The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2002
Pei-Chung Wang, Troy, MI (US);
Daniel B. Hayden, Macomb Township, MI (US);
Paul M. Zardus, Royal Oak, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for riveting metal members, and particularly, metal sheets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rivet assembly for driving rivets into stacked metal sheets and a die assembly for assisting in supporting the sheets during driving of the rivets and for assisting in securing the rivets to the sheets. The rivet assembly, the die assembly or both in combination provide energy to at least a portion of the metal sheets prior to riveting. In turn, the energy elevates the temperature of the portion of the sheets such that the rivets can be more effectively driven into the sheets and such that the sheets are fastened to each other with greater ease and consistency.