A joined sheet stack and a method and system for forming the stack are disclosed. The stack may include a steel sheet and a second sheet. The steel sheet may include a bulk portion having a first tensile strength and one or more fastener regions having a second tensile strength that is lower than the first tensile strength and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may extend through each fastener region joining the steel sheet to the second sheet. The method may include heat treating one or more regions of a steel sheet to form one or more fastener regions having a tensile strength that is lower than a bulk tensile strength of the steel sheet and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may then be inserted into the one or more fastener regions to join the steel sheet to a second sheet.

A method for forming a joint between a fiber reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fiber reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.

A method for forming a joint between a fiber reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fiber reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.

The invention relates to a riveting tool for setting blind rivet nuts and/or blind rivet screws, comprising a drive piston which is able to be hydraulically adjusted from an initial position toward an end position, a pull rod which is releasably and operatively connected to the drive piston and which is able to be adjusted by the drive piston from a rivet receiving position into a setting position and a coupling element fixing the pull rod and a drawing mandrel to one another in the longitudinal axial direction. In order to provide a riveting tool of the type mentioned above by which uniform setting processes of rivets may be carried out with a high degree of repeated accuracy, it is provided that the riveting tool for fixing the setting position has an adjusting unit with a stroke-limiting element which is axially adjustable relative to the coupling element in the longitudinal axial direction of the pull rod, said stroke-limiting element being in engagement with the coupling element via a stop surface in the setting position.

Provided is a different materials panel structure having reduced occurrence of displacement or warping of a joining section and having excellent external appearance of an outer panel (2). The different materials panel structure has: an outer panel comprising a first metal material; an inner panel (3) arranged on the lower surface side of the outer panel and comprising a second metal material having a higher fusion point than the first metal material; and a rivet (6) comprising the same material as the second metal material and comprising a head section and a shaft section. An outer panel comprises a hemmed section formed by folding a rim section and which supports the inner panel via an adhesive layer (9). The head section of the rivet remains on the outer panel surface. The shaft section of the rivet penetrates from the lower surface side of the hemmed section of the outer panel towards the inner panel. A tip of the shaft section is spot-welded to the inner panel and a protruding section (3a) is provided in the inner panel at a position corresponding to the rivet and protruding in the axial direction of the rivet. A heat insulation section (8) comprising the adhesive layer or the adhesive layer and a gap is formed between the protruding section after welding and the outer panel.

Provided is a different materials panel structure having reduced occurrence of displacement or warping of a joining section and having excellent external appearance of an outer panel (2). The different materials panel structure has: an outer panel comprising a first metal material; an inner panel (3) arranged on the lower surface side of the outer panel and comprising a second metal material having a higher fusion point than the first metal material; and a rivet (6) comprising the same material as the second metal material and comprising a head section and a shaft section. An outer panel comprises a hemmed section formed by folding a rim section and which supports the inner panel via an adhesive layer (9). The head section of the rivet remains on the outer panel surface. The shaft section of the rivet penetrates from the lower surface side of the hemmed section of the outer panel towards the inner panel. A tip of the shaft section is spot-welded to the inner panel and a protruding section (3a) is provided in the inner panel at a position corresponding to the rivet and protruding in the axial direction of the rivet. A heat insulation section (8) comprising the adhesive layer or the adhesive layer and a gap is formed between the protruding section after welding and the outer panel.

A wire mesh rivet (13) is provided which is used to produce a wire mesh isolator (11) in a bore (9) of a substrate such as a heat shield (7) for a vehicle exhaust system. The rivet (13) comprises a unitary wire mesh structure (19) which has a collar (15) and a shank (17). The collar (15) has a higher density than the shank (17), e.g., the collar (15) has the density of the finished isolator (11). The rivet (13) is formed into the finished isolator (11) by compressing the shank (17) to form a second collar, while restraining the original collar (15) from substantially changing its shape. The rivet (13) can include a metal insert (23) which prevents the wire mesh of the finished isolator (11) from experiencing high levels of compression when the substrate is fastened to its supporting structure. The rivets (13) can be carried by a dispensing strip (31) and can be formed into the finished isolator (11) using forming equipment (39) whose dimensions are compatible with the limited space available with some substrates.

The invention relates to a riveting tool for setting blind rivet nuts and/or blind rivet screws, comprising a drive piston which is able to be hydraulically adjusted from an initial position toward an end position and a drawing mandrel which is able to be brought releasably into operative connection with the drive piston and is able to be adjusted by the drive piston between a rivet receiving position and a setting position. In order to provide a riveting tool of the type mentioned in the introduction, uniform setting processes of rivets being able to be carried out thereby with a high degree of repeated accuracy, it is provided that the riveting tool for fixing the setting position of the drawing mandrel comprises a setting unit comprising a stroke limiting element which is able to be adjusted in the longitudinal axial direction of the drive piston and which is able to be brought into engagement with the drive piston.

A wire mesh rivet (13) is provided which is used to produce a wire mesh isolator (11) in a bore (9) of a substrate such as a heat shield (7) for a vehicle exhaust system. The rivet (13) comprises a unitary wire mesh structure (19) which has a collar (15) and a shank (17). The collar (15) has a higher density than the shank (17), e.g., the collar (15) has the density of the finished isolator (11). The rivet (13) is formed into the finished isolator (11) by compressing the shank (17) to form a second collar, while restraining the original collar (15) from substantially changing its shape. The rivet (13) can include a metal insert (23) which prevents the wire mesh of the finished isolator (11) from experiencing high levels of compression when the substrate is fastened to its supporting structure. The rivets (13) can be carried by a dispensing strip (31) and can be formed into the finished isolator (11) using forming equipment (39) whose dimensions are compatible with the limited space available with some substrates.

A wire mesh rivet (13) is provided which is used to produce a wire mesh isolator (11) in a bore (9) of a substrate such as a heat shield (7) for a vehicle exhaust system. The rivet (13) comprises a unitary wire mesh structure (19) which has a collar (15) and a shank (17). The collar (15) has a higher density than the shank (17), e.g., the collar (15) has the density of the finished isolator (11). The rivet (13) is formed into the finished isolator (11) by compressing the shank (17) to form a second collar, while restraining the original collar (15) from substantially changing its shape. The rivet (13) can include a metal insert (23) which prevents the wire mesh of the finished isolator (11) from experiencing high levels of compression when the substrate is fastened to its supporting structure. The rivets (13) can be carried by a dispensing strip (31) and can be formed into the finished isolator (11) using forming equipment (39) whose dimensions are compatible with the limited space available with some substrates.