KR-102964853-B1 - SEALING HEAD DESIGN FOR SELF-PENETRATING AND HOLE FORMING FASTENERS

Abstract

A fastener comprises a shaft that is elongated and extends between a first shaft end and a second shaft end, wherein the shaft is provided with a tip at the first shaft end and a threaded region between the tip and the second shaft end; and a head having a driving region disposed at the second shaft end. The fastener also comprises a first annular undercut region provided on the lower surface of the head and configured and disposed to receive material flowing out from the substrate while the fastener is installed into the substrate, and a second annular undercut region provided on the lower surface of the head and located radially outward from the first annular undercut region. Additionally, an annular sealing member is provided within the second annular undercut region, and the annular sealing member makes sealing contact with the upper surface of the substrate.

Inventors

• 크로켓 스티븐
• 루스키에비치 브랜트 제이
• 브레이든보그 에릭 씨
• 그림스비 존
• 노튼 크리스

Assignees

• 셈블렉스 코포레이션

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20231107

Priority Date

20230324

Claims (20)

1. As a thread-forming and hole-forming fastener, An elongated shaft extending between a first shaft end and a second shaft end, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a tip provided at the first shaft end and configured and arranged to soften the material of a workpiece to create a hole, and a threaded region provided between the tip and the second shaft end; A head comprising a driving region disposed at the end of the second shaft and configured to receive rotational driving force; A plurality of annular undercut regions, including a first annular undercut region provided on the lower surface of the head and configured and arranged to receive material flowing out from the substrate while installing the fastener into the substrate, and a second annular undercut region provided on the lower surface of the head and located radially outward from the first annular undercut region; and An annular sealing member provided within the second annular undercut region and configured and arranged to make sealing contact with the upper surface of the substrate. Includes, The annular sealing member provided within the second annular undercut region is located radially outward from the first annular undercut region before the fastener is installed, and the fastener defines an installation state in which the material of the substrate flows into the first annular undercut region as it is installed on the substrate, while the annular sealing member remains in a suitable location with respect to the radial direction within the second annular undercut region. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener in which the first annular undercut region is composed of a first annular groove and the second annular undercut region is composed of a second annular groove.
2. delete
3. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first annular groove and the second annular groove are formed adjacent to each other without an annular gap between the radial outer edge of the first annular groove and the radial inner edge of the second annular groove.
4. In paragraph 3, the first annular groove extends from the lower surface to define a first depth, and The second annular groove extends from the lower surface to define a second depth, and A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener in which the first depth is greater than the second depth.
5. In paragraph 3, the first annular groove defines a first annular base that is concavely curved when viewed in cross-section, and A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener in which the second annular groove defines a second annular base that is concavely curved when viewed in cross-section.
6. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 1, wherein the annular sealing member is composed of a soft compressible resin sealant.
7. A threaded and hole-forming fastener according to claim 6, wherein the annular sealing member extends axially far from the lower surface of the head in a convex manner when viewed in cross-section.
8. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the first annular undercut region is larger than the volume of the second annular undercut region.
9. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the first annular groove is larger than the volume of the second annular groove.
10. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to paragraph 3, wherein the volume of the first annular groove is larger than the volume of the second annular groove.
11. As a thread-forming and hole-forming fastener, An elongated shaft extending between a first shaft end and a second shaft end, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a tip provided at the first shaft end and configured and arranged to soften the material of a workpiece to create a hole, and a threaded region provided between the tip and the second shaft end; A head comprising a driving region disposed at the end of the second shaft and configured to receive rotational driving force; A plurality of annular undercut regions, including a first annular undercut region provided on the lower surface of the head and configured and arranged to receive material flowing out from the substrate while installing the fastener into the substrate, and a second annular undercut region provided on the lower surface of the head and located radially outward from the first annular undercut region; and An annular sealing member provided within the second annular undercut region and configured and arranged to make sealing contact with the upper surface of the substrate. Includes, A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener, wherein the second annular undercut region includes an axially extended annular wall and a radially extended annular wall that define a right angle between them when viewed in cross-section.
12. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 11, wherein the radially extended annular wall forms a plane extending perpendicularly to the axis of the slender shaft, and the axis extends between the first shaft end and the second shaft end.
13. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener in which, in claim 12, the axially extended annular wall extends in a direction parallel to the axis of the slender shaft.
14. In claim 11, the annular sealing member is composed of an elastomer material, forming a thread and hole fastener.
15. In claim 11, the above-mentioned annular sealing member is composed of an O-ring, a screw-forming and hole-forming fastener.
16. In item 15, the above O-ring is formed of an elastomer material, a thread-forming and hole-forming fastener.
17. In claim 11, the annular sealing member is composed of a crush washer, a thread-forming and hole-forming fastener.
18. In claim 17, the above-mentioned crush washer is formed of a soft metal or a soft metal alloy, a thread-forming and hole-forming fastener.
19. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the slender shaft includes a pointed tip.
20. A thread-forming and hole-forming fastener according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the slender shaft includes a rounded end.

