Abstract: The invention relates to a joining element (10, 50, 70, 100, 130) for connection to at least one component layer (34, 62, 84, 112), comprising a head (12, 52) having a head supporting surface (16, 140) for abutment against a component layer and at least one drive feature (14), via which the joining element can be rotated. The joining element further comprises a shaft (17), which ends via a hole forming element (18, 54, 90, 106) in a point (38), wherein the length of the shaft, from the head supporting surface to the point, is shorter than five times the maximum shaft outer diameter (DMax), wherein the shaft has a holding region (H) for connection to the component layer. A removal region having a removal profile (20, 56, 72, 102, 134) extends on the shaft, subsequent to the holding region in the direction of the point (38), and the removal region starts spaced apart from the head supporting surface at a distance of at least once the maximum shaft outer diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element (10, 30) for connecting at least two components that are positioned one on top of the other, comprising a shaft (14, 34) and a head (12, 32), which is provided with a drive (38), the shaft (14, 34) being formed from a base material and ending at the exposed shaft end thereof that is opposite the head (12, 32). The invention is characterised in that a tip (16, 40) made of plating material is applied to the exposed shaft end, which plating material is different from the base material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thread-forming screw (10) comprising a base body (12, 20) which comprises a drive and a screw shank, the screw shank carrying a thread (13) having a channeling region (14) and a carrying region, the base body (12, 20) consisting of a base material. The invention is characterized in that the thread (13) is formed from a coating material (18) different from the base material, at least in the channeling region (14), which is applied to the base material by deposition welding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thread-forming screw (10) comprising a base body (12, 20) which comprises a drive and a screw shank, the screw shank carrying a thread (13) having a channeling region (14) and a carrying region, the base body (12, 20) consisting of a base material. The invention is characterized in that the thread (13) is formed from a coating material (18) different from the base material, at least in the channeling region (14), which is applied to the base material by deposition welding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a joining element (10, 50, 70, 100, 130) for connection to at least one component layer (34, 62, 84, 112), comprising a head (12, 52) having a head supporting surface (16, 140) for abutment against a component layer and at least one drive feature (14), via which the joining element can be rotated. The joining element further comprises a shaft (17), which ends via a hole forming element (18, 54, 90, 106) in a point (38), wherein the length of the shaft, from the head supporting surface to the point, is shorter than five times the maximum shaft outer diameter (DMax), wherein the shaft has a holding region (H) for connection to the component layer. A removal region having a removal profile (20, 56, 72, 102, 134) extends on the shaft, subsequent to the holding region in the direction of the point (38), and the removal region starts spaced apart from the head supporting surface at a distance of at least once the maximum shaft outer diameter.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting at least two plates (1, 2) of which a supporting plate (1) comprises a higher strength than a supported plate (2) posed thereon. By means of a connecting element (5) rotated by a rotational feeder unit (11), the connecting element with a collar (6) presses the supported plate (2) onto the supporting plate (1). With a shaft (10) a friction welding connection to the supporting plate (1) is made. The rotational feeder unit (11) is provided with a measurement device with measures an axial force exerted by the rotational feeder unit as well as a respective feeding motion and which indicates, upon abutment of the shaft of the connecting element onto the supporting plate, the pressure increase encountered therein, which, thereby, advances the rotational feeder unit, the feeding motion of which is adjustable to at least three sequential connecting stages.

Abstract: A process for producing hollow bolts including a longitudinal bore with the hollow bolts being provided with circumferential notches. The hollow bolts are provided with longitudinal grooves extending between elevations determining the bolt diameter, wherein circumferential notches are rolled onto the hollow bolts provided with the longitudinal grooves and the elevations, the longitudinal grooves being of such cross-section that some of the material displaced during rolling-on of the notches flows into the longitudinal grooves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element (1) for a friction weld connection for connecting at least two plate-like components (8, 9), having a centering part (4) for centering and guiding the connecting element (1) subjected to rotation and pressure during penetration of the upper component or components (8) by a mandrel (2), the length thereof being adapted to the thickness of the upper component or components (8). The centering part protrudes as a pin (4, 13 16 18) from a substantially flat cross-sectional area of the mandrel transitioning into the friction weld connection and is formed so short and thin relative to the length of the mandrel that, after penetrating the upper component or components, the material of said centering part softens and the centering part thus practically completely transitions into the friction weld connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a friction-welded connection between a plurality of superimposed flat components held together by a connecting member, wherein a collar of said connecting member rests on an upper component and the front end of said connecting member forms a friction-welding zone with a lower component, said friction-welding zone being produced by rotation and pressure of the connecting member. After formation of the friction-welding zone, the rotation of the connecting member ceases at the end of a first step and, in a second step, upon cessation of the rotation of the connecting member prior to contact of the collar with the upper component, a pressure is exerted on the connecting member by a pressure-applying tool, said pressure pressing the collar against the upper component because of a deformation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction welding joint of a plurality of two-dimensional components positioned on top of each other, which are held together by means of a connecting body, which rests on an upper component by means of a collar. The connecting body is configured as a pipe piece, and the upper component is penetrated by the connecting body having a front annular cutting edge by means of rotation and pressure, wherein the connecting body, after cutting through the upper component with the front thereof and receiving the cut-out material of the upper component in the hollow space thereof, together with the lower component forms a friction welding zone created by means of rotation and pressure of the connecting body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element (1) for a friction-welded connection for connecting at least two panel-like components (8,9), comprising a rotating and pressurised mandrel (2, 13), the length of which is adapted to the thickness of the upper component(s) (7, 8) in order to penetrate the upper components(s) (7, 8), and which has a polygonal noncircular profile having rounded corner regions (5a, 5b). The noncircular profile has a thread-like design and has a pitch, the length of which is shorter than a complete thread turn.

