Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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2103971
FASTENER INSTALLATION AND ME'l'~lOD ~:
BACKGROIJND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet metal part having at least one nut
S element introduced by a riveting process. Such sheet metal parts are well-known in
practice and are for example shown in German patent ,l~irir~ion 34 47 006, 34
46 978 and in DE-OS 30 16 675.
In the German patent ~jfi~jon 34 47 006, the nut element is formed as
a pierce and rivet nut. For this purpose, the nut element has a nut part and a tubular
pierce and rivet section which merges via an oul~.~Jly directed ring shoulder into ~-
the nut parti The nut element is i~ltludu~d into the sheet metal by means of a
s~ .p;.lE head and, indeed, the sheet metal is first pierced by the pierce and rivet -
section, whereby a stamped slug arises due to the hollow shape of the pierce andrivet section. The tubular pierce and rivet section is s~i~ut;lllly driven through
the sheet metal and formed into a turned-over rivet flange at the side of the sheet
metal remote from the nut part so that the sheet metal is ~ .ng~d in form-fittedmanner between the turned-over rivet flange and the ring shoulder. Raised features
or ribs in the region of the ring shoulder of the nut element are pressed into the
sheet metal during this ins~.lion process and form a security against rotation of the
nut element, so that on the insertion of a bolt the nut element does not turn relative
to the sheet metal. ;
As can be read in the German patent ~perifir~ n 34 47 006, the stamped
25 slug has to be removed to enable the nut element to be used at all for the intended
purpose. This is achieved in that an inj~tinn pin is pushed through the threadedbore of the nut element and thereby pushes the slug out of the defonn~d pierce and
rivet section.
Starting from a sheet metal part or a method of the initially named kind, the
nlion is based on the object of providing a sheet metal part which is particularly
suited to be e~ led into an ;~-je~l;n~ molded part in that an injectinn molding
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co-.l~si1;nn is injection molded around the sheet metal part, with the plastic
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colllpGsilion not penetrating into the thread of the nut element.
It would be possible to satisfy this object in that the nut element is closed off
in the injection molding die on both sides, for eY~mp1P~ through conrlon~ g wallparts of the injection molding die or through special inserts which lie flush against
5 the two end faces of the inserted nut element. This would, however, lead to
restrictions in the layout of the injection molding die and to considerable extra
COIll~' ity and cost so that it can also be seen as a general part of the objectunderlying the invention to provide greater freedom in the layout of injection
molded parts with P~llbp~ pd sheet metal nut elr "e~ and also to reduce the
10 co l 1~ ty and cost in realizing the injection molding and the injection molded part.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to satisfy these objects, provision is made in accolJ~lce with the
invention, and with a sheet metal part of the initially named kind, that the passage
15 opening of the nut element is closed off by a stamped slug.
The stamped slug is geneMted with particular advantage during the
hlLluducLioll of the nut element into the sheet metal and is so deformed that it at
least s~slal~lially seals offand is pl.f.,~bly held in form-fitted manner in the pierce
20 and rivet section of the nut element. A solution would also be conceiv~,~le in which
a disc, which is prefeMbly g~ by a sl-",p;-~g process and can thus be
coni,ldclcd as a stamped slug, is .., --~..rz. I~cd in its own right and is s~s~ucnlly
inserted as a type of "cover" into a nut element which has been previously, or is
s.~ u~ tly, riveted to the sheet metal part. In this case, the sheet metal part is
25 adv~ g~uly pre-al~cllurcd. This is in particular fi~u~lltly n~ic;,~uy with thicker
sheet metal parts in the form of plates or panels when the collc~n~ g plate or
panel does not permit the use of a self-piercing nut. It would also be conceivable to
illtluduce the stamped slug in this way not into the pierce and rivet section of the
nut element, but rather into the opposite end of the nut element, so that the bolt
30 which is inserted is not inserted from the nut side into the nut element but rather
from the side of the turned-over rivet flange.
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Through the closing of the nut element at one end, it is possible to arrange
the sheet metal part with the nut element in an injection molding die in such a way
that either the one wall of the injection molding die or a surface of an insert part
comes into flush contact with the nut element at the open side of the thread,
5 whereby the pei~el, ~ nn of the injection molding colll~si~ion into the thread can be
prevented. Sincc the other respective end of the thread is sealingly closed by the
stamped slug, a great degree of freedom results in the layout of the injection
molding die and the shaping of the injection molded part. This is so since neither
the die wall nor an insert must be present at the end of the nut element closed by
10 the stamped slug in order to prevent the pen~ot~tion of the injection moldingcQ..,i~a;lion into the thread. Spccial shapes of the sheet metal part with the inserted
nut element with stamped slug are to be found in the ~ulJinalc claims.
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The holding of the stamped slug in the nut element by a s~b~A"~ lly conical
15 fo~rnAtinn of the hollow turned-over end of the rivet which converges away from the
stamped slug at the side of the nut element remote from the thread, and also an
i;. Ii- ~g,..".,~t in which the JiA~-.~ te~ of the stamped slug is greater in the in-built state
than the outer .lia,llclcl of the thread, are particularly illlllu~ , since in this way
the stamped slug is held so that it cannot fall out.