Description

Sealing Head Design for Self-Penetrating and Hole-Forming Fasteners Water-sensitive assemblies, such as battery boxes in electric vehicles, require waterproofing to prevent water from interacting with critical electrical components housed within the assembly. In the case of battery box assemblies, the entire box often needs to be waterproofed, including the areas where fasteners used to hold the assembly together pass through the battery box. If water can pass through the fasteners, it is often possible for that water to enter the assembly (depending on the design). Flow hole forming or flow drilling fasteners, which are a type of self-penetrating and thread-forming fastener, are frequently used in aluminum-intensive or mixed material structures. Products such as those in U.S. Patent No. 9,175,708 and U.S. Patent No. 5,234,301 are examples of current self-penetrating and thread-forming fasteners. Other examples of such flow drilling fasteners are illustrated and described in U.S. Patent Application No. 17/975,239 and U.S. Patent No. 10,598,205, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This type of fastener generates heat through rotational speed and the final load applied to the fastener, thereby creating a hole in the target substrate. This heat, combined with the point geometry described in the aforementioned patent, moves the material away from the screw, creating the formed hole. Then, a screw thread is formed in the hole, and subsequently, the fastener is fully seated, thereby realizing a secure connection. Figure 1 is an example of a hole-forming and thread-forming fastener. FIG. 2a is an example of a solution for providing sealing features to hole-forming and thread-forming fasteners. Figure 2b is another example of a solution for providing sealing features to hole-forming and thread-forming fasteners. Figure 3 is a diagram showing how material from the substrate flows upward during the hole formation process. FIG. 4a illustrates an example of a hole-forming and thread-forming fastener including a sealant in an installed state, wherein the upper substrate layer contains a through hole and accommodates material that has flowed upward from the lower substrate layer. FIG. 4b illustrates an example of a hole-forming and thread-forming fastener including a sealant in an installed state, wherein the upper substrate layer lacks a through hole and the upwardly flowing material of the upper substrate layer displaces the sealant. FIG. 5a illustrates an example of a hole-forming and screw-forming fastener including a crush washer in an installed state, wherein the upper substrate layer contains a through hole and accommodates material that has flowed upward from the lower substrate layer. FIG. 5b illustrates an example of a hole-forming and screw-forming fastener including a crush washer in an installed state, wherein the upper substrate layer lacks a through hole and the upwardly flowing material of the upper substrate layer displaces the crush washer. FIG. 6a illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention of a hole-forming and thread-forming fastener comprising an open first undercut region and a second undercut region containing a sealant inside, wherein the first and second undercut regions are continuous without an annular space between them. FIG. 6b illustrates the fastener of FIG. 6a in an installed state, wherein there are no through holes in the upper substrate layer and the upwardly flowing material of the upper substrate is received in the first undercut area so that the sealant of the second undercut area can form a proper seal with the upper surface of the upper substrate. FIG. 7a illustrates another example of an embodiment of the present invention of a hole-forming and thread-forming fastener comprising an open first undercut region and a second undercut region containing a sealant inside, wherein the first and second undercut regions have an annular space between them and are discontinuous. FIG. 7b illustrates the fastener of FIG. 7a in an installed state, wherein there are no through holes in the upper substrate layer and the upwardly flowing material of the upper substrate is received in the first undercut area so that the sealant of the second undercut area can form a proper seal with the upper surface of the upper substrate. FIG. 8a illustrates another example of an embodiment of the present invention of a hole-forming and thread-forming fastener comprising an open first undercut region and a second undercut region containing a crush washer or O-ring inside, wherein the first and second undercut regions are discontinuous and have an annular space between them. FIG. 8b illustrates the fastener of FIG. 8a in an installed state, wherein there is no through hole in the upper substrate layer and the upwardly flowing material of the upper substrate is received in the first undercut area so that the crush washer or O-ring of the second undercut area can