A mechanical assembly for securing a first sheet to a second sheet includes a first projection having a first sidewall and a first top wall. The first sidewall extends from the first top wall at a first acute angle. The first sidewall includes a first top end and a first bottom end. A first discontinuity is defined in the first sidewall between the first top end and the first bottom end. A first base wall extends from the first bottom end. The first base wall extends generally parallel to the first top wall.

A die for deforming a workpiece material in a joining tool comprises a head with a top side partially defining a cavity in which the workpiece material is to be deformed, a bottom side opposite the top side, a lateral side arranged between the top side and the bottom side, and a stem which extends along a longitudinal axis from the bottom side of the head. The die further comprises an identification tag, preferably an RFID tag, having an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a signal, and a storing element for storing information, and the antenna is wrapped circumferentially around the head, such that the antenna entirely surrounds the head. The head may also include a groove extending around the head on the lateral side with the antenna arranged in the groove. Additionally, the die may include a recess with the storing element located in the recess.

A fixing device places and layers a plurality of members between a die and a punch disposed in an opposed manner, and presses and fixes the plurality of members. The plurality of members include a first member including a first fixation portion, a second member including a second fixation portion smaller than the first fixation portion, and a third member including a third fixation portion larger than the second fixation portion. The die includes a projected portion that protrudes toward the punch, and the punch includes a sheltering portion recessed along a shape of the second fixation portion. The die and the punch press the first fixation portion and the third fixation portion, thereby forming an extruded portion and forming a recess-projection fitting structure EG in a thickness direction, so that the second fixation portion is sandwiched and fixed therebetween.

A heat dissipation device includes a first plate having a first plurality of angled grooves arranged in a first direction, and a second plate having a second plurality of angled grooves arranged in the first direction. The second plate is coupled to the first plate, at least portions of the first plurality of angled grooves and the second plurality of angled grooves are connected to each other such that the first plurality of angled grooves and the second plurality of angled grooves define a fluid channel of the heat dissipation device, and the fluid channel includes coolant. The heat dissipation device also includes at least one capillary structure. At least a portion of the fluid channel is covered by the at least one capillary structure.

A spot welding method for welding a first panel and a second panel by applying a current between a pair of electrodes in pairs in a state in which the first panel and the second panel overlap one another and are held by the electrodes includes: forming a protrusion on a surface facing the second panel, at a welding-target part of the first panel; forming a recess on a surface facing the protrusion, at a welding-target part of the second panel, such that the recess has a depth that allows a top of the protrusion to come into contact with a bottom of the recess; and holding the welding-target part of the first panel and the welding-target part of the second panel between the electrodes, in a state in which the protrusion is inserted in the recess and applying the current between the electrodes.

An assembly includes at least three layers of sheet metal lying directly on top of one another and joined in a stack of sheet metal. The layers of sheet metal are each joined in pairs by a clinching joint. At least one layer of sheet metal arranged between one of the pairs of layers of sheet metal joined by the clinching joint and an outer side of the stack each have an access opening aligned with the clinching joint.

Techniques for implementing and/or operating a deployment system that includes a vehicle frame of a deployment vehicle, a drive sub-system, which includes wheels secured to the vehicle frame, a swage machine, and a fluid power sub-system. The swage machine includes a grab plate, which interlocks with a grab notch on a pipe fitting to be secured to a pipe segment, which includes tubing that defines a pipe bore and a fluid conduit implemented in an annulus of the tubing, a die plate including a die, and a fluid actuator that actuates the grab plate toward the die plate to facilitate conformally deforming a fitting jacket of the pipe fitting around the tubing of the pipe segment. The fluid power sub-system selectively powers the drive sub-system or the swage machine based on a target operation to be performed by the deployment vehicle.

A metal fastening or joining apparatus is provided. In another aspect, a single piece die guard includes an integral die shield section and an integral retainer section, wherein a die anvil can be removed, and the die shield section has a low height and a small lateral square width. A further aspect employs a generally square peripheral shape for a die shield within which is an anvil and movable die blades, which are operable to fasten or join sheet metal workpieces together in an interlocking manner. In still another aspect, a projecting and/or peripheral orientation structure is on a backside of a workpiece fastening die assembly which allows for anvil reorientation without the need to also reorient a laterally surrounding die shield and retainer.

The disclosure relates to a method for joining metal sheets resting on one another with a variable total thickness by a clinching device comprising at least one punch and a die arranged coaxially to the punch. The punch is controllable by an electronic control unit and movable in an axial direction relative to the die. The metal sheets are arranged in a plane between the punch and the die, and the penetration depth necessary for joining the metal sheets is adjustable. Before joining the metal sheets, the current total thickness is determined with the aid of the control unit and the penetration depth is set depending on the total thickness. The method includes: storing a number of different total thicknesses or total thickness ranges in the control unit, assigning a penetration depth to a total thickness or to a total thickness range, and calibrating the clinching device.

Combined sheets and a method of producing combined sheets. A combined sheet includes a main sheet including a first main indentation feature providing a first overhang over a first portion of the main sheet and a second main indentation feature providing a second overhang over a second portion of the main sheet. The combined sheet also includes a foundation sheet abutting the main sheet. The foundation sheet includes a first foundation indentation feature crimped to the first main indentation feature and a second foundation indentation feature crimped to the second main indentation feature. The first overhang and the second overhang provides overhangs in different directions to prohibit separation of the foundation sheet from the main sheet. The method of producing the combined sheet includes co-locating the main sheet to abut the foundation sheet and pressing one or more indentation punches for forming indentation features providing overhangs in different directions.