Method of joining a sheet metal part to a metal tube
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorPei-Chung Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of joining a sheet metal part to a metal tube to form an assembly. In an overlapping configuration, the parts are held together under a clamping force while a self-piercing rivet is driven through the assembly by a welding electrode. The rivet pierces and passes through the sheet metal part and then through at least substantial portion of the metal tube to thereby form a mechanical interlock. An electrical current is then applied to this mechanical retention to melt a portion of the rivet as well as a portion of the metal surrounding the joining region. The flow of electrical current is then stopped after several welding cycles where the now melted material is allowed to solidify upon cooling, thereby forming a weld.
Claims5
A method of joining a sheet metal part to a metal tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing said sheet metal part against a first surface of said metal tube at a predetermined joining location;
- driving a self-piercing metal rivet through said sheet metal part and into said tube to mechanically attach said sheet metal part to said tube at said joining location;
- passing an electrical current through said rivet and said tube at said joining location to fuse metal at interfaces of said rivet with said sheet and tube;
- and
- stopping the flow of electrical current to solidify the fused metal and form a welded bond between said rivet, sheet metal and tube.
A method of joining a sheet metal part to a metal tube, said method comprising the steps of:
- pressing said sheet metal part against the surface of said metal tube at a predetermining joining location using a first electrode assembly to press against said sheet metal part and a second electrode against the opposite side of said tube;
- driving a self-piercing metal rivet through said sheet metal part using said first electrode and through at least a substantial portion of a wall of said metal tube at said joining location to mechanically attach said sheet metal part to said tube;
- and
- passing an electrical current through said electrodes, rivet and tube at said joining location to fuse said rivet to said sheet metal part and tube;
- and
- stopping the flow of electrical current to form a welded bond between said rivet, sheet metal part and tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.