Deutsche Aerospace Airbus Gmbh

Juergen Krug

Holger Krueger

Heinrich Stoelcken

A method for avoiding cold welding of blind rivets, especially for the production of rivet connections between load carrying components in aircraft construction uses a not yet cured, curable adhesive to perform three functions, namely as a lubricant during setting of the blind rivet when the adhesive is not yet cured, to prevent cold welding between the shaft and the sleeve of the rivet, and as a seal and bond when the adhesive has cured. The blind rivet has a shaft or mandrel with a thickened end and a pulling end. The shaft has a conical section tapering from the thickened end to the pulling end. Grooves run around at least the conical section. The rivet mandrel or shaft is axially received in a rivet sleeve with a settable head. The not yet cured adhesive is provided in the grooves, especially along the conical section of the blind rivet. After the rivet has been set the adhesive hardens in the seam or gap to form the seal and bond. The result is a set blind rivet that has a structural strength equivalent to that of a solid rivet so that it can also meet higher structural strength requirements.

Method for preventing cold welding especially of blind rivets

A blind rivet, especially for the production of rivet connections between load carrying components in aircraft construction, has a rivet shaft or mandrel with a thickened end and a pulling end. The shaft has a conical section tapering from the thickened end to the pulling end. Grooves run around at least the conical section. The rivet mandrel or shaft is axially received in a rivet sleeve with a set head. Adhesive is provided in the grooves, especially along the conical section of the blind rivet. The adhesive hardens in the seam or gap formed between the rivet sleeve and rivet shaft when the blind rivet has been set. This two-component blind rivet has a structural strength equivalent to that of a solid rivet so that it can also meet higher structural strength requirements. Additionally, the adhesive prevents cold welding between the shaft and the sleeve and seals the gap.

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Pinneberg, Germany

Juergen Krug