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US 6,067,839 AGranted
Method of mounting a fastener element, and a fastener element and tool for carrying out said method
AssigneeABB AB
InventorMax Xie
Life of this patent
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AssigneeABB AB
InventorMax Xie
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a method for mounting a fastener element (1), such as a screw or a nut, in a component (2). The fastener element (1) is provided with a deformable, cylindrical portion (3) which has an axis of symmetry. The cylindrical portion (3) is inserted in a through-hole (4) in the component (2), whereafter the cylindrical portion (3) is deformed in its longitudinal direction by means of a compressive force, so that the length of the cylindrical portion (3) is reduced. By causing the fastener element to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed so that frictional heat is generated between the contact surfaces of the fastener element (1) and the component (2), there is created a combined rivet and frictional welding joint between the fastener element (1) and the component (2). The invention also relates to a tool for mounting the fastener element in accordance with the method.
Method of mounting a fastener element (1) in a component (2), said fastener element (1) being provided with a deformable, cylindrical portion (3) which has an axis of symmetry, said cylindrical portion (3) being inserted into a through-hole (4) in the component (2), whereafter the cylindrical portion (3) is deformed in its longitudinal direction by means of a compressive force, so that the length of the cylindrical portion (3) is reduced, comprising applying a torque about the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical portion (3), measuring the torque, keeping the compressive force constant or rendering the torque when the torque, due to the deformation of the cylindrical portion (3), reaches a predetermined value, thereafter applying a torque exceeding the predetermined torque about the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical portion (3) so that the fastener element (1) begins to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, generating frictional heat between the contact surfaces of the fastener element (1) and the component (2), stopping the rotation when a predetermined time has passed, and thereafter further deforming the cylindrical portion (3), by means of compressive force, in its longitudinal direction so that a combined rivet and frictional welding joint between the fastener element (1) and the component (2) is obtained.
Joint, comprising a fastener element (1) with a deformable cylindrical portion (3), which is intended to be fixed in a through-hole (4) disposed in a component (2), the cylindrical portion (3) having a first end (7) and a second end (8), wherein the cylindrical portion (3) of the fastener element (1) is mounted in the hole (4) firstly with a bead (13) formed by deformation of the cylindrical portion (3), and secondly with a frictional welding, joint (35) in the contact surfaces between the cylindrical portion (3) and the component (2).
Tool for mounting a fastener element (1) in a component (2), said tool (20, 20') comprising first and second rotary shafts (21, 21', 22, 22'), which are mounted in a housing (23, 23') the first rotary shaft (21, 21') having a first and a second end (28, 28', 29, 29'), said first end (28, 28') being provided with a holder (30, 30') which is intended for the fastener element (1), the second rotary shaft (22, 22') being concentric with the first shaft (21, 21') and the second rotary shaft (22, 22') having a first and a second end (31, 31', 32, 32'), said first end (31, 31') being provided with an abutment (33, 33') which is intended to abut against the fastener element (1), the first end (28, 28') of the first shaft (21, 21') and the first end (31, 31') of the second shaft (22, 22')being directed in the same direction, the first shaft (21, 21') being axially displaceable relative to the second shaft (22, 22') by means of a first force means (34, 34'), the first shaft (21, 21') and the second shaft (22, 22') being locked circumferentially in relation to each other, so that they are prevented from rotating relative to each other, the first shaft (21, 21') being rotatably driven by means of a second force means (36, 36'), and the second force means (36, 36') being coupled to the first shaft (21, 21') by means of a coupling (37, 37') which permits the first shaft (21, 21') to be displaced axially relative to the second force means (36, 36').
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.