Electro-hydraulic rivet and method of riveting and welding parts
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorSergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of riveting two metal parts through a hole with an electro-hydraulic riveting tool. The electro-hydraulic riveting tool includes a tube that is inserted in the hole and an electrode that is inserted within the tube. A liquid is contained within the tube and the electrode is immersed in the liquid. A stored charge is discharged through the electrode to create a shockwave within the fluid that forms the tube into a rivet structure and creates solid state weld between the rivet flanges and the parts that are joined.
Claims7
A rivet adapted to secure two parts together that define a hole comprising:
- a tubular member that extends through the hole from a first side of the two parts to a second side of the two parts, the tubular member including an electrode and a liquid contained within the tubular member, and a stored charge connected to the electrode that is adapted to create a shockwave within the liquid in order to deform the tubular member into a predetermined shape such that a first flange engages the first side and a second flange engages the second side;
- and
- wherein upon discharge of the stored charge, the electrode forms a shockwave, which creates a first solid state weld between the first flange and the first side and a second solid state weld between the second flange and the second side.
A rivet comprising:
- a tubular rivet adapted to attach a first part defining a first hole to a second part defining a second hole, the tubular rivet including an electrode and a liquid, both contained within the tubular rivet;
- and
- wherein the electrode is adapted to be connected to a stored charge whereupon being discharged through the electrode creates a shockwave in the liquid that deforms the tubular rivet to form a first flange adjacent the first part and a second flange adjacent the second part, and further forms a first solid state weld connecting the first flange to the first part and forms a second solid state weld connecting the second flange to the second part.
A rivet assembly for securing two parts together defining a hole comprising:
- a tube partially defining a container inserted in the hole;
- a liquid contained within the container;
- and
- an electrode disposed in the liquid and connectable to a stored charge that is dischargeable to create a shockwave within the liquid and adapted to deform the tube creating first and second flanges in contact with the first and second parts and solid state welds therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.