Abstract: A fastener element for attachment to a component, wherein the fastener element has a contact surface which contacts the component in the installed state. Furthermore, the fastener element has a mounting recess which faces the component in the dismantled state. The mounting recess is bounded by at least one sidewall and by a base section. The sidewall is, at least regionally, provided with at least one undercut which is effective in the axial direction of the fastener element. The base section is formed free of any aperture.

Abstract: A hole punch and a method for piercing a workpiece wherein a hole punch includes a sheet metal part and a piercing body attached thereto which carries out the piercing function and which is provided with a thread cylinder or can be provided with a thread cylinder, for example by pressing a threaded pin into a centrally arranged passage of the hole punch, wherein the hole punch can also be formed in one piece as a piercing body with a sheet metal-like flange. Furthermore a method is claimed for the manufacture of the hole punch.

Abstract: A piercing nut element having a strength in the range between 700 and 900 MPa which is designed to be pressed into the sheet metal part. The nut element is characterized in that the self-piercing attachment of the nut element into a sheet metal part of higher strength, or into a sheet metal part with a thickness greater than 3.5 mm, the nut element is designed in such a way that the piercing section has a peripheral extending groove below the sheet metal contact surface and in that the piercing section has a piercing edge at its free end face with the piercing edge being spaced from the boundary of the groove adjacent to the piercing section by a peripheral surface having an axial height which corresponds to at least 30% and preferably to at least 50% of the sheet metal thickness, wherein the radial wall thickness of the piercing section in the region of its free end face from the outer side of the piercing section up to the nominal diameter of the thread corresponds to a thickness between 1.2 to 1.

Abstract: A method for the connection of sheet parts, of which at least one is formed as an organic sheet part, with the aid of an auxiliary joining part and an apertured metal washer, the auxiliary joining part having a functional section with an undercut and a piercing section with a shaft surface and a shaft recess. The sheet parts and the metal washer are brought into a stacked arrangement in such a way that the metal washer contacts the organic sheet part. The piercing section slugs are punched out of the stacked sheet parts. The auxiliary joining part is joined to the metal washer. The other of the undercut or of the shaft recess is brought into a holding engagement with a sheet part not formed as an organic sheet metal part or with a further metal washer.

Abstract: A method for the attachment of a hollow element such as a hollow rivet or a nut element to a component consisting of a composite material, with the element having a flange part and a shaft part or rivet section extending away from the flange part, wherein a rivet section can also be formed at the free end of a shaft part. The hollow element has a central passage which is optionally provided with a thread cylinder. In the method an auxiliary tip is either passed from the flange side of the element remote from the shaft part and/or the rivet section through the passage or is introduced from the side of the free end of the shaft part and/or of the rivet section into the passage such that a conically converging region of the auxiliary tip projects from the free end of the shaft part or of the rivet section.

Abstract: A hollow punch rivet is described having a flange and a rivet section. Furthermore, a method for the attachment of individual components to one another using a punch rivet is described, with at least one of the components being formed by a material of the composite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the punching in and attachment of the fastener element to a planar workpiece, in particular to a sheet metal part. During the punching in of the fastener element in the workpiece a movably arranged die plunger of the die button is pressed with a predetermined pressing force against the workpiece. The pressing force is adapted such that the die plunger first moves once a slug has been cut out of the workpiece by a piercing section of the fastener element.

Abstract: A punch rivet for fastening individual components to one another of which at least one component is formed by a workpiece, with the punch rivet having a flange of larger diameter, a rivet section of smaller diameter and a ring-like component contact surface at the side of the flange adjacent the rivet section and surrounding the rivet section, with the rivet section having at its free end a ring surface for the piercing of the two workpieces which stands at least substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the punch rivet and an inner concave ring surface which forms the transition from the end of the punch rivet into the hollow internal space of the rivet section. Ribs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis are provided at the generally cylindrical outer surface of the rivet section and extend up to the free end face of the rivet section.

Abstract: A functional element of metal having a flange of larger diameter from an attachment surface and a centering section arranged inside the attachment surface and extending away from the flange, characterized in that an adhesive is arranged around the cylindrical section and adjacent to the attachment surface.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a hole in a component consisting of a composite material, such as a fiber reinforced plastic part or a fabric reinforced plastic part, which is characterized in that the component having first and second oppositely disposed sides is placed with its first side on a support having an iris diaphragm, in that a tip which diverges in the axial direction is pressed coming from the second side of the component through the component, which optionally has a pre-piercing, for the formation of the hole or for the enlargement of the pre-piercing and in that the iris diaphragm has a smaller starting opening which receives a narrower region of the tip and opens into a larger opening with increasing penetration of the component by the tip, whereby the component is supported during the hole formation over an as large as possible area from the first side. A piercing aid in the form of an iris diaphragm or a corresponding die button is likewise claimed.

