A self-punching functional element serves for the fastening to a workpiece and comprises a head part that has an abutment surface for introducing a punching force directed in a punching direction into the functional element and a rivet section that extends away from the head part in the punching direction and that comprises a free end that is provided with a first punching edge for punching a slug out of the workpiece. The functional element further comprises a functional section that has a punching pilot that is radially surrounded by the rivet section, that extends away from the head part in the punching direction, and that has a second punching edge for punching a hole into the slug. The second punching edge is set back with respect to the first punching edge in the punching 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 terminal rivet for a terminal is described, wherein the terminal rivet comprises: a first shaft portion configured to extend through a through-hole of a terminal plate of the terminal, and a first flange comprising a protruding portion extending a distance above a remaining surface portion of the first flange, the protruding portion being configured to extend into the terminal plate in a riveted state. A method for fastening the terminal rivet to the terminal is also described, including at least the steps of inserting the first shaft portion through a through-hole of the terminal plate; and deforming the flange and the terminal plate such that the flange extends into a surface of the terminal plate.

A rivet with improved structure for forming flat-bottom riveting of plates, which comprises a rivet cover, a rivet shoulder and a rivet body; specifically, the rivet cover is provided with a torque transmission structure and a positioning structure for driving the rivet to rotate; the rivet body comprises an inner cavity of the rivet body, an outer wall of the rivet body and an end of the rivet body; with the present invention, the bottom surface of the joint can be flush with the surface of the connected plates, which facilitates the subsequent processing of the coverage on the bottom surface, reduces the wind resistance coefficient of the joint, and broadens the application range of the process.

This disclosure presents a terminal (30) for a secondary cell (40). The terminal (30) comprises a terminal plate (20) comprising a through-hole (21) and an inner surface (23) adapted to face the interior of the secondary cell (40). The terminal (30) further comprises a terminal rivet (1) that extends through the through-hole (21) of the terminal plate (20). The terminal rivet (1) comprises a first flange (6) that comprises a protruding portion (7), and the protruding portion (7) extends into the inner surface (23) of the terminal plate (20) in a riveted state (1b). The disclosure also presents a terminal rivet (1).

The present rivet invention has a main body comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the main body further comprises a lateral wall disposed at the second end and circumferentially extending around the main body; and a core part disposed at the second end of the main body and contained inside the lateral wall of the main body, wherein the core part has an end surface for pressing against at least an end surface of one of the work pieces when the rivet is being operated to rivet the work pieces, to allow materials of the work pieces flow outwardly of the core part. An accommodation space is formed between the core part and the lateral wall to receive materials of the work pieces flowing into the space and deform outwardly at least a portion of the lateral wall of the main body.

This disclosure presents a terminal (30) for a secondary cell (40). The terminal (30) comprises a terminal plate (20) comprising a through-hole (21) and an inner surface (23) adapted to face the interior of the secondary cell (40). The terminal (30) further comprises a terminal rivet (1) that extends through the through-hole (21) of the terminal plate (20). The terminal rivet (1) comprises a first flange (6) that comprises a protruding portion (7), and the protruding portion (7) extends into the inner surface (23) of the terminal plate (20) in a riveted state (1b). The disclosure also presents a terminal rivet (1).

The invention relates to a self-punching fastening element for connecting a first workpiece to a second workpiece. The fastening element comprises a ring section that surrounds an opening of the fastening element in a peripheral direction and that has a workpiece contact surface, which is bounded at a radial outer side by a punching edge, and a shaft section that is connected to the ring section by means of a coupling section, that is arranged coaxially with the opening, that extends from the side of the ring section remote from the workpiece contact surface, and that has an outer contour that is designed complementary to an inner contour of the opening such that the shaft section can be guided at least partly through the opening after a separation of the connection with the ring section. Furthermore, the invention relates to a component assembly, comprising a self-punching fastening element as well as a first workpiece and possibly a second workpiece, and to a method of manufacturing the component assembly.

A method of riveting comprising providing a rivet having a head and a shank depending downwardly therefrom, the shank terminating in a tip and being hollow so as to define a rivet interior, receiving an insert at least partially within the rivet interior, placing the rivet and insert on the opposite side of a workpiece from a die, driving the rivet and the insert towards the die and into the workpiece under the action of a force using a punch along a central axis, and reacting the force using the die so as to cause the rivet to flare outwardly and interlock the workpiece.

A method of riveting comprising providing a rivet having a head and a shank depending downwardly therefrom, the shank terminating in a tip and being hollow so as to define a rivet interior, receiving an insert at least partially within the rivet interior, placing the rivet and insert on the opposite side of a workpiece from a die, driving the rivet and the insert towards the die and into the workpiece under the action of a force using a punch along a central axis, and reacting the force using the die so as to cause the rivet to flare outwardly and interlock the workpiece.