Method of joining plates with weld fastened studs
OwnerDavid A. Bradleyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of joining plates includes the steps of providing a one or more studs having a head, a barrel and a weld tip. The plates and studs are arranged such that a first plate having at least one hole is located between the studs and a second plate with each stud aligned with a hole and contacting the second plate. Current is passed through the stud using the stud head and the second plate as electrodes to melt the weld tip bonding the stud to the second plate. The studs are arranged such that an air gap between the studs and the first plate prevents arcing during the welding step. Pressure and heat may be applied to compress the barrel such that the stud functions as a rivet. Alternatively, the barrel may remain uncompressed to provide a pin allowing relative rotation between the plates.
Claims10
A method of joining plates comprising the steps of:
- providing first and second metal plates, the first plate including at least one hole;
- providing a stud made from an electrically conductive material, the stud including a head, a barrel and a weld tip, the barrel having opposite ends respectively connected to the head and the weld tip, the barrel having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the hole and having a length that is greater than the thickness of the first plate;
- locating the plates such the first plate is located between the stud and the second plate;
- locating the stud such that a central axis of the stud is aligned with a central axis of the hole;
- moving the stud toward the second plate such that the weld tip of the stud contacts the second plate and air gaps are respectively provided between the head and the first plate and between the barrel and the hole;
- applying an electric current through the stud, using the head of the stud and the second plate as electrodes, that is sufficient to melt the weld tip whereby the stud is bonded to the second plate at an end of the stud;
- and
- deforming the barrel of the stud to reduce the length of the barrel thereby reducing the air gap between the head of the stud and the first plate.
A method of joining plates comprising the steps of:
- providing first and second metal plates each having a thickness, the first plate including a plurality of holes having a diameter;
- providing a plurality of rivets made from an electrically conductive material, each rivet including a head, a barrel and a weld tip, the barrel of the rivet having opposite ends respectively connected to the head and the weld tip, the barrel of the rivet having a length that is greater than the thickness of the first plate and a diameter that is less than the diameter of the holes in the first plate;
- locating the plates and rivets such the first plate is located between the rivets and the second plate;
- locating the rivets such that a central axis of each rivet is aligned with a central axis of one of the holes in the first plate;
- moving the rivets towards the second plate such that the weld tip of the rivets contacts the second plate and air gaps are respectively provided between the head of each rivet and the first plate and between the barrel of each rivet and the associated hole in the first plate;
- applying an electric current through each of the rivets using the head of the rivet and the second plate as electrodes sufficient to melt the weld tip of the rivet whereby the rivet is bonded to the second plate at an end of the rivet;
- and
- deforming the barrel of each of the rivets such that the length of the rivet is reduced thereby reducing the air gap between the head of the rivet and the first plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.