Abstract: A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastener installation head and feed mechanism including a spring-biased L-shaped feed pawl which feeds a first nut in the feed passage adjacent the plunger passage on the upstroke of the die press. The feed pawl is pivotally supported on a slide bracket which includes a roller in the longitudinal axis of the feed passage which is biased against a central cam surface on the base and the base is interconnected to the nose member by removable pins. A spring biased nut restrictor is pivotally supported on the nose member, simplifying removal of a nut strip from the head and the installation head is more rugged in design and has fewer parts, reducing costs.

Abstract: A self-piercing element including a shank, a radial flange and a tubular barrel. The flange includes spaced concave surfaces and the annular bearing surface has an area at least four times the concave surfaces. The element is installed in a panel supported on a female die including a central die post, wherein the outer side wall is a frustoconical having an included angle between five and twelve degrees. During installation, the tubular barrel pierces an opening in the panel and the panel is drawn against the outer surface of the tubular barrel and the barrel is deformed into a U-shape. The flange is simultaneously received in the die cavity and the panel is incrementally deformed radially into the concave surfaces between the frustoconical side wall and the flange portion providing improved torque resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved die member, panel and fastener assembly and method for installing a fastener into a panel. The die member has a pair of opposed clinching lips protruding from an end face. The opposed clinching lips have a contact face that narrows as it approaches the opposed ends of the contact face and sidewalls that are angled with respect to vertical. The lips, due to the dual angles, substantially and simultaneously drive panel metal into fastener grooves both longitudinally and laterally. The fastener and panel assembly have panel metal deformed into the fastener grooves resulting in generally wedge-shaped portions of panel metal in the opposed ends of the fastener grooves.

Abstract: The method of attaching a fastening element to a metal panel within a panel opening using a die member having an annular concave die cavity. The fastening element includes a tubular riveting portion and a radial flange portion and a fastening portion. The internal and external surfaces of the tubular riveting portion are relatively uniformly inclined toward the radial flange portion such that the thickness of the tubular riveting portion at the free end is less than the thickness adjacent the radial flange portion. In the preferred embodiment, the internal surface of the tubular riveting portion is cylindrical and the external surface is slightly conical tapering inwardly toward the free end to reduce the force required to radially deform the free end of the tubular portion radially outwardly.

Abstract: An improved self-riveting fastening element for permanent attachment to a metal panel within a panel opening by a die member having an annular concave die cavity. The fastening element includes a tubular riveting portion and a radial flange portion and a fastening portion. The internal and external surfaces of the tubular riveting portion are relatively uniformly inclined toward the radial flange portion such that the thickness of the tubular riveting portion at the free end is less than the thickness adjacent the radial flange portion. In the preferred embodiment, the internal surface of the tubular riveting portion is cylindrical and the external surface is slightly conical tapering inwardly toward the free end to reduce the force required to radially deform the free end of the tubular portion radially outwardly.

Abstract: An improved installation apparatus and method of attaching a female fastener element, such as a self-riveting nut fastener, to a metal panel, wherein a small hole is first formed in the panel and the annular riveting portion of the fastener is driven through the hole and locked to the panel. The improved method of this invention includes locating the fastener on the panel, then driving a tapered punch through the fastener board to pierce a small hole in the panel, then driving a conical exterior surface of the punch through the hole, to enlarge the hole, and substantially simultaneously driving the fastener riveting portion against the panel and through the panel opening into a die member to lock the fastener on the panel.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical connection to a conductive metal panel, wherein the connection includes a conductive metal stud having an annular riveting portion, an integral intermediate radial flange portion, and an externally threaded stud portion, a nut member adapted to be threadably received on the stud member shank portion having an end portion adapted to sealingly contact an annular electrical contact surface surrounding the shank portion of the stud member. The method includes threadably assembling the nut member on the stud member shank portion forming an assembly with sealing contact between the member end portion and the stud member contact surface. The assembly is then oriented with the free end of the stud member riveting portion opposite the panel, driving the riveting portion through an opening formed in the panel and deforming the annular riveting portion radially outwardly to rivet the assembly to the panel and form an electrical contact between the stud member and the panel.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastening element, such as a nut fastener, having a body portion and an integral annular riveting barrel portion. The body portion includes axial grooves and, in the preferred embodiment of the nut-type fastener, the body portion includes a radial flange and the grooves extend radially from the body portion into the flange portion. In the most preferred embodiment, the body portion is polygonal and the axial grooves are located in the juncture of adjacent flat surfaces. The method of attaching the self-attaching fastening element of this invention to a panel includes forming an opening in the panel coaxially aligned with the barrel portion having a diameter less than the barrel portion, driving the barrel portion into the panel, thereby drawing a cone-shaped portion in the panel receiving the body portion, driving the body portion into the cone-shaped panel portion, deforming the panel portion into the body portion and the axial grooves.

