CA1270388A - Self-attaching fastener, method of installation and installation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to self-piercing fasteners, such as studs, bolts or nuts, the method of attaching such fasteners to a panel and fasteners installation apparatus, including the installation head and die button.
The fastener includes a self-piercing and riveting annular wall which is driven into a panel supported against a die member by the installation head. The die member includes an annular die cavity surrounding central projecting die portion which is telescopically receivable in the free open end of the fastener annular wall. The free end of the fastener annular wall includes a piercing surface which mates with a piercing surface at the outer edge of the projecting die portion to pierce a slug from the panel. The panel slug is then pressed into the opening in the annular fastener wall by the conical end of the projecting die portion and the free end of the annular wall is simultaneously deformed radially outwardly in the die cavity forming a rigid mechanical interlock with the pierced panel edge.

Description

~7~38~3 8ELP~ C:RINC; ~AST~Nl~, XlllFl'~OD 11:3P ~ST~ ~O~

Tlhe ~or ut h~lud~ ~ s~ leh ~y ~l~o ~
dmultaneou~ly ~ hod to ~e~ure ~e nuS In the ~er~ed pu~ h ~s dis230sed ~n United St~tes Pat~nts Nos. 3,299,~00 ~d 3"~14,138, ~igne~ ~o th~
~ssignee of the inst~nt ~pplic~tion. ~he prjor art ~o ineludes a ~umb~r q9~ self-riveting nuts, in~luding nu~s h~ing sn armul~r ~kirt por~on wh~eh ~ defOPrf ~d rlldi~Iy outwardly In d die member to ~orm ~ m~h~e~ Int~rlock wIth the panel, ~ee for example United S~ates ~atent~ Nos. ~,~38,23~ and 4,018,257. The l~lf~iY~!tirlg nuts disclo~ed in these p~tents ~re however se~ur2d to 11 p~nel I~Ying ~ prepierced panel ~penin~, reg!liring ~t least two ~eparate oper~ions.
~urther~ the nut ~nd panel ~mbly i6 not. ~uit~ble or ~ufficiellUy ri~id go ileeure Q ~tud, bolt or oUler member ha~rlg ~ projeeting poYtion extending ~r~m the plane of the pflnel.

The prior ~rt ~lso disclo~es means of ~ttaching ~ I;tud-like ~o$tener, ~herei~ the ~tud In~ludes ~ ~r ond por~iorl ~h}~h pen~rat~i pl~te or ~ru~t~ toel memb~r, ~i~ ~a~y ~ orm~d r~diAlls~ i~w~ly srour.d ~ plug fc~rmed in the p~nel, ~8 ~or e2c~mple llnited 8~a~es P~ten~s No~.
4~3,~33 ~nd ~,8717264. T3~e ~læ~d llt~hm~nt mean~ ~md ~eU~od of ~tt~hment ~re ~t l~o~ever ~ultQ~le ~or m~ny Qppli~aU~ns, puti~rly ~u~motive ~pli~ation~ requiri~ a r~ld ~nn2eSion ~tween ~ relatlvel$~ Wn 1i~703~

panel Qnd a ~tud-like f~stener, ~hi~h mu~t b2 rigidly oeocur~d to the U~ nel.

It i~ u~der~to~d that the prior ~srt ~o holu~ vor~oue r~eting te¢hniques, wl)er~in the ~utsn~r Include~ an unnular Qnd l~rtlon ~hich m~y be pr~tted through ~n openin~ Ulel9 ~ ch 1~ then a~eted or r~ldislly outw~y deform~d by a die memb~r h~ing an ~Mul~ emi ~oroid~ y And may include ~ pr~e~ting c~ntr~l dfe portion ~hich ~s rlec~iv~d in t~le snnular riv~ting ~nâ of Ulc fastener. E~mples of ~u¢h prior ~rt ~ncludes Vnited ~tates P3t~nts ~aOs. 1,~8,01~ 2,456,11&, 2~521~505, ~9~ 03~ ~,75~7~ 039~08~ ~d ~,092,773.

The inventor named herein obtained German Patent 3003908 C2 filed in West Germany February 2, 1980, published August 13, 1981 and issued October 18, 1984. Figure~ l to 6 of this disclosure correspond with the drawings of the German patent.

The ~elf-attaching ~sstener of the psesent ~nventi~n ~orm~ ~
unique and improved f~stener and panel ~sembly in rel~ti~ely thin p~nels and Y~hich is ~ufficiently ~ifid to 6ecure a stud-like f~st~ner ha~ing a proje~ing ~nd pOPti~n. Further, th~ f~tener, method and installation toollng of thl~ in~r~ntioll ~ ultable ~or mass production, part~cularly automotive ~pplic~tions utilizing autom~tic presses. ~indly, the fRstener ~nd panel a~sembly may be formed ~n one ~ntinuGIas oper~ n iJl ~ die press or t~ like, elim~nating ~e requir~ment ~or ~e~ond~ry oper~tisn~ uding prepiercin~ the panel.

~D

~he pre~ent linvention r~l~tes to ~elf~ercing ~s~d ~veting ~, ) )38~3 .

fasteners, in~luding ~tuds, b~lts, ~IU~ or the aiket ~he ~ tho~ of l~t~aeh~g ~ueh ~steners to ~ panel ~nd the ~ast~neP ~t~tlon ~ tus, in¢luding ~e ~nsWlation he~d which feeds~ ori~n~s ~nd drlve~ the f~terlor Into She p~ nd tlle die buttor ~hich forms the ~ast~ner ~nd panel in~t~ation ~embly.

8UMMARY OF T~E INVENTXON

The ulf-attaching member or f~tener of Uae pre~ent in~ention isi~ludes ~ head or body portion snd Q ~ p~er~ing and riveting aM~ar ~Yall whi~h extends from ~he body portion. The ~nntd~ ~ ~nclude~ uter s~rfa~e Qnd preferably ~ generally ~mooth irmer ~urf~ce terminating in ~ piercing surface ~djacent the free end of the ~nnuler wall which pierces 8 l~lUg from the psnel during in~tallation. The p~nel slug ~ then dispo~ed ~ @ ~avity or ~hsmber in the annul~r wall, which ~upports the annul~ wall ~g~inst oollsp~e as the free end of the fQstener ~nnulAr wsll i~ deîormed r~dially GUtWIElr~y to form a me~hanical interlock with the pQnel. In the most preferred embodiment ~f the ~elî-~tta~hirlg fastener of this invention, the fsstener piercing ~urface ~s ~fined by sn outwardly angled annul~r piercing f~ee or chaniber e~tending from ~dj~eent the free end of the annular wa~l to the inner ~urface, wherein the psnel i6 pier~ed ~long the ~nul~r piercing f~e, forming R psnel 81ug having a di~meter ~ightly greater th~n the internal diameter of the ~nnul~r w~ and wherein the dug forms 8 pr~ss fit ~gæinst the inner ~urf~ce o~ the as~ r ~. Thic embodiment is p~rti~arly preferred whera the f~stensr ~ ~ ~tu~like f~staner ~nd the inner ~urf~ce of the ~nnular ~vall term~na~os In ~ boS~om w~l. The panel 8111g i21 ~n deformed against the ~hsmber bottom ~llp ~ecurely reta~ning the ~dug in the ~hamber snd the ~lug be~omes an ~nt~ral part of U~e Qssembly. In the pr~erred embodiment oî ~ nut ~stener9 ~he p~ercin~ ~urf~e ~ a relatively d~
piercing edge ud~Acent the free inner ~nd o~ She ~nnular ~ nd U~e ~lug is removed arter Assembly.

~27~

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a self piercing and rive~ing member for attachment to a panel, said member having a body portion and a self-piercing and riveting annular wall extending from same body portion, said annular wall having an outer surface and a generally smooth inner surface terminating in an outwardly angled annular piercing face adjacent the free end of said annular wall for piercing a slug from the panel having a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said annular wall inner surface, said inner surface terminating in a bottom wall defining a socket opening through said annular wall free end for receipt of the panel slug, and said annular wall free end joining said outer surface in a radius for deforming said panel into a die opening.
In another aspect of this invention there is provided a- 6elf-piercing ~tud fastener for ~ttachment to a panel or the liXe, having an unthreaaed sha~k portion and a s~l.t-Piercing and xiveting end portion, said fastener having an enlarged head portion located between the shank and the self-penetrating and riveting end portion, the top surface of said head portion providing an annular pressing surface adapted to be flush with the top surface of the panel after installa-tion;
said self-piercing and riveting end portion having a central recess enclosed by a self-piercing and riveting wall on-at least opposed sides of said recess;
said self-piercing and riveting wall having an internal surface adjacent said recess terminating in a relatively sharp piercing edge adjacent its distal end;
said piercing edge adapted to pierce an opening in said panel, said recess terminating in a non-planar bottom wall spaced from said wall distal piercing edge a distance greater t~han the thickness of ~aid panel, 3~

said recess adapted to receive the slug pierced from said panel which is deformed against said bottom wall midportion to deform said slug against said wall internal surface, and the outer distal edge of said self-piercing and riveting wall including an arcuate drawing ~edge adapted to draw the pierced panel edge toward said distal end as the panel is pierced by said piercing edge, thereby, to retain said self-piercing and riveting end portion in said pierced panel opening.
In a further aspect of this invention there is provided a metal stud member adapted for permanent attachment -to a plate which is adapted to be supported on a female die, said stud member comprising an unthreaded shank and a head at one end of the shank, said head termi~nating in a non-hardened annular piercing and riveting portion, said head having an enlarged portion between the shank and the piercing and riveting portion, the top surface of the enlarged portion providing an annular pressing surface adapted to be flush with the top surface of the panel after installation, said annular piercing and riveting portion having an outer surface and a recess with said recess terminating in a generally non-planar bottom wall bridging said annular portion, a piercing surface forming part of said annular portion adapted to pierce a slug from a plate having a thickness lecs than the length of said annular portion, leaving a pierced panel edge bent in the direction of piercing, said recess adapted to receive said plate slug as the annular piercing and riveting portion penetrates the plate, and said slug being deformed against the bottom wall of said recess, said annular portion being adapted to interlock with the pierced panel edge.

~7~3~38 The ~lf~atta~ Jd f~tsne~ of ~e ~ont ~v~ntion Ylr2 partioularly ~dapt~d ~r tr~uîer ~rom a hopper or oth~r ~l.arce ~ ~ast~ner~ t~
the ~tallation head ~hrough ~ ~lexible tub~ 6 describod~ ~he ~tud f~s~enors include an el~ ted ~ank portion ~d ~ tubul~r riv~ti~ wdl portion g~n~r~lly ooaxiHlly aligned with the ~hank portion ~nd prererably haYin~ sn int~rn&l diameter greater than the externsl diAme~er o~ the !Ihanlc por~on. The f~stener may then be co~leeted In tnl~ flexible tube as a ~ack of f~s~eners where~ each fastener has ~n elongated shank portion received in the ~dja¢ent fastener tubular wa~l portion and ~e st~ck o~ f~steners i~ wf~i~iently ~lesible for transfer through the fle~ble tu~e.

It will be understood th~t the ~elf-attaehing ~tener of the present in~ention may be of ~lmost ~ny ~onfiguration. For e~ample, the fastener may ~e ~ stud, bolt, nut, b~ll joint, wherein ~e ~nd of the shank in~ludes ~
member or other fsstening means. As used herein, "fa~tener" refers not only to the function of the fastener ~o sttEIeh another struetural member to the plmel, but ~lso the means of ~tt~ching t~e ~astener to thie plmel. It ~ill also be ~mderstood ~hat the ~e1f~ttaehing f~stener, m0thod of ~tta~hment ~
inst~llstion appar~tus is ~ complete ~ystem, tvher~n the inst~ tion app~ratlls is if i~lly ~d~pted to in~tall the sel~-~Staching ~stener of this inYention by the method ~ this invention, preferably In a eontinuous oper~tion. The r~ultant f~tener and psnel ~ssembly i~ ~lso ~que, wherein the mechani~l interlock between th~ 6elf-pier~ing end ri~eting w~ll is e~ctremely ri~d and ~tronger than the panel to which the f~tener is in~t~lled.

Oth~ ~dv~t~ m~rito~ic~ f~ture~ ~111 be more ~ully u~derstood ~rom the follo~ing de~crlipUon Or the p~e~err~ mbodim@rlt~ of the ~astener, meth~d of install~tion ~d the in~t~llation ~Qratu~, U~e ~pended cla~ms and the dr~wings, ~ brief de~ription of which ~ollows.

~ 6 --~L~7~38~

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side, partially cross-sectioned view of a pxior ar~ self-attaching fastener in the form of a threaded bolt;

Figure 2 is a side view of a further prior art self-attaching bolt;

Figure 3 is a partially cross sectioned side view of the self-attaching bolt shown in Fiyure 1 ready for installation in a panel, including one embodiment of the installation apparatus;

Figure 4 is a side view of the center die portion shown in Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are partially cross-sectioned side elevations of the self-attaching bolt and installation apparatus shown in Figure 3 illustrating the sequence of installation;

- Figure 7 is a partially cross sectioned-side elevation of an embodiment of the self-attaching fastener of this invention in the form of a stud;

Figures 8 to 11 are partially cross-sectioned views of the self-attaching stud shown in Figure 7 and an embodiment of the installation apparatus illustrating the sequence of installation of the stud of Fiyure 7 in a panel;

Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the die member shown in Figures 8 to 11;

Figure 13 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the die member shown in Figure 12;

3~38 Fig~e 1~ i5 h dde p~ti~lly erogs~e~tioned ~ of ehe ~tud ~nd panel assembly formed ~ the method æequen~e illu~tr~tod ~ l~igure~ 8 to 11;

Pigure 15 i~ a dde partig~ly ~r~ectinned ~w of one em~diment v~ the nstal~atioll he~d app~ratus o~ thi8 ~l~enti~n ~tt~hing ~tud f~stener re~dy for ~r~t~ tion;

PiKure 16 ~s Rn end p~ lly ~s~u:tion~d view of the ~tallation appar~tus ~hown in Fi~e 15 ~n the direction of view ~rro~ 16-16;

Figure 17 is a parti~lly ~ro~s~eotioned side riew of the Instsllation he~d apparatus shown in ~igure 15 in ~ f~ther stage in the E~equence of inshllation;

Figure 18 is ~ top devation of the nose as~embly s~own in Figures 15 ~d 17, in the direction of view arrow~ 18;

Figure 19 is ~n end ~ti~ly ~ross ~ectioned Yiew of the install~tion he~d appQratus shown in ~igures 15 to 17 ~n the position ~hown in ~igure 17;

Figure ~0 ~s ~ dde parti~lly ~ro~-*ectioned ~riew of ~no~her emb~dim~nt of the inst~ tion he~d ~pp~ratus of th3s inveneion;

~ igur~ 21 ~6 a top e~ev~tion of the nose as~eJn~ly a~own ~n ~igure 20 ~n the dire~tion o~ v~ew ~rrows 21-21;

~ igure 22 is ~ t~p per~p~ctive ~liew of th~ ~op means of the tran*fer mechan~m ~n th~ l~tallation he~d Qpp~r~sw of Figure 20;

Pl~ures 23 to 25 ~re p~lPti~Jly cro~s~ection~d rdde edevations of the inst~llation head app~r~tus ~hown ln ~igure 20 illustr~tlng the ~quenlce of ~7~

~st~ tion of the eelf-att~ehing ~stener ~1l the beQd app~tus;

~ igure 26 ~6 a p~rti~lly cross~ctioned dde olev~tiorl of a da~k of ~tud~like ~steners of this invention in a ~le~ble e~ansfer tube;

~ igure 27 i~ ~ partially ero~e~tion~d d~o elov~ion of ano~er ~mbodiment D~ the self-~t~a~hing ~ener o this ~n~ention in the orm of a nut;

~ igur~ 28 is ~ psrtially ~ross~ectioned dde elevation ~ the l~elf-attaching nut f~stener showrl in ~igure 27 follt~wing Inst~l~ion in gn altcrnative embodiment of the install~tion apparatus of this inventisn; snd, Figure 29 is a pRrtielly ~ross-sectioned side elevaffon of the self-~tt~ching nut fastener and inst~}lation ~ppsratuLs ~hown in Figure 28 in ~e ~in31 ~tep of the installation.

038~

DESCRIPIION OF THE PREPERRED 13MBODIMENTS OF THE INV~NTION

1~ describ0d above, U)e ~ attachine fa~tener of thls ~nv~ti~n ~s parU~ularly ~d~pted ~tcr permanerlt attachment of the f~ener to ~ platc or panel~ p~rti~ularly a n~tal ~heet or ~he l~ke, ~uch a~ ~AtDized ~ e automotl~r~
indllstry for oomporlent parts~ e ~elf-attsching f~tener ~ on ~pparatus o~ this Lnvention L~ p~rU~ rly sult~b~e ~or ~tallation ~onvention~l press, such ~s utilized by the Hut~mot~Ve 1~dustry ~o gorm oh~et metQl ~ n~luding body ~nel~ and the like. Ln wch ~plicQ~ions, ~he pr~s i~talls one or m~re fasteners with ~ach ~troke of the press, wh~rein the fastener boeomes a permanent p~rt of the panel and i6 ùti~i2ed to ~ffi~ other ~ tur41 members, 6uch ~s brackets or the like to the panel. ~urther, ~s described abDve,the ~elf-~ttaching f~stener ~f this in~ention is p~rticul~rly suitable for ~tt~chment to relatively thin ~heets or panels, wch a~ utili~ed by the ~utomotiYe and appliance ~dustries. ~s used hzrein, "pRnel" refer~ to ~ny pl~te; panel or metAl ~heet h~vis~g Q ~hickness thin enougtl ~or the snnulsr ~f~piercing ~nd ~iveting wall to penetr~te She panel ~d proYide ~m~nt ~leAr6nce for ~Iv~ting tta~hment, ~s described.
Figures 1 to 6 inclusive correspond ~ith ~igure 1 to 6 of German Patent 3003908 C2 published August 13, 1981.
The description of these figures has been retained as an intro-duction to the further inventions that are disclosed herein.
P~e 1 ~u~tr~tes ~ ~e~ nd ~vot~3 ~ltlO ~hich ~nsists ~ssentially of ~ cylindri~ h~k 20 hsving ~n e~t~rnal thread, ~ head portjon or nan~e e~tending r~di~lly outw~dly ~rom the 3~ r~ion ~d on ~nular piercing ~nd ri~ting portion 40 ~ lly aligned w~th th~ Ehank portion ~nd forming ~n ~ensiorl of the ~h~nk ~s on ~e dde o~ the h~ad 30 r~ t~
grom the ~h~ 20.

N~re ~p0cific011y, the head 30 o2 the ~ ttaching bolt ~shown ln Pigure 1 i5 ~itu~t~d Dn the end sur2~ce oppos1te the fre~ ~nd 21 of Ule~ ~hank ~nd lncludes an ~~ r presslng ~urf2¢e 31 ~hich Irurrounds th~ ~ank 20. lrhe opposlte ~lde o~ ~he head portion Include3 ~n u~n~r 1~ar1n~ ~utflsce 32 8~

~urrourding the ~f~iereing ~nd r~Yeting ~rtiorl $nd bou~ded by a st~mpis~g eslge 33. The free end ~rtion ~1 of the uu~ Qclu~ an open~ o a ~entral recess ~3 which tapers sli~hUy ~onic~y to a bottom ws~ ~a. In the di~elosed embodiment, tS e bottom ~ 4a ~ C~ gnd eonv~l~, extonding at an ~ngle ~5 obliquely ~rom ~he ~ of th~ t~ch~g b~lt li). The out~r e~e ~aa of the e~nic~l bottom wall ~2 ~nd th~ bearlng wrfll~e ~2 11~ 1n ~ppro~imately the ~me pl~ne in the disclo~ed embodiment. ~s ~Lselo~ed more ~ly llerein~elow, U~e bottsm tva~l 4~ o~ the r~ce~ 4~ ff~ the ~tud typs f~tenersmay be either convex ~r eonc~ve to ~coomod~te v~vu~ paoel thickn~ses.

The free end 41 of U~e annul~r w~ ~6 ~ncludes a cutting or piercing odge 47, which bounds the central recess ~3, ~nd an ~nnular Arcuate driving ~d dr~wing ~urf~ce 48. The driving and drawing surf~ce 48 ~ oriented gener~ly perpendicular to the ~xls of the ~ attachi-~g bolt 10 and the outer surfsce of the free end OI the ~nnul~r lq9~ ~ncludes a rolanded driving ~d dr~wing surface 49 interconnecting tbe dr~wing æurfsce 48 ~nd the externsl k~ying wall 50. In the ~closed emb~diment of the ~elf-attaching ~lt, the keying wall 50 tapers from the ~riving and drawing ~urface 49 towar~; the h~ad portion 30 ~t ~ clear~nce sngle 51 relative to the axis of the bolt 19 ~nd blends ~nto the be~ring sur~sce 32 of the head 30 in ~n arcuEIte ~urfQce.

~ igure 2 illu~trates a ~eond embodiment o~ the ~lf-att~ching astener in the form of ~ self-piereing ~d Piveting ~rew fasten~r 100. The screw fast~ner of Plgure 2 dif~rs from U~e self-piePcing ~l~ lû o~ ~igure 1 in Sh~t a guiding and spacing step 125 i~ at~d or~ e ~ of the riveting s~rew be~ween ~e end face o~ the threaded ~hRnJc 1~0 ~d U~e he~d 13D. ~he guiding and ~p~cing ~tep lZ5 in~ludes an ~ r pre~sing ~urface 126 whi~h sllrrounds t~e ~hank 12û and ~n~ludes ~ ~ransiffon ~t ~ ~hou'idar into ~n ~djae~nt pr~3sing EurfRce 131 of the h~Rd 130.

The irstall~tion appar~tw shown ln ~igure 3 ~ludes a plun~rer or ~7~388 pressing die ~0 and ~ female die or die button 70 h~ing a ~entr~l ~ounte~hole die or bot~ 80. The pressin~ die or pllu~er $~ ms3~ eomp~nent of II'OlAtiVely eomplex inst~ tion ~om ~vhi~h ineludes ~ Ins~l~tion l~d, shuttle ~d tr~nsfer me~ s d~scrib~d more tully her~nbelow. The pre~sing die or plu~er includes a cerltral reoess or ~ore 62 ~hieh rl~oel~f~ th~ ~hardc ~û ~
the bolt ~astener and an ~n~ar ~nd portior.61 ~hi~ eng2ges Ue p~e~sing ~ur~aoe 31 og the body portion of the f~tener, ~ ~e ~YelOS;od embodiment of the insta~lation appsr~tus, a ~ieN~iereing ~n~ ~v~ting ~ere~ or bolt 10 a~ ~lownin Fi~e 1 is locsted ready 20r in3t~ation with U e thre~ded ~ar~c 20 rece~ived in ghe ~entral recess 62 ~nd the ~nnu}ar pressing ~ Qce 61 o~ the die ~0 engaging the pressing ~urfa~e 31 of the bolt 10. The dr~wing ~urfa~e 48 At the ~ree end of the annulsr wall 48 bears ~gainst the panel 00. It ~ill ~e noted Ulat the panel 90 i~ generally perpendic~r to the longitudin~l ~ns of the ~elf-piercing and ri~eting bolt 10 and the p~nel L~ ulpported on the 6elati7lg ~urface 71 of the female die 70. The ~emale die 70 includes ~ l depression or ~oncaYe die cavity ~2 which is ~o~ally ~igned with the annu~r ~all 40 and the panel supporting or se~ting surf~ce 71 is connected to the die CllYity through a blending radius 73. The die ~avity 7a includes Q bo~tom wall 74 w21ioh, ln the disc~osed em~diment9 is gener~lly parallel to the sehting wrf~ce 71 ~nd includes a ~entrAl~ylindrical bore 75.

In the embodiment of the die usembly ~hown in ~ieure 1, a ~ylindric~l courlte~hole die 80 is teleso~pically l~c~ted ~n the ~en$ral die bore 75. In the em~diment of the female die assem~ly o~b~n In Fi~ure 3, one free ~nd of the eounter-)lole die ~0 penetrates into the die ~avity 7a of Ule ~mRle die or die ~utton 70 form~ ~n ~nnular die eavity. A~ 6ho~n In Pigure 4, the free end of the counter-hole die 80 in~ludes a truncated ~ pl~ylng body 81, ~he b~se 82 o~ which ~s situllted at appro~m~tely the level of t}~e bottom w~ll 74 of the Bie cavity 72 and which exten~; ~ener~lly ss far ~s a c~lindrical cutting proie~tion 83. This cuttin~ p~o~ection 83 h~ a di~m~ter ~nerally equ01 to the intern0~ Biameter of ~ rec~ 43 of the ~ piercing an~

~X7~33~3~

rlveting bolt 10 and i~ r~ lly b~lmded at the ~ree ~nd face by a ~utting od8e 84whi~h mates and ~ perstes wi~ ~ho outting e~ee 47 of ~he ~ atta~hing ~olt 10 to pierce a dug ~rom th~ panel ~0. ~urther, the ¢uttlng pto~ctisn 83 includes a oentr~ splaying ~one 85 on Its ree en~ ~a~e ~whi~h preven~ eral rel~Uve movemellt of the p~nel ~ug upon f~t ~on~ct~ ~ ~e ~n~ ~ith the p~mel.

1~ will be ~der~ d ~t ~ in~erme~iate st~p ~n the dis~losed process inelude inserting U~e ~elf-~tt~ching ~lt 10 ~n the r¢e~s 62 ~f the die member Qr plunger 60 ~ ribed more fully bere~ ow. The plunger 60 then moves relative to the female die member 70 ~o plerce the p~nel ~nd instalt the bolt fastener as illustreted in Figures 5 ~nd 6.

As the pressing die or plunger 60 moves ~qith the æel~piercing and riveting bolt lD relative to the fem~le die 70 with the ~ounter-hole die 80 ~nd p~nel 90, the portion of the panel covering the depre~sion or die ~avity 72 in the femsle die is deformed into the die c~vity by ~e ~iving ~nd dr~wing ~urf~ce 48 of the 6elf-attQ~hing bolt around the bending r~dius 73 and Intv the female e~vity 72 of the female die 70. The panel i~ then pierced or ~heared between Ule piercing or cutting edge 47 of the ~elf-riveting bolt 10 asld the ~uttine edge 84 of the cowlter-hole die ~0, forming n dug 91, g~ner~lly corresponding in ~amPter to the intern~l diQmeter o~ the recess ~3 of the ~nnular ~1 of th~ ~tachlng bolt 10. The d~ punchsd or trep~nned out of the panel by the m~ting pier~ing ~:urf~ces ~ own ~n ~i~e 5. The p~nel Dlu@~ 91, ~hi~l ~ dom~d over the 8playing ~one 85 o~ the ~ounter~ole die 80, i~ p~hed during U~e further mo-vPment of the ~pl~ying ~one 35 ~nto the coni~lly t8pering ~ecess ~3 in t~e ~nn~ar ~811. ' Durlng continued rel~tiYe movements of the ~el~-attachir~ bolt 10 ~nd the fem~le die owembly, the ann~r ~D~l ~6 of tbe bolt 10 is pres~ed ag~inst the exterior w0L~ ~urrace Or the ~p~ying body B~ Ofl the counter-hole dio 8û and 3LX~

the free end of ~e ~nnul~ 11 is derorm~d r~di~y outwardly h ~ ~
ag~inst the bottom ~81174 of the ~em~le ~le c~vity 72 .An ann~r p~ripheral groove 52 is thus rormed in the ri~eting ~all ~ wh~ch ~ defined by the ~aped rive1:ing wall ~6 and the bearing surf~ce ~2 of the fQstener hoad 30. The portion o~ the panel ~0 whi~h is deformed into the female die ~ty 7a i5 then deform~â
~IW~dlly illltG the peripheral groo~e 52, ~rming R l~ec~e f~tener ~nd pu~el u;sembly.

8imultaneously, the idug 91 pierced from the p~nel is pressed by the ~ipl~ying cone 85 ~gainst the conYe~ conic~l bottom ~v~ll 42 of the r~e~s 43in the 6tud bolt 10. The opposed conical ~urf~ces of the ~playing oone 85 and the bottom ~all42 of ~he recess deform the 81ug~1 r~ldially outwsrdly, ~irmly ~mming the ~lug in the recess 43 against the inner ~611. The bearing surf~oe 32 of the body portion of ~e s~lf-attaehing bol~ 10 is dmultan~ously pre~$ed into the opposed surface of the panel ~0 ~s 8~10WIl ill l~igure 6. As the bearing wrf~oe 32 is pressed into the panel ~urface, the riveted oonne~ti~n of Ule umular wall 46 and the p~nel 90 is formed. Ln the ~inal as~embly, the ~nn~r ~all 46 is loc~ted between the p~nel pol~tion bearing g~inst the annular wall ~d the pQnel slug 91, whieh is firmly j~mmed in the r~eess 43. The ~ ttaching bolt 10 ~s thus firmly ~nd non rot~t~bly mounted on the p~nel 90 in one ~ontinuous oper~ion, without additional ~ecuring m ~ or ~eiAl ~orming oper~tions.

The panel dug 91 thus p~rforms ~n import~nt funcUon in the ~n~hllation pr~eess and becomes en hltegr~l p~t of the ~¢mbly ~n the ~tud-like f~tener~ ~h~wn in Figures 1 and 2 ~ving ~n encls6ed recess 43. The ~lug h centered and ~upported on the free ~nie~l end ~ of She ~o~mt~r-hole die 80 ~nd loc~ted ln the ~nnular wall recess generally at Ule location of the g~at~st inw~rd ~tress. Por eYnmple, the p~nel ~lug ~ loc~ted ~t the openlng oF the recess 43 immediat~ly following piercing~ ~ shown in Pigure 5, thus pr~ven1:ing collapse ot the umular 7Yall 0s the plercod p~nel ed~e ~ deforrned into the die ~s~vity ~gullst the 0~ternQl ~urfEIce of lthe ~nul~ ~allS l~s ~o~n. ~e dug ~s ~ontinuously moved ~nto the r2~ the ~ de~ormed ndi~lly outwardly, r~in~orc~ the uu~ all during ~he r~di~ Ne~ormati~n ~ the ~r~e ~nd ~ the e~ inally, the ~lug ~ ormed ~ t ~e bOttDm ~g~ ~a of the rece~ hown ln Figure 6, r~infor~ing the ~ en~r ~d p~nel ~ombly ~nd ~rming an ~ntegr~l p~rt of the ~sembly, 8~ d~er~bed.

It will be understood that ~he ~hapg Or th~ arU ~ L6 an~ Ule oonfiguration of the festener portion ~iLl be dependent upon tile p~rtiieul~r function of the ~stener. Por ~x~mple, the ~nnul~r w~ll 46 may be cylindri~
hex~gon~l, octQgonel or other as~nular ~on~igur~tions. The fastening portion 20 m~y be threaded or unthreaded, the ~hQnk m~y i~clude ~ ball, ~levis or ot~er ~astening mear~s or the entire eon~iguration mey be changed or ~ particular ~ppli~ation.

Pigure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the self-attachin~
f~stener of this invention in the form ~f ~ ~tud f~stener 150, The ~tud f~stener includes ~ head or body p~rUon 152 in the form of ~ r~dial flange, en unthre~ded ~hank portion 152 ~nd a self-piercing and riveting ~nnular wall 156. The ~uter ~urf~ce 158 of the ~nnulRr w~ n the disclo~ed embodiment 15 gen~r~lly ~ylin~ric~l 0nd termin~tes in a rosulded driv~ Imd dr~wing ~urf~ce 160. T~e ~nnular wall ~neludes a eentr~l re~ess 16X opening U~rou~h the ~roe end of the mnul~r ~Rll. The ~nner ~urf~ce 16~ o~ the annular ~11 Is also genor811y ~ylindrlc~ e disclosed ~mbodiment and term~2~s In ~ piorcing surface 11i6 ~dj~eent the free end of U~e ~ r w~. The reoess 1~2 terminAt~s In a bo~tom ~all 168, ~ ch i~ the di~losed em~odiment 15 conlc~l ~nd ~e~r~.

The top ~urfeoe 170 of th~ heRd 152 provides ~ annulsr presslng ~urfa~e ~a~ent ~e sh~ ~S~ of qhe 1nud ~nd the bottom surf~oe 172 o~ the hend ~f-n~ an Imnul~r be~ring AurfQ~e, a~s deserlb~d ~bDve. Tha d~2 ~urface 174 of the heQd smoo~hly blend~ Into the bottom ~urf~ee 172 In ~ ~ound~

c~r Qreu~te &urface 176 ~nd the ~ttom ~rf~ce 172 of the h~d ~m~o~hly kl~
hto th~ out~r ~urface 158 of ~he annular ~11 through a rv~ d or ~reuate surface 178. It wi:ll be uslderætood Ulat "top" ~nd "~ttom" ~re re~iYe terms dep~nding upon the orientntion of the stud f~sten~r and are~ u~ed her~ nly ~or de~er~pffY~ purpose~. ~s de~ bed ~ e, She ~elf~ttaehi~ st~rlcr o~ this inYent~on mQy be attaehed wlth ~he die member or button l~ Ith~r on 1~2 top or the bottom shoe of ~ pre~s, ror o~mple. Pllrther, the ~ul~ 6 may be any annul~r configur~tioa, irl~ludin~ eylindri~l, h~s~on~l, ~or~l, etc. The ætud fastener o~ Figure 7 ~s, however9 ~ aimplified ~nd therefore ~less e~pen~ive em~odiment of the self-attQehing fa~tener of thi~ hvention QS the outer and inner surfaces tl58 and 164) of the Qnnul~ wall are parallel.

