Resistance welding fasteners, apparatus and methods for joining dissimilar materials and assessing joints made thereby
US10593034B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30136
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for method for joining materials includes a rivet that may extend through a first sheet to be resistance welded to a second sheet. The head of the rivet has a cavity and vents allowing adhesive extruded from a pilot hole to be received in the cavity and vented in a direction parallel to the first sheet. The rivet is deformed to an hourglass shape that fills the pilot hole and displaces the first sheet into the cavity. Rivet dimension allow for holding with a robotic gripper that can be withdrawn before welding. Methods of monitoring joint quality include comparing welding parameter profiles and images of good and discrepant joints.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.