A method and rivet apparatus to rivet a workpiece comprises an upper riveting portion and a lower riveting portion. The lower riveting portion comprising a fixed base, support member, and a pin assembly. The pin assembly comprises a center pin, a forming pin, a first biasing member, an outer shroud, and a second biasing member. The center pin pushes against a tail of a rivet to deform the tail of the rivet. The forming pin, fixedly coupled to the support member, pushes against the tail of the rivet to deform the tail of the rivet. The first biasing member, disposed below the center pin, biases the center pin through the forming pin and away from the support member. The outer shroud encircles the forming pin and the center pin. The second biasing member, disposed below the outer shroud, biases the outer shroud away from the support member.

A power tool includes a motor and a gear speed reducer. The motor has a motor shaft that is rotatable in a normal direction and in a reverse direction. The gear speed reducer is operably coupled to the motor shaft. The gear speed reducer is configured such that a reduction ratio of the gear speed reducer is changed in response to a change of a rotation direction of the motor shaft.

A press-in fastener has from top to bottom: a head, a clinch feature, and a spiral, knurled shank. The fastener can hold two parts together by first clinching with a first metal panel, and then being pressed into a hole in a second, less ductile panel having a uniform interference between the knurled fastener shank and the hole. The knurled shank has a helix configuration that allows for use in non-ductile materials and eliminates the need for tapered holes and screws for applications that do not require disassembly.

A riveting system, for use in mechanically linking adjacent workpieces, including a rivet having a height greater than a sum of thicknesses, measured along a line of riveting, of the workpieces being linked, so that the rivet can pass fully through the workpieces. The system also includes a riveting die, which may be a separate product. The die includes a protrusion extending from a peak toward a transition point; and a trough having a trough surface. The trough surface includes a trough inner wall, extending from the transition point to a trough bottom, and a trough outer wall, extending from the trough bottom to a trough outer edge. The technology also includes computerized systems for comparing a load-displacement profile of riveting to a pre-set profile to determine whether the riveting was performed properly.

A riveting system, for use in mechanically linking adjacent workpieces, including a rivet having a height greater than a sum of thicknesses, measured along a line of riveting, of the workpieces being linked, so that the rivet can pass fully through the workpieces. The system also includes a riveting die, which may be a separate product. The die includes a protrusion extending from a peak toward a transition point; and a trough having a trough surface. The trough surface includes a trough inner wall, extending from the transition point to a trough bottom, and a trough outer wall, extending from the trough bottom to a trough outer edge. The technology also includes computerized systems for comparing a load-displacement profile of riveting to a pre-set profile to determine whether the riveting was performed properly.

The present disclosure relates to riveting apparatuses, riveting devices, and methods for their use. An example riveting apparatus includes a pneumatically operated riveting tool having a working end for squeezing a rivet. The riveting apparatus includes a support bracket connected to the riveting tool proximate the working end, the support bracket having arms projecting on each side of the riveting tool. The riveting apparatus also includes a pair of spaced-apart edge rollers coupled to the support arms. The edge rollers are configured to rollably engage an edge of a work-piece so as to support the weight of the riveting tool and enable movable adjustment of the working end relative to the work-piece. The riveting apparatus includes a handle rotatably mounted to the riveting tool to enable axial rotation of the handle, the handle having an actuatable switch configured to selectively operate the riveting tool.

Rivet dispenser reloading systems and methods of use thereof are provided. A non-limiting embodiment of a rivet dispenser reloading system comprises a receiving member defining a channel therein, and a first gate. The rivet receiving member comprises a first port and a second port that communicate with the channel. The first port is configured to receive rivets. The second port is configured to selectively engage with a rivet dispenser and introduce rivets to the rivet dispenser. The channel extends between the first port and the second port and is configured to transport rivets from the first port to the second port in a series arrangement and in a preselected orientation. The first gate is in communication with the second port and is selectively positionable between a first configuration inhibiting movement of rivets through the second port, and a second configuration enabling movement of rivets through the second port.

A self-piercing rivet element is provided with a body part having a thread cylinder and with a hollow rivet section to be pressed into an as yet unpierced component. In this arrangement, the rivet section is designed to be at least regionally dilatable by means of a die button and tapers in the direction of the central longitudinal axis and away from the body part. The hollow rivet section has, in the region of the transition to the body part, a diameter, which is larger than the outer diameter of the thread cylinder. Furthermore, the rivet section has a closed peripheral wall and an opening at its free end which corresponds at least substantially in diameter to the core diameter of the thread cylinder. Furthermore a component assembly, a method for the manufacture of the component assembly and the die button are claimed.

A die changing apparatus comprises a first die support for supporting a plurality of dies, the die support having first and second die supporting portions which are spaced from one another. The die support is movable so that either the first die supporting portion or the second die supporting portion are locatable at a first transfer position. There is also provided a transfer arrangement comprising a first grip portion configured to grip a die from one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and thereby remove said gripped die from the first die support. The transfer arrangement is movable, independently of the die support, between a first configuration in which the first grip portion can grip said die from said one of the first and second die supporting portions when said one of the first and second die supporting portions is located at the first transfer position, and a second configuration in which the first grip portion can release said die and pass it to a second die support of a rivet setter located at a second transfer position.

A hydraulic power tool is provided including a rivet squeezer comprising two opposing surfaces, a hydraulic cylinder configured to move the surfaces between an open position and a compressed position, a hydraulic pump configured to provide hydraulic pressure to actuate the hydraulic cylinder in a first direction, and an air tank configured to provide pneumatic pressure to actuate the hydraulic cylinder in a second direction. Actuation of the hydraulic cylinder in the first direction causes the surfaces to move from the open position to the compressed position and actuation of the hydraulic cylinder in the second direction causes the surfaces to move from the compressed position to the open position.