Patent Abstract:
A first and second component joint includes using a fastener having a first end, and a flange having a diameter greater than a tubular barrel portion. A second end having a second tubular barrel portion merges into a shoulder of a flange part having a greater diameter than the barrel portion. The first tubular barrel portion is deformed radially outwardly sandwiching the first component between the flange and the first barrel portion. The second end of the fastener is introduced through a hole in the second component by applying the second component to the first component so the shoulder of the flanged part abuts the second component spacing the second component from the first component. The fastener device is fastened to the second component by deforming the second tubular barrel portion radially outwardly sandwiching the second component between the shoulder and the tubular barrel portion.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/195,451 filed on Aug. 2, 2005 which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/625,274 filed Jul. 23, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,845 which claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/647,603 filed Jan. 4, 2001, now abandoned which claims priority to PCT/EP99/02236 filed on 3 Oct. 2000 and to German Patent Application No. 198 15 407.0 filed Apr. 6, 1998. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a fastener device which is or can be fixed at its one end to a first component by means of a joint which can be produced by a forming technique, preferably a riveted joint, and which has a receiving area configured or configurable to receive a bolt, a nut or another element, for example a bayonet part or a shaft. The present invention further relates to a combination of such a fastener device with one, two or three components and to a method of making a joint between a first and a second component while utilizing such a fastener device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A fastener device of the kind initially mentioned is known from a number of publications. European Patent 0 539 793, for example, discloses a nut element which can be introduced in a form-locked and force-transmitting manner into a component, in particular into a sheet metal part, by means of a method termed clamping hole riveting. Piercing bolts are also known from German patents P 30 03 908 and P 34 47 006 which can be inserted in a self-piercing manner into a component in the form of a sheet metal part, with the features of shape, which form the so-called piercing and riveting section of the bolt element, being provided on the side of the head remote from the shaft part of the bolt element, so that after the bolt element has been inserted into a component from one side, the shaft part of the bolt element extends away from the sheet metal part on this side. 
         [0004]    Bolt elements are also known which can be inserted into a pre-punched component and can be fastened to the component in the region directly below the head of the bolt element by means of a joint which can be made by a forming technique. Such bolt elements are described, for example, in German Patent Application P 44 10 475. However, they can also be executed in a self-piercing design such as is set forth in the applicant&#39;s German Patent Application 195 35 537.7. With such so-called EBF bolts or self-piercing EBF bolts, once the joint to the component has been made, the head of the bolt element is arranged on the one side of the component and the shaft part with thread is located on the other side of the component. 
         [0005]    Generally, all elements from the product range of Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH &amp; Co. KG, i.e. RND, RSN, HI, RSF, RSK, UM, RSU and FUN nut elements as well as EBF, SBK and SBF bolt elements, are suitable for the present invention. Almost all fastener elements which are known in the prior art for forming a joint by a forming technique to a component or a sheet metal part can also be used without any problem for the purposes of the present invention. 
         [0006]    The preamble of claim  1  of the present application, which relates to a fastener device, basically covers all such fastener elements. 
         [0007]    Reference is made to the following German patents and patent applications with respect to further information on the different fastener elements from the Profil company which are suitable for use in the present invention and with respect to the methods of manufacture and insertion which can be used: P 34 04 118, P 30 03 908, P 34 46 978, P 34 47 006, P 35 24 306, P 36 10 675, P 38 35 566, P 34 48 219, P 42 14 717, P 35 83663, P 4231 715, P 3439 583, P 689 08 903, P 691 01 491, P 44 10 475, P 42 112 78, P 42 11 276, P 43 10 953, P 44 20 426, P 44 29 737, 196 00 290.7, 195 35 537, 195 30 466, P 44 40 620, 196 47 831 and P 29 47 179.2. A number of various other industrial property rights of Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH &amp; Co. KG could also be named here. 
         [0008]    All the above fastener elements are fastener elements which can be inserted into a sheet metal part, or optionally into a plurality of sheet metal parts contacting one another, