BLIND RIVET, AND SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING SEALED BLIND RIVET JOINTS

Abstract

A blind rivet, for connecting workpieces, comprising a hollow, deformable rivet body with a bearing collar and a sleeve attached thereto, a rivet mandrel in the sleeve and extending through the bearing collar, having a tool holder head, and a sealing ring. The sealing ring is arranged between the bearing collar and the tool holder head and is made of a curable and not fully cured sealing material. During contraction of the blind rivet, the sealing ring is pressed axially towards the bearing collar by a tool that can be connected to the tool holder head or by a section of the rivet mandrel. The sealing ring is designed to flow radially and axially into gaps and spaces on the bearing collar and between the bearing collar and the workpieces while the sealing ring is compressed, and to adhere there.

Claims

1. A blind rivet for connecting workpieces, the blind rivet comprising: a hollow, deformable rivet body with a bearing collar and a sleeve attached thereto; a rivet mandrel arranged in the sleeve and extending through the bearing collar, having a tool holder head, and at least one sealing ring; wherein the at least one sealing ring is arranged between the bearing collar and the tool holder head; wherein the at least one sealing ring is made of a curable and not fully cured sealing material; wherein the at least one sealing ring is arranged in such a manner that during contraction of the blind rivet it is pressed axially towards the bearing collar by a tool that is configured to be connected to the tool holder head or by a section of the rivet mandrel, and, wherein the at least one sealing ring is configured to flow radially and axially into gaps and spaces on the bearing collar and between the bearing collar and the workpieces while the sealing ring is compressed, and to adhere there.

2. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the rivet mandrel comprises an external thread at an end facing away from the tool holder head, wherein the external thread corresponds to an internal thread in the sleeve, and wherein the tool holder head has a first profile to transfer rotation from the tool to the rivet mandrel, which first profile corresponds to a second profile of a tool.

3. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the rivet mandrel has a circumferential collar that rests on the bearing collar of the rivet body.

4. The blind rivet according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sealing ring is arranged between the circumferential collar and the bearing collar.

5. The blind rivet according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sealing ring is arranged between the tool holder head and the circumferential collar.

6. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the bearing collar has protrusions on a side facing away from the tool holder head, said protrusions become wedged with the workpieces during the contraction of the blind rivet and preventing the rivet body from rotating.

7. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the bearing collar has notches on a side of the bearing collar facing the tool holder head, and wherein the at least one sealing ring is dimensioned such that the notches are filled with sealing material after the contraction of the blind rivet.

8. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the tool holder head is free from cetyl alcohol.

9. The blind rivet according to claim 1, further comprising: a resin coating.

10. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing ring is heat-curable, UV-curable, moisture-curing, or a combination thereof.

11. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing ring is configured to be filled immediately following the contraction of the blind rivet.

12. The blind rivet according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing ring is a two-component mixture, which is prepared before attaching the at least one sealing ring or is realized in a form of two contactable sealing rings with components which are separate from one another and mix with one another upon contraction.

13. A system for producing sealed blind rivet connections, the system comprising: the blind rivet according to claim 1; and at least one tool configured to be connected to the tool holder head.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least tool has a tool nose piece with a nose surface configured to be brought into contact with the at least one sealing ring and wherein the nose surface is coated with a release agent.

15. A method for producing sealed blind rivet connections on workpieces, the method comprising the steps: creating a rivet hole in the workpieces; inserting the blind rivet according to claim 1 into the rivet hole; and contracting the rivet body using a tool while the at least one sealing ring is compressed.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one sealing ring is a two-component mixture which is formed into a ring-shaped bead before the blind rivet is inserted and placed onto the blind rivet.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one sealing ring is configured to be removed immediately before the blind rivet is inserted from an airtight package, a cooled package, or a combination thereof, and placed onto the blind rivet, or wherein the blind rivet with the at least one sealing ring fitted is removed immediately prior to insertion from an airtight packaging, a cooled packaging, or a combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The exemplary embodiments are explained in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The depictions are schematic and not to scale. Identical reference signs refer to identical or similar elements. In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a blind rivet according to an exemplary embodiment in an uncontracted, neutral state and in a contracted state;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a blind rivet according to a further exemplary embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a bearing collar;

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a system for producing blind rivet connections; and,

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a method for producing blind rivet connections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a blind rivet 2 for connecting workpieces 4a and 4b. These could be made from metallic sheet metal or a plastic material, for example, possibly with fiber reinforcement, and might be used for an aircraft component or similar application. The two workpieces 4a and 4b lie flush with one another and have a rivet hole 6 that extends completely through both workpieces 4a and 4b. The blind rivet 2 is inserted into the rivet hole 6 and is located on the left side of the drawing plane in a neutral (delivery) state.

[0040] The blind rivet 2 comprises a hollow, deformable rivet body 8 with a bearing collar 10 and a sleeve 12 attached thereto. Inside the sleeve 12 is a rivet mandrel 14 which comprises a tool holder head 16 positioned outside the sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 has an internal thread 20 at an end 18 facing away from the tool holder head 16, while the rivet mandrel 14 has an external thread 22 complementary thereto in that location. By rotating the rivet mandrel 14, with the position of the mandrel 14 unchanged, the end 18 of the sleeve 12 is pressed against the external thread 22 in the direction of the rivet hole 6. The sleeve 12 is then deformed accordingly. This is shown on the right side of the drawing plane. The deformation leads to radial bulges 24 in the sleeve 12 which compress the workpieces 4a and 4b together with the bearing collar 10.