~ igure la ~llustr~te~ ~ preferred ombodiment of the f~m~le die member o~ die button lBO~ The die button ~neludes Q p&nel wpporting or se~ting shoulder 182, a ~entre~ die ~tion 184 projecting from an ann~r die cavity 186.
The outer ~urf~ce 188 of the die ~avity ~ inclined or doped ~wardly from the p~nel ~upporting ~houlder 182~ preferQbly in an "e function" ~nd the inclined ~uter die surface 188 Mends into the panel ~upporting s31oulder 182 in a smoo~h ~rcuate ~urf~ce 190. The free end of the centrfll projecting die portion 184 includes ~ convex ~onieal ~urf~e 192, pre~erably iincluding a rd~tively ~harp ~pex î94. The outer edge o~ the ~entr~l projecting die p~rtion 184 ~neludes a relati~ely ~h~rp piercing or ~he~ring edge 1~6 which ~ ~fined by &n annul~r nat surfece 1~8 on the free end of the centr~l proje~ting die portion l~nd a fl~t Ot cylindric~l surîa~e 200 Bt the Upp~1r ~ide of the ~entral pro~ecting die porUon.
The ~ottom wr~ce ~oa of the ann~r die cavity i~ ~emi-toroidal ~nd termin~tes n annular lip 204 ~djd~ent the Illelined Dr &loping outer ~ur~a~e 188. The ~nnulflr lip æO4 blends into ~he bottom ~urf~e 202 and the outer ~loping die ~urîace 18B through 0rcuate die ~urfsces.

Figures 8 to 11 ~nd 14 illustrnte U~e preferr~d Installlltion ~eguence of U)e stud f~lstener of Figure 7 ~n lthe d~e button o~! Flgur~ 12 E~d a ~lf~7~38f~

preferred embodim~nt of the meUIod of in~t~]ling the ~e~ gtaching fast~ner of thi5 inven~on. ~s de~crlbed ~ve, the ~tud fs~tener 150 ~ first oriented ~elative to the pan01~06 to P~hich the fa~tener 1~ to b~ in6talled ~it~ ~he self-pler~ing ~d riveting ~ lar wQ~l 15~ f~e~ng the panel. The a~is o~ the sgud ~stoner 18 gcnerslly p~rpendie~ar to ~ pl~ne o~ ~he p~ 2~6. 11~ the dis~losed em~iment of the Inst~ tion appar~tus ~hown in ~ ~ 8 to 11 ~nd 11~a, the ~tud f~tener 150 is driven ~to the pfl~el by ~ pr~ng die or plun~er 210 ~hich has an axi~ recess or bore 212 which re~2ive~ the ~ of ~he stud f~st*ner.
The plunger in¢ludes an ~nn~ar driving or press~ ~urface 214 ~hi~h b~ars ag~inst the ~ r pressing 6urf~e 170 of the fa~tener head 152. The ~tud f~stener is then driven ~nt~ ~e p~nel by relatively mo~ring the plunger 210 ~sld the die but~sn lB0, as will now be described.

As shown in Figure 8, the p~nel 206 Is ~irst der~rmed ~nto the die ~avity 1860 The panel is first ene~ged by the rounded drivlng ~nd ar2wing ~urface 160 ~t the free end of the ~IDUlar wall 156 as described ~bove. The p~nel portion loc~ted inside the annul~r wall 156 i~ then domed or trep~nned ag~inst the oonic 1 surf~ce 192 of the ~ree end of the ~ntrsl projecting die portion 1841 fixing this portion o~ the panel prior to pier~i~ or shearing, as will now be described.

The p~nel i~ then pierced o~ ~heared ~ hown in Figure ~. The panel is ~heared between the ~earing or piercing ~urface 1~6, ~djacent the fr0e ¢nd of the festener snnul~r ~v~ll 156, ~nd the p~er~ing edE~e l~B ~t Ule outer ~
of the pr~je~ entral die portion 1~4, i~ormin~ ~ panel slug al6 ~hi~ ~s disposed ~ in the f~stener ~nnular ~11 rece~s 162 o~ the ~n~c~l ~ree ~d of Ule pro~cting d~e portion 184. It w~ll be ~mderstood thst the e~n~iguration o~ the die button p~ereing edge 1~6 (i.e. ~eular~ he:cAgonal, octegonal, ete.) ~hould be the s~me 0s the ~ r w~ll 156, ~uch that the pieroing ~urfR~ m~t~ to ~hear Ot pierce the p~nel. The piercin6 surf~e 166 of the ImnulAr ~vl3~1 l56 is pteferHbly a ohsmfer f~ce lncllned outw~rtny from the ~s of th~ r w~ll ~Z~(~388 recess 162. The ~llearing of the psnel then o~cur~ along the ~hearing ~a~e 1~8, ~orming a pRnel dug 216 having ~n exter~ disme~er slightly gi~ter th~n ~e ~nternal diRmeter of the ~ner f~ee 164 of the anmllar ~, providing ~n interfer~nce fit. The in~lined ~h~aring fac~ 1661~ "~elf-correcti~ and ~ss~
~lean ~hearing o~ She p~nel ~ith a minitnum o~ f~r~e. l'he ~mination of ~ sh~p ~utting edge on the ~nnulsr ~all ~150 r~duees ~pli~t~ of ~he ~ree e~d o~ the ann~ar ~all ~nd the pi~reed p~el edg~ ~ing the ~ t~gtion, ~ ~ill be desctib~d hereitlbelow.

As shown in Figure 10, Ule continued re~tive movement of the ~elf-~tt~lching 6tud f~stener 150 ~nd the die member 180 resul~ ~n the engagement of the free end of the Qnnular ~Ivall 156 ~gaisst the ~emi-toroidsl ~rcuate bottom 3urf~ce 202 of the die avlty, ~imu~taneously dr~wi~.the portion of the main panel ~dj~cent the pierced panel edge al8 ~gQinst the esternal ~urface 158 of the annular w~ll 166. It ~hould be ~sted again th~t the panel slug 216 is thus located ~t the point OI greatest str~ in the annular wall, ju~t beyond the point of contaet between the free end of the asmul~r wall 156 oend the eoncave semi-toroidfll bottom surface 202 o~ U~e ~nnul~r die c~Yity. The panet slug thus prevents inw~rd collapse o2 the ~nnuIar w~ during the install~tion.
Continued rel~tive movements o~ the ~tud f~stener 150 and the di~ button 180 d~forms the free ~nd of the ~nnular wall r~dially ~utw~rdly against ~e ar~uate surf~ce 202 o~ the die caYity, forming ~ hook or U-sh~ped channel ~n the oross-~ection at the free end of the ~nnul~r ~, a~ ~hown ~n Pigure 11..

l~e panel portion ~dJ~ent th~ pierced panel ~e 218 ~ then trapped between the hooked end 156~ ~t the free end of the ~nnular ~all 156 arld U~e he~d portion 152 of the ~tud fasten~r a~ the r~dial surf~c~ 176 of th~ head is ~iYon ~to the p~nel. It should be noted that the p~nel slug 216 has be~n mwed into the ~nnul~r ~all recess 162 ~nd 1~ located ~t the point of ~re~test ~tress on the ~nnulnr wall. ~t ~ho~d ~Lso be noted thst the ~oni~ urffloa 192 o~
the centrQl pro~ecting die portion 184 h~s pre~0nted any l~teral movolmont o~ Ule J

~71~3~8 p~el slug 216 in the Imnul~r ~11 ro~eæ wh~c~ ~ould adverse~y ~oct the forming of the mechanic~l interlo~k bet~een the panel ~d tbe f~tener annulRr wall. Contimled rel~tiYe movement between the ~tud f~stener 150 ~nd th~ die button 180 ~auses ~ounter rot~ion sf the panel portion 21~ ~dja~ent U~e p~erced p~nel ~ the ~h~nnel defined by th~ ~tud f~stener h~d pDrti~n ~52 ~nd l~e r~di~lly outwardly def~ming annul~ ~all ~ee ~nd~56a, ~ best ~ho~n In ~igure l~.

Figure 14 il~ustraSes the ~in~l ~onfiguration of She s~ud f~tener ~nd p~Lnel assembly of this islvention. The ~nnul~r ~all 156 now lndudes &1 first tubular portion 156b and a ~e~ond radi~lly outw~rdly hook~hQped end portion 1~6~. The 61ug 216, which ~Q~ pier~ed from the mHin portion of the p~nel 206, has beerl deformed Qg~inSt the bottom ~all surfa~e 168 of the re~ess by the ~oni~Rl free end 192 of the centr~l proje~tir4~ die portion 1~4. The deformation of the panel dug ~gainst ~he bottom wrf~ce 1tl3 of the rece~s deforms the slug rQdi~lly outwardly into firm binding ~o;l5let wi~ the ilmer surfa~e 164 of the re~ess, ~uch thQt the panel slug becomes an Integral p~rt sf the fsetenel ~nd p~nel llssembly.

The panel 206 now ~ncludes a m~in portion bearing eg0inst the -panel supporting sho~der 182, Q ~econd portion 20~a di~pla~ed ~r~m the plAne of the m~in panel and ~earing against the Inclined outer ~Nall 18il of the die 8QV~ty ~nd the anmllar lip 204, ~hi~h has limi~d the deform~tion of the pHnel into the die e~vity ~nd which wE~ported the panel duP~ the final de:torm~tion o~ the p~nel in the h~hQped end port~n 156~ of the ann~ar ~ rlbed, the panel portiorl immedi&~el~ ~dj~eerlt eh~ pierced p~n~l a~ge ~ Golmter rotat~d between tbe bo~Som SUrfQ~e 172 of the ~stener he~d portilon 152 ~d the hDok-shaped end portion 156~ of the ~nnul~r w~ll, resulting ln ~ ged annulsr beAd X18~ which is 3ecur~1y tr~pp~d In the hook-shaped ~nd ~ortion 156a of the ~nnulsr w~ The annul~ d 21Ba further reinforces Ule ~;eml~ly. ~ ally, the fastener hosd port{on 152 has be~n driven ~to ~e psnel, ~16 ~scrib~ uch th~t the top ~ur~e 170 L~ ~enerdly parallel to the sd~a~ent ~urf~ce of ~e m~in portion of the p~nel 206~ r~ul~ing ~n a nu~ mouslt~ 7hi~h ~5 p~tl~arly lldvantazeous in m~ny ~pplications Rrhere ~ ~econd ~tructurd member, ~uch u ~
p~nel, ~ Rttsched to Ule ~hank portion 154 o~ thz ~ud r~S~oner. It ~ho~d also be noted that the pierc~g or ~he~ring edge 16~ h~ bgen d~formed and rotQted~ and ~6 rtow loe~ed ~t the outer e~tremlty of the hook~h~aped Qnn~r wa~l porffon 156~, preventing ~plitting o~ the panel ~r ~he r~ve~ end of the ~tener~

The r~ult~nt f~stener and p~nd ~sE;embly ~OWTI in Pigure 14 ~
extremely ~trong ~nd rigid, whi~h is particularly importsnt In a ~;tud-lilce ~6tener assembly having a ~hank portion e~tend~ from the pl~ne of the panel 206. The push-through or pull-out ~trength of the ~ssembly i~ actu~lly greater th~n the stren~th of the ~tud ~hank 154, in most ~ppLicati~JIs. The p~l-out ~rength is messured by pu~ling tbe stud ~hanlc 154 in the ~me direetion as the ~tud fastener w~s ~nstalled, ~gainst the p~nel. The push-through ~trength of the sss~mbly is me~ured by pushing the stud ~astener through the panel. Anti~ohti~n m~ans m~y ~o be ineluded in the die ~ssembly, ~uch ~s fihown In ~igure î3, wherein the torque strength of the ~ssembly i5 ~s gre~t as the ~tud. 3n She embodiment of the die button 180 shown in Figure 13, three flat~ 223 are provided on the outer inclined wall 188. The flats 220 in the disclosed embodiment are gener~lly par~llel to the u~is of the coni~al free end 192 o~ the eentrel die portion and the n~ts e~tend from Ule annular lip 204 to the be~ring ~urfaee 1~2 of U~e die l~utton. The 1~ts d~f~rm the ~ d~aw and ~ery di~hUy de~orm the stud fl~nge, providing e~cellent an~-rotation means.

