# US 2018/0023607 A1 · Connection between two components made of reinforced plastic and method for the production thereof

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- Number: US 2018/0023607 A1
- Document ID: US20180023607A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/714,525
- Filed: 2017-09-25
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-06
- Assignees: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH; Audi AG
- Applicants: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH; Audi AG
- Inventors: Jochen Rintelmann; Michael Stumpf; Carsten Bär; Torsten Draht; Marc Steinig
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023607A1

## CPC

- F16B 19/00: Bolts without screw-thread; Pins, including deformable elements (in screwed connections F16B29/00); Rivets (means for preventing withdrawal F16B21/00)
- B21J 15/025: {Setting self-piercing rivets}
- B21J 15/147: {Composite articles}
- B29C 65/562: {using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined (using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601)}
- B29C 65/602: {using hollow rivets (B29C65/607 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 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/43: {Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/721: {Fibre-reinforced materials (B29C66/729 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/83221: {cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis}
- B29C 65/64: Joining a non-plastics element to a plastics element, e.g. by force (B29C65/44 takes precedence)
- B29C 66/7212: {characterised by the composition of the fibres}
- B29C 66/742: {to metals or their alloys}
- B29C 66/74283: {Iron or alloys of iron, e.g. steel}
- Y10T 29/4995: Nonthreaded
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a connection comprising at least two components having the following features: a first component and a second component, of which at least the second component comprises reinforced plastic, a self-piercing connection element having a head and a shaft, the head thereof being supported on the first component and the shaft thereof running completely through the first and the second component, and a disc-shaped counter bearing to which the shaft is fastened such that the at least two components are fastened between the head and the counter bearing. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said connection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for connecting at least one first component and a second component that is not pre-drilled and is comprised of reinforced plastic, using a self-piercing connection element with a head and a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:
a) placing the first and the second component over one another,
b) pretensioning the first and second component against a disc-shaped counter bearing,
c) setting the connection element so that the shaft completely penetrates the first and second component as well as the disc-shaped counter bearing, wherein the disc-shaped counter bearing acts as a die; and
d) fastening the shaft to the counter bearing such that the first and second component are held between the head of the connection element and counter bearing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, in which the first and second components are comprised of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic, not pre-drilled, and the connection element has a shaft which is at least partly hollow, with a circumferentially disposed cutting edge at the face side facing away from the head, and in which said setting step includes the additional step of cutting or punching the connection element through the first and second components, and in which the side of the shaft facing away from the head is widened radially outward at the counter bearing during said fastening step.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, in which the connection element is a solid punch rivet, wherein during said setting step the component and the counter bearing are punched through, and in said fastening step the counter bearing is embossed such that material of the counter bearing is displaced into a circumferentially disposed groove in shaft of the solid punch rivet such that a form-locking or force-locking connection results.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, in which the connection element is a bolt with a tapering shaft and the counter bearing is a closed disc, wherein during said setting step, the bolt is set with a speed of at least 5 m/s, and penetrates the components and the counter bearing, such that during the placement step, the shaft of the bolt is fixed in the counter bearing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, including the additional step of:
applying an adhesive layer between the first and the second component.