Slug riveting method and apparatus

A method of riveting two or more side-by-side workpieces together comprising the following steps:

• providing first and second clamp means and first and second riveting ram means aligned with each other, the first clamp means and first riveting ram means being disposed to one side of one of the workpieces and the second clamp means and second riveting ram means being disposed away from the outer side of another workpiece;
• moving the first clamp means into contact with said one side of said one workpiece to establish a fixed work plane;
• moving the second clamp means towards the first clamp means to clamp the workpieces between the first and second clamp means with a constant force with said one side of said one workpiece being maintained in said fixed work plane;
• positioning a rivet within aligned apertures in the workpieces, the aligned apertures being in alignment with the first and second riveting ram means;
• contacting both ends of the slug rivet with the first and second riveting ram means;
• simultaneously moving the first and second riveting ram means towards each other to apply equal rates to simultaneously form upset heads on both ends of the rivet while the first and second clamp means said one side of said one workpiece in the fixed work plane;
• moving the first and second riveting ram means away from each other after the upset heads on both ends of the rivet have been formed;
• and
• subsequently moving the first and second clamp means away from each other to unclamp the workpieces.

A method of riveting two or more side by side workpieces together comprising the following steps:

• providing first and second opposed clamp means, first and second riveting ram means, drilling means, and an indexable subframe being disposed to one side of one of the workpieces, and the second clamp means and second riveting ram means being disposed away from to the other side of another workpiece, the first riveting ram means and the drilling means being mounted on the subframe;
• moving the first clamping means downwardly into contact with said one side of said one workpiece to establish a substantially fixed work plane;
• moving the second clamp means towards the first clamp means to clamp the workpieces together with a constant force with said one side of said one workpiece being maintained in said substantially fixed work plane;
• moving the indexable subframe to a first position to position the drilling means in an operative position and the first riveting ram means in an inoperative position;
• drilling aligned apertures through the workpieces;
• moving the indexable subframe to a second position to position the drilling means in an inoperative position and the first riveting ram means in an operative position in alignment with the aligned apertures and the second riveting ram means,
• placing a slug rivet within the aligned apertures,
• moving the first riveting ram means with respect to the substantially fixed work plane to establish a first desired die cavity;
• moving the second riveting ram means towards the first riveting ram means until both ends of the slug rivet are just in contact with both riveting ram means;
• simultaneously moving the first and second riveting ram means towards each other at equal rates to simultaneously form upset heads on both ends of the rivet while the clamp means maintains said one side of said one workpiece in the substantially fixed work plane;
• maintaining the ends of the first and second riveting ram means in contact with the upset heads for a predetermined period of time;
• moving the first and second riveting ram means away from each other after the upset heads on both ends of the rivet has been properly formed;
• and
• subsequently moving the first and second clamp means away from each other to unclamp the workpieces.

Apparatus for riveting two or more side-by-side workpieces together, the workpieces being provided with aligned apertures in which a slug rivet has been received, one side of one workpiece establishing a substantially fixed work plane;

• said apparatus comprising:
• first and second riveting ram means aligned with the rivet, the first riveting ram means being disposed adjacent said one side of said one workpiece, and the second riveting ram means being disposed away from the outer side of another workpiece;
• first moving means capable of moving the first riveting ram means with respect to the work plane to establish a first desired die cavity;
• second moving means capable of moving the second riveting ram means towards the first riveting ram means until both ends of the rivet are just in contact with both riveting ram means;
• and
• force applying means capable of simultaneously moving the first and second riveting ram means towards each other at equal rates to simultaneously form upset heads on both ends of the rivet while said one side of said one workpiece continues to be disposed in the work plane.

An apparatus for riveting two or more side-by-side workpieces together comprising the following:

• first and second clamp means, one clamp means being disposed to one side of the workpieces and the second clamp means being disposed to the outer side of another workpiece;
• first and second riveting ram means, the first riveting ram means being disposed to said one side of said one workpiece, and the second riveting ram means being disposed away from the outer side of another workpiece;
• means for moving the first clamp means capable of moving the first clamp means into contact with said one side of said one workpiece to establish a fixed work plane;
• means for moving the second clamp means capable of moving the second clamp means towards the first clamp means to clamp the workpieces between the first and second clamp means with a constant force with said one side of the workpieces being maintained in said fixed work plane;
• rivet positioning means capable of positioning a slug rivet within aligned apertures in the workpieces, the aligned apertures being in alignment with the first and second riveting ram means;
• means to move the first riveting ram means capable of moving the first riveting ram means with respect to the fixed work plane to establish a first desired die cavity;
• means to move the second riveting ram means capable of moving the second riveting ram means towards the first riveting ram means until both ends of the rivet are just in contact with both riveting ram means;
• force applying means capable of simultaneously moving the first and second riveting ram means towards each other at equal rates to simultaneously form upset heads on both ends of the rivet while the first and second clamp means maintain said one side of said one workpiece in the fixed work plane;
• means capable of moving the first and second riveting ram means away from each other after the upset heads on both ends of the rivet have been formed;
• and
• means capable of subsequently moving the first and second clamp means away from each other to unclamp the workpieces.

An apparatus for riveting two or more side-by-side workpieces together comprising the following:

• first and second opposed clamp means, one clamp means being disposed to one side of one of the workpieces and the second clamp means being disposed away from an outer side of another workpiece;
• an indexable subframe mounted to said one side of said one workpiece;
• drilling means mounted on said subframe for movement between operative and inoperative positions, the drilling means being capable of drilling aligned apertures through the workpieces when in its operative position;
• first and second riveting ram means, the first riveting ram means being mounted on said subframe for movement between operative and inoperative positions, and the second riveting ram means being disposed away from the outer side of said another workpiece;
• means for moving the first clamp means capable of moving the first clamp means into contact with said one side of said one workpiece to establish a fixed work plane;
• means for moving the second clamp means capable of moving the second clamp means towards the first clamp means to clamp the workpieces between the first and second clamp means with a constant force with said one side of said one workpiece being maintained in said fixed work plane;
• rivet positioning means capable of positioning a slug rivet within aligned apertures in the workpieces, the aligned apertures being in alignment with the first and second riveting ram means;
• means to move the first riveting ram means capable of moving the first riveting ram means with respect to the fixed work plane when the first riveting ram means is in its operative position to establish a first desired die cavity;
• means to move the second riveting ram means capable of moving the second riveting ram means towards the first riveting ram means until both ends of the rivet are just in contact with both riveting ram means;
• force applying means capable of simultaneously moving the first and second riveting ram means towards each other at equal rates to simultaneously form upset heads on both ends of the rivet while the clamp means maintains said one side of said one workpiece in the fixed work plane;
• means capable of moving the first and second riveting ram means away from each other after the upset heads on both ends of the rivet have been formed;
• and
• means for subsequently moving the first and second clamp means away from each other to unclamp the workpieces.