A fastening assembly and a method of coupling a flange joint are provided. The fastening assembly includes a channel assembly including an elongate web having a pair of opposing side edges, a plurality of spaced apart apertures extending through the web, and at least one anti-rotation lip extending away from the at least one side edge of the pair of side edges. The fastening assembly also includes a threaded nut assembly including a threaded internal bore and an external anti-rotation tab, the threaded nut assembly coupled to the web with the threaded bore aligned with a respective one of the plurality of spaced apart apertures. The fastening assembly further includes a clinch nut assembly including a threaded internal bore, an external anti-rotation tang, and a bore extension, the clinch nut assembly configured to fixedly couple the web to an outside face of a connection flange.

A marine deck member with enhanced surface traction and the process for forming the same. The marine deck member comprises a sandwich-type composite panel made by a compression molding process. In such a process, the panel is made by subjecting a heated stack of layers of material to cold-pressing in a mold. The cellular core has a 2-D array of cells, each of the cells having an axis substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces, and extending in the space between the layers or skins, with end faces open to the respective layers or skins. The surface traction of this type of composite panel can be enhanced for marine deck applications by controlled debossing, or embossing, of the first skin while it cools in the compression mold. The debossing effect can be effected by applying pressurized gas, e.g., pressurized air, onto the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold. The embossing can be effected by applying vacuum pressure on the outer surface of the first skin while in the compression mold.

The invention is directed to a method for caulking a caulking member such as a caulking nut or a caulking bolt to a metal plate. The metal plate is arranged on a die having a caulking protrusion formed on an end surface thereof, the caulking member is arranged on the metal plate while a position of a caulking recess portion of the caulking member is aligned with the caulking protrusion, and a punch is brought closer to the die so that the caulking member is pressed against the metal plate. While an upper surface of the metal plate in a position opposite to the caulking recess portion is restricted by a downward protruding portion of the punch or by the caulking member, the metal plate is plastically fluidized into the caulking recess portion, so that the caulking member is caulked without boring a hole in the metal plate.

The present invention relates to a method for the punching in and attachment of the fastener element to a planar workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal part. During the punching in of the fastener element in the workpiece a movably arranged die plunger of the die button is pressed with a predetermined pressing force against the workpiece. The pressing force is adapted such that the die plunger first moves once a slug has been cut out of the workpiece by a piercing section of the fastener element.

Fastener assemblies and nut plate assemblies include a plate member, a shell member and a floating nut disposed within the shell member and defining a bore configured to receive a threaded fastener. The fastener assemblies and nut plate assemblies also include at least one magnetic component disposed within the shell member and configured to switch the nut plate assembly between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration

A rivet nut tool has a primary gear driven by a motor and a gear assembly coupled to the primary gear for rotation for moving a pull screw by a movement distance to achieve a stroke. The tool has a selection button for selecting a stroke value and a pull-riveting force. A control processor receives the selected stroke value and pull-riveting force. A count sensor is used to measure the rotational movement of a primary gear in terms of signal counts for determining the stroke achieved by the pull screw. The selected stroke value is presentable as a preset count value. When the signal count reaches the preset count value, or the motor current exceeds the current needed for the selected pull-riveting force, the control processor is configured to reverse the rotation direction of the motor so as to return the pull screw to its start position.

A self-clinching fastener for attachment to a plastically deformable metal panel includes a body portion with a central axis, the body portion has an outer peripheral surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis. A punch portion is coaxial with the central axis and extends from the body portion such that the annular-shaped surface encircles the punch portion, the punch portion includes an outer peripheral surface extending in the direction of the central axis. A plurality of spaced apart lugs encircle the punch portion and axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface, one of the lugs has a contact face configured to engage the metal substrate, the contact face declining, relative to an imaginary horizontal plane on which the annular-shaped surface lies, in a radially outwards direction of the self-clinching fastener.

A blind rivet element has a head portion and a shank adjacent to the head portion in an axial direction. The shank has an internal thread or a connecting portion for a threaded bolt and a deformation portion between the internal thread or the connecting portion for the threaded bolt and the head portion for forming a closing head when the deformation portion is deformed. The head portion has a radially outer region formed spaced apart from the shank in a radial direction. The head portion has at least one first protrusion protruding in the axial direction formed exclusively in the radially outer region of the head portion, and/or the head portion has at least one second protrusion protruding counter to the axial direction formed exclusively in the radially outer region of the head portion.

An apparatus and method for fastening dissimilar materials like steel, plastic and aluminum. A resistance welding fastener having multiple layers may be used with or without a sealant. The fastener may be used to form an aluminum covered steel laminate via a hemming pattern of attachment. The fastener may have a solid shaft or have an extended reach and have features for interacting with the welding electrode. A variety of electrode tips may be employed to cooperate with the fastener.

A multipart adjustment element for a tolerance compensation arrangement for automatically compensating for tolerances in the spacing between a first and a second component. The adjustment element comprises a bush, a dragging element, a contact disc, and a securing sleeve. The bush has a bore, an outer thread with a first direction, and a step. The dragging element comprises at least one spring arm protruding radially inwards, wherein a first axial end of the dragging element is arranged on the step in the threaded bush. The contact disc is arranged adjacently to the first axial end of the threaded bush and has a through-opening. The securing sleeve likewise has a through-opening and is arranged at least partly in the bore of the threaded bush with a press-fit connection in order to securely connect the contact disc, the threaded bush, and the dragging element together.