A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component, wherein the first component has a deformation region. The deformation region is at least partially heated in a first step. In a second step an inner die, having an optical component for plastic deformation, is provided. In a third step the first component is plastically deformed in the deformation region in order to connect the first component to the second component. Light for heating the first component is directed at the deformation region by means of the optical component of the inner die in the first and/or third step.

A constant velocity joint having an inner hub, an annular outer hub, a plurality of balls and a shaft connection component, with the outer hub in contact with the shaft connection component. The shaft connection component has, at an end region facing the outer hub, a securing structure which is in contact with a contacting structure of the outer hub. The outer hub contacting structure includes recesses corresponding to the raised portions of shaft connection component. The raised portions engage in the recesses to form a securing structure. The tracks and the recesses of the outer hub are arranged axially in alignment with each other.

A multi-piece flange includes a hub portion formed from a first material. The hub portion includes a central opening. A disc portion is formed from a second material that is lighter than the first material. The disc portion includes hub receiving portion configured to receive the hub portion.

A shaft comprises two parts. One of these two parts is tube-shaped, and the other is pushed into the tube-shaped part along a main axis. The two parts are fixed to each other for rotation about the main axis and connected to each other in a gliding way along the main axis, by a spline provided between the two parts. One of the two parts comprises a plurality of elongated teeth which are parallel to the main axis and whose cross-sections decrease from the first part towards the second part. Intermediate spaces between neighboring teeth are at least as broad as the teeth. The other of the two parts, at its circumference facing the first part, is made of plastically deformable plastic material, and a counter-profile into which the teeth engage is pressed in the plastic material by intrusion of the teeth during assembly of the two parts.

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 system for interconnecting components in a vehicle body structure, and especially for interconnecting fiber-reinforced composite components in a fuselage structure of an aircraft. The system includes a first adapter member, a second adapter member and a connector member. The first adapter member has a first mating portion configured to substantially conform with a profile of a first component of the structure in more than one plane. A first attachment portion is connected to the first mating portion. The second adapter member has a second mating portion configured to substantially conform with a profile of a second component of the structure in more than one plane. A second attachment portion is connected to the second mating portion. The connector member securely interconnects the first and second attachment portions of the first and second adapter members. A related method of interconnecting components in a vehicle body structure is also disclosed.

An assembly unit is produced according to the following method steps: an assembly part is provided which does not yet have a through bore. A disc-shaped welding element blank with a first end side, a second end side and a peripheral surface is stamped out of a sheet metal blank by a punch and a hole die so that the peripheral surface has a cylindrical longitudinal portion extending away from the first end side, and an adjoining cone portion which tapers towards the second end side and forms with this a cutting edge. The welding element blank is stamped with the cutting edge at the front into the assembly part to thereby form the through bore.

An assembly for a vehicle and a method of making an assembly including more than three panels stacked together and joined by self-piercing rivets or by clinch joints. A first panel and a second panel are joined together at a first attachment point. A third panel and the first panel are joined together at a second attachment point. A fourth panel and the third panel are joined together at a third attachment point. The first, second and third attachment points are spaced apart to avoid interference between the self-piercing rivets or the clinch joints.

A new and improved system for interconnecting components in a vehicle body structure, and especially for interconnecting fiber-reinforced composite components in a fuselage structure of an aircraft. The system includes: a first adapter member having a first mating portion that is adhesively bonded with a profile of a first component of the structure in more than one plane, and a first attachment portion connected to the first mating portion; a second adapter member having a second mating portion that is adhesively bonded with a profile of a second component of the structure in more than one plane, and a second attachment portion connected to the second mating portion; and a connector member to securely interconnect the first and second attachment portions of the first and second adapter members.

In an example embodiment, the flange 10 has one or more openings 90 for accommodating fasteners 92 for fastening the flange and tubular member (e.g., for fastening the grab bar) to a structure such as a wall, as for example shown in FIG. 6. In example embodiment as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, flange covers 94 that extend over the flange 10, so as to cover the flange, may be used. The flange cover may be installed over the tubular member prior to the bucking, or from the opposite end of the tubular member after buckling. As can be understood, if flanges are connected to both ends of the tubular member in accordance with the example embodiment herein, the flange covers must be placed over the tubular member at least prior to the bucking of the second end portion of the tubular member. In an example embodiment, each flange cover has an opening 96 having a diameter larger than the outer surface diameter of the tubular member but smaller than the outer surface diameter of the buckled section of the tubular member. A such, the flange cover can be axially retained by the its corresponding buckled section of the tubular member. If the flange cover opening has a diameter greater than the diameter of the buckled section of the tubular member, the cover will be axially retained by the flange. The flange cover should have an appropriate area to cover its corresponding flange. In the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the flange cover 94 has a radially extending surface 98 from which extends an axially extending surface 100. With this example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the radially extending surface 98 covers the flange 10, while the axially extending surface 100 surrounds the flange 10.