A tool configured to join at least two material layers, of which at least one material layer is in the form of a metal material layer, by a pin. The tool includes a driving-in device which drives the pin through the at least two material layers to be joined, and a welding device which, after the driving-in of the pin, welds at least one first section of the pin to the at least one metal material layer.

A method for coupling a first structure to a second structure is disclosed. The method includes providing a rivet having a shaft with a first end and a second end, a head positioned at the first end, and a cavity formed in the second end and extending along an axis of the shaft. The method also includes positioning the first structure and the second structure against each other and inserting the second end through the first structure and the second structure until the head contacts the first structure and the second end extends past the second structure. The method further includes positioning a first flat tool and a second flat tool against the head and the second end, respectively, and moving the first flat tool and the second flat tool toward each other until the second end expands radially against the second structure.

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 joined sheet stack and a method and system for forming the stack are disclosed. The stack may include a steel sheet and a second sheet. The steel sheet may include a bulk portion having a first tensile strength and one or more fastener regions having a second tensile strength that is lower than the first tensile strength and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may extend through each fastener region joining the steel sheet to the second sheet. The method may include heat treating one or more regions of a steel sheet to form one or more fastener regions having a tensile strength that is lower than a bulk tensile strength of the steel sheet and a microstructure that includes tempered martensite. A fastener may then be inserted into the one or more fastener regions to join the steel sheet to a second sheet.

A method of bonding a connector to a first object includes providing the first object and the connector, the connector extending between a proximal end and a distal end and has a connector body that forms a distally facing punching edge. At least one of the connector and of the first object includes a thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method further includes driving the connector into the first object and coupling mechanical vibration into the connector until the connector extends through a portion of the first object from a proximal side to a distal side thereof and material of the first object is punched out by the connector body, and until at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows relative to the first object and the connector body while the connector body remains solid. Thereafter, the thermoplastic material is allowed to re-solidify.

A method for the connection of sheet parts, of which at least one is formed as an organic sheet part, with the aid of an auxiliary joining part and an apertured metal washer, the auxiliary joining part having a functional section with an undercut and a piercing section with a shaft surface and a shaft recess. The sheet parts and the metal washer are brought into a stacked arrangement in such a way that the metal washer contacts the organic sheet part. The piercing section slugs are punched out of the stacked sheet parts. The auxiliary joining part is joined to the metal washer. The other of the undercut or of the shaft recess is brought into a holding engagement with a sheet part not formed as an organic sheet metal part or with a further metal washer.

A method for installing a fastener by positioning a cap around the fastener, spraying a cooling agent from a sprayer of a cooling system. The fastener may have a top portion including a dielectric material. The cooling system may be configured to cool the top portion of the fastener to stiffen the top portion. A tool may be configured to install the fastener in a structure after cooling, while retaining the cooling agent within the cap.

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 punch rivet for the attachment of individual components to one another of which at least one component is formed by a workpiece of composite material, the punch rivet having a flange of larger diameter, a rivet section of smaller diameter and a ring-like component contact surface at the side of the flange adjacent to the rivet section and surrounding the rivet section, wherein the rivet section has a ring surface at its free end for the piercing of the two workpieces, with the punch rivet having a central passage which extends over the full length of the punch rivet and wherein the punch rivet has an inwardly directed projection in the region of the rivet section 14.

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.