Connecting element and component connection and method for the production thereof

Connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) having a hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) and a drive (16), via which the shaft (12, 42, 76) can be driven in a direction of rotation, wherein the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) has at least one free end, wherein the drive (16, 48) is arranged opposite the free end, wherein a hollow space is formed by the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76), driver structures (22, 32) acting in the circumferential direction of the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12) are arranged in the hollow space, which structures are arranged to extend on the lateral surface (20) in the setting direction in a manner 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) projected on the lateral surface (20) and/or are arranged at the end on the drive side.

Method for the production of a component connection between two component layers (52, 54;

• 72, 74), comprising a base layer (52, 72) and a top layer (54, 74) arranged thereon, wherein a connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) having a hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) is driven into the top layer (54, 74) under rotation and an axial force, with a slug (62, 82) being cut out of the top layer (54, 74) by the interior of the shaft and being entrained by the connecting element as it rotates, the slug (62, 82) being welded to the base layer (52, 72) under rotation and contact pressure, whereupon the connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) is at least partially pressed into the base layer (52, 72).

Component connections comprising a base layer (52, 72) and at least one top layer (54, 74) arranged thereon, and a connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78) with a hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) and a drive adapted to drive the shaft (12, 42, 76) in the direction of rotation, wherein the hollow-cylindrical shaft has at least one free end, wherein the drive is arranged opposite the free end, wherein a hollow space is formed by the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76), wherein part of the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76) is completely surrounded by the base layer (52, 72), wherein a slug (62, 82) is cut out of the top layer (54, 74) by the interior of the hollow-cylindrical shaft (12, 42, 76), characterized in that within the hollow space there is a material connection between the base layer and the slug (62, 82).

Component connection according to 48, characterized in that a positive connection is produced acting in the axial direction in that radially displaced material of the slug (62, 82) projecting from the top layer (54, 74) forms a collar on the top layer (54, 74) and/or on the connecting element (10, 30, 40, 58, 78).