As u~ed herein, Q pie~Clllg or ~ring ~ur~ace~
r~latiYely s~arp piercing edge, ~u~h as tbe shsrp piercing ~e ~,7 o~ the attaching bolt ~ho~m in Figure 1 and the piercing ohamfer f~e 1~ on ~U~e ~

~ttaching stu~ ~hown In in l~gure 7. A ~h~rp pler~ing edgc msy be preferred in certdin appli~ions where the p~nel ~ ndly r~moved from t31O ~ombly, Ruch as the ~elf-piercing nut ~own in ~igur~s X7 to 29. ~ ~ham~er~d percing 7(3~

~a~e is, however, preferred where the p~nel ~lug become~ ~ Int~ rt o~ the f~stener and p~nel ~ssembly, ~s d0scribed above in regard to the ~tud la~t~ner of ~gure 7. The ~st~ ion app~r~tlls d~cr~bed to this po~t inc~ude~ a die button ~nd ~ dmple pressing tool ~ plunger whl~ m~,y be utiliz~d In lo~ production.
T~2e fsstener may b0 simply in~erted in the plunger ~nd ~he plung~r ~ dr~en toward the die button to inst~ll the it&~tener~ In ms~ roducS~on, ho~e~er, the ttaching fasteners must be fed to the plunger ~nd ~utoma lly ~i~nted and ~igned for install~tion. The auto~Datic feeding, ~l~gnment ~nd ~t~llation of stud-like f~steners hllYing a projecti~ ~anlc portio~a, however, pre~ents unique problems because the f~stener must be very accurately ~lign~d rrith the di~
button prior to e~ch in~tall~tion. Two ~ltern~tive inst~ tion heads particulflrly adapted for ~eding Qnd installing ~tu~like fa~tene~ will now be des~ribsd.

The installation head ~pp~ratus 250 sho~Yn in Figures 15 to 19~ is p~rti~ularly although not e~clusively adapted for insl~allii4~ ~elf-anaching ~u~
~ke f0steners, such as the 6elf-att~ching bolt, ~crew and ~tud fastener~ ~hown in ~igures 1, 2 and 7. As described, the ~tud-like ~asteners 300 in~lude a head or b~y portion 312, Q thre~ded or unthre~ded sh~ portion ~70 and A ~elf-piercing ~nd riveting annul~ 11 or 6kirt portion 374. This type o~ fastener mu~t be accur~tely oriented and ~ligned rel~tive to the pluslger or pressing member ~nd She die button, not d~own. l[he die buttl~n ~ill n~rmally be ~ d ~el~tive to the ~t~tion~ry die rnember or shoe ~nd the Inst~llation head ~paratus i3 norm~lly ~i2sed to the n~oveable die ~hoe. ~i described, bowever, thi~ ~rrangement m~y be rever~ed.

The lnsWlation h2ad 2S0 ~h~wn ~n ~igure 15 ~nclu~ ~ ~8se memb~r ~C52 and ~ Fel~tively move~ble DQ6e as~embly 254. The ba5e member 252 1s o~ttAched in the disclo~ed embod~moFIt to the upper moveable die sh~e 25~ by ~
b~ck-up pl~te 258. The punger 2,G0, ~vhi~h ~s oylindric~l In tl~e ~sclosed ~mbodlment, ts ~ed to the bs~e memb~r ~2 q~y a tr~nsverse pin ~2, or other suit~ble me~ns. The rel~tive moY~ment b~we~n the b~e m~mbsr 25~ and Ule ~'~7~8~3 nose ~ mbly 254 is ~nh~olled by ~ pl~on ~s~embly 264, ~hiCh In the di~closed embodiment i8 ~ ~ouble ~ting pneumati~ p~storl, The pi~ton ~sembly ~6~
ilscludes ~ pis~on ~ylinder a66, whieh ~ fi~ced to the b~ek-up plate as8 by a r~di01 n~nge 268 and deeYe 270. The piston ~ der 266 in~ludes ~n ~ntQr~al C~
rlng 272, ~hich seals the lower ~nfl ~ the piston ~amber. The ~ton a~3~nnbly ~n~lud~s a piston head 27~ hQ~ing a ~onvenSional ~aling ri~ ~76 ~nd the pl~ton ~n~ludes a rod end 278 hQYing a ~esded end p~rtion 280 ~hi~h ~6 thr~adably r~eiqed in the magQzine plat~ 282 of ~he no~ ~ssembl~ ut 284 ~eYents unthre~ding 9I ~e rod end 278 fsom tho m~ n~ p~te 282.

The maga~ine plate Z82 of the nose assembly 254 includes a ~ylindrical plunger passage 286 ~hich telescopi~ally ~ecei~ e pl~mger 260 during installation of the sel~-attaching ~tud ~eetener~7 0~ de~eribed hereinbelcw.
The m~g~zine plEIte 282 ~ includes a guide bwhing 28Q, ~Yhi~h ~lideably re~eives ~he plunger 260~ such as ~ con~ention~l brss~ bu~hine ~hich i~ ~ecured to the magazine plate by a ~top ring 2~0. The ~top rin~ 2~D ~lso lim~ts the relative n~ovement of the nose assembly 2~4 ~nd the bs~e member 252. In the dis~losed embodiment, the stop Pillg 2~U iS a steel ring sNhieh i~ press fitted over the br~ss guide bushing 288. Self-atta~hing î~steners 300 ~re received through ~ ne~ble tube, as described hereinbelow, through ~ conYentional tu~ coupling ~92, which may be a conventionel quick connect coupli~g. The mag~zine plate ~1~2 includes ~ first ~ssage 294 which F~ceive~ the ~elf-att~h~n~ f~steners ~ûO rom the ne~b~e tube, and ~ ~econd downw~rdly ~ngled p~sage 2~6, ~hich i~ tran3ver;3e to the plunger pass~ge ~86 And whi~ ~ommu~ic~tes w~th the plwlger pas~ge to trsnsfer ~elI-~tt~ching ~asteners ~00 from 8 wurce of ~a~t~erst Iwch a~
hopper, through Ule ~ube coupling 2~a into the plw~er p~s~ge wld~r gr~Yl~y.

The ~elf-att~chirq~ stu~like fasteners 300 ~re then re~eived in a eonical openlng or rece~ S04 in the nose ao~ whi~h ~ s~t~ched to ~ m4gszine pl~te a82 by ~crew~ or other conventlonal ~a~tener~. The ~onl~al ~en~ng ~04 is prov~ded by two ~pr{ng bi~ed ~llde membeM ~06, ~ h ha~ er~ sonical 3~i~

~uPf~e 304a as shown in ~i6ure 18. The ~de mom~@rs 306 ~e ~ach 3priilg bi~ed in the diselosed ~mbodiment by a ~oll ~prLng ~08, ~hich ~ spring blOE~d Qtone ~nd ~gunst the slide member snd ~gainst a ~n~p r~ 310 ~1~ oppo~i~e ~nd.
The co~ ~prings normAlly ~lose the dide m~mber~ sO6 to reWn a ~u~like f~tener 300 as ~hown iD Pigures 15 ~nd 18. As ~hown ~n ~igures 16 ~d 10~
D~re~s ~09 ~re U read~d into the ~des of the ~ 3029 ~t~en ~ ~de members whieh ~id in lo~eting the dide membsrs. Th~ no~e ~02 ~o ~ncludes a oylin~ical opening 312 ~hi~h is ~ lly ~ligned ~s~d eommuni~ates ~rith Sh~
~oni~al opening 304 in the $',ide members ~nd the plunger p~ssage 286 ~n the magaz,ine pl~te.

The magazine plate 282 includes 2 ~ide post 314 ~hich i~ f~ced r~lative to She m~gazine plate by Q pin or the like, not shown, ~nd whi~h ~ncludes ~ end 316 telescopicslly receivAble in ~ ~ylindric~l opening or bore 318 in thc upper die shoe a56. A pneumati~ line c~upling 320 i~ t21r~adably attached to the back-up plate 258 and the ba~k-up plate in~ludes a pneumati~ pa~ge line 322 which communic~tes through the back-up plate with the piston chamber ~23 in kylinder 266. Pneumatic line coupling 324; which is thre~d~bly ~t~ched to ~e magazine pl~te 282, communic~tes through pneumatic pas~Qge ~ine 326 with the rod end 2'78 of the p!ston. The piston rod 278 ~n~ludes an ~1 pa~age 328 for rel~tively closing the bsse member ~nd nose assembly, ~ de~cribed hereinbelo~.

Tl~e back-lip plate 258 ~l~o Enslu~es ~ pneumatic ~ensing line or p~3s~ge 330 whi~h c~mmunicate~ Ulrough liLr~e ~32 ~ e ~ctustion m~ns of the die pres~ assembly. Pneumatic l~ne 33a is connected to th~ k-up pl~te ~y ~o~llng ~34~ 8elf-atta~hing fa~t~ner6 ~00 ~re fed from the ~irst fllstener p~age 294 to the conical opening 30~ by tlmed pneumatic pre~sure through pn~umst~c llne 33~. Pneumatl~ line 33B ~mmun{~ates with the ~ t i'a~tener pas~Age 294 Uuough angIed p~ ge 3~EI. When ~ f0~ten~r Is localhd ln the positJon shown at ~OOa, a bur~t of pressure through L~ne 33~ ~nd p~a~e :~3~3 wi~
prop~l a fast~nor lo~ted at 300a to the ~oni~l opening 304t ro,E~dy for ~'~7~3~3~

install~tion. Th~ ~top me~ani~m 3~2, how~ver~ prevent~ en~ f ~ eller So the resdy position ~hown ~t 300~ until the f~sten~r lo~t~d ~n the ~on~l opening 3û4 h~3 been ~nst~lled. The ~top meeh~i~m in~lude6 ~ 0top p~e or br~ket ~44 which is ~ecured to ~e ~e member 252 b~ a ~ w S46 or other ~t~r~ng means. The ~top me~hani~m ~nclu~ two ~ d ~op ~t~es 348 ~e~ured to the br~clcet 3~4. The ~top p~tes ~48 æ~ ne~u~ koy hole dots ~hich perm~t one a~t~ner to reQ~h U~ p~ition ~30wn at ~Ofl~ or~y ~hen th~
install6tion h~ad ~ppAr~tus is o~en~d to the p~sithn ~own in Pigure 15, ~ ~ill b~ des~ribed more fully in ~egQrd to ~Figure~ 20 to 25.

Figure 16 6h~ws the det~ils of the plunger Qssembly. A.6 ~hown, the plunger 260 includes ~n a~inl bo~e 350 uhi~h telescopi~lly receives the ~ank portion 370 of Ule self-nttaching ~Sud festener ~nd an annular end portion 352 which beAringly engsges the head or body portion 372 of the fa~tener.
~ described sbove, the fasterler slso in~lu~ a ~ piercing ~nd riveting annul2r w~l or skirt portion 374.

As best shown in ~igure 16, the ud~l ~re 350 st the free end sf the plunger 26Q communicates with ~ ~econd ~maller ~xisl bore 355 whi~h reeeiYes a first pin ~56 h~ving e~ he~d portion 358 t~es~opic~ly disposed in a Elightly larger bore 359. A second cylindri~al pin i6 teleseopie~lly received inlongitudinal bore 359 ~nd ~upported on the head 35B of the first pin 356. As ~own, the ~nd o~ the fir~t pin 356 opposite the head 358 is di~posed ~
bore ~5~ ~n the end of the plunger, ~ueh that U~e p1ns 356 ~nd 360 sre mo~ed upwardly ~n Figure 16 r~hen the l~hanlc ~'10 of a ~tud ~ssten~r is disposed in b~re~50, ~ ~wn ~ ~ 10. The assembly dso 1ncludes a prsximi~y ~wi~h 368 h~ving ~ wire 36~ to the contr~l o~ the ~Gtuation rnean~ ~ deserlbed b~low.