Abstract: A method for the attachment of a bolt element to a component is described. The bolt element has a head part having a contact surface and a shaft part extending away from the head part, the shaft part having a tip provided at its end remote from the head part, the tip merging into a thread cylinder, optionally via a cylindrical region. The bolt element is pressed with the tip to the fore against the component and the tip is pressed through the component until the side of the component adjacent the head part of the bolt element enters to contact the thread cylinder and the tip thereby generates a hole in the component. The bolt element is subsequently turned so that the thread of the thread cylinder forms an internal thread in the wall of the hole. A bolt element is also claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rivet element, in particular for attachment to components of fiber composite materials, having a rivet section which is formed at least regionally as a spike which tapers in the direction towards a tip and which can be dilated by means of a die button.

Abstract: A piercing nut element having a strength in the range between 700 and 900 MPa which is designed to be pressed into the sheet metal part. The nut element is characterized in that the self-piercing attachment of the nut element into a sheet metal part of higher strength, or into a sheet metal part with a thickness greater than 3.5 mm, the nut element is designed in such a way that the piercing section has a peripheral extending groove below the sheet metal contact surface and in that the piercing section has a piercing edge at its free end face with the piercing edge being spaced from the boundary of the groove adjacent to the piercing section by a peripheral surface having an axial height which corresponds to at least 30% and preferably to at least 50% of the sheet metal thickness, wherein the radial wall thickness of the piercing section in the region of its free end face from the outer side of the piercing section up to the nominal diameter of the thread corresponds to a thickness between 1.2 to 1.

Abstract: A self-piercing nut element having a strength in the range between 700 and 900 MPa is designed for press fitting into a sheet metal part, for the self-piercing attachment of the nut element into a higher strength sheet metal part, such that the piercing section merges directly into the sheet metal contact surface and such that the piercing section has a piercing edge at its free end face, with the piercing edge being spaced apart from the sheet metal contact surface by a peripheral surface having an axial height which corresponds to at least 30%, and preferably at least 50%, of the sheet metal thickness. The radial wall thickness of the piercing section in the region of its free end face from the outer side up to the nominal diameter of the thread corresponds to a thickness between 1.2 times, to 1.8 times, the provided sheet metal thickness.

Abstract: A functional element of metal having a flange of larger diameter forming an attachment surface and having a centering section arranged inside the attachment surface and extending away from the flange, is characterized in that an adhesive which hardens under pressure is arranged around the centering section and adjacent to the attachment surface.

Abstract: A functional element having a functional portion, a generally tubular rivet portion and a ring-like sheet metal contact surface is characterized in that features of shape are provided at the rivet portion for co-movement of the sheet metal part during the formation of the rivet bead, in particular at the free end of the rivet portion and/or at the radially outer side of the rivet portion, at least in the region adjacent the free end of the rivet portion. A component assembly comprising a functional element and a sheet metal part as well as a method for the attachment of a functional element to the sheet metal part are also claimed.

Abstract: A functional element having a shaft part and a head part has at least one feature providing security against rotation which is provided in the region of a sheet metal contact surface of the functional element. The functional element is characterized in that each feature providing security against rotation comprises a recess provided in the sheet metal contact surface of the functional element with a raised portion disposed at least substantially centrally in the recess or with a raised portion surrounding the recess. With this design the functional element can be straightforwardly be inserted in a thick sheet metal part or in a sheet metal part of higher strength and thus a security against rotation of high quality can be achieved.

Abstract: A functional element having a head part with a flange and a section projecting away from a first side of the flange which is punching into a sheet metal part without piercing the sheet metal part and also having a shaft part with a longitudinal axis which satisfies a function and which projects away from the side from the flange opposite to the first side. The flange and the section are arranged at least substantially coaxial to the shaft part, with the section, which is formed as a hollow cylinder having ribs extending parallel to the longitudinal direction at its outer jacket surface. At the inner side the section has a diverging truncated cone shape which substantially runs out at the free end, with the truncated cone shape serving for the dilation of the section during punching into the sheet metal part. A component assembly and a method of manufacturing it are also claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of a functional element having a flange section and a connection section, in particular a rivet element, and a pressure plate, in particular a pressure plate having an opening, for attachment to a component, in particular to a panel of composite material or sheet metal, wherein the functional element and the pressure plate are formed to be arranged on opposite sides of a hole of the component and are to be connected together via the connection section which extends through the hole, in particular by riveting, in order to clamp a region of the component surrounding the hole between the flange section and the pressure plate and wherein the pressure side of the pressure plate confronting the component in the attached state is provided with a means providing security against rotation.

Abstract: A component assembly comprising a sheet metal part and a nut element attached thereto, the nut element being arranged in an opening of the sheet metal part and being adapted to receive a bolt element having a shaft part with a thread and a head part of larger radial dimensions is wherein the sheet metal part has at least one hole adjacent to the nut element which is not covered over by the nut element but can be covered over by the head part of the screwed-in bolt element. A component assembly of this kind is in particular suitable for an oil pan since the oil can flow through the holes. A method is also claimed.