# US 2012/0073279 A1 · Rivet for use with angled fixture and method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0073279 A1 - Document ID: US20120073279A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/238,194 - Filed: 2011-09-21 - Published: 2012-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-23 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Alfredo Jimenez; Kunding Wang; Patrick M. Lindemann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120073279A1 ## CPC - F16H 41/28: with respect to manufacture, e.g. blade attachment - B21J 15/02: Riveting procedures - B21J 15/14: specially adapted for riveting specific articles, e.g. brake lining machines - F16H 2045/007: {comprising a damper between turbine of the fluid gearing and the mechanical gearing unit} - F16H 2045/0205: {two chamber system, i.e. without a separated, closed chamber specially adapted for actuating a lock-up clutch} - F16H 2045/0294: {Single disk type lock-up clutch, i.e. using a single disc engaged between friction members} - Y10T 29/4933: Fluid coupling device - F16H: GEARING - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of connecting plates in a torque converter including: forming a head of a rivet with an end surface that is curved or forms multiple planes; forming a portion of an interior surface of the cover to protrude or indent with respect to a surrounding portion of the interior surface; disposing the body of the rivet in respective holes in respective portions of the plates; and displacing the plates such that the end surface of the rivet head contacts the portion of the interior surface, the respective portions of the first and second plates are at an acute angle with respect to the surrounding portion of the interior surface, and a longitudinal axis of the rivet is at an acute angle with respect to a line orthogonal to the surrounding portion of the interior surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of connecting plates in a torque converter with a rivet, the torque converter including a front cover and first and second plates and the rivet including a body, a head, and a longitudinal axis passing through the body and the head, comprising: forming the head of the rivet such that an end surface of the head is curved or forms multiple planes; forming a portion of an interior surface of the cover to protrude or indent with respect to a surrounding portion of the interior surface; disposing the body of the rivet in respective holes in respective portions of the first and second plates such that the end surface of the rivet head faces the front cover; and, displacing the first and second plates such that the end surface of the rivet head contacts the portion of the interior surface, the respective portions of the first and second plates are at an acute angle with respect to the surrounding portion of the interior surface, and the longitudinal axis of the rivet is at an acute angle with respect to a line orthogonal to the surrounding portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: the respective holes include respective longitudinal axes; disposing the body of the rivet in respective holes includes aligning the respective longitudinal axes and the longitudinal axis for the rivet; and, displacing the first and second plates includes: sliding the rivet head along the portion of the interior surface; and, maintaining the alignment of the respective longitudinal axes and the longitudinal axis for the rivet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein displacing the first and second plates includes applying force in a direction orthogonal to the surrounding portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: forming the head of the rivet includes forming the end surface of the rivet to protrude in a direction from the body to the head; and, forming the portion of the interior surface to protrude or indent includes forming the portion of the interior surface to indent. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein forming the head of the rivet includes forming a first portion of the end surface to protrude from a second portion of the end surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein: the first portion of the end surface is co-linear with the longitudinal axis; and, the second portion of the end surface is planar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: forming the head of the rivet includes forming the end surface of the head to indent toward the body; and, forming the portion of the interior surface of the cover to protrude or indent includes forming the portion of the interior surface to protrude. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: the end surface of the rivet head includes a portion wholly enclosed by a circumferential line with respect to the longitudinal axis for the rivet; and, the portion of the end surface contacts the portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 9 A method of connecting plates in a torque converter with a rivet, the torque converter including a front cover and first and second plates and the rivet including a body, a head, and a longitudinal axis passing through the body and the head, comprising: protruding a planar surface from a surrounding portion of an interior surface of the cover; disposing the body of the rivet in respective holes in respective portions of the first and second plates such that the end surface of the rivet head faces the front cover; and, bending the first and second plates such that the end surface of the rivet head contacts the planar surface, the respective portions of the first and second plates are at an acute angle with respect to the surrounding portion of the interior surface, and the longitudinal axis of the rivet is orthogonal to the planar surface. ### Claim 10 An assembly for a torque converter comprising: a cover for driving engagement with a prime mover, the cover including an interior surface with a portion protruding or indenting with respect to a surrounding portion of the interior surface; first and second plates including respective portions with respective holes; and, a rivet including a body, a head, and a longitudinal axis passing through the body and the head, wherein: the body is disposed in the respective holes; the first and second plates are deflectable to enable contact between the portion of the interior surface and the rivet head as pressure is applied to compress the rivet against the portion of the interior surface to fix the rivet to the first and second plates, wherein as the rivet is compressed: the first and second plates are at an acute angle with respect to the surrounding portion of the interior surface; and, the longitudinal axis of the rivet is at an acute angle with respect to a line orthogonal to the surrounding portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly of claim 10, wherein: the rivet head includes an end surface facing the cover; and, prior to contact between the portion of the interior surface and the rivet head, the end surface is curved or forms multiple planes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11 wherein: prior to contact between the portion of the interior surface and the rivet head, the end surface of the rivet protrudes away from the body; and, the portion of the interior surface indents with respect to the surrounding portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11 wherein prior to contact between the portion of the interior surface and the rivet head, a first portion of the end surface protrudes from a second portion of the end surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein the first portion of the end surface is co-linear with the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein: prior to contact between the portion of the interior surface and the rivet head, the end surface of the rivet is indented toward the body; and, the portion of the interior surface protrudes with respect to the second portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13 wherein: The rivet head includes an end surface with a portion wholly enclosed by a circumferential line with respect to the longitudinal axis for the rivet; and, the portion of the end surface contacts the portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 17 An assembly for a torque converter comprising: a cover for driving engagement with a prime mover, the cover including a planar surface protruding from a surrounding portion of the interior surface; first and second plates including respective portions with respective holes; and, a rivet including a body, a head, and a longitudinal axis passing through the body and the head, wherein: the body is disposed in the respective holes; and, the first and second plates are deflectable to enable contact between the planar surface and the rivet head as pressure is applied to fix the rivet to the first and second plates. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The assembly of claim 17, wherein the pressure is applied to the rivet in a direction orthogonal to the surrounding portion of the interior surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The assembly of claim 18 wherein: the rivet includes a longitudinal axis passing through the body and the head; and, the first and second plates are deflectable such that the longitudinal axis is orthogonal to the planar surface.