~ best shown in ~Igure lS, U)e doubl~ ncting p~on ~64 includes an ~nternsl plston 380 reclproe~ble In intern~l ¢l~mber ~82 h~vln~ Im 0 -- 2~ --~'~7~3 eal 384 and ~ ring bearing 386. The ~ rnQl pi~ton ~e~d ~74 ~l~o ~oludes ~eri~ of p~rts 3B8 whieh provide ~ommunic~tion be~ween ~amber 3a3 ~d the chamber defined betwsen internal piston heQd 380 Qnd rin~ ~ S8~. Pro~sure ~s ~ontinuously pr~vided through pneumQtic line 320 ~nd pa~sage ~22 to p~ton ~mb~r 323. Ln the open position shown ~n ~igure 15, pneum~ti~ pre~e ~ o ~upplied through passsge 3a6 in ~he mag~ e plgte ~82 ~ d ~hrough t33e ~al passQge 32~ ~n t~e rod ~d 278 of the pi~ton ~to ~hamber 382. Pre~u~
¢h~mber ~82 ~rs ~gainst U)e ~ternal p~ston head 3BOI eanending the p~atton a~;embly ~s ~hown in Figure 15. When the pre2~sure in pass~ge 326 i~ r2mo~r~d, however, the pressure in ~h~mber 323 ~ ~ommuni~ted tllrough ports ~88~
moving piston head 3gO upwsrdly to relatively olose the nose ~e~s~bly 254 tow~rd the base member 252, as ~hown In Fi~ure 17. The operstion of the installation hçad ~ppElr~tus ~hown in ~igures 15 tc 1~ m~y now be des~ribed.

The douMe Rction pneumatic pi~ton sssembly 264 opçns and closes the ~ssembly, ~s de~cribed, snd ~erYes ~ ~ ~pring means. Upon operling of Ule die press assembly foJlowing insta~lation of a stud fastener, ~e base member 252 and nose essembly 254 are ~paced, ~5 shown in ~igure 15 by pressuri~ng both of passsges 322 and 326. A ~tud fastener is ~en l~cated ~n the posltion ~hown in phantom at 300~ and a burst o pressure thr~ugh pneum~tic line 340 tr~nsfers ~e ~ud f~tener to the conic~ opening ~04, as described 4bove, where th~ f~tener i~ ~utom~tic !ly eentered ~nd or~ent~d in the conicel opening. ~5 sho~wn in Figure ~5, ff~e ~onical ~pening reoeives the set~-pierc~g ~nd rive~ing ~nmil~r ~all ~74 o~ the f~s~ener ~nd Ule fasten~r ~ normally orlented wlth the al)ank portion co~ly sligned wi~h the ~ of the plw~ger 260.

, The control ~echanism ~ ~he ~nst~ tion he~d ~ppQr~tus then stops ~upplying press~e 20 passage 326, ~hlch ~lstiv~ly closes the ~08e as~embly 254 to~v~rd bs~e member 252 ~s ~bown ~n Pigures 17 Qnd 1~, and descrlbed ~buve~ In this posltJon, Ule free ~nd of U~e ~tud f~3tener l~au~k ~70 Is di~po~ed ~n the ~xlsl bore ~S0 in the ond oî th~ plunger 280 ~ t the ~nd of the f~rsS pin 356. The first pin ~56 ~nd the ae~ond ~n ~60 ~s ~;hu~ r~ised ~wDrdly ~n ~igure 1~ to ~lose pro~dmity ~wit~h ~62. The ~loe~ng o~ e pro~im~ty ~Niteh 362 U1llS assures thBt a ~tud ~s~tener ~s loc~ted In th~ ~onlc~ 304 of the nose 302 and the ~tud ~steneP l; ~ecur~tely orlon~ed l~nd ~igaled with the plwlger re~ or inst~ tion. ~ d~rlbe~ ~Ye, ~ y mi~lignm~nt of the ~tud ~tener m~y damage U~e inst~lati~n ~ppar~tus~ ~ogu~ring do ~m glme ~nd ~ubst~nti~l repair of ~he ~ssembly. ~urther, ~ de~rlbed, the ~tu~tior of the proximity ~witch ~u-e~ that a f~stener 1~ loo~ted in ~he no~e ~sembly; r~ady ~or in~tallation.

The final inst~llfltion of the ~tud f~stener follows the ectu~tion of th8 die press ~ssembly by pneumfitic ~en~ e 330, wherein the upper die ~hoe 256 is moved toward the lower die shoe, not ~ho~n. As d~crlbed ~boYe, the lower die shoe includes th~ die button ~5 ~hown In Figure 3~ or more prefersbly, ~s shown in Figure la. ~s described, the die mem~r 180 ~igure 12) i~ ~ed r~lati~re to the lower die ~hGe wi~ the ~entrsl pr~iecting die portion lB4 in coQxial alignment with the plunger p~sage 286 and telescopic~ly reeeivable in She self-piercing ~nd riYeting ~nnular wall 374 o~ the fs~ten~r. When the no~e flssembly sngllges ~e panel, the movement of ~e no~e assembly ~54 stops snd the plunger 260 moves relative to the nose ~s~embly to first ~ngage the annular end 352 of the plunger ~g~inst the head 372 of the ~tud f~stener. The f~tener is Shen dti~en throuE~h Ule nose ~embly, ~pr~ading ~de members ~û6 og~nst 6prings 30,~, lnstallin~: ~ f~Lstener Ln a panel lo~ted ~n the dle button ~ ~own in ~he s~quenc~ of Figures 7 to 11 ~d 1~!.

~ Igwes ao to as Illustr8te 2n ~ternative ~mb~diment of the h~6tal1~tion head ~ppar~tus parti~ul~rly ~uitllble for ~nstolllng oolf-~thch~ng stud-l~ke fast~ners. As defined ~bove, "stud f~steners" is intended to be generio to any ~el~attachlng f~stener of thls ir~vention h~rlng ~ pro~ecting end portion, including thre~ded bolts, ~cr~ws, ~tuds having an lulthreQded d~ank portion, ond slmilar f~steners, Including ba~l f~sten~rs ~nd the llke.

9L~7~

Referring now to ~igure 20, ~he di~clo~ed ~n~talla~ ead l:pp~ratus 400 ineludes a plwlger ~sembly ~02 and ll ~hutltle-feed a~sembly ~104, The plunger ~sembly in~ludes an upp~r plunger ~06, æ1hi~h ~6 fige~ rel~Sive to ~n upper die ~hoe platen 408. The upper plwlger 40l; r~iprocates ~n a ~y~indri~al guide eartridg~ ~10 having 8 ehamber 432, ~d ~nclude~ ~ piston g~ead 412 ~hleh sealed rel~tive to the inn¢r w~ll of the ey~ind~r gulde cgrtridge by ~n O-riing ~1414, or Ule llke. The E~ston h~ad 412 ~ ~tt~ed lto ffle Int~rmodliate portion 418 of the upper plw~er by ~ reSaining ring ~16. The ~r pluT~er ~
Ineludes an ~nnul~r lower end porti~n 420 ~hich rocelves th~ ilplit lower plunger ussembly ~42, as described her~nbelo~.

An ln~errl~l piston 42~ is recipro~ably di~p~d in ~n ~d ~ylindrical bore 424 in the upper plw~g~r 40B. The internal pi~ton 422 includes a he~d portion 426 ~nd an ~nnular be~r~ng 428 which ~re ~ealed within ~e chamber 424 by O~ing ~eals or the like, Th0 upper piston head 412 re~ipr~tes in ~ cylindrical chamber 432 in the ~ylindric~X guide ~rtridge ~10 ~nd ehe upper end of the cylindrical guide cartridge includes a snap rlng 434 and spacer 436 limiting upw~rd mo~rement of the upper plunger 406. An O-ring 6eal ~3B is a~30 provided ~t the lower end of the cylinder die ~rtri~e 410, ~Nhi~h ~eals ~g~ins~
the ~nnul~r lower end portion d~12 of the upper plwlger. The cylinder ~uide eartridge 410 is fixed at 1ts lower end to 8 stripper pl~te 440 by m~y E;uit~ble means, ~ncluding dowei pins or ~e like~ ~s deser}bed, th~ r lower ~nd psrtiarl 420 of the upper plImger ~û6 receive~ U~e ~plit lower pl~ger ~ssembly ~42. The lower plunger ~embly ~n~ludes ~ t low~r plunger member ~44 ond ~ m~t~ ~econd plw~ger member 446 whieh Inclu~ an upper Qnnul~r ~d portion MB ~hich ~ norm~lly ~p~eed fr~m tlle lo~er plunger m~mbor 444, os ~hown in Figure ~0, ond ~he rod i~d ~50 o~ the In~er~
pl~ton ~22 en~ges the top of the ~ ular ond ~1148 o~ the tirst lower plunger member 444. A stop pln 4sa 0nd ~top rIrlg ~54 llmlt~ upw~rd ~ial mo~ieImont o~
the ~econd plunger member 440, ~s ~SIl ~e d~cr~bed heroinbelow. The lowier ond o~ the spllt lower plw~er assembly recipro~ate~ In the plunger p~llg~! 4S8 of the In~tall~tIon hesd o~ the noue ~56.

~1 ~7~3 Pneum~tic pressure~ Wh~ch opens ~he plunger ~embly ~02, ~
roceived through pneumati~ pressure Line ~0, ~hi~h i~ atta~hed to th~ ~ylinder guide c~rtridge 410 by ~ conventlon~l pnoumatl~ ntti~ 4~2, ~u~h th~t pn~urn~
L~e 460 communic~tes with ~he chamber 43a In U~e ~ylinder gulde ~artridge ~10 and ~ao eh~mber 464 in the upper plw~ger ~06 ~ough passages ~C5 13nd 467. Th~
internal ehE~mber ~4~ led by ~ plu~4~6. The ~l~er ~aembly d,lD2 norma~ly sp~ed in the o~en p~ition ~own ~n ~igure ao ~her~ e pr~;s i~
opened by ~oil spring 468 or ~ny other sui~able ~pring mw~s.

Self-Attachi7lg ~tud f~steners 300 are fed to ~e ~hu~tl~feed ~ssembly 404 through ~lexible tube 470. ~s described aboYe~ the ~tud f~stene~
eaoh include ~ proje~ting Gh~nk portiorl 37û9 a h~ad or body portion 372 ~d ~elf~iercing anà riveting ~nnular wall or ~kirt portion 374. The ~tud fast~ners are first re~ei~ed ln a tube ~dApter 472 h~ing a bore or chamber 474 which initi~ y r~C!eiYeS the f~steners. The ~op assembly ~7B then tr~fers the ~tud fasteners one Bt ~ time to the ~huttle mech~nism. A6 best ~how~ igure 22, the stop assembly includes an upper pl~te 478 h~ving ~ key hole dot 480. The end opening to the key hole ~lot ~ludes R ~e~eled edge 482~ preventing j~mming of the f~stener, as described below. The ~top ~ssembly ~o includes a lower bl~k mem~er 484 having ~ lower proiectiJlg pl~te portion 486 actending generslly parQllel to the upper plate ~78. The up~r pl~te is att~hed to the lower block member by serews 488 or oth~ wltable $osten~ng means. It ~11 be underst~d th~t the head porUon 372 of the ~tud ~sten~ Jill pass U~ough the enl~rged opening of the key hole ~lot 4B0, ~ut ~he lo~ver plate portion ~86 1 located opposite thc ~nl~ed op~.

