Abstract: A blind nut assembly including a bush and nut. The bush includes a short cylindrical collar, which has a polygonal outer surface on the outer surface thereof, and a flange, the outer surface of which is polygonal. The nut consists of a female screw member, on which a female screw to be mated with a male screw on a bolt is formed; and a nut cylindrical member, which is formed adjacent to the female screw member, which has a polygonal inner surface on the inner surface thereof aligning with the polygonal outer surface of the collar, of which the outer surface is also a polygonal outer surface, and which has a wall thickness that is thinner than the female screw member. The nut head has an outer diameter which is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the nut cylindrical member, is formed above the nut cylindrical member.

Abstract: A method is presented for operating a power tool during installation of a deformable fastener. The method includes: receiving measures of current supplied to a motor of the power tool during operation of the power tool; determining rate of change of the current during operation of the power tool; determining occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current supplied to the motor; determining occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the rate of change of the current; determining completion of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current and the rate of change of the current; and verifying quality of the installation of the fastener using the determination of the occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener and the determination of the completion of the power tool swaging the fastener.

Abstract: A method of welding a weld stud to a workpiece and of checking the strength of the welded joint includes the steps of providing a tool, a workpiece, and a weld stud, the weld stud including a shank and a polygonal shaped head; welding the weld stud onto the workpiece; applying the tool to the polygonal shaped head section of the stud; applying a predetermined test torque to the weld stud with the tool; and checking the welded joint for satisfactory acceptance of the test torque.

Abstract: A riveted joint comprising: an upper workpiece and a lower workpiece, and a self-piercing rivet. The rivet in an undeformed state, before the creation of the riveted joint, included: a head defining a head diameter (DH); a shank defining a shank diameter (DS); and a foot end opposite the head. Radially outward at the foot end is a flat surface facing away from the head; and an axial recess located radially inward of the flat surface, partly defined in the foot end, open axially away from the head, and frustoconical in longitudinal cross section. The axial recess defining an axial depth (LB). The ratio of recess axial depth (LB) to shank diameter (DS) is less than 0.3. And in a deformed state, after the creation of the riveted joint, the rivet extends through the first workpiece and penetrates the second workpiece; and the head bears against the upper surface.

Abstract: A receiver assembly can be coupled to a spindle to receive self-piercing rivets carried by a tape along a tape path below a punch. A reverse locking pawl can be designed to permit movement of the tape relative to the reverse locking pawl along the tape path in a forward direction and to engage a positioning aperture of the tape to stop movement of the tape in the reverse direction when a lead rivet is aligned with the punch. A method can include moving the tape forward along the tape path until a lead rivet of the tape is at a position along the tape path that is beyond an alignment position with the punch, and moving the tape in reverse to engage the corresponding positioning aperture.

Abstract: A transfer station for temporarily storing at least one interchangeable die. The die can be removed by a joining tool to carry out a joining operation, and can be returned back into the transfer station after the joining operation. The transfer station including a die receptacle for holding the die, and a rotating device for rotating the die in the receptacle in order to establish an axial engagement between the die and the joining tool.

Abstract: An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing for movement in a Y-direction. The outer housing has an enclosed interior defined by outer housing walls extending from an outer housing flange. Resilient retention wings can extend outwardly from the outer housing walls without providing adjacent openings therethrough to facilitate water resistance. A water resistant seal is positionable between an outer housing flange and a first component to seal therebetween when the outer housing is coupled to the first component by the retention wings. Centering blades extend between the inner and outer housings to initially locate the pin retaining receptacle in a central position within the interior in a Y-direction and the centering blades are movable during insertion of the pin into the pin retaining receptacle.

Abstract: A dual component U-base fastener includes a u-shaped outer component comprising at least one rib retention barb and a u-shaped inner component comprising at least one aperture retention wing. The outer component and the inner component are separate and are coupled together to create an assembled unit defining an interior rib receiving cavity with the at least one rib retention barb extending into the interior rib receiving cavity and the at least one aperture retention wing of the inner component extending exteriorly from the outer component.

Abstract: First and second apertures can extend through corresponding first and second walls that define a cavity therebetween. Each aperture can have a stud retention zone and a stud release zone laterally spaced from each other, and the corresponding zones of each aperture can be axially aligned with each other. Spring retention fingers can extend outwardly from the first wall and into the first aperture. The spring retention fingers can deflect to pass over threads of the stud in an axial stud insertion direction and can engage the threads to prevent removal of the stud in an opposite stud removal direction when the stud is in the stud retention zone. The spring retention fingers can be designed to allow removal of the stud from the apertures when the stud is in the release zones. The main body can fully enclose the entire periphery of each of the first and second apertures.

Abstract: A receiver assembly can be coupled to a spindle to receive self-piercing rivets carried by a tape along a tape path below a punch. A reverse locking pawl can be designed to permit movement of the tape relative to the reverse locking pawl along the tape path in a forward direction and to engage a positioning aperture of the tape to stop movement of the tape in the reverse direction when a lead rivet is aligned with the punch. A method can include moving the tape forward along the tape path until a lead rivet of the tape is at a position along the tape path that is beyond an alignment position with the punch, and moving the tape in reverse to engage the corresponding positioning aperture.