Abstract: A hole-forming and thread-forming screw for screwing into a sheet piece, including a slotted screw head for accommodating a tool, a threaded shank and a tapering hole-forming part having outer sides with a continuous convex-shaped curve along an entire length thereof, ribs running like threads along the hole-forming part being provided. The hole-forming part ends in a rounded, blunt end piece, and the rounded ribs, which chiplessly displace the material of the sheet part, are situated symmetrically opposite one another and have a pitch that is a multiple of the thread pitch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction welding connection having at least two stacked plate-shaped components (3, 4) of which the lower component (4) is made of a high-strength steel having a tensile strength of greater than 1000 megapascal, and the one or more upper components (3) are made of penetrable material, in particular light metal, being penetrated by a friction welding element (1, 2) connected to the lower component (4) by means of a friction weld connection (5, 6). The friction welding element (1, 2) is made of alloyed steel, having contents of carbon of 0.17% to 4.45%, chromium of 0.70% to 1.5% and molybdenum of 0.15% to 0.80%.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction weld assembly of a plurality of superposed plates, said plates being held together by a connection body which rests on the upper plate by means of a collar and is formed as a slender cone ending in a tip. The connection body comprises a driving element in the region of the collar thereof, for the attachment of a pressure and rotation tool. A girder formed from the slender cone and penetrating from the upper plate into the lower plate, and a girder protruding from the lower plate along the inner surfaces thereof, form a friction welding region extending onto the slender cone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing element having a concentric end face forming a frictional surface for friction welding joining to a flat part by rotational force and axial force applied by the fixing element to the part, and having multiple radially oriented ridges on the end face. The ridges are limited in the direction of rotation by a front groove introduced into the friction surface, the ridges rising only slightly over the friction surface in the axial direction and being provided with a scraping surface that pushes the material scraped during the friction welding process into the front groove.

Abstract: Friction-welded connection between a sheet metal element and a therein inserted rotation body. The sheet metal element is provided with a protruding, circular annular wall as a pressure face, which pressure face is adapted to be engaged by the rotation body with a counter-pressure face. At least one pressure face is of such conicity that the insertion of the rotation body loads the annular wall with increasing pressure, there being formed a friction-welded connection between rotation body and annular wall as a result of rotation of the rotation body.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting at least two plates (1, 2) of which a supporting plate (1) comprises a higher strength than a supported plate (2) posed thereon. By means of a connecting element (5) rotated by a rotational feeder unit (11), the connecting element with a collar (6) presses the supported plate (2) onto the supporting plate (1). With a shaft (10) a friction welding connection to the supporting plate (1) is made. The rotational feeder unit (11) is provided with a measurement device with measures an axial force exerted by the rotational feeder unit as well as a respective feeding motion and which indicates, upon abutment of the shaft of the connecting element onto the supporting plate, the pressure increase encountered therein, which, thereby, advances the rotational feeder unit, the feeding motion of which is adjustable to at least three sequential connecting stages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a U-shaped clamping piece for attachment to a panel provided with an opening, having two flat legs, connected by a yoke, with a nut part axially movably disposed between the two legs for receiving a bolt, said bolt penetrating the opening and one leg, wherein said nut part is non-rotatably held on the clamping piece by a lateral arm. The nut part is secured by its end in axially resilient manner to the leg facing away from the panel by means of a plurality of straps extending from the end of the nut part to the leg.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction weld assembly of a plurality of superposed plates, said plates being held together by a connection body which rests on the upper plate by means of a collar and is formed as a slender cone ending in a tip. The connection body comprises a driving element in the region of the collar thereof, for the attachment of a pressure and rotation tool. A girder formed from the slender cone and penetrating from the upper plate into the lower plate, and a girder protruding from the lower plate along the inner surfaces thereof, form a friction welding region extending onto the slender cone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a friction-welded connection between a plurality of superimposed flat components held together by a connecting member, wherein a collar of said connecting member rests on an upper component and the front end of said connecting member forms a friction-welding zone with a lower component, said friction-welding zone being produced by rotation and pressure of the connecting member. After formation of the friction-welding zone, the rotation of the connecting member ceases at the end of a first step and, in a second step, upon cessation of the rotation of the connecting member prior to contact of the collar with the upper component, a pressure is exerted on the connecting member by a pressure-applying tool, said pressure pressing the collar against the upper component because of a deformation.