An A..Ailee.... 1-l in which the stamped slug is acco"~."~ d in a ring space
of the stamped slug or of the turned-over rim of the rivet and at least S~IbS~ ;A11Y
se31s off the passage opening of the nut element is also particularly prcrc~l~d. For
this purpose, it is ad~ ,~u~ for the stamped slug to exert a p~ e~
25 co..~ .sl~e pressure onto the inner wall of the nut element, preferably onto the
base of a ring groove which arises within the pierce and rivet section during the
rO. ,.. ~ n of the turned-over rivet flange. In this way, not only is the sealing action
of the starnped slug reliably ensured, but also no danger of de~ol ..,AIi~ n under the
pressure of the injection molding CO~ )O-;t;~ iS to be ~ 1~1 In other respects,
30 a looS~ e Of the nut element during the ~ ion of torque or bending ~~ol.~cnl
is not to be feared because the stamped slug which exerts a co...~ e pressure
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ensures a firmer seat of the nut element.
In manner known, per se raised features, for example in the form of ribs
and/or recesses, are provided on the ring shoulder of the nut element, which, after
S the i~ udu~;lion of the sheet metal element, form co~ )ollding recesses or raised
features of the sheet metal and coo~ldle with these to form a security against
rotation.
The nut element is prerel~.bly so secured to the sheet metal part that the
10 turned-over rim of the rivet is ZllT~gf~d in a recess of the sheet metal part. In
practice, the recess of the sheet metal extends ap~oAi~lla~ely conically and merges
in the region of the ring shoulder of the nut element into a base surface of the recess
which is directed ap~luAilll~ ly pa~allel to the flange, with the passage opening for
the pierce and rivet section of the nut element being formed in the base surface.
The turned-over rivet flange can be sunk within the recess; i.e., the end
surface of the rivet flange lies beneath the plane of the sheet metal at the side of the
rivet flange. The turned-over rivet flange can however also be flush with this plane
or indeed project above the said plane.
It is particularly favorable with a flush or sunk ~ gf..ll~ of the
turned-over rivet flange that only a relatively thin layer of the injection molded
co~ ,;lion must be present at this side of the sheet metal in order to colll~letely
seal off the sheet metal from this side and to protect it from collos;on. In other
25 respects, the recess leads to a local ,~;ff, ~ g of the sheet metal and also in~,ucases
the lo~ hility bf the nut element in the sense that higher forces can be inll~luced
from the nut element into the sheet metal without destluyillg the connection.
The said base of the recess can, for eY~mrl~, merge into the finished
30 cQnn~tion with the nut element into an axially CQ~ 't~.~d collar. Moreover, at least
a ~u~ part of the base and of the collar which is option~lly formed therein
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can be ~.~ulged in form-fitted manner in a Ang recess of the nut element betw~n
the ring shoulder and the turned-over rivet flange.
The invention also includes an injection molded part which is molded around
S the sheet metal part; i.e., the injection molding co~ ~s;lion partly ;~ unds the
sheet metal part, with the thread of the nut element being freely qrce~ihle from the
outer side; i.e. not being covered over by the injection molded colllposllion and
serving to receive a screwed in part.
An example for the injection molded part would be the sole of a sporting
shoe, with the nut element or nut e~ nl~ being formed for the ~..ouU~;n~ of parts,
such as spikes or studs which are, in p~ ;ular~ inte..~ -ge~l-le. In this e~a llp'~
one can select a COlll g '3d or perforated piere of spring steel for the sheet metl
part, which ensures a flexibility of the sole. By way of ~ , the sole could be
15 made of a s~ g l~qrd steel strip of high flexibility with a COll~ g ~ form (sinus
wave) with an ~...pl;l...1~ of(cat 3 mm and a field width of 8 mm. The injectionmolding CO~ n iS in this case realized as a plastic or oppo~iti--n
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dock~t - 60152-599
Another example for the injection molded part would be a plastic coachwork
part with the nut element or the nut elemPnt~, for example, serving for the mounting
of a hinge or for securing to other coachwork parts.
The invention also includes a method of manllf~-hlring a sheet metal part
with at least one nut element secured to the sheet metal part.
An il,.?o.~l~ further development of this method lies in the fact that the
sheet metal part with at least one nut element secured thersin is removed from the
piercing and riveting press and is inserted into an injection molding die with the
thread of the nut element, or of each nut element, being closed at one side by the
stamped slug and at the other side by contact of the end face of the nut part
cont~inil~g the thr_ad against a wall part of the injection molding die, or against a
part projecting into it, whereby the injection molding col.-pGsilion cannot penetrate
into the thread. In other respects, positioning pins in the injection molding die can
press against the stamped slug so that the respective nut e1emPnt~ are held against
the wall part (or against an insert part of the injection molding die), with theturned-over rivet flange, which surrounds the positioning pins, preferably
simultaneously coopeldting with the positioning pins to ensure ~ nmpnt of the sheet
metal part in the injection molding die.
The invention will now be r~ in more detail with reference to the
drawings.
