Combination rivet installation apparatus and self-drilling rivet

Claim 2

In combination a rivet installation apparatus and selfdrilling rivet comprising: a housing having a bore therethrough; a drive shaft having free rotational and longitudinal movement relative to said housing extending through the bore, one end of said drive shaft being rotationally driven by a power source and the other end of said shaft adapted to engage one end of a self-drilling rivet; means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said drive shaft relative to said housing; a rivet head engaging means at one end of said housing, said engaging means having a bore therethrough wherein said drive shafT extends therethrough for cooperative engagement with said one end of the self-drilling rivet, retention means for longitudinally positioning said housing relative to said drive shaft to provide a first operational position wherein said other end of said drive shaft engages the one end of said self-drilling rivet and wherein said rivet head engaging means is longitudinally spaced from the rivet head so that rotation of said drive shaft causes a like rotation of said self-drilling rivet and rivet head; and means urging said housing to a second operational position upon release of said retention means wherein said rivet head engaging means engages the rivet head to prevent rotational movement of said rivet head whereby continued rotational movement of said drive shaft provides an upsetting of the rivet body.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said drive shaft relative to said housing comprises: a retainer member coaxially mounted about said drive shaft and having a longitudinal slot formed thereon, said drive shaft having free rotational movement relative to said retainer member; a slot engaging member attachable to said housing and extending into the bore for engagement with the slot formed in said retainer member wherein axial movement of said retainer member is limited by said slot engaging member; positioning means for preventing longitudinal movement of said retainer member relative to said drive shaft.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said retention means comprises a spring biased detent ball mounted in said housing and extending into said bore for engagement with said retainer member; said retainer member having a complementary detent receiving element formed adjacent one end.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 3 in which said means for urging said housing to a second operational position is a compression spring mounted in said bore coaxially about said drive shaft, said spring acting at one end against an internal shoulder formed by the bore in said housing; and wherein the rivet head engaging means comprises a detachable socket member.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said detachable socket member is formed at one end with an internal shape complementary with the shape of a rivet head such that the rivet head is slidably inserted in said socket shaped portion in the second operational position.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein one end of said drive shaft extends outwardly from one end of said housing for engagement with a source of rotational power.

Claim 8

A rivet installation apparatus for inserting and upsetting self-drilling rivets comprising: a drive shaft, one end of said shaft being rotationally driven by a power source and the other end of said shaft adapted to engage one end of a self-drilling bit; a housing having a bore therethrough mounted coaxially about said drive shaft, said drive shaft having free rotational and longitudinal movement relative to said housing; means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said drive shaft relative to said housing; a rivet head engaging means at one end of said housing, said engaging means having a bore therethrough wherein said other end of said drive shaft extends part way therethrough for cooperative engagement with the one end of the self-drilling bit; detent means for longitudinally positioning said drive shaft relative to said housing to provide a first operational position wherein said other end of said drive shaft engages said one end of the self-drilling bit and wherein said rivet head engaging means is axially spaced from the rivet head to that rotation of said drive shaft causes a like rotation of the self-drilling rivet; and spring means urging said housing to a second operational position upon release of said detent means wherein said rivet head engaging means engages the rivet head to prevent rotational Movement of the rivet head whereby continued rotational movement of said drive shaft provides an upsetting of the rivet body.

Claim 9

A rivet installation apparatus for inserting and upsetting self-drilling rivets comprising: a drive shaft, one end of said shaft being rotationally driven by a power source and the other end of said shaft adapted to engage one end of a self-drilling bit; a housing having a bore therethrough mounted coaxially about said drive shaft, said drive shaft having free rotational and longitudinal movement relative to said housing; means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said drive shaft relative to said housing; a rivet head engaging means at one end of said housing, said engaging means having a bore therethrough wherein said other end of said drive shaft extends part way therethrough for cooperative engagement with the one end of the self-drilling bit; detent means for longitudinally positioning said drive shaft relative to said housing to provide a first operational position wherein said other end of said drive shaft engages said one end of the self-drilling bit and wherein said rivet head engaging means is axially spaced from the rivet head to that rotation of said drive shaft causes a like rotation of the self-drilling rivet; and spring means urging said housing to a second operational position upon release of said detent means wherein said rivet head engaging means engages the rivet head to prevent rotational Movement of the rivet head whereby continued rotational movement of said drive shaft provides an upsetting of the rivet body.