Punch rivet and also a method and apparatuses for attachment of individual components to one another of which at least one component is formed by a workpiece of composite material

A method for the attachment of individual components (40, 4)2 to one another using a punch rivet (10), wherein at least one of the components is formed by a workpiece (40) of composite material, wherein the punch rivet has a flange (12) of larger diameter (D1), a rivet section (14) of smaller diameter (D2) and a ring-like component contact surface (18) at the side (16) of the flange (12) adjacent to the rivet section and surrounding the rivet section (14), wherein the rivet section (14) is formed at its free end face (20) for the piercing of the components (40,42), with the punch rivet (10) furthermore having a central passage (36) which extends over the full length of the punch rivet (10) and the method includes the following steps:

• a) arrangement of a die button (50) against one of the two components (40, 42) to be secured to one another, which are placed on one another, wherein the die button has a bore (52) which is dimensioned to receive the rivet section (14),
• b) carrying out a relative movement of the punch rivet (10) with a free end of the rivet section (14) to the fore towards the components (40, 42) arranged on one another and in the direction of the die button (50),
• c) piercing of the components (40, 42) with the free end (20) of the rivet section (14) and introduction of the rivet section (14) into the bore (52) of the die button (50) until the component contact surface (18) comes into contact with the component (40) adjacent to the flange (12),
• d) after piercing, dilating the punch rivet by the axial movement of a plunger (66) through the central passage (36) towards the free end face of the punch rivet (10), with the plunger (66) being provided with a ring shoulder (78) which brings about the dilation up to an underside of the lower component, which tapers, in the direction of the free end of the plunger adjacent to the punch rivet (10) and has a maximum diameter which is larger than the smallest diameter of the passage (36), and
• e) after dilating, forming a rivet bead (80;
• 120) by reshaping the free end region (15) of the rivet section in order to clamp the components (40, 42) between the flange (12) and the rivet bead (80;
• 120).