DESCRIP~ION OF IH~ DRAWD~GS
Fig. 1 a partial cross-section through a s~;~",ping head in the initial
stage of a method of introducing a nut element into a sheet
metal part by piercing and riveting;
~ig. 2 to 4 further stages of the piercing and Aveting method;
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Fig. S a ~ se~ ion co~ "~nding to that of Fig. 4 of the end
stageofa".olili~drivetingprocesswithaso-ll~.llatdifferent
pfucedult;;
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S Fig. 6 a pel~,e;Li~fe partial illustrz ~ion of a sporting shoe with
spikes;
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Fig. 7 a partial cross-section through the sole of the sporting shoe of
Fig. 6 in the plane VII-VII in the region of one spike; and
Fig. 8 an enlarged ill~tr~ti~n of a section of a sheet metal part with ~ ~ ~
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inserted nut element in an only partially illl-~t~t~d injection
molding die for the i~ ~lu~ilion of the inj~!;~ molding
co...l~s;l;o~-, wherein the injection molded part of Fig. 8
could also be used for the sole of a sporting shoe in
accofddnce with Fig. 6 or Fig. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPIlON OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows a section through a ~ g head 10, which, in general, is
20 formed in accorddnce with the ~ ae head of the German patent s~.;~ n 34
46 978 and, above all, in acco~ ce with the German patent ~.ifi~tion 34 47
006 and which can be built into a s~ ag and/or c .-ko~ g press with Oppo~;~ y
ro5~d plates which are movable relative to one another. Fig. 1 ~ o~s the
stamping head built into the upper press plate, it could however be built into the
25 lower press plate or into an intermediate plate in just the same way.
The s'~ p ag head 10 contains a ram unit 12, which is able to stamp a
fastener nut element 14 with a pierce and rivet section or panel portion 16 through
a panel 18, a piece of sheet metal 18 is ~ lose~l which is held during the s~ .g30 movement between the stamping head 10 and the die button 20 as will later be
e-pl~ ~l in detail. The ~ E head 10 is provided with a supply device (not
2109971
docket - 60152-599
shown) which is able to feed individual nut elements 14 into the ~ g head and
to bring them into the working position of Fig. 1. Such feed devices are known
from the named prior art and will thus not be de~clil)ed here. Although the nut
element 14 appears to hang in the air in Fig. 1 it is in practice held by resilient
S fingers or the like in the ~ ",pjj~g head by friction so that it does not drop dow..w~.lly under its own weight.
As is evident from this drawing, above all from the cross-sectional drawing
at the left hand side of the ce ~le~ p 13 of the ram unit 12, the nut element 14 has
10 a nut part or body portion 15 with an inner thread 24, and also the tubular pierce
and rivet section 16 which adjoins the nut part and which merges via a radially
outwardly directed ring shoulder 26 into the nut part. Ribs or noses 28 are provided
on this ring shoulder which form a security against rotation. The action of these
ribs or noses will be ~ e~ later. The pierce and rivet section 16 of the nut
15 element 14 has a ring-like hollow cavity or bore 29 which is coaxially aligned with
the passage opening of the thread 24 and has at the lower end a rounded impact and
drawing edge 32 at the end face of the pierce and rivet section.
At the side of the sheet metal part 18 remote from the st~mpin~ head 10,
20 there is located a die button 20 which contains a cylindrical insert 30 which can also
be termed a press mandrel. In this e~--bod;.~ , the insert is non-~ e~hly but
int~ ~gP~hly ~rr~ngçd in the c~ l~n~ g receiving bore 31 of the die button
20. The Ic;ren,nce numeral 20 thus ~l)~se~ the actual die button and contains the
insert. In some e-..ho~ the die button 20 and the insert 30 are made in one
25 piece. Which l ..hor~ comes into use is ulLi...alely a question of the cost related
to the given appl;~ti- - D~,pelul;ng on the sheet material to be pl~Jcessed, the insert
30 is s.ll,je~ ,d to a greater or
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docket - 60152-599
lesser degree of wear. It can thus be sensible to make the insert 30 as an
eY~ ng~-qhle part when a high degree of wear is to be r~l~ t~
The axial end 33 of the insert 30 facing the sheet metal 18 has a smaller
5 diameter than the guide or body part 34 of the insert and forms together with the
die button 20 slll.uullJii~g the insert a U-shaped ring groove or channel 36 which
is open in the direction towards the sheet metal part 18. The ring groove forms a
type of a recess the shape of which can be ~le~=~ ;bed as a half-toroid. The radially
inner bound~ of the groove 36 is formed by a rounded ring shoulder 38 of the
10 insert which merges from the axial end 32 with the smaller Jial.lctcl into the body
part 34 via a gently rounded co"~ u~ transition, with this tr~qn~ition being
co . ' ~ at the axial position or ring edge 40 of the insert. The die button 20 has
a ling shaped recess 42 which c~ ds to the shape of the ring shoulder 38 in
an at least s~bs~ ly mirror-image manner. The lowest point 44 of the
15 ring shapcd recess 42 of the die button 20 however lies in the lc~ ,se~ltalion of
Fig. 1 fi~fionq11y below the lowest point 46 of the U-shaped ring shoulder 38 ofthe insert 30, or is at most aligned with the coll~ q.OIul;.lg ring edge 40.
The ring recess 42 of the die button 20 is con1;n~,e~ in the e~"ho~ -l of
20 Fig. 1 to 4 beyond the actual end face 48 of the insert and merges via a rounded
ring shoulder 50 into a shallow ring-like region 52. The contour of the die button
then merges via a further rounded ring shoulder 54 into a wall 56 which borders
conically dù...~ 'dly (in Figs. 1 to 5) and rounds out at a~ JA;II '~Aly the level of
the line 40 via a further ring shoulder 58 into a surface 60 parallel to the sheet metal
25 18. This surface 60 then merges into the actual press surface of the tool which is
used for the forrning of the lower side of the sheet metal part 18.
The due button thus forms an annular raised portion around the insert which
is f h'- ~.e,~r~ d by the general reî~Acc numeral 64. As shown by the contim~
30 centerline 13 the insert is coaxially aligned with the nut element 14 and the ram unit
12.
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docket- 60152-599
The st îmring head 10 is provided with a circular recess 66 in a shape which
iS Cû ~ lC nçnt~ry to the shape of the outer boundary of the annular raised portion
64 of the due button, but which is, however, greater in .lia...clel by about twice the
thickn-~ of the sheet metal part 18, so that on closing of the press space is provided
S for the sheet metal between the ring recess 66 and the annular raised portion 64. In
other words the recess 66 has a conically ~.t..~line wall part 68 which divergesdownwardly and which merges via a ring shoulder 60 into a ring surface 72 parallel
to the plane of the sheet metal 18. The ring surface 72 can then merge in
C~ ~n~l nre with the ring surface 60 into the actual press surface of the tool, at
10 least when the press is closed.
The actual end face 48 of the insert 30 has a plateau region 74 at the center
which merges via an o~lique plcÇcldbly slightly arched chamfer 75 into an annular
recessed shoulder 76. The shoulder 76 in turn merges into a steep wall section 78 -
15 of the ring shoulder 38 at the edge 80.
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It is rullh~.lllulc evident from Fig. 1 that the rounded impact and drawing
edge 32 of the pierce and rivet section of the nut element has an oblique chamfer
82 at the radially inner side, for example at an angle to the cçn~r~ r~- 13 of
20 app~ y 45 ~, and merges at the radially outer side via a gentle curve 84 into
a cylindricà1 outer wall section 86 parallel to the cylindrical inner wall of the pierce
and rivet section. ~ ~
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The ~;ylindlicdl wall section 86 merges at applu~illlalely half height into a -~
25 conically upwardly divcl~5ing section 88 which S~ U~ ~lly merges via a rounded
portion into the ring shoulder 26. One notes also that the cylindrical inner wall 90 ~ ~
of the nut element has a larger d;~l~ t~ than the thread 24. Finally, one sees from ~ . -
Fig. 1 a punch insert or punch 92 which is fixedly ~ula-~ged in the ram 12 and
extends with radia1 clearance through the thread 24. As an alternative to this, a
30 ~lis~,t~~e....,.~t movement of the punch insert 92 could be pç- ...;1l~ for example to
f~~ilit~~A the ill~ dU~:~ioQ of the individual nut ~l .. "~i 14, or for tPrhni.~~l reasons
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during the later occuning movement of the ram unit 12 in the direction of the
matrix insert. In this example the lower end of the punch insert 92 is of hexagonal
shape and merges via a slight ring chamfer 94 into a central surface 96 parallel of
the sheet metal part 18. Between the chamfer 94 and the outer wall of the punch
5 insert 92 there is an annular rounded Portion 98.
The insertion of the nut element into the sheet metal part takes place at the
same time as the sheet metal part is shaped in the press, as will now be llesc~;hed
with ~eÇ~ ce to Fig. 1 and the further Figs. 2, 3 and 4. ~:
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Fig. 1 shows an initial stage after the insertion of the sheet metal 18, before
the press has co , ~ y closed; i.e., the upper press plate has been pressed downonto the lower press plate. Shortly before the closing movement of the press, a nut
element is ullloduced beneath the ram 12 via a supply device and adopts the position
15 shown in Fig. 1. The design of the supply head is a~_ Iy h~own from other
d~u~ , for example from the ~u~~ ~ initially named here, and will not be ~ ~
t,~ ;nf~l further. ~ ~ ;
The ~ .p;ng head is ,;.-~ --;ly restrirt~A1y .l;s~ hly journaled in the
20 press plate and is biased in the dil~;lio. towards the sheet metal part. The ram unit
is ~ coupled to the press plate at least during the closing movement. Duringthe closing movement of the press the ~ g head moves do..llwa~dly in the
dilc.,lion of the die button, and the ram 12 cim~ n~ lcly moves du...-~ Jly so
that the pierce end 32 of the pierce and rivet section of the nut element first indents
25 the sheet metal under the pressure of the ram as is evident in Fig. 2. Through the
';o.-, the sheet metal part is held in the press against transverse .l;s}J1~re."f "I
At this stage, the Y'~ head 10, but not, however, the ram unit, moves back
~-~- ..Lal, while the closing movement of the press is c~-n~il-ue~A The nut element
exerts a shearing action on the sheet metal under the pressure of the ram unit in
conj~.n~.lion with the fixed end of the insert 30 and cuts a circular stamped slug 100
out of the sheet metal.
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Fig. 2 shows precisely the position of the tool in which the stamped slug 100
is formed. One notes that the stamped slug 100 is upwardly arched in the middle,which is to be ~t~ c;d on the one hand to the shaping of the end face of the insert
30 and on the other end to the shearing action between the stamp and rivet section
of the nut element and the insert 30. Stated more precisely, this arching of thestamped slug 100 results from the action of the cutting surface 82 of the pierce and
rivet section and the cutting edge 33 of the insert 30, as already explained above. ~
Through the contact of the sheet metal with the ring surface 52, and also ~'
with the rounded portion 70 at the ll~u~s;lioll to the conical wall 68 of the ring recess ~ ;
into the hc, ;,o,.~ -l surface 72, tne said i~de~ n (i.e., a first deÇc,~ alion of the ~ -
sheet metal 18) occurs, which is then col.li..ued in acco.d~ce with Fig. 3 during
the further closing movement of the press 10. The rarn unit 12 is also pressed
further du~ dly by this movement so that the pierce and rivet section of the nut15 element is driven through the hole which has arisen through the formation of the
stamped slug. As a result of the ring shoulder 38, which acts as a rolling surface,
the pierce and rivet section is fl~n~t~d outwardly so that the impact and drawing
edge 32 which is now sol-l~..hat d~Çull.l~d is now located in the part of the ring
groove 36 which is formed by the die button 20. -
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Since the point 46 of the insert lies fractionally higher of the point 44, it isensured, even with unfavorable I ' --Y that no ring step is formed at this
position which could hinder the oulw~Jly directed movement of the impact and
drawing edge of the pierce and rivet sertion of the nut element.
Since the pierce and rivet section of the nut element is driven through the
hole formed in the sheet metal by the cutting out of the stamped slug a type of -
wedge action arises here which drives the sheet metal du..n~ dly and outwardly,
so that the sheet metal, as shown in Fig. 3, has a p~nounced conical recess 108.30 As the upper press plate has been pressed further do..ll~.a~dly the sheet metal also
has a more plol-o~ ed ring-like raised portion 110 above the ring-like surface 52
12
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of the die button 20. It should be pointed out that to m~nllf~rtl-re this ring-like
raised feature not inconsiderable forces are necessary which must be supplied by the
stamping head 10.
The stamped slug 100 is, as a result of the lowering of the stamping head,
driven further into the cylindrical hollow cavity 90 of the pierce and rivet section
of the nut element but does not yet however contact the end face of the punch 92.
The downwardly directed movement of the st~mping head or of the upper
part of the press is conlin-~P~ and now not only presses the ram unit but also the
st~mping head, which has reached the end of its path of ~ PmPnt, downwardly
until the end stage of Fig. 4 is achieved. As can be seen in particular from thepartly cut away left hand side of the drawing of Fig. 4, the pierce and rivet section
16 of the nut element is now formed by the U-shaped groove into a cGl~ylctc
turned-over rivet flange which has an upwardly directed U-shaped ring recess 114in which the material of the sheet metal around the hole yluduced by the cutting out
of the stamped slug is received in the form of a do...~w~udly directed cylindrical
collar 116. Through the coope ~lion of the s' ~..pi~-g head and also the die button,
the sheet metal merges via a ring shoulder 118 into a conical duw~lw~dly
bro~ ;i-g part 120, which s.lbs~ Je~itly merges into a flat region 122 of the sheet
metal, the plane of which is d~ t ~in~d by the surface 66 of the die button and the
surface 72 of the s~ ~..pil-g head. As the nut clement has now been completely
do....w~dly driven the noses or ribs 28 are located in co~ yonding recesses of the
Ang shoulder 118 of the sheet metal which have been formed by the downward
25 pressing of the noses 28 and an enh~ ed security against rotation arises here which
prevents turning of the nut element during later use.
The upwardly arched stamped slug in Fig. 2 and 3 is first pressed flat and
inrlçntt~d; i.e., colllyl~ d in this end stage by the end face of the punch, so that the
30 material is pressed outwardly. When the punch 92 is ~i~pl ~e~hly journaled relative
to the ram unit, and for example biased forwardly by a strong spring, then it can
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docket - 60152-599
deflect l~alw~lly somewhat during the co~ ,ss;on of the stamped slug. The
outwardly directed movement of the material of the stamped slug resulting from the
coll~ si~/e action leads to a pelllldnel~t coll~ si~/e pressure between the outer
ring edge 124 of the stamped slug and the inner wall of the pierce and rivet section
5 16 of the nut element. Fullll~lllul~, the inner wall of the pierce and rivet section
is derur.lled by this colll~ e pl~ Ul~; i.e., by the colll~ ion of the stamped
slug, to a slightly d~J~..Iwardly converging surface so that the stamped slug cannot
drop out downwardly. Through the colllpl~ e pressure it is also ensured that a
very good seal is present here. The stamped slug can thus not be lost dc,..n..aldly.
10 It can however also not be lost upwardly because the thread 24 has a i~ubi~t~u~tially
smaller d;alll~,t~l than the wall part 124 of the pierce and rivet section against which
the outer edge of the stamped slug is in sealing contact. After the opening of the
press the sheet metal part with the pierced and riveted nut element can be removed
from the press and conveyed out of the press.
In accolJdl~ce with a first method variant, the m~mlf~rtl-nne method of the
sheet metal part 18 with the inserted nut element finishes at this stage on taking the
sheet metal part out of the press.
Although the previous process has only been con~ d with the insertion of
a single nut element, a plurality of nut ~ ; can be strai~hlçolwa~Jly provided
at different loc~~ n~ of the sheet metal part in the same way and means with onestroke of the press. The piercing of the sheet metal part by the nut element canhowever also take place diîf~ tly than is ~ks-~ ed here. For example it is
25 conceivable that the ram unit could be pressed dOIl~.alJly via a stroke movement
carried out sep~~atPly from the closing movement of the press.
Instead of l~ e the method of m~mlf~~tl-re with the opening of the
press after the ...~ ... r-- 1...;,-~ step of Fig. 4, it can be ad~,a.ll~us to carry out a
30 further ",~.,r-- ~ step as is shown in Fig. 5. The m~mlf~tllrine step of Fig.5 takes place with different tools than are shown for Fig. 1 to 4. This . ~ r- Iv~ g
14
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step of Fig. S can take place in a quite different press inghll~tiQn and can however
also be carried out as a further step in a further station of the same press ingt~ tion
as was used for carrying out the method steps of Fig. 1 to 4; i.e., the press
inct~ tion is laid out to use s~uenlial step tooling.
S
Fig. 5 shows several possible method variants in one drawing. Fig. 5 in
particular shows a possibility of more reliably framing the stamped slug within the
nut element. Furthermore, Fig. 5 shows the possibility of pressing the rivet flange
112 flat. This is on the one hand inl~ .~ stiilg when, for ~ r l.e~ the end face of the
turned-over rivet flange 112 should lie within the recess 120 of the sheet metal part
18, or when, in a separate process the stamped slug 100 is not to be inserted at the
position shown in Fig. 5, but railler in a ring space at the other end of the nut. In
the latter case, the bolt which coopeldt~ s with the nut element should be introduced
from the side of the turned-over rivet flange 112 and would ~;u~l~JIllaiily press a
15 different sheet metal colll~lle.ll against the turned-over rivet flange 112. In this
case, the planar design of the rivet flange 112 leads to an enl~,elll~ nl of the surface
srt;~ g the clamping forces whereby an excessive surface pressure between the
rivet flange 112 and the sheet metal part to be screwed on can be avoided, so that
plastic d~llllalion of the sheet metal part or of the rivet flange 112, or the settling
20 effects of these parts as a result of excessive surface pressure need no longer be
feared.
In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the die button 20 has a s~sldl~ lly planar
surface 60 without a ~)f~l-ull~)Ced annular raised portion 64. In place of this the
25 surface of the die button 20 which faces the sheet metal simply has a ring-shaped
surface 130 which merges via a small step 132 into the planar surface 60. The ring
surface 130 is parallel to the surface 60; i.e., to the plane of the inserted piece of
sheet metal 18 of the earlier station (where the method steps were carried out in
accofddi~ce with Fig. 1 to 4). The insert 30 has a ~sl~llially cylindrical shape and~0 merely has a rounded undel-;ul 134 at the end face with the rounded undercut
g in a planar surface 74 a l~ulg~ perpendicular to the center line 13.
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The ram unit 12 in this embodiment has no centrally arranged punch 92 as
in the ram unit of the earlier station. The stamped slug 100 which is cut out from
the sheet metal part 18, and which is arranged in Fig. 4 beneath the thread 24, is
pushed upwardly under the action of the now present insert 30 until it abuts at the
S upper side against a ring shoulder 136 which is located directly beneath the thread
24 of the nut element 14.
The ring edge 138 of the insert 30 has a diameter at the yosition where the
right cylindrical surface 140 of the insert merges into the rounded undercut 13410 which is greater than the inner dia~ of the cylindrical hollow cavity 90 in some
regions of the pierce and rivet section 16 and which functions as a kind of shearing
and reforming tool while the mlt element 14 is pressed do~ udly under the actionof the ram unit 14. During this, an annular rim 142 is formed from the material of
the pierce and rivet section 19 of the nut element. The result is that the stamped slug ~ ' -
15 100 is held under F~ u .l cc,..-yl~s;ve pressure in form-locked and sealed
manner in a ring groove 144 with this ring groove 144 being formed in the upper
region by the ring shoulder 136 of the nut element and in the lower region by
the annular rim 142.
' ~-~.:
~ . ..
16 ~ ~ '
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Since the die button 20 has the planar ring surface 130 around the insert 30,
the rounded end face around the pierce and rivet section 16 of the nut element as
obtained in accordance with the method step of Fig. 4 is pressed flat into a planar
ring surface 152.
In this embodi-..Gnl, it is not necessal~ to provide a punch insert 92,
however, a punch insert of this kind can be selected at will if it should turn out in
practice that a counter-pressure on the upper surface of the stamped slug 100 in Fig.
4 would be useful during the securing of the stamped slug 100.
It is also entirely possible to insert a circular disc which has been stamped
out from a piece of sheet metal and which has the size of the stamped slug 100
using a punch with the form of the insert 30 of Fig. 5 prior to inserting the nut
element 14 into the sheet metal part 18; i.e., to insert the slug 100 in a previous
15 working step. A method of this kind is, for I r'~, adv~l~euus when the sheet
metal part 18 is relatively thick, for example in the range from 3 to 7 mm whichmakes the use of self-piercing nut e~ 14 difficult. With a relatively thick piece
of sheet metal of this kind, the sheet metal 18 can be pre-a~e lulGd either with a
specia1 s~ l?ing tool or by a drilling process, so that the nut element is inserted into
20 the previously formed hole and then riveted to the sheet metal part 18, for example
in a press process as previously mPntionPf~
It should be pointed out here, that during the provision of a stamped slug in
the riveting section, the di~..el~l of the insert 30 (i.e., the dia~..elel at the edge 134)
25 should be selected to be slightly larger prior to insertion of the nut element than the
dia...~ t~,r of the undero~ d rivet section 16, so that s~ffl~iPnt material is present in
order to form the annular rim 42.
The tool of Fig. S can also be used, optionaUy with small mo lifi~til ns, to
30 insert a "foreign" stamped slug 100 into the end of the nut element remote from the
pierce and rivet section. For this purpose, the co--~ ~l on.~ g end face of the nut
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element should be provided with a tubular projection similar to the pierce and rivet
section, but somewhat shorter, whereby the matrix insert can then be pressed
downwardly from above in order to press material downwardly from the wall of thetubular projection in order to generate a rim coll.~onding to the annular rim 142
5 which secures the stamped slug at this end face of the nut element. Following the
formation of nut element in this way, the nut element can be stamped into a piece
of sheet metal 18 in accc.l~ ce with the method of Figs. 1 to 4 and riveted to the
latter, with the ram insert 92 then being omitted. As a s~s~uenl method step, the
turned-over rivet flange can also be pressed flat in accolddncc with Fig. 5, which
10 would be entirely prercllcd here, since in this elllbo-li.,.rl-l, the bolt which is
inserted into the nut element is screwed in from the side of the rivet flange, will
serve to press a piece of sheet metal against the flat end face of the rivet flange.
The use of the stamp with a~L~lw~ ldlely the shape of the insert 30 in Fig.
15 5 has the advantage that the stamped slug 100 is firmly anchored in the annular
groove 144 of the nut element 14 and that it cannot be lost under any circumet~n~.es,
which is very illlpUl~ when the nut ~le-~."-~ are already provided with such
stamped slugs from the works of the m~mlf~tllrer. It would namely be very
f..~.;l;1hle for a stamped slug to be occ~ lly lost from nut ~ .m~nt.C with
20 previously inserted stamped slugs 100, since this could cause cdl~ lul~hic effects
during the subsequent handling of the nut element. If, for eY~mI~ a stamped slug100 is lost when inserting a nut element into a press, then the lost stamped slug 100
could damage the sheet metal part or also the tool. If it is lost from the sheet metal
part, then during the ~ubs~u~,nl molding process, the molding co.--~silion would25 enter into the thread and the Cf3~ ~nel~ would have to be scldpped. The flowing of
the injection molding co...~ûs;lion through the thread can also lead to the injection
molding inQt~ tion being con'~ ,ated or fi~ gf~A ~ '
~': ,.' ''.~
18
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When using nut P1~mPnt~ with previously inserted stamped slugs, the
possibility also exists of mAnllfA~t~rin~ the stamped slug 100 from a thinner piece
of sheet metal than the sheet metal 18 into which the nut element is to be inserted.
S Fig. 6 shows an example of the use of the present invention for the sole 200
of a sporting shoe or of a golf shoe. The sole 200 consists of a plastic co~ ;lion
201, or of rubber and has in its interior, as is evident from Fig. 7, a sheet metal
part 18 which is provided with nut ehPmPn~c 14 (of which only one element can beseen in Fig. 7) which were inserted in accc, dance with the previously described10 method of Fig. 1 to 4. These nut ~l. " ..~i 14 form threaded mounts for spikes or
studs 202 which are screwed into the respective nut el ..,~ In distinction to the
previously desclibed me~h~, no pl.l~o~ ce~ g of the sheet metal is
provided in this example in the region of the individual nut el~,.,. n~ This requires
a so.lle..llal ,. o~ ;pcl shape of the upper side of the and also of the lower side of
15 the sl~l~ing head.
The way in which the sheet metal part with the inserted nut e1emPn~i is
~...he~rlPd in the plastic co."l~s;l;on of the sole 200 is evident from Fig. 8.
Fig. 8 shows only one part of an iniectitm molding die in cross-section
having upper and lower die parts 300 and 302 which fit together at a partition joint
304 and form .~ i,~Livt; hollow die caviti-es 306 and 308. The sheet metal paIt 18
with the inserted nut e1~ "~i 14, of which only some are shown, sit in the hollow
cavity of the inie~1;o.~ molding die and are su~ led on pins, such as for example
310, which in this example are arranged beneath the respective stamped slugs 100.
In this . . '~, the turned-over rim 112 of the rivet satisfies a double-function in
that it cooperates with the pins 310 and brings about a ce-~ g of the sheet metal -
part 18 in the injection molding die. If ~le~ , other ce-~ e devices can
ho~ also be provided. Above the nut part of the nut element 14 there is located
a further die insert in the form of a pin 312 with a cylindrical head 314 which is
-g~ above the nut part and contacts the end face 310 of the nut part. The head
19
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314 has a diameter which is i~lmittetlly greater than the core diameter of the thread,
but is however smaller than the outer diameter of the nut part. As the stamped slug
100 is somewhat resilient, this design enables colu~ closing of the two halves of
the injection molding die, even if the to'~-~nces of the pins 310 and 312 should be
S solllewllal unfavorable. After the closing of the injection molding die, the injection
molding colll~ilion is injected into th~ die. It flows into all hollow cavities of the
injection molding die; i.e., into the regions shown there by cross-hatching in Fig. 8.
One notes that the injection molding c~lll~s;lion surrounds a part of the other end
surface of the nut part of the nut element 14. This has the advantage in a shoe sole
10 that, on the one hand, pP~-r~ )n of moisture around of the nut part is made more
difficult and, on the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7, a stud or spike can be so
screwed in that a collar part 204 colll~ ,ses the injection molding colll~ilion
present between the stud and the nut element. This not only brings about better
sealing, but rather also a security against rotation of the respective stud or spikes
lS so that these cannot be lost.
The method of m~mlf~tllring the sole of a golf shoe will now be briefly
~y.;l.yl onceagain.
With a golf shoe sole, the sheet metal part can consist of 0,3 mm spring-hard
strip steel of high flexibility. This stri~ steel is derulllled cimult~npously with the
ins~llion of the nut ele~ nl~ in the press to a collugal~d shape (sinewave) through
CO11~ n-l;ng profiling of the press plates. The waveform of the profiled sheet
metal has an ~ plilu-l~P of ca. 3 mm and a field width (wavelength) of ca. 8 mm
A high elasticity of the spring-hard shoe sole is achieved by this profiling. The sheet
metal part is then Cimlllt~nP4ucly stamped out at its outer jp~,filJh~ly in the press so
that it receives the shape of a foot print.
:
In order to receive the already d~Pccrihed thread bearing spikes, the nut
~k"" n~ must be so secured to the formed sheet metal part (i.e., to the sole of the
shoe) that they can wilhsldild the derulllldlions which occur during the course of - -
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21~9971
docket - 60152-599
each step (rolling off of the sole of the shoe on the ground).
At the point of connection nut/sole of the shoe, tMnslatory movements
accordingly occur between the nut elements and the sheet metal sole of the shoe. 5 Through the described embodiment of the turned-over rim of the rivet with the
Illeas~ s providing security against rotation, it is ensured tbat these transnational
movements do not exert any notch effects on the sheet metal of the shoe sole. The
a~emhl~d molded sheet metal part compri~ing the nuts and the metal sole of the
shoe is emheckled into a plastic sole and is ~ ounded on all sides by this plastic or
10 rubber m~tPri~l During this, the inserted stamped slugs ensure that the threaded
rear side of the nuts are so closed that no plastic or rubber material can penetrate
into the threaded bore.
As t;A~lain~d, the thread entry is closed off by co~ pollding sealing
15 Illea~ul.,s in the plastic or rubber molding tool, such as through the pins 312 in the
example of Fig. 8.
The sealing at the rear side of the thread is achieved, as stated, in that the
pierce and rivet nut is not introduced into a pl-,$'~",ped opPnings of the steel sole
20 of the golf shoe but Mther in a self-piercing manner. As eYpl~in~-d in detail above,
the stamped slug which is thereby cut out from the hole is so position~cl by a special
tool punch construction in the turned-over rivet flange that it functions as a sealing
cover against the pelletr~ti- n of the plastic/~ ~ou~chollc co"~i~,;linn
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The in~t~ tinn steps are in detail:
. :,.
a) In a suitable lower part of the tool (co~ ling to the shape of the ~ :
shoe sole), there are provided as many receiving cavities as there are nuts; ~ ~ .
. ,
b) In the upper part of the tool, there is in the same number of the ~ -
",p;ng buttons for the s'-.. pil-g in and the turning over of the rivet portions of :
the nuts, with the ~-...Pii~E buttons being located exactly above the receiving
cavities for the nuts;
c) A fastener such as, for example RSF nut (obtainable from the
CO.~Iy~y Profil), is yO.~ ~ in each receiving cavity in the lower part by suitable
supply means, with the pierce and rivet section pointing upwardly;
d) A sheet metal part which is non-a~ ul~d, but which has been
pre-fl~ttPnP~ placed on the nut cl .~ with the sheet metal part being held in
form-fitted manner by the contour of the receiving mount of the tool;
. ' ': '::~:' '':
e) Suitable cl~rL;i~g ~ as.J,~s ensure that the r~ and the sheet
20 metal part are in the in~t~ n position;
' :
f) As the upper part of the tool passes through the lower dead point the
nut p~ t~ have cut through the sheet metal part via the cufflng and piercing
action. A circular, ring-like, turned-over rivet flange is formed at each nut which
25 holds the punched out slug through a relatively high c~ ping action (arching effect)
as a cover in the pierce and rivet section and closes the r~ ~alJ opening of the nut. . ; :~
After the upward travel of the upper part of the tool and removal of the shoe sole '
with the stamped-in and riveted-in nuts the methods steps for the assembly of the :~
d co~,pOI~P~-~ are 1~ ~ d, ~.h~,~s;uyOn the latter can be placed in an
30 inj~P~.ti- n molding die and the
22 .
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docket - 60152-599
embedding in the injection molding co~ ilion; i.e., in the selected
plastic/caoutchouk material can take place;
g) Thereafter, the sole of the shoe together with the upper part of the
S shoe is formed into a finished shoe with subsequent screwing in of the spikes or
studs.
Finally, it should be pointed out that the nut ~1emP~nt~ need not nf~;,.~-ily
be of round cross-section, polygonal cross s~;li~ns are for example also entirely
10 possible. It is also not absolutely essential that the nut P1PrnPnt~ must have threads,
they could for example also have bayonet mounts. They should, in general, be -
considered to be hollow fastener ele~
.' ~ :''
' ~
.- ~ . . ~ .
..
23
