the joint element anchored in the metal sheet and thereby ensuring a high torque protection of the joint element attached to the metal sheet, wherein the locking section is formed by an annular section at a transition between the head and the joining and securing section, the locking section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the head but larger than an outer diameter of the joining and securing section and wherein a hardness of the metal sheet is greater than a hardness of a material of the joint element.
A method for anchoring a joint element in a metal sheet so as to be secured against rotation by inserting a joining and securing section protruding from a head of the joint element into a non-circular shaped joint opening provided in the metal sheet which exhibits a cross section deviating from a circular shape, so that an edge of the non-circular shaped joint opening forms at least one region with a maximum radial distance (r1) to a middle axis (M) of the non-circular shaped joint opening and at least one region with a minimum radial distance (r2) to the middle axis (M) of the non-circular shaped joint opening, wherein the joint element, comprised of a metal material and a joint element body with a threaded hole coaxial to a joint element axis, with the head resting against the metal sheet after being anchored, and wherein the joint element comprises a locking section in an area adjoining the head, and a joining and securing section in the form of a rivet collar adjoining the locking section, the locking section having a circular cross sectional shape, and wherein half a diameter of the locking section is equal to or approximately equal to the maximum radial distance (r1), but larger than the minimum radial distance (r2),
- the method comprising the step of:
- deforming the locking section into a cross sectional shape deviating from the circular cross sectional shape via permanent deformation while joining and affixing the joint element by riveting the rivet collar so as to clamp the metal sheet between the head and the formed rivet collar in an area of an edge of the joint openingthereby yielding high rotating protection for the joint element anchored in the metal sheet and thereby ensuring a high torque protection of the joint element attached to the metal sheet, wherein a joint assembly is produced, the joint assembly comprising the joint element anchored in the non-circular shaped joint opening of the metal sheet so as to be secured against rotation, wherein the joint element comprises the head with a joining and the locking section protruding from a front or a bottom side of the head, wherein at least a partial length of the joining and the locking section that adjoins the head has the locking section, half the diameter of which is equal to or essentially equal to the maximum radial distance (r1) exhibited by the edge of the non-circular shaped joint opening to the middle axis of the non-circular shaped joint opening but larger than the minimum radial distance (r2) exhibited by the edge of the non-circular shaped joint opening to the middle axis (M) of the non-circular shaped joint opening, wherein the locking section is formed by an annular section at a transition between the head and the joining and securing section, the locking section has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the head but larger than an outer diameter of the joining and securing section and wherein a hardness of the metal sheet is greater than a hardness of a material of the joint element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.