US3791016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of creating motion-free connection
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1971-10-22
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1991-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A single-step method of creating, and apparatus for so creating, a motion-free connection of two members by reason of partially piercing one member wherein material from the one member is forced into and through the second member. The material being displaced from the one member creates an opening in the second member by removing a slug therefrom, and the displaced material assumes a shape to fill the opening, a portion of the material forced into and through the second member being flared outwardly, by reason of spring action in clamping around the portion, and thus form a mechanical bond to secure the two members. The connection provides complete bonding, by shearless flow of material, to resist separation of one member from the other, as well as torsional resistance to rotation between the two members.
Inventors
- 👤 G Eberhardt
- 👤 G Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:36
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23P; B23P11/00; B21; B21D; B21D39/00; B21D39/03; B21D39/031; B21D39/032; B21J; B21J15/00; B21J15/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/34; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49833; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of connecting adjacent pieces of stock, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting the pieces on a member having an aperture therein, comprising the single step of moving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture for partially piercing one piece and thereby forcing material from the adjacent spring piece, the material from said partially pierced piece replacing the material forced from said adjacent spring piece by material flow, the spring piece forming around the material from said partially pierced piece in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture, and the material from said partially pierced piece extending beyond the confines of said adjacent spring piece in an enlargement greater than the extent of material removed from said adjacent spring piece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of connecting adjacent pieces of stock, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting the pieces on a member having an aperture therein, comprising the single step of moving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture for partially piercing one piece and thereby forcing material from the adjacent spring piece, the material from said partially pierced piece replacing the material forced from said adjacent spring piece by material flow, the spring piece forming around the material from said partially pierced piece in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture, and the material from said partially pierced piece extending beyond the confines of said adjacent spring piece in an enlargement greater than the extent of material removed from said adjacent spring piece.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of joining two pieces of material, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting the pieces on a member having an aperture therein, comprising the single step of moving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture for partially piercing one piece, thereby moving material from said one piece into and through the spring piece to remove material therefrom and to create an opening therein, the material from said one piece flowing into and filling the opening, the spring piece surrounding the material filling the opening in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture, and the material from said one piece extending beyond the confines of said spring piece in an enlargement greater than the opening.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of joining two pieces of material, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting the pieces on a member having an aperture therein, comprising the single step of moving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture for partially piercing one piece, thereby moving material from said one piece into and through the spring piece to remove material therefrom and to create an opening therein, the material from said one piece flowing into and filling the opening, the spring piece surrounding the material filling the opening in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture, and the material from said one piece extending beyond the confines of said spring piece in an enlargement greater than the opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of joining two pieces of material in accordance with claim 2 wherein the partial piercing creates a circular opening in the spring piece and the enlargement assumes a flared form greater in diameter than that of the opening.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of bonding two pieces of metal, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting the pieces on a member having an aperture therein, comprising the single step of driving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture partially through one piece to displace material therefrom into and through the spring piece, the displacement of material from said one piece thereby removing material from said spring piece and creating a circular opening therein, the material from said one piece filling the opening by flow of metal therethrough and extending beyond the confines of said opening, the spring piece forming around the material filling the opening in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture by reason of being relieved after creation of said opening, and the material from said one piece flaring out to a diameter greater than that of the opening.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of bonding two pieces of metal, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting the pieces on a member having an aperture therein, comprising the single step of driving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture partially through one piece to displace material therefrom into and through the spring piece, the displacement of material from said one piece thereby removing material from said spring piece and creating a circular opening therein, the material from said one piece filling the opening by flow of metal therethrough and extending beyond the confines of said opening, the spring piece forming around the material filling the opening in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture by reason of being relieved after creation of said opening, and the material from said one piece flaring out to a diameter greater than that of the opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of bonding together two pieces of metal in accordance with claim 4 wherein the circular opening in the spring piece created by the displacement of material from the one piece decreases in diameter from the initial contact edge to the opposite edge of the material, and the displaced material extending beyond the opPosite edge having a diameter greater than the smallest diameter of the opening.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of bonding a plurality of adjacent pieces together, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting said pieces on a member having an aperture, and wherein another of said pieces includes an aperture therein, comprising the single step of driving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture in the member for partially piercing an initial contact piece to displace and move material therefrom into and through said aperture in said other piece, the displacement of said material creating a circular opening in the spring piece distal from the initial contact piece, thereby removing material entirely from the distal spring piece, the displaced material being forced to flow into and through the aperture in said other piece and into and through the created opening, said spring piece forming around the material displaced into the created opening in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture in said member, and the material displaced through the created opening emerging with a flared portion greater in diameter than the diameter of said created opening to secure the pieces in a motion-free connection.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of bonding a plurality of adjacent pieces together, one of which is a spring piece, by supporting said pieces on a member having an aperture, and wherein another of said pieces includes an aperture therein, comprising the single step of driving a punch having a diameter greater than that of the aperture in the member for partially piercing an initial contact piece to displace and move material therefrom into and through said aperture in said other piece, the displacement of said material creating a circular opening in the spring piece distal from the initial contact piece, thereby removing material entirely from the distal spring piece, the displaced material being forced to flow into and through the aperture in said other piece and into and through the created opening, said spring piece forming around the material displaced into the created opening in a diameter smaller than that of the aperture in said member, and the material displaced through the created opening emerging with a flared portion greater in diameter than the diameter of said created opening to secure the pieces in a motion-free connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of bonding a plurality of adjacent pieces in accordance with claim 6 wherein the displaced material creates an opening of decreasing diameter by reason of the material flow, the material filling the opening and emerging in an enlargement greater than the smallest diameter created in the distal piece.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of creating a motion-free connection with adjacent pieces of stock supported on a member having an aperture therein, one of the pieces being a spring piece, comprising the single step of moving a punch, having a diameter greater than that of the punch and displacing material thereunder, the moving of the punch and the displacing of the material slightly deflecting the spring piece from a planar position and creating an opening in said spring piece smaller than the aperture in said support member, the spring piece clamping the material displaced through the created opening to secure said pieces.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of creating a motion-free connection with adjacent pieces of stock supported on a member having an aperture therein, one of the pieces being a spring piece, comprising the single step of moving a punch, having a diameter greater than that of the punch and displacing material thereunder, the moving of the punch and the displacing of the material slightly deflecting the spring piece from a planar position and creating an opening in said spring piece smaller than the aperture in said support member, the spring piece clamping the material displaced through the created opening to secure said pieces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said spring piece is composed of a hardened metal for clamping the material displaced through the created opening upon release of the punch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the piece adjacent the punch is composed of a ductile metal permitting shearless flow of material into and through the created opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the strength level of the spring piece to the piece adjacent the punch is in a ratio of at least two to one or greater.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the spring piece is a metal of high strength and low ductility and the piece adjacent the punch is a metal of low strength and high ductility.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the ductility ratio of the spring piece to the piece adjacent the punch is in the range of thirty to one.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |