A self-piercing rivet (10) for forming joints in stacked sheets of high or low strength, light alloy metals such as aluminium and magnesium. The rivet (10) comprises a head (11) and a substantially cylindrical shank (12) that is at least partially hollow so as to define a bore (13) that extends along at least part of its length. The outside diameter (D1) of the shank (12) is at least 6 mm, the effective length of the rivet is at least 1.3 times the diameter of the shank and the bore (13) has a volume that is at least 38% of the effective solid volume of the rivet (10). The rivet geometry is such that it has enhanced column strength to withstand the high insertion forces required and a high bore volume to accommodate displaced sheet material.

A method for setting blind rivet elements in which the setting of the respective blind rivet element introduced into a pre-hole of the work piece and/or the formation of a rivet collar takes place in a setting stroke (SH) through the permanent deformation of a section of the blind rivet element by subjecting an end of the blind rivet element to a traction force by a traction element of a setting tool while simultaneously supporting another end of the blind rivet element on a support part of the setting tool counter to the traction force.

A method is provided for producing a clinch-rivet connection using a rotary oscillating movement for connecting two metal components, wherein via the oscillating movement by means of forming rollers, a vertical, and simultaneously, a horizontal deformation is carried out, wherein one of the components has a preformed, flat, tab-like arc web, and the second component is provided with an at least partially V-shaped arc slot, which allows the accommodation of the preformed, flat, tab-like arc web, and via radial oscillating movement, the forming roller presses the arc web into the arced slot by superimposed axial movement, wherein the outer circumference of the forming rollers is provided with a wedge-shaped profile, and the oscillating movement of each forming roller with a specific pendulum path across the arc web does not exceed the length of the arc web.

A method and apparatus for a positioning system for electromagnetic riveting. The apparatus comprises a plate and a biasing system physically associated with the plate. The plate is configured to be positioned relative to a first workpiece, and is further configured to electromagnetically engage an electromagnetic tool. The biasing system is configured to physically engage a second workpiece. The biasing system is further configured to hold the plate in a desired position relative to the first workpiece during a number of operations performed by the electromagnetic tool while the plate is electromagnetically engaged with the first workpiece.

In the invention, a joining means having a ram tool, a countertool and a holder with an opening to accommodate the ram tool or the countertool, is described. The two tools are arranged coaxial with each other at different ends of a C-bracket. The holder comprises at least one plane contact surface arranged on the outer surface of the holder, resting in contact with at least one plane face of the corresponding end of the C-bracket and detachably fastened thereto. Between the contact surface and the face, at least one interlay is arranged, determining the information and/or the distance of the contact surface from the face.

A tab is provided, which includes a body having first and second opposing ends, a nose portion disposed at or about the first end of the body, a lift portion disposed at or about the second end of the body of the tab, and a rivet receiving portion disposed proximate the nose portion. The rivet receiving portion includes a generally planar portion, a rivet hole having a perimeter, and an upturned portion extending upwardly from the generally planar portion about the perimeter of the rivet hole. The upturned portion reinforces the rivet hole and has an arcuate cross section profile. An integral rivet extends through the rivet hole and is staked to affix the tab to a can end. The upturned portion is devoid of any corners or edges both before and after the integral rivet is staked.

A riveting tool configured to install a plurality of fasteners simultaneously is provided including a body having a generally central cavity. A strike surface is arranged at a first end of the body and a plurality of contactors extends generally outwards from a second, opposite end of the body. Each contactor includes an engagement surface configured to contact a surface of an adjacent fastener when a force is applied to the strike surface. A biasing mechanism is arranged within the cavity adjacent an upper cavity surface. A dowel is positioned within the cavity adjacent the biasing mechanism. The dowel is configured to engage a portion of an adjacent nut plate and translate within the cavity.

A riveting apparatus for creating a plurality of rivet joints along the surface of a workpiece includes a tool device controllable by tool control data in order to create countersunk holes on the workpiece and to set countersunk rivets in the created countersunk holes. The riveting apparatus also includes a programmable control device to generate the tool control data for the tool device and an optical sensing device for optically sensing the workpiece surface and for supplying sensing data. The control device evaluates the sensing data in order to obtain geometric data that represent at least one geometric parameter of a countersunk hole that has already been created, and to correct as required the tool control data for a countersunk hole that is subsequently to be created based on the result of an evaluation of the obtained geometric data.

A tab is provided, which includes a body having first and second opposing ends, a nose portion disposed at or about the first end of the body, a lift portion disposed at or about the second end of the body of the tab, and a rivet receiving portion disposed proximate the nose portion. The rivet receiving portion includes a generally planar portion, a rivet hole having a perimeter, and an upturned portion extending upwardly from the generally planar portion about the perimeter of the rivet hole. The upturned portion reinforces the rivet hole and has an arcuate cross section profile. An integral rivet extends through the rivet hole and is staked to affix the tab to a can end. The upturned portion is devoid of any corners or edges both before and after the integral rivet is staked.

A method of operating a blind rivet nut-setting tool includes pressing a blind rivet nut on an output shaft of the tool against a workpiece, thereby applying an external force to the output shaft to move the output shaft in a rearward direction along a longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position, activating a first motor to rotate the output shaft about the longitudinal axis in response to the output shaft activating a limit switch after reaching the second position, thereby rotating the output shaft relative to the blind rivet nut causing plastic deformation of the blind rivet nut, and activating a second motor to translate the output shaft along the longitudinal axis in the rearward direction, causing further plastic deformation of the blind rivet nut and permanently setting the blind rivet nut on the workpiece.