[0041] By way of example, the rivet mandrel 14 has a circumferential collar 26 that is pressed during the contraction of the sleeve 12 in the direction of the bearing collar 10. Between the circumferential collar 26 and the bearing collar 10, there is a sealing ring 28 made of a curable sealing material. After being positioned on the blind rivet 2, the sealing material is in a state that allows for a ring-shaped arrangement around the rivet mandrel 14, yet it is sufficiently paste-like or pliable to be radially compressed during the contraction of the rivet body 8. During the contraction of the rivet body 8 and the pressing of the circumferential collar 26 against the bearing collar 10, a layer of sealing material 30 is therefore created by compressing the sealing ring 28, which layer of sealing material extends over the entire bearing collar 10 when the sealing ring 28 is properly sized. Any gaps or spaces between the outer workpiece 4a and the bearing collar 10 or between the bearing collar 10 and the circumferential collar 26 are thereby completely covered. It may be advisable for the sealing material to be filled subsequently or smoothed with a putty knife.

[0042] On the right side of FIG. 1, the tool holder head 16 is depicted in a broken-off state, which is achieved through the complete contraction of the rivet body 8 by exceeding a predetermined torque limit. The rivet connection is then complete. By way of example, the tool holder head 16 has a first profile 32 that is designed to match a second profile of a tool (not shown here) for connecting the tool and the tool holder head 16.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a blind rivet 34, in which the rivet body 8 is configured in the same manner, but the rivet mandrel 14 does not include a circumferential collar 26. The sealing ring 28 is arranged directly between the tool holder head 16 and the bearing collar 10. During the contraction of the rivet body 8, a tool nose piece (see FIG. 4) is pressed via the sealing ring 28 onto the bearing collar 10, so that the sealing material is thereby compressed.

[0044] In FIG. 3, the bearing collar 10 is shown in an oblique plan view. On an underside 36 facing away from the tool holder head 16, the bearing collar 10 has multiple projections 38 distributed over the bearing collar 10. The projections 38 press into the outer workpiece 4a, thereby counteracting a rotation of the rivet body 8.

[0045] It is conceivable for notches 40 to be provided on the side facing the tool holder head 16 too, which can be brought into form-fitting engagement with the tool nose piece (see FIG. 4), in order to counteract rotation of the rivet body 8. By compressing the sealing material, the notches 40 are filled with the sealing material. Subsequent filling can completely distribute the sealing material within the notches 40.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a system 42 for producing sealed blind rivet connections. In this case, a blind rivet 34 is shown as in FIG. 2, which is coupled with a tool 44. The tool holder head 16 in this case is inserted into a second profile 46, enabling it to be rotated by the tool 44. The tool 44 has a tool nose piece 48 which has a nose surface 50 that can be brought into contact with the sealing ring 28, which nose surface 50 is arranged, for example, in a ring around a receiving opening 52 of the tool 44. This can act on the sealing ring 28 when the rivet body 8 contracts, so that said sealing ring forms the sealing material layer 30, as depicted in the lower representation in FIG. 4. Only by way of example, the nose surface 50 may have engagement elements 51 which engage with the notches 40 in the rivet body 8, if these are provided and desired.

[0047] Finally, FIG. 5 shows a method for producing sealed blind rivet connections on workpieces, encompassing the steps of making 54 the rivet hole 6 in the workpieces 4a and 4b, inserting 56 the blind rivet 2 or 34 into the rivet hole 6 and contracting 58 the rivet body 8 using the tool 44 while compressing the at least one sealing ring 28. The at least one sealing ring 28 in this case may be a two-component mixture, shaped into a ring-like bead 60 before inserting 56 the blind rivet 2 or 34, and placed 62 onto the blind rivet 2 or 34. Alternatively, the at least one sealing ring 28 could be removed from an airtight and/or cooled packaging 64 immediately before inserting 56 the blind rivet 2 or 34 and placed 62 onto the blind rivet 2 or 34, or the blind rivet 2 or 34, with the sealing ring 28 fitted, could be removed from an airtight and/or cooled packaging 66 immediately before inserting 56.

[0048] Upon completion of the blind rivet connection, the sealing material can be filled 68.

[0049] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 2 blind rivet [0051] 4a, 4b workpiece [0052] 6 rivet hole [0053] 8 rivet body [0054] 10 bearing collar [0055] 12 sleeve [0056] 14 rivet mandrel [0057] 16 tool holder head [0058] 18 end [0059] 20 internal thread [0060] 22 external thread [0061] 24 radial bulge [0062] 26 circumferential collar [0063] 28 sealing ring [0064] 30 sealing material layer [0065] 32 first profile [0066] 34 blind rivet [0067] 36 underside [0068] 38 projection [0069] 40 notch [0070] 42 system [0071] 44 tool [0072] 46 second profile [0073] 48 tool nose piece [0074] 50 nose surface [0075] 52 receiving opening [0076] 54 making the rivet hole [0077] 56 inserting the blind rivet [0078] 58 contracting the rivet body [0079] 60 shaping into a ring-like bead [0080] 62 placing onto the blind rivet [0081] 64 removing sealing ring from airtight and/or cooled packaging [0082] 66 removing blind rivet from airtight and/or cooled packaging [0083] 68 filling