The ~tud bolts ~00 ~re fed t4 the plw~ger by n ~uttle~ luding a Nhuttle block 490 h~ onv~ntional pn~umatlc p~to~ 2. PDeumstic piston ~92 Sncludes ~ thre~ded nlpple ~94 thre~dsbly ~tt~ched to the l~utUe blcck 490. Pneumatic pre~ure L~n0 ~96 i~ ~ttEIohod to ~nd ~:ommunic~t~s wlth the pneuma~ic pist~n 4g2 to e~tend ~nd retr~ol~ the piston rod ~98. lrhe piston 7~3~

~d 49B ~ludes ~ threaàed e~d 500 ~hich ~ re~bly ~ttA~h~d to ~he ~huttle 502 ~nd ~ecured by ~ nut 50~ oil spring 5~6 ~ r~ceiv~d in oppo~ed bore opulings 508 and 51Q ~ the Ellut~le bloek 490 a~d the lo~r ~lock member 4B4 of the ~top ~ssembly, re~pe~tiYely. The coil spring 508 normally ~pr~ng biases the ~top ~sambly to the leitt in iFi~ 20, howeYer ~ItOp pin 512 ~n ~buttle 502 prevents Ister~l movement of the ~top ~sembly a~ntil U~e shuttle 502 ended, ~.s deseribed below.

The movement of ~be ~utUe 502 is guided Ln the dL~elo~d ~mbodiment by a ~huttle guide 520 having ~ rRil 52a ~nd a stop ~b 524 ~x~endi~g from the bottom of the shuttle guide. The shuttle guide 520 ~s dtt~hed to a stop plate 526 by ~ny suitable rne~ns, including screws. The stop plate includes 8 ~lot or groove 528 whi~h recei-~es the ~nd o~ the lower ~roj~eting pl~te 48B ~f the 6top ~ssembly ~76. The stop pl~te 526 is attached to ~up~t pl~te 53û ~nd the ~upp~rt plate is ~tt~ched to the ~t~qpper plate ~40. ~ ~hown in Figure 20, the ~nd of the upper plate 478 of the stop assembly i~ re~ei~ed on top of the ~upport plate 530.

Figure 21 illustrates certQin deta~ls of the nose ~nd split lower plunger ~ssembly. As shown, the first lower plunger member 444 in~ludes one or more small rod magnets 532 ~hich ~eeurely but rele~s~bly ret~in the s31ank 370 nf the ~tud fsstener upon receipt of the ~1:ud f~stener ~in the i~t loNer plunger member. Bpring biÆ~ed b~lls 534 pr~s th@ oh~ on of the ~tud is3tener ag~inst the magnets. Th~ b~ re spring biased by ~ pring~ ~31;, which ~re re~ned by ~rews or plugs 538. As a ~urther a~ nce of loc~tion ~nd ~rientati~ll of a ~tud f~stener ready for inst~ tion, ~ conYentional photoreflection ~endng means 540 m~y be provided in Ule plun~er p~ge.

H~vlng described the ~lement~ of Ule ~n~t~llation he~d 0~ppar~tus of Figures 20 to 25, it ~B DOW po~lble to describe l~he op~rution. A~ l~et forth above, Pigure 20 illwtr~t~ the ~nst~ tion hoad ~hen th~ ~e prl~ is; f~ly opened, following the in~t~llation of ~ self-~ttaohin~ f~t~ner. The ~tall~on head 1~ "opened" as ~hown in ~igure 20 by ~¢tua~ pneum~ti~s pre~ure ~e 4~0, ~hich tsansmi~s pr~ssure to chamber 432 and ~mbor 464 through pa~e~ 485 ~d 467. Ch~m~er ~64 has She gre~er volume, exteilding plwlger ~06. 8top pin 452 then engQges ~top ring ~54, limit~g ~w~rd movem~nt of th~ a~e~y.
A ~tud ~sstener is then l~ted in the ~huttl~ ~02. l~he ~tud f2lstener pr~ou~ly in U~e llplit plunger 0~sem~ly ~2 h~s boen inst~d in 1I E~nel ~nd ~he pand has b~en remoYed. ~s de~cribed ~bove, a female d~e ~6 lo~ated on ~e lo~rer ~t~tiQnary die member, n~t llhown9 ~ith the ~nter pro~eeffng die portion oos~i~lly ~ligned with the plwlger. It i~ very importan~ that the die button be ~ecurely retained on the die member op~site the in6tallation head app~r~tus. A
panel ~s then inserted in the die pres~ over the die button, r~dy for reeeipt of ~
gelf-~ttaching f~stener. In most ~ppliCQtions, Ule ~el ~vill also be fi~ed relative to the stationary die member t~ pre~ent any movement of the pAnel during the inst~llation OI the ~elf-attaching f~stener. PurUler9 ~ dewribed ~boYe, the panel may be formed in the die pre~s sim~taneDusly YYith the installation of the ~lf-~ttaching f~stener. The forming of the panel may be ~ccomplished in a 6ingle ~troke, or a progressive die 1118y be u~ilized.

The ~huttle piston 49a is first ~tu~ted by Qctuating pneumatic L~ne ~96. The piston moves the shuttle 5~2 ~o the left ~n Figure 20, mo~ng ~ stud ~astener 300 from the position d~own in Figure 20 to the positior~ ~own ~n ~Igur~ 2~. The ~huttle 502 ~oroes th~ d~ qO of th~ ~tene~ p~t the b~ll detents 534 ~ee ~igure 21) Irlto ~sg~ment ~th U~e ~d magnets 532. The movem0nt of Ule ~huttle 502 ~ l~mitsd by ~top 5~4, as ~hown h Yi~e ~3. The movement of the ~huttle ~llso re~e~es the stop s~sembïy ~76 ~hioh had b~n retllinod by B~ p pill 512, a5 ~hown in Pigure 20. 'rhe ~top a56embly 47~ ~ thenbia~d ~y xprlng 506 to the ~eft, 8~ ~hown in Figure 23~ r~le~sing a ~tud fa3tener ~rom Ule pO51tiOlrl ~hown ~t 300a in Figure 20, through the ~nlarged openil~ of the key hole slot ~80 Imd QEQinst the lower pro~ting pl~tl~ pQrtion ~86 o~ the stop ~sembly, ~g shown In Pigure ~3. A~ de~rib~ bove, ~ photor~ne~tion ~ensing ~L~7~

me~ns 54D m~y be utili7.~d to ~sure th~ ation of ~ f~tener tJI the ~t ~ow~r plunger member 4~4, re~dy for instAllaSion, lrhe d~e p~ess i6 then ~otuated, lo~vering the upper platen ~OB, ~hich ~lose~ ~he ~pllt plwq~er ~$3embly ~ ~own in Pigure 24. The upper plunger 40S i~ thereby pre~sed In~o ~he oyli~ndPical ¢~rtrid~e guide ~10 which prossos &IglQinst the upper arm~ por'don ~18 oî She second lowet plw~ger member ~469 ~lodng the llplit ~l~er a~embly ~nd ~1 t~e a~i~l bore 5~2 ln the end of Ule lower plw~ger as ~own ~ 24.
describ~d ~bove, ~he pl~ger include~ an annul~r end port~on ~4~ h be~
~gainst ~e head or body portion 372 ~t ~he ~Sud f~ener, ~hich i~ reta~eld in place by the rod magnets 5~2. It ~s r!oted that She a~uttle ~02 ~s simliltan~Dusly retra~ted by p~st~n 492, ~ueh that the next ~tud fsst~ner is re~dy for install~tion upon completion of the ~equence. The plw~el assembly ~6 now int~rlo~ked to ~ct ntegral unit ~nd the ~tud f~st~ner i6 now re~dy for in6t011~tion as ~hown in ~igure 25.

In the final in~tRll~tion~ the upper die ~how p~aten 408 eng~ges the upper plunger 406, drivislg the self~ier~ing ~d riveting wQ~ 374 into a p~nel 5BO
located on ~he die bu~ton 562, as ~hown ~n Figure 25. T~e shuttle is n~w fully retr~cted and ~ stud f~stener is dropped ~nto the ~huttle, as ~hown. It 51 ould be noted th~t the plunger ~embly 402 thus serves as an ~ pring? damping Ule a~semblyq Upon operling of the di~ pr~ss, the a~sembly i~ returned to the po~ition ~ho~ igure 20 by ~e pl~er ~3embly and coil ~pr~ B8 ~u:d ~ tener is now locQtf~d ir~ ~he ~huttle9 ready to repe~t tho ~equence described herelnat~Ye.

Figure 2B LU~tr~tes the ~ique ~t~e~ featu2e of the ~
piercing ~uds ~00 of thi~ invention. As de~crlbed ~ve in rog~rd to t~e ~ding sf the ~ pier~ing studs to ~he ~n~eallation he~d ~ppE~tU~ lo~sd ~igure~ 15 to 25, the ætuds may be fed to the instaL~tion heads 250 or ~00 through a Ilexible tube wlder pn~um0~tl~ pressure. For o~e of re~er0n~e, Ule ot~ck of ~tud f~ten~rs 570 is ~own fee~ the ~nstsllatl~n he~d ~llown ~n ~Igures ~0 to 24, however, it ~vm be under~to~ th~t the 4ame rolatlon~hlp o~ts ~7~33~

with the install~tion h~d app~r~tu~ dis~ d In ~ s 15 to 1~. .

~ s de~cribed ~b~ve, ~he stud ~3tener~ ~00 ~re prefer0bly f~d to the inst~ tion hesd thr~ e~ble tube 470. In ~le ~ diment of the Installstion he~d ~h~wn in ~igure~ 20 to 2B" the lt~8ene1rs ~r~ f~d to a ~b~
~d~pt~r 472. ~h ~ud f~ner include~ ~ ~ub~h~ed ~elf-piercin~ Imd rivet~
~nnular wsll ~r ~kirt p~rt~on ~74, a he~d Dr body por~on ~72 and ~ sh~c por~ion 370. ln the prefesred ~m~ment~ the tubular s~ ~ 374 h~s an ~ntorn~l diameter gl~e~ter th~n the di~lmeter of the *ll~nk Esortion 370 a~d thelength of the sh~ portion 370 is g~ea~er U~n the d~pth of the recess In Ule tubular he~d portion 372, ~uch that a "ne~dble" rtack of fasteners 570 i9 formed~p~ble of being fed through a n~ble tube 470, ~s described. It will be ~derst~d that the fle~ible ~ub~ 470 communi~ate6 ~ith ~ ~ource of stud fasteners, ~uch ss ~ eonventionsl hopp~r ~d that the ftlst ners are ~d ~nto the tube under pneumatic pressure. The ~tQcking feature of the ~ud f~teners of ~is imentjon facilit~tes mç~ss production of the in~tQllation of the f~teners i ~n inst~llation he~d ~pp~ratus, as descrabed.

