# US 11,440,083 B2 · Connecting element and component connection and method for the production thereof

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- Number: US 11,440,083 B2
- Document ID: US11440083B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/254,240
- Filed: 2019-06-21
- Published: 2021-09-02
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-21
- Assignees: EJOT GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Ejot GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Marco Werkmeister; Gerhard Dubiel; Angelique Brandau-Wolff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440083B2

## CPC

- B21J 15/025: {Setting self-piercing rivets}
- B21J 15/027: {Setting rivets by friction heating}
- B21J 15/12: with tools or tool parts having a movement additional to the feed movement, e.g. spin {(B21J15/027 takes precedence)}
- B23K 20/126: {Workpiece support, i.e. backing or clamping}
- B23K 20/127: {Friction stir welding involving a mechanical connection}
- B23K 20/2336: {both layers being aluminium}
- F16B 5/04: by means of riveting (rivets F16B19/04)
- F16B 5/08: by means of welds or the like (welding B23K)
- F16B 19/086: {Self-piercing rivets}
- B23K 2101/18: Sheet panels
- B23K 2103/10: Aluminium or alloys thereof
- 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
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting element (10) having a hollow-cylindrical shaft (12) and a drive (16), via which the shaft (12) can be driven in a direction of rotation, wherein the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12) has at least one free end, wherein the drive (16) is arranged opposite the free end, wherein a hollow space is formed by the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12). The invention is characterized in that driver structures (22) acting in the circumferential direction of the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12) are arranged in the hollow space, which, projected on the lateral surface, are arranged to extend in the setting direction on the lateral surface, rectilinearly parallel to the element mid-axis (M) or with an angular deviation of at most 20° with respect to the element mid-axis (M), and/or are arranged at the end on the drive side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method for the production of a component connection between a base layer (52, 72) and a top layer (54, 74), comprising the steps of:
driving and rotating a connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) having a hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) into said top layer (54, 74) while applying an axial force, thereby causing a slug (62, 82) to be cut out of said top layer (54, 74) by an interior of said hollow-cylindrical shaft, said slug being entrained by said connecting element as it rotates;
preventing deformation of said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) when cutting said slug (62, 82) until said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) has reached a surface of said base layer (52, 72);
after said connecting element passes through said top layer, welding said slug (62, 82) to said base layer (52, 72) under a rotational speed of at least 2000 rpm and under an axial force which is greater than said axial force used for cutting said slug (62, 82), and at least partially pressing said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) into said base layer (52, 72).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) has a head which terminates said hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) at an end opposite said hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76), said head of said connecting element applying said axial force for welding to said slug (62, 82).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) of said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) is open and that contact pressure is applied to said slug (62, 82) by a setting tool that also applies contact pressure to said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a welding axial force on said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) and said slug (62, 82) is applied at decreasing speed with increased axial rivet force compared to said welding axial force to produce a positive connection in the axial direction with said base layer (52, 72) and/or said top layer (54, 74).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) is open and that contact pressure is applied to said slug (62, 82) by a setting tool that also applies contact pressure to said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78), and, an end of said slug (62, 82) located opposite said hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) of said connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) is flared.