1353421 九、發明說明： 本專利申請案係有關西元2006年4月28日向美國提 出申請’名稱爲「鉚合點軸承」（CLINCH SPOT BEARING) 的臨時專利申請案No.60/745,897，在此請求其優先檣。 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係有關一種用於結合兩片板材的扣件，其亦可 允許其間之相對轉動。尤有關於鉚合式兩件扣件，其在單 —壓入組合操作中提供兩片材的可轉動結合。 【先前技術】 在扣件技藝中’已認識到有可轉動地結合兩件相當薄 的金屬片之扣件的需要。這些扣件經常稱爲樞轉軸承或推 力軸承。此等構造之例子揭示在例如發給大衛，名稱爲「樞 轉軸承」之美國專利4,582,435號中。另一此種裝置揭示於 發給雷那克氏之美國專利5，860,780號中。在兩者情況下， 有一鉚合式方法被用來將板材之任一個擴張成喇叭狀，或 者有一如雷那克氏專利中所說明€的鉚釘式扣件》此等系 統之每一者各有其缺點，包括無法提供薄板之間的彈性分 離’或容許軸向偏轉而不影響薄板之間的相對轉動。而且， 雷那克扣件對薄板之安裝可能很複雜。在此兩例中，軸承 表面之一亦必須爲板材本身。這會導致過度的磨損、維修 問題及結合失效。這亦會限制板材及其表面條件。解決此 問題之接頭組合係更複雜的三件式系統。 因此，在此技藝中，有結合兩件相當薄的金屬片同時 容許其間轉動之需要，此結合要有效且合乎經濟，亦容許 軸向偏轉以及薄板之間的彈性分離。又，在此技藝中亦有 1353421 用於諸金屬薄板之簡化的可轉動結合組合之需要，其中任 一薄板無須作爲摩擦軸承表面。 【發明內容】 爲了符合上述技藝中之需要，本發明藉由提供兩件式 相互配合的軸承組合，個別元件牢固地附著於每一薄板， 而容許可轉動之結合，如此’諸薄板可被結合，而轉動係 藉相互配合的軸承表面控制。此兩相互配合的零件包括— 內及外環（race)，在內、外環對於單一壓入操作中被壓入諸 薄板之前，此對環可被放置在一起而與待結合的薄板中對 齊之諸孔重疊。軸承元件的材料可選擇符合特定應用的摩 擦及負荷特性者。替代實施例中包含在諸環之間加入球軸 承，或在另一情況下’於薄板之間使用一具有拱形軸承表 面的偏壓彈簧，其容許薄板轉動及/或角度偏轉。 更具體言之，本發明包括：一軸承組合，用以可轉動 地結合兩薄板；頂板，具有第1孔，與底板對齊，，並與 底板成面對面關係，該底板具有繞軸心與第1孔對齊的第 2孔。一外環位於頂板之孔口內，在中央具有鑽孔，在其 圓周有用以收容來自頂板並使之牢固附著之冷金屬流的 機構。一內環局部地位於外環內，且局部地位於第2薄板 中，並以圓周之鉚接機構固定於其上。此內環另包含直徑 增加到比外環之孔直徑更大的頭部，藉此而在組合後使頂 板固接於底板。內環及外環之尺寸設成很接近，以提供結 合性及使一方之薄板相對於另一方之薄板繞軸心之轉動 性。 於此方面，在詳細說明本發明至少一實施例之前須了 1353421 解，本發明並不限定其應用於下列說明及顯示於附圖中之 元件的構造及配置。本發明可有其他實施例且能以其他方 式實施及執行。而且須了解，在此所使用之詞句或名詞僅 係爲了說明方便，不得視爲限制。 依此方式，熟於此技術者須了解，根據此說明書可立 即應用而設計出用以實施本發明許多目的的其他構造，方 法及系統。因此，重要的是，在不違離本發明之精神及範 圍下，申請專利範圍應包含此等均等性構造。 【實施方式】 參照第1圖，其顯示本發明之四個基本元件。內環11 及外環13被組合到板15及17,使得其等結合成可在軸承 元件11及13上自由轉動。元件11爲內環，其在外環13 內相互配合。在如第2A及2B圖所示之單一壓入操作中， 內環1 1被安裝到底板1 7，而外環1 3被鉚合到頂板1 5。 諸環件的安裝係各經由頂及底板之對齊的孔16及18達 成。 參照第2A及2B圖，本發明元件之組合係藉由在沖頭 21及底砧23之間執行的壓入操作加以說明。頂及底板1 5 及17係以其等之孔對齊的方式被放置於壓床。如第2A圖 所示，將內環11及外環13放置在一起，並且設置在薄板 上而與板上的諸孔軸向對齊。然後，如第2B圖所示，實施 壓合而造成板之結合及零件之鉚合。外環周圍之一周向側 切（under cut)31容納來自頂板的冷金屬流，而內環周圍之一 類似周向側切33則因這些零件壓入板材內而容納來自底 板之冷金屬流。如此，可達成外環對頂板及內環對底板的 1353421 剛性附接。零件尺寸設定成有一間隙35 ’用以控制在零件 之間的相對移動，容許其等自由轉動。 參照第3圖，本發明之一實施例採用一具有長柄部41 之內環11，其容許在薄板15及17之間有實質的分開距離。 '內環11及外環13以和第2A及2B圖所示之相同方式被鉚 * 合到頂及底板，其中在內環之柄部周圍採用彈簧43。此彈 簧彈性地壓迫薄板分離，但如本圖所示，容許其等角度偏 向。本實施例容許於零件之間的搖動及轉動。爲了促進角 φ 度偏向，在內環及外環上各採用相匹配的拱形表面44及 45。本實施例提供一種球-及-承座式齊平鉚合軸承，但安 裝上須要兩階段壓入操作。外環首先被壓入薄板中，然後 內環通過頂板被安裝，且彈簧在第2壓入操作中被鉚合到 第2薄板。 參照第4圖，又另一實施例可轉動地結合薄板15與 17’其中內環11及外環13採用球軸承46以減少摩擦。可 在安裝時於薄板之間採用塡隙法（未圖示），以進一步減少 φ 摩擦’當後者被移除時，可確保諸薄板在轉動時維持於非 接觸關係。 上述係僅用於說明本發明原理，又，熟於此技術者可 立即作出許多變化及改變’故本發明並不限於在此顯示及 說明的構造。因而，所有適當的變化及均等者均在本發明 範圍之內。 【圖式簡單說明】 第1圖是本發明之底部右側立體組合圖。 第2 A及2 B圖係顯示本發明之組合的順序側剖視圖。 1353421 第3圖是使用彈簧分離器及拱形軸承表面的另一實施 例之側剖視圖。 第4圖係顯示球軸承之使用的另一實施例之側剖視 圖。 【主要元件符號說明】1353421 IX. INSTRUCTIONS: This patent application is related to the provisional application No. 60/745,897 for the application of the name "CLINCH SPOT BEARING" to the United States on April 28, 2006. Its priority is ambiguous. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fastener for joining two sheets of sheet material, which also allows relative rotation therebetween. More particularly, it relates to a riveted two-piece fastener that provides a rotatable combination of two sheets in a single-press-in combination operation. [Prior Art] In the fastener art, the need to rotatably bond fasteners of two relatively thin metal sheets has been recognized. These fasteners are often referred to as pivot bearings or thrust bearings. Examples of such constructions are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,582,435, issued to the name of U.S. Pat. Another such device is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,860,780 issued to the company. In both cases, a riveting method is used to expand any of the sheets into a trumpet shape, or a rivet fastener as described in the Lenac patent. Each of these systems has Disadvantages include the inability to provide elastic separation between the sheets' or to allow axial deflection without affecting the relative rotation between the sheets. Moreover, the installation of the Lenac