Figures 27 to 2~ ~lustrate a further ~mbodiment of the self-att~ching Isstener of this invention, in the form OI 8 nut f~lstener 600. The disclosed embodiment of th~ nut ~astener 600 includes ~ head or body portion 602ing a threadsd bore 604 ~d a ~elf~erelng ~nd riveting ~nn~ar ~r~ r sldrt E~ortion ~OB. The alnnular ~kirt portion ~n~udes ~ ~e ~nd ha~ring a rounded driving and ~a~ urface ~û~ and ~ pierein~ aurfa~e ~10 ~t the ilmer e~ge of the annular wa31 as deserib~ ~ve In reg~d to Figures 1 u~d a. The ~nn~r ~all ~06 ~ pref~rably ~o~ned to the b~dy ~rtion 602 ~pa~ed ~Qrdly ~rom ~he outer ~urfA~e 612 in ~n arcu~te sur~ee ~14, thereby d~fining an annular bearing ~urfOEce ~16. ~urther, ~he ~uter ~dge of the body portion 618 ~dja~ent the 0nnular bearlng ~urf~ce 616, ~ pref~r~bly llrcu~te ~or lthe rea~ s giv~n hereln~bove. The oppo~ed end of the body portion ~ncludes ~ lar pres~l~ng or driving surface 620 for drlYlng the ~A~tonor h~to ~ soribed hereinbelow. The internal ~urf~ce iB2~ of t~e ~ s prefer~bly ~mooth, ~s des~r~bed h~reinabov~.

~ igures 28 ~nd a~ illustr~te ~ne n~ d ot installing ~e ~lf-~t~h~g nut f~sten~r 6û0 o~ ~igure 27. A.~ ~ill be Imder~tood i~rom ~he des ription of Pigures 5, ~, 8 to îl snd 1~ re, the ~ ;lstion ~p~ratu~
~ a pressing die or plullger ~30 ~nd ~ femQle d~e 6~20 The ~em~12 die 63~
pre~rRl:~ly includes ~ ~emi-toroidal die ~a~ty 6~4 ~3nd a ~epar~te ~o~ter~lDle die 636. The ~ounter die 636 ~s tele~Gpie~lly rec ~ved ~n ~ bore ~38, wh~oh is lly a~igned with the esis ol the ~em~-toroid~l die c~vity E34. Th~ pre~ing die or plunger 630 ~n~ludes an ann~r ond surface 6~0, whicil eng~ges the Dnnul~
pressing ~urf~ce 62G of the IWt, ~nd ~ rAm or plunger 64~ whi~h L~ telescopie~lly ~eived in Qn a~cial bore 6~4 in the press~ die 630.

As described ~bove in reg~rd to the ~tud-like fa~teners, the nut fastener 600 i first loeeLted opposite ~ panel with the ~elf-piercing and ri~etin~
wall 606 coa~ually ~ligned with the die ~uvity 634. The anMII~ ~a~I 0û6 15 then driven into the psnel and the die eavity $o pierce a ~lug 85~ ~rom the panel. The dllg 652 ~ ~entered upon the ~onic~l pr3je~ting end portion 654 of the counter-hole die member 636P Tbe panel 61~ Bsa ~s then d~posed into th~ r~cess 622 in the annular wall and the free end of the ~nn~ar Y~ll is deformed in the die c~vlty 636 to form & me~hanical in~erlook b~twe~n t31e p0nel ~ortios~ ~djacen~
the p~erced panel edge 656 and the pre~ersbly hook or U~ap~d ~mlular ~v~ll, ~
d-own iD ~Figure 28. As des~rib~ ~bove, the p~d ~lug ii3~ located on th~ ~ountel--hole die ~ the p~ t o~ ~re~test ~tress~ theroby ~e~rent~ng ~ollsp~e o~ ~e u~nuiar ~vsll 606 durill the r~dial outward deform~ffon o~ the asmular wall, The nut and pulel ~s~mbly is r~ow complete, however the panel ~ 52 mwt b~
~ernov~d ~o permit use of the perm~neTIUy ~tall~d ~ut ~S50. Thl~ Is ~c~omplished by drSving U~e rnm ~r p~lmger 642 o~ the pr~ing member through the thre~ded bor~ B0~ o~ ~he nutt drlvlng the p~n~l dug 652 O~lt of Ule annular ~all tec~ t ~rlll be ~derstood th~t lthe ~el dug m~y b~ ~lven ~ut o~ th~
recess by counter~hole dle fi3~ If the thro~d~ ôO4 ~ro r~e8~d ~rom the iint,ern~l ce ~22 Or the ~nnul~r ~11.

70~

-- The method of installing the ~elf att~hille nut ~en@r $00 may thll~ be the ~ame 0s the nlethods of ~t~ e gtud ~gtener~ cribed h~reina~ve, e~ept that the p~nel 61ug ii~ driven out of the wud~ 11 re~
followislg ~ompletion of the nut ~a~tener and panel ~ mbly. ~ her, ~a~ious ~ti-ro~tion me~ y be pro~ided, In~ludi~ n the ~ternal t~ e of the die e&lvity B34 or She be~ g ~f~e ~22 Dl~ly ~ ude ~s or ~reventine rot~tion. Where ~ti~otation meaas ~ro p~wid~d on th8 b~
~face 6161 t~e body portion ~8 prefer~bly dr~ven ~to ~he p~nel, ~ ~o~n in Pi~ure 291 Having described the preferr~d ~mbodimen~ o~ ~he ~ ttAohing fastener, meU~od of inst~llation ~nd instalhtion ~ ratus of ~is lnvention, It will be ~dersts~d ~at vari~us modiIic~tions may be m~ Nitllin the purview of the ~ppended claims. The dimensioDs of ~ ~ tt~chi~g f~lst~ner, for example, will depen~ upon ~e particular ~pplic~tion and panel thickrless. ~5 described ~ re, the ~elf-~tt~ehing festener of thi~ ention Is p~tic~srly 6d~pted for perrnanerlt ~ttachmen~ to relsti~ely thin p~neJs, ~u~h ~s utiliged for structur~l ~mponents in the automotiYe ~nd ~pplLiance Industries. Po e3a~ple, ~n Iq5 ~elf-~ttaching bolt having a thread diameter of 0.1~68 In~hes mlly be att~hed to p~nels having ~ c~e~s of 0.0315 to ~.05~1 Inches, pro~iding a . relatiYely rigid installation. ~n ~10 se~-att~ching bolt ha~ring a ~ead di~meter ~f 0.3~37 inches ~8 ~tabl~ for at~ehment ~ p~nels hsqir~ ~ ~ickne~s ~&r~in8 ~om 0.03~4 ts û.0~84 inches o~ 1 t~ 2.5 m311ime~er~. P~Uler, ~ ~eP~b~d above, ~e bottom ~all of ~he ~tud f~hner rece~s ~8 pre~er~bly ~onic~ d convex ~s ~hown ~n ~igures 1 ~nd 3 to 1; ~h@re the pE~el is relRti~rdy thirl ~ the r~nges ~ven herein~bove to ~ure that Ule ~snel 81ug i8 de~orm~ r~dially outwQrd~y ~nto engageme-~t ~ith th~ inner surf~e of the ~Ir~ular ~all. ~here the panel ifi rel~tivdy thick, U~e bottom ~ ce o~ the ar~ar wall oa~ity 1~
preer~b1y oonical and conc~re ~s ~own in Pigures 7 to ll u~d lq, assuring ~ornplete inst~atlon and avoiding d~mag~ to the die button. ~he aelf-~tt~chlng st~ner~ m~y be ~rmed o~ ~y ~ult~ble m~lteri~l) pref~r~bly ~teel, l~uoh aD tha mnteri~ls pr~sently u~ed for manuf~cturing ~:onventionnl gtu~;, bolt~, 21cr~-vs ~md nuts. A suitabl~ materi~l ~or the ~elf-att~h~ ~t~n~r~; of thi~ ention typically medium ~Elrbon ~teels~ includin~ ~AE 1022, 1023 and 103û ~tee~s.

Claims (12)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A self-piercing and riveting member for attachment to a panel, said member having a body portion and a self-piercing and riveting annular wall extending from same body portion, said annular wall having an outer surface and a generally smooth inner surface terminating in an outwardly angled annular piercing face adjacent the free end of said annular wall for piercing a slug from the panel having a diameter greater than the internal diameter of said annular wall inner surface, said inner surface terminating in a bottom wall defining a socket opening through said annular wall free end for receipt of the panel slug, and said annular wall free end joining said outer surface in a radius for deforming said panel into a die opening.

2. The self-piercing and riveting member as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said socket bottom wall is convex for permitting attachment of said member to thin panels wherein said panel slug is compressed against said convex bottom wall for deforming said slug radially outwardly against said annular wall inner surface.

3. The self-piercing and riveting member defined in claim 2, characterized in that said socket bottom wall is concave for permitting attachment of said member to thick panels.

4. The self-piercing and riveting member defined in claim 1, characterized in that said annular wall is joined to said body portion in an arcuate surface which is driven into said panel.

5. The self-piercing and riveting member as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the internal diameter of said inner annular wall surface at said piercing edge is at least equal to the internal diameter of said inner surface adjacent said bottom wall.

6. A self-piercing and riveting member for attachment to a panel, said member having a body portion and a self-piercing and riveting annular wall extending from said body portion, said body portion including a radial flange portion joined to said annular wall in an arcuate surface, said annular wall having an outer surface and a generally smooth inner surface, a piercing surface adjacent said inner surface for piercing a slug from the panel, said annular wall inner surface ter-minating in a bottom wall defining a socket opening through said annular wall free end for receipt of the panel slug, and said annular wall free end joined to said outer surface in an arcuate surface for deforming said panel.

7. The self-piercing and riveting member defined in claim 6, characterized in that said socket bottom wall is conical and convex for permitting attachment of said member to relatively thin panels wherein said panel slug is compressed against said convex bottom wall for deforming the panel slug radially outwardly against said annular wall inner surface.

8. The self-piercing and riveting member defined in claim 7, characterized in that said member comprises a stud and said body portion includes said radial flanged portion and a stud shank portion extending from said flange portion opposite said annular wall in generally coaxial alignment.

9. A self-piercing and riveting member comprising a self-piercing stud fastenr for attachment to a panel or the like, having an unthreaded shank portion and a self-piercing and riveting end portion, said fastener having an enlarged head portion located between the shank and the self-penetrating and riveting end portion, the top surface of said head portion providing an annular pressing surface adapted to be flush with the top surface of the panel after installa-tion;
said self-piercing and riveting end portion having a central recess enclosed by a self-piercing and riveting wall on at least opposed sides of said recess;
said piercing edge adapted to pierce an opening in said panel;
said recess terminating in a bottom wall spaced from said piercing edge a distance greater than the thickness of said panel;
said recess adapted to receive the slug pierced from said panel which is pressed against said bottom wall midportion;
and the outer distal edge of said self-piercing and riveting wall including an arcuate drawing edge adapted to draw the pierced panel edge toward said distal end as the panel is pierced by said piercing edge;
thereby, to retain said self-piercing and riveting end portion in said pierced panel opening.

10. A self-piercing stud fastener as in claim 9, in which said piercing edge is provided by an outwardly angled annular piercing face adjacent the free end of said self piercing and riveting wall.

11. A self-piercing stud fastener as in claims 9 or 10, in which the bottom wall of the recess is non-planar, and in which the slug pierced from the panel is deformed against said bottom wall.

12, A self-piercing and riveting member comprising a metal stud member adapted for permanent attachment to a plate which is adapted to be supported on a female die, said stud member comprising an unthreaded shank and a head at one end of the shank, said head termin-ating in a non-hardened annular piercing and riveting portion, said head having an enlarged portion between the shank and the piercing and riveting portion, the top surface of the enlarged portion providing an annular pressing surface adapted to be flush with the top surface of the panel after installation, said annular piercing and riveting portion having an outer surface and a recess with said recess terminating in a generally non-planar bottom wall bridging said annular portion, a piercing surface forming part of said annular portion adapted to pierce a slug from a plate having a thickness less than the length of said annular portion, leaving a pierced panel edge bent in the direction of piercing, said recess adapted to receive said plate slug as the annular piercing and riveting portion pene-trates the plate, and said slug being deformed against the bottom wall of said recess, said annular portion being adapted to interlock with the pierced edge panel.