A system for attaching layers of material together comprised of a self-piercing rivet, a layer having a clearance hole through which the self-piercing rivet passes on assembly, and a layer free of a clearance hole and into which the self-piercing rivet is at least partially inserted. The system may include a third layer free of a clearance hole. The system may also include three layers wherein the clearance hole is formed in the middle layer. If the clearance hole is formed in the middle layer, the width of the hole may be greater than the diameter of the self-piercing rivet to avoid contact between the rivet and the middle layer. The layer having the clearance hole may be a hard material such as steel. One or more of the layers may be material that is difficult to pierce or can be damaged if pierced.

An overlapping part of a first member and a second member is joined using a tool for friction stir spot welding and a rivet. The first member is disposed on a side where the tool is press-fitted first, and the second member is disposed on a side where the tool is press-fitted last, so that the overlapping part is formed. The tool is press-fitted into the overlapping part to perform friction stirring, thereby forming a friction stirred part in the overlapping part. The rivet is press-fitted into the friction stirred part from the first member side.

A system for attaching layers of material together comprised of a self-piercing rivet, a layer having a clearance hole through which the self-piercing rivet passes on assembly, and a layer free of a clearance hole and into which the self-piercing rivet is at least partially inserted. The system may include a third layer free of a clearance hole. The system may also include three layers wherein the clearance hole is formed in the middle layer. If the clearance hole is formed in the middle layer, the width of the hole may be greater than the diameter of the self-piercing rivet to avoid contact between the rivet and the middle layer. The layer having the clearance hole may be a hard material such as steel. One or more of the layers may be material that is difficult to pierce or can be damaged if pierced.

A joining device includes a nose, a punch, and a die anvil. The punch is coaxially slidable within the nose. A fastener is arranged within the nose and is coaxially slidable within the nose and movable by the punch. An ultrasonic vibration is focused through the die anvil to a zone on a material assembly arranged thereon for heating the zone. The punch is configured to drive the fastener outwardly from the nose and into the material assembly at the zone.

A system for attaching layers of material together comprised of a self-piercing rivet, a layer having a clearance hole through which the self-piercing rivet passes on assembly, and a layer free of a clearance hole and into which the self-piercing rivet is at least partially inserted. The system may include a third layer free of a clearance hole. The system may also include three layers wherein the clearance hole is formed in the middle layer. If the clearance hole is formed in the middle layer, the width of the hole may be greater than the diameter of the self-piercing rivet to avoid contact between the rivet and the middle layer. The layer having the clearance hole may be a hard material such as steel. One or more of the layers may be a material that is difficult to pierce or can be damaged if pierced.

The invention relates to a connection comprising at least two components having the following features: a first component and a second component, of which at least the second component comprises reinforced plastic, a self-piercing connection element having a head and a shaft, the head thereof being supported on the first component and the shaft thereof running completely through the first and the second component, and a disc-shaped counter bearing to which the shaft is fastened such that the at least two components are fastened between the head and the counter bearing. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said connection.

A two-part mechanical fastener comprising an elongated body with a bore slidably carrying a mandrel adapted to interferingly engage the body is described. The fastener body has one or more protuberances on its exterior surface. In an aspect, the protuberances form a thread. The fastener is adapted to form an opening in, and penetrate, a stack of two or more workpieces. To secure the workpieces in the workpiece stack and form a robust joint, the fastener body is deformed by the mandrel, expanding the body, so that a body end engages a surface of the workpiece stack and the one or more protuberances are brought into engagement with the walls of the opening. Methods of using such a fastener to secure non-ferrous or polymer-based sheet-like workpieces to one another are disclosed.

A method of riveting a first substrate and a second substrate with a rivet includes delivering a first ultrasonic pulse to a respective exterior surface of the first substrate at a predefined target area, via an ultrasonic device. The first ultrasonic pulse is configured to soften the first substrate at a first softening temperature. The method includes attaching a crust layer on a rivet head of the rivet. A second ultrasonic pulse is delivered to the predefined target area to soften the crust layer at a second softening temperature, via the ultrasonic device. A surface profile of the crust layer is fashioned via compression of a horn inner cavity of the ultrasonic device over the crust layer. The crust layer is cooled to harden into a seal configured to prevent entry of moisture between the rivet and the respective exterior surface of the first substrate, thereby reducing galvanic corrosion.

A method of joining of a ultra high-strength steel and a non-steel material through tailored softening heat treatment using a laser, may include forming a tempering portion by performing heat treatment on a lower plate formed of ultra high-strength steel using the laser; stacking an upper plate formed of a non-steel material on the lower plate formed of the ultra high-strength steel; disposing a connection member on the upper plate; and applying force to the connection member to cause the connection member to pass through the upper plate and then to be inserted into the tempering portion of the lower plate to combine the upper plate and the lower plate.

A component assembly having a stacked arrangement comprising an upper and lower sheet part, of which at least one is formed as an organic sheet composite part, with an auxiliary joining part and with at least one apertured metal washer, wherein the auxiliary joining part has a functional section having an undercut at one end and also has a piercing section at the other end having a lateral shaft surface and a shaft recess formed therein, wherein the metal washer contacts a surface of the organic sheet composite part, with the functional section or the piercing section extending through an aperture of the metal washer and wherein washer material has been driven into the undercut or into the at least one shaft recess.