fasteners on the sheets can be complicated. In both cases, one of the bearing surfaces must also be the sheet itself. This can lead to excessive wear and tear, maintenance problems and failure of the combination. This will also limit the sheet and its surface conditions. The combination of joints to solve this problem is a more complex three-piece system. Thus, in this art, there is a need to combine two relatively thin metal sheets while permitting rotation therebetween, which is effective and economical, and allows for axial deflection and elastic separation between the sheets. Also, there is a need in the art for 1353421 for a simplified, rotatable combination of thin metal sheets, any of which does not need to be a friction bearing surface. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to meet the needs of the above-described art, the present invention provides a two-part mating bearing assembly in which individual components are securely attached to each of the sheets to permit a rotatable combination such that the sheets can be combined And the rotation is controlled by the matching bearing surface. The two mating parts include - inner and outer races, the inner and outer rings can be placed together to align with the sheets to be joined before being pressed into the sheets in a single press operation The holes overlap. The material of the bearing component can be selected to suit the friction and load characteristics of the particular application. Alternative embodiments include the addition of a ball bearing between the rings or, in another case, a biasing spring having an arcuate bearing surface between the sheets that allows for sheet rotation and/or angular deflection. More specifically, the present invention includes: a bearing assembly for rotatably joining two thin plates; a top plate having a first hole aligned with the bottom plate and in face-to-face relationship with the bottom plate, the bottom plate having a first axis and the first The second hole in which the holes are aligned. An outer ring is located in the aperture of the top plate and has a bore in the center for use on the circumference thereof to accommodate a flow of cold metal from the top plate for secure attachment thereto. An inner ring is partially located within the outer ring and partially located in the second sheet and secured thereto by a circumferential riveting mechanism. The inner ring further includes a head having a diameter that is increased to a larger diameter than the diameter of the outer ring, whereby the top plate is secured to the bottom plate after assembly. The inner and outer rings are sized to provide closeness and provide flexibility for one of the sheets to rotate about the axis relative to the other. In this regard, the description of the components and the configuration of the components of the following description and the accompanying drawings are intended to be construed in detail. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of various embodiments. It must be understood that the words or nouns used herein are for convenience of description only and should not be considered as limiting. In this manner, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other configurations, methods and systems for carrying out many of the objects of the present invention can be readily utilized in accordance with the present specification. Therefore, it is important that the scope of the patent application include such equal constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. [Embodiment] Referring to Fig. 1, there are shown four basic elements of the present invention. The inner ring 11 and the outer ring 13 are combined to the plates 15 and 17 such that they are combined to be freely rotatable on the bearing members 11 and 13. The element 11 is an inner ring that cooperates with each other within the outer