Abstract: A functional element having a functional portion, a generally tubular rivet portion and a ring-like sheet metal contact surface is characterised 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 voltage-regulated power converter module includes an electrical charge storage device and a semiconductor switch connected thereto and having a collector, a gate and an emitter, in which the collector-emitter path of the semiconductor switch is switched into a current path between first and second alternating-current terminals of the power converter module. The alternating-current terminals can be interconnected through a bypass switch. The voltage-regulated power converter module is intended to minimize the occurrence of damage in the event of a fault, and allow the multilevel power converter to continue operating without possibly having to use an extremely fast bypass switch for this purpose. To this end, the collector and the gate of the semiconductor switch are interconnected through a circuit configuration, which is configured in such a way that it becomes conductive above a predefined voltage threshold. A power converter is also provided.

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 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 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 component assembly comprises a sheet metal and a fastener element. A flange has a larger diameter and a shaft of smaller diameter extends away from the flange and merges at its end remote from the flange into a cylindrical rivet section. The fastener element is used with sheet metals with thicknesses in the range of 3 mm and larger. With thin sheet metal parts the sheet metal has a smooth pierced cylindrical opening with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the shaft. The cylindrical rivet section is reshaped to a rivet bead contacting the sheet metal underside. Medium thickness sheet metal parts have a stepped hole with the hole region of larger diameter receiving the rivet bead. For thick sheet metal parts the sheet metal has a conical pierced hole and the cylindrical rivet section is reshaped to a conical rivet bead wedged in the conically diverging hole.

Abstract: A guide and setting device for elements, in particular fastener elements comprising a hollow guide piece, a plunger axially displaceably arranged within the guide piece and holding members which are displaceably guided perpendicular to the plunger and biased in the direction towards the longitudinal axis of the plunger and/or of the guide piece. In a retracted loading position of the plunger one element can be inserted between the holding members and the free end of the plunger. The holding members can be opened as a result of the axial advanced movement of the plunger and the respective element moved in the axial direction past the holding members. Further holding members following the first named holding members are provided which hold the element during a setting stroke.

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.

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 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.

Abstract: A functional element having a functional portion, a generally tubular rivet portion and a ring-like sheet metal contact surface is characterised 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 component assembly comprises a sheet metal and a fastener element. A flange has a larger diameter and a shaft of smaller diameter extends away from the flange and merges at its end remote from the flange into a cylindrical rivet section. The fastener element is used with sheet metals with thicknesses in the range of 3 mm and larger. With thin sheet metal parts the sheet metal has a smooth pierced cylindrical opening with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the shaft. The cylindrical rivet section is reshaped to a rivet bead contacting the sheet metal underside. Medium thickness sheet metal parts have a stepped hole with the hole region of larger diameter receiving the rivet bead. For thick sheet metal parts the sheet metal has a conical pierced hole and the cylindrical rivet section is reshaped to a conical rivet bead wedged in the conically diverging hole.

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.

Abstract: A flow cytometer has a flow chamber in which labeled cells are highly likely to be detected by a corresponding sensor as a medium carrying the magnetically labeled cells flows through the flow chamber. The flow chamber has at least one sensor positioned on an inner surface thereof to detect the cells. The flow chamber also has a magnetic or magnetizable cell guiding device which can be positioned upstream of the sensor in the direction of flow to guide the flowing, magnetically labeled cells directly across the sensor, so that only a small percentage of labeled cells pass outside of the reach of the sensor.

Abstract: Magnetically labeled cells in a flow chamber cytometer are detected by a GMR sensor. The flow chamber includes a cell guiding device having at least one first and one second magnetic or magnetizable flow strip. The flow strips, which serve to guide the flowing cells across the sensor in a target-oriented manner, are mounted at a distance from each other such that a magnetic field BF is produced between them. The GMR sensor is arranged in the region of the magnetic field BF between the flow strips such that the magnetic field BF can be used as the operating magnetic field BGMR of the GMR sensor. In this way, the need for additional magnets for operating the GMR sensor is eliminated.

Abstract: A component assembly comprising a sheet metal part and a fastener element which has a flange part of larger diameter and a shaft part of smaller diameter which extends away from the flange part and merges at its end remote from the flange part into a cylindrical rivet section is characterized in that the fastener element is designed for use with sheet metal parts with thicknesses in the range of 3 mm and larger. With relatively thin sheet metal parts the sheet metal part has a smooth pierced cylindrical opening which has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the shaft part, with the cylindrical rivet section being reshaped to a rivet bead which contacts the underside of the sheet metal part. With sheet metal parts of medium thickness the sheet metal part has a stepped hole with the hole region of larger diameter receiving the rivet bead.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow body elements (200), for example, nut elements which are applied to components which are normally made of steel (280), in particular, for producing hollow body elements having an essentially quadratic or rectangular external profile (202). Said method consists of cutting individual elements of a profile in the form of a profile rod (1) or a winding after holes (204) have previously been stamped in the profile, a threaded cylinder (206) is subsequently, optionally, formed using a follow-on composite tool (10) which consists of several working stations. The invention is characterized in that a penetrating process and a punching process are carried out in the working station. The invention also relates to hollow body elements (200), components, follow-on composite tools (10) and rolling mills (600, 602).

Abstract: An element attachable to a sheet metal part by riveting, having a shaft part and a head part. The head part has at its side con-fronting the sheet metal part a ring recess which merges at the radially inner side into a cylinder section of the head part which merges into the shaft part and into a tubular rivet section which surrounds the shaft part in the region of the head part. The head part is disposed within a contact surface arranged radially outside of the ring recess and merges at the radially outer side via an at least approximately conical wall into the ring-like contact surface. At least one local recess and preferably a plurality of in particular uniformly distributed local recesses is or are provided in the conical wall of the ring recess and/or in an optionally present base surface of the ring recess.