A method includes identifying a location of a locating feature disposed on an exterior profile of a lower substrate, the locating feature configured to identify a specified location of the exterior profile, positioning a self-piercing rivet along an upper substrate according to the identified location of the locating feature, and installing the self-piercing rivet through the upper substrate and into the lower substrate.

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 fastening assembly includes: a panel defining an aperture; a fastener having a cap and a shaft extending from the cap, the shaft being disposed through the aperture, the fastener having a first corrosion rate, and the fastener including: a recess formed in the cap and extending at least partially around the shaft; face surfaces that are planar and that are to directly contact the panel; and recessed channels that are disposed between the face surfaces, respectively, that are recessed relative to the face surfaces, and that extend from a radially outer edge of the cap to the recess; and an anode insert disposed in the recess and having a second corrosion rate that is faster than the first corrosion rate.

A method of inserting a rivet into a workpiece using a rivet insertion apparatus, the method comprising, during a first rivet insertion step, using a punch and die to drive the rivet into the workpiece such that a slug of workpiece material is removed from the workpiece and travels into a bore provided in the die, modifying or changing the die to provide a rivet receiving die surface, then during a second rivet insertion step, using the punch to drive the rivet further into the workpiece such that a shank of the rivet is upset by the rivet receiving die surface.

A dimpled substrate for use in an assembly having joined substrates is provided that defines at least one preformed interior cavity, at least one preformed exterior profile adjacent the interior cavity and defining a wall therebetween, and at least one locating feature configured to identify a location of the at least one preformed exterior profile. In one form, the locating feature is disposed in the preformed exterior profile or adjacent to the preformed exterior profile. Alternatively, the locating feature is a notch formed into the dimpled substrate away from the preformed exterior profile.

A method includes identifying a location of a locating feature disposed on an exterior profile of a lower substrate, the locating feature configured to identify a specified location of the exterior profile, positioning a self-piercing rivet along an upper substrate according to the identified location of the locating feature, and installing the self-piercing rivet through the upper substrate and into the lower substrate.

A different-material fastener fastens together a first member and a second member formed from a material different from a material of the first member. The different-material fastener includes a rivet and a stud. The rivet includes a shank configured to be pressed into the first member, and a first head disposed at one end of the shank. The first head has a diameter larger than a diameter of the shank. The stud includes a shaft protruding from a center of an upper surface of the first head, and a second head that is disposed at an end of the shaft. The second head has a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft and smaller than the diameter of the first head.

The present invention relates to a self-punching functional element that is adapted for punching into a workpiece, in particular into a sheet metal part. It comprises a head part forming a flange and having a contact surface for contact with the workpiece; and a punching section that extends away from the head part, in particular from the contact surface, and that is in particular arranged coaxially to a central longitudinal axis of the functional element. The punching section has a peripheral punching edge at its free end for punching through the workpiece and surrounds a cavity in a peripheral direction, said cavity having an opening defined by the punching edge. An inner wall of the punching section facing the cavity has at least one elevated slug securing portion projecting radially inwardly into the cavity, in particular wherein the elevated portion has the form of a rib extending in an axial direction.

A method for the attachment of a hollow element such as a hollow rivet or a nut element to a component consisting of a composite material, with the element having a flange part and a shaft part or rivet section extending away from the flange part, wherein a rivet section can also be formed at the free end of a shaft part. The hollow element has a central passage which is optionally provided with a thread cylinder. In the method an auxiliary tip is either passed from the flange side of the element remote from the shaft part and/or the rivet section through the passage or is introduced from the side of the free end of the shaft part and/or of the rivet section into the passage such that a conically converging region of the auxiliary tip projects from the free end of the shaft part or of the rivet section. The hollow element is pressed with the tip to the fore against the component and the tip is pressed through the component until the component comes into engagement with the side of the flange part adjacent to it and the tip has produced a hole in the component.

A semi-hollow punch rivet by which a joint is establishable. The rivet includes: a rivet head having a rivet shaft, which comprises a lateral surface, a rivet foot having a foot front surface is provided at an end of the rivet shaft facing away from the rivet head, the foot front surface is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis L.sub.A of the rivet shaft, and a bell-like shaft cavity extends into the rivet shaft beginning at the end facing away from the head. The shaft cavity is formed by: an inlet portion beginning at a radial inner side of the foot front surface and extending arc-shaped with an inlet radius R.sub.S in the direction of the rivet head, a linearly extending continuation portion into which the inlet portion transitions tangentially and which is arranged in an acute angle with respect to the lateral surface, and a final dome portion.