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US 2016/0201709 A1Published application
Rivet with cutting mandrel tip and one-sided joining method
AssigneesGM Global Technology Operations LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsYONGQIANG LI, JUNYING MIN, BLAIR E. CARLSON, SHIXIN JACK HU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A product and method for fastening workpiece elements. A rivet assembly may include a mandrel with a cutting edge that forms an opening in the workpiece elements as the rivet body is positioned through the workpiece elements.
Claims16
A product for fastening elements comprising:
- a rivet body that has a hollow shank with an opening of a first diameter;
- a mandrel extending through the shank, wherein the mandrel has a segment extending out of the shank that has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, the segment terminating in a cutting edge.
A rivet assembly for fastening multiple elements, the rivet assembly comprising:
- a rivet body that has a hollow shank with a first end and an opposite second end that has a head, with a first surface of the head facing the shank and a second surface of the head facing away from the shank;
- a mandrel extending through the rivet body wherein the mandrel has a first segment extending out of the rivet body beyond the second surface, wherein the mandrel has a second segment extending out of the rivet body on an opposite side of the rivet body from the first segment, wherein the second segment terminates at a cutting edge that is formed at an acute angle.
A method for one sided joining comprising:
- providing multiple workpiece elements;
- positioning the multiple workpiece elements adjacent one another at a location for fastening the multiple workpiece elements together;
- positioning a rivet assembly in a machine wherein the rivet assembly comprises a rivet body that has a shank and a head, with a mandrel extending through the rivet body, wherein the mandrel has an edge configured to cut;
- operating the machine to rotate the rivet assembly and to translate the rivet assembly toward the multiple workpiece elements;
- cutting an opening through the multiple workpiece elements with the edge and simultaneously positioning the shank and the mandrel through the opening;
- drawing the mandrel out of the opening;
- expanding the shank with the mandrel to fasten the multiple workpiece elements together.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.