Abstract: An improved installation apparatus and method of attaching a female fastener element, such as a self-riveting nut fastener, to a metal panel, wherein a small hole is first formed in the panel and the annular riveting portion of the fastener is driven through the hole and locked to the panel. The improved method of this invention includes locating the fastener on the panel, then driving a tapered punch through the fastener board to pierce a small hole in the panel, then driving a conical exterior surface of the punch through the hole, to enlarge the hole, and substantially simultaneously driving the fastener riveting portion against the panel and through the panel opening into a die member to lock the fastener on the panel.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for installing fasteners in a panel and automatically sensing and compensating for certain error conditions which commonly arise in the installation process. The system includes monitoring the load exerted during the installation process and comparing the exerted load to nominal load values. If an error results between the two load values, appropriate corrective action is taken. If there is no corrective action which can be initiated to rectify the error condition, the system is halted.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for installing fasteners in a panel and automatically sensing and compensating for certain error conditions which commonly arise in the installation process. The system includes monitoring the load exerted during the installation process and comparing the exerted load to nominal load values. If an error results between the two load values, appropriate corrective action is taken. If there is no corrective action which can be initiated to rectify the error condition, the system is halted.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for installing fasteners in a panel and automatically sensing and compensating for certain error conditions which commonly arise in the installation process. The system includes monitoring the load exerted during the installation process and comparing the exerted load to nominal load values. If an error results between the two load values, appropriate corrective action is taken. If there is no corrective action which can be initiated to rectify the error condition, the system is halted.

Abstract: An electrical grounding connector, electrical grounding connector assembly, and a method of attaching an electrical grounding connector and electrical grounding connector assembly to an electrically conductive panel is disclosed. The grounding connector assembly includes a grounding stud connector having a body portion disposed between, and integrally joining, a stud portion and a riveting portion. The body portion includes a flange extending generally radially from the body portion and the flange includes a panel engaging surface and a lug engaging surface. A protective nut is adapted to engage and substantially cover the stud portion of the grounding stud connector thereby protecting the stud portion from contaminants. Barbed elements are disclosed on various surfaces of the grounding connector thereby giving the grounding connector excellent electrically conductive properties when it is assembled to an electrically conductive panel.

Abstract: A die member for joining a fastener to a panel includes a generally rectangular opening defined by two spaced apart opposed end walls, which receive the end walls of a pilot portion of a fastener. The end walls of the opening terminate into arcuate corners and are adapted to sheer and deform the pilot end walls of the fastener thereby forming bearing panel support abutments capable of providing a liquid tight seal between the panel and the fastener. The die member also includes clinching lips on opposed sides of the die opening. The clinching lips preferably include a top portion and tapered wall which deform the panel edges into grooved openings in the fastener thereby providing a liquid tight seal. The die opening is surrounded by a generally planar surface having an outer generally rectangular perimeter having generally arcuate corners. The generally arcuate corners form arcuate depressions within the panel when the die member operates on the fastener to attach it to the panel.

Abstract: A self-attaching fastening element, such as a nut fastener, having a body portion and an integral annular riveting barrel portion. The body portion includes axial grooves and, in the preferred embodiment of the nut-type fastener, the body portion includes a radial flange and the grooves extend radially from the body portion into the flange portion. In the most preferred embodiment, the body portion is polygonal and the axial grooves are located in the juncture of adjacent flat surfaces. The method of attaching the self-attaching fastening element of this invention to a panel includes forming an opening in the panel coaxially aligned with the barrel portion having a diameter less than the barrel portion, driving the barrel portion into the panel, thereby drawing a cone-shaped portion in the panel receiving the body portion, driving the body portion into the cone-shaped panel portion, deforming the panel portion into the body portion and the axial grooves.

Abstract: A die member for joining a fastener to a panel includes a generally rectangular opening defined by two spaced apart opposed end walls, which receive the end walls of a pilot portion of a fastener. The end walls of the opening terminate into arcuate corners and are adapted to sheer and deform the pilot end walls of the fastener thereby forming bearing panel support abutments capable of providing a liquid tight seal between the panel and the fastener. The die member also includes clinching lips on opposed sides of the die opening. The clinching lips preferably include a top portion and tapered wall which deform the panel edges into grooved openings in the fastener thereby providing a liquid tight seal. The die opening is surrounded by a generally planar surface having an outer generally rectangular perimeter having generally arcuate corners. The generally arcuate corners form arcuate depressions within the panel when the die member operates on the fastener to attach it to the panel.

Abstract: An electrical grounding connector, electrical grounding connector assembly, and a method of attaching an electrical grounding connector and electrical grounding connector assembly to an electrically conductive panel is disclosed. The grounding connector assembly includes a grounding stud connector having a body portion disposed between, and integrally joining, a stud portion and a riveting portion. The body portion includes a flange extending generally radially from the body portion and the flange includes a panel engaging surface and a lug engaging surface. A protective nut is adapted to engage in substantially cover the stud portion of the grounding stud connector thereby protecting the stud portion from contaminants. Barbed elements are disclosed on various surfaces of the grounding connector thereby giving the grounding connector excellent electrically conductive properties when it is assembled to an electrically conductive panel.

Abstract: The method of attaching a fastening element to a metal panel within a panel opening using a die member having an annular concave die cavity. The fastening element includes a tubular riveting portion and a radial flange portion and a fastening portion. The internal and external surfaces of the tubular riveting portion are relatively uniformly inclined toward the radial flange portion such that the thickness of the tubular riveting portion at the free end is less than the thickness adjacent the radial flange portion. In the preferred embodiment, the internal surface of the tubular riveting portion is cylindrical and the external surface is slightly conical tapering inwardly toward the free end to reduce the force required to radially deform the free end of the tubular portion radially outwardly.