ring 13. In a single press-in operation as shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the inner ring 11 is mounted to the bottom plate 17 and the outer ring 13 is riveted to the top plate 15. The mounting of the ring members is achieved via aligned holes 16 and 18 of the top and bottom plates, respectively. Referring to Figures 2A and 2B, the combination of elements of the present invention is illustrated by a press-in operation performed between the punch 21 and the anvil 23. The top and bottom plates 15 and 17 are placed in the press in a manner that their holes are aligned. As shown in Fig. 2A, the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 13 are placed together and placed on the sheet to be axially aligned with the holes in the plate. Then, as shown in Fig. 2B, the press-bonding is performed to cause the bonding of the plates and the riveting of the parts. One of the circumferential cuts 31 around the outer ring accommodates the flow of cold metal from the top plate, and one of the surrounding inner rings, like the circumferential side cut 33, accommodates the flow of cold metal from the bottom plate as these parts are pressed into the sheet. In this way, the rigid attachment of the outer ring to the top plate and the inner ring to the bottom plate 1353421 can be achieved. The part is sized to have a gap 35' to control the relative movement between the parts, allowing them to rotate freely. Referring to Figure 3, an embodiment of the present invention employs an inner ring 11 having a long shank 41 that allows for a substantial separation distance between the sheets 15 and 17. The inner ring 11 and the outer ring 13 are riveted into the top and bottom plates in the same manner as shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, in which a spring 43 is employed around the shank of the inner ring. This spring elastically presses the sheet to separate, but as shown in the figure, it is allowed to be equiangularly deflected. This embodiment allows for rocking and rotation between parts. In order to promote the angular φ degree deflection, matching arched surfaces 44 and 45 are employed on the inner and outer rings. This embodiment provides a ball-and-seat flush-type riveted bearing, but a two-stage press-in operation is required for the mounting. The outer ring is first pressed into the thin plate, then the inner ring is mounted through the top plate, and the spring is riveted to the second sheet in the second press-in operation. Referring to Fig. 4, yet another embodiment rotatably bonds the sheets 15 and 17' wherein the inner ring 11 and the outer ring 13 employ ball bearings 46 to reduce friction. A crevice method (not shown) can be used between the sheets during installation to further reduce φ friction. When the latter is removed, it is ensured that the sheets remain in a non-contact relationship while rotating. The above is only illustrative of the principles of the invention, and many variations and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and the invention is not limited to the construction shown and described herein. Accordingly, all suitable variations and equivalents are within the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom right side of the present invention. 2A and 2B are sequential side cross-sectional views showing combinations of the present invention. 1353421 Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment using a spring separator and an arcuate bearing surface. Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the use of a ball bearing. [Main component symbol description]
11 內環 13 外環 15 頂板 17 底板 16,18 孔 2 1 沖頭 23 底砧 3 1,33 側切 35 間隙 4 1 長柄部 43 彈簧 44,45 拱形表面 46 球軸承11 Inner ring 13 Outer ring 15 Top plate 17 Base plate 16,18 Hole 2 1 Punch 23 Bottom anvil 3 1,33 Side cut 35 Clearance 4 1 Long handle 43 Spring 44,45 Arched surface 46 Ball bearing