An explosion-proof housing includes at least one metal housing part having at least one of a housing opening or receiving surface, and a support edge bordering said at least one of a housing opening or receiving surface. A cover part covers said at least one of a housing opening or the receiving surface. The cover part includes a peripheral cover edge which is connected to the support edge in an explosion-proof manner such that in the event of an explosion inside the housing, the explosion is prevented from crossing over to an explosive atmosphere surrounding the housing. A plurality of connection points are formed between the support edge and the cover edge. The connection points include interlocking depressions and protrusions. The protrusions are formed by partial melting of the cover edge. The depressions and the protrusions interlock with play in a longitudinal direction of the housing.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

A case includes a first member and a second member configured in such a way that a closed space is formed between the first and second members in a state where the first and second members abut against each other. The first member includes a shaft portion extending toward the second member. The second member includes a shaft support portion including a circumferential wall portion that surrounds one end portion of the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes an enlarged-diameter portion that is the one end portion melted in such a way as to be enlarged in diameter.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on a first object in an opening provided on a second object. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. During the step of inserting the insert portion in the opening and/or during anchorage a clamping force is applied to opposing surfaces of the second object to prevent the second object from cracking or bulging.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

A ultrasonic welding method of joining dissimilar-material workpieces, such as sheet materials, and the joined components formed thereby. The method includes applying ultrasonic energy to a thermoplastic piece to fill a hole of a dissimilar piece to form a weld point that is made up with polymer from the thermoplastic piece. In general, the geometry of the thermoplastic piece is not altered during the process. The dissimilar piece generally has a higher melting temperate and can be metal, thermoset polymers, or other thermoplastic material. The welded pieces can be arranged in a lap, laminate, or double lap configuration. In some embodiments, the hole of the dissimilar sheet material includes undercut features that improve the mechanical interlock between the dissimilar pieces. In some embodiments, the weld point has a mushroom cap to improve mechanical interlock.

A component bond out of an additively manufactured component out of metal or plastic material having an inner receiving space that is open on at least one side on a component opening, which is accessible from a component side and is configured fungiform in an axial cross section. The receiving space includes at least one widened molding section facing the component opening and at least one cylinder shaped support section facing away from the component opening, wherein a blind rivet nut or a blind rivet bolt are fastened in the receiving space by a compression bead of the blind rivet nut or of the blind rivet bolt extending into the molding section.

The invention relates to an explosion-proof housing and to a method for connecting a housing part and a cover part, wherein the housing is formed at least from a metal housing part with at least one housing opening and/or receiving surface and a support edge which borders said housing opening and/or receiving surface and with a cover part which covers the housing opening or receiving surface and comprises a peripheral cover edge. The cover part and the housing part are connected together in an explosion-proof manner. In order to improve such a housing such that a corresponding connection of the housing part and cover part can be produced in a simple and secure manner without the use of adhesive in order to form an explosion-proof housing and such that the housing part and the cover part have a high degree of connection stability, a plurality of connection points between the support edge and the cover edge is formed as interlocking depressions and protrusions, the protrusions being formed by partial melting the cover edge.