Abstract: A self-piercing rivet tape path can extend through a clamshell receiver assembly between the upper and lower receiver bodies and can open between the upper and lower bodies along a longitudinal length of the self-piercing rivet tape path that extends through the clamshell receiver assembly. The upper and lower bodies can separate at a lead rivet cavity and above a proximal end of a discharge cavity of the lower body. A tool-free interlock coupling can rigidly couple the upper and lower receiver bodies together in a closed position. This tool-free coupling can unlock the upper and lower receiver bodies so they are hingedly movable into the open position. The clamshell receiver assembly can be rigidly coupled to an end of a self-piercing rivet spindle to receive self-piercing rivets carried by the tape along the tape path and support a lead self-piercing rivet in alignment with a punch of the spindle.

Abstract: Self-piercing rivets deployed in an elongated tape are moved into alignment with a rivet driving spindle using a processor-controlled servomotors. The tape is conveyed between a supply reel and an exhaust reel, the supply reel having a supply motor and the exhaust reel having an exhaust motor. The tape is moved under processor control in an advancing direction until the rivet has traveled past being in alignment with the spindle, by controlling the supply and exhaust motors using a first tension regimen. Thereafter the tape is moved under processor control in a retracting direction until the rivet is in alignment with the spindle by controlling the tape supply and exhaust motors using a second tension regimen.

Abstract: A punch rivet for joining two workpieces, has a head and a shank. The shank is a hollow shank with a shank internal diameter (D3), a shank external diameter (D1) and a shank end face. On the shank end face is a ring cutting edge with the diameter (D4) that is smaller than the shank external diameter (D1) but greater than the shank internal diameter (D3). The ring cutting edge is radially spaced both from the shank external diameter (D1) and from the shank internal diameter (D3) by at least 20% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5). And the ratio D3/D1 of shank internal diameter D3 to shank external diameter D1 is smaller than 0.6.

Abstract: An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. A plurality of centering blades extend into the interior and between the inner and outer housings to locate the pin retaining receptacle in a central position within the interior in a Y-direction prior to insertion of the pin into the pin retention receptacle. The centering blades are movable in the Y-direction to permit the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing to move to a non-central position relative to the housing in the Y-direction as a result of the inner housing moving the centering blades in response to the pin engaging the entry ramps during insertion of the pin into the pin receiving receptacle. Associated methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable power source can be used during the assembly of a vehicle. The portable power source includes a housing with a docking port and a rechargeable battery pack removably received in the docking port. The rechargeable battery pack is configured to provide electrical power for programming one or more electrical control systems of the vehicle. The example portable power source also includes a pair of cables connected to the housing and electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery pack. The pair of cables are configured to removably connect to battery leads of the vehicle.

Abstract: A blind nut including an internal threaded portion, a hollow tubular portion adjacent to the internal threaded portion, and a flange with hole, formed at the end on the opposite side to the internally threaded portion. The internal threaded portion is inserted into an attaching hole of the attached-to member, a part of the tubular portion is plastically deformed to expand in diameter, and the attached-to member is held between the deformed expanded diameter portion and the flange. The internal threaded portion includes a first straight portion adjacent to the tubular portion, a first tapered portion with an outside diameter gradually decreasing from the first straight portion, a second straight portion with an outside diameter smaller than the first straight portion, a second tapered portion with an outside diameter decreasing from the first straight portion, and a third straight portion with an outside diameter smaller than the second straight portion.

Abstract: An inner housing defines a pin retaining receptacle elongated in an X-direction with entry ramps extending parallel to the X-direction. The inner housing is slidably coupled to an outer housing and extends into an interior thereof. A plurality of centering blades extend into the interior and between the inner and outer housings to locate the pin retaining receptacle in a central position within the interior in a Y-direction prior to insertion of the pin into the pin retention receptacle. The centering blades are movable in the Y-direction to permit the pin retaining receptacle of the inner housing to move to a non-central position relative to the housing in the Y-direction as a result of the inner housing moving the centering blades in response to the pin engaging the entry ramps during insertion of the pin into the pin receiving receptacle. Associated methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blind rivet including a sleeve and a flange on one end of the sleeve, and a mandrel including a shaft and a head, the head having a cutting edge for cutting open the sleeve. The sleeve of the rivet body has a thick portion, and a thin which has an inner diameter larger than the thick portion. The shaft of the mandrel has a large diameter portion, a middle diameter portion, a small diameter portion having an outer diameter smaller than the middle diameter portion, and a securing and attaching groove which is between the middle diameter portion and the small diameter portion. When the blind rivet is fastened, the middle diameter portion of the mandrel causes the material of the thick portion to undergo metal flow and to flow into the securing and attaching groove, enabling the mandrel to be tightly secured to the rivet body.

Abstract: A resilient U-base fastener includes a U-shaped body defining a central body cavity between a first side and a second side. The first side is connected to the second side at an insertion end. The U-base fastener also includes a first spring arm connected to the first side of the body that bends outwardly and away from the central body cavity at a first bend and a second spring arm connected to the first side of the body adjacent the first spring arm. The second spring arm bends outwardly and away from the central body cavity at a second bend. The first spring arm and the second spring arm are laterally spaced apart from one another and are separated by a gap in the first side of the body. The gap extends toward the insertion end past the first bend and past the second bend.

Abstract: A resilient U-base fastener includes a U-shaped body defining a central cavity between first and second sides. The fastener has an insertion end with the first and second sides extending therefrom to a trailing end. The fastener includes a first barb extension extending outwardly from one of the lateral side edges of the first side. The first barb extension is bent to support a first barb in the central cavity. The fastener also includes a second barb extension extending outwardly from a lateral side edge of the first side opposite the first barb extension. The second barb extension is bent to support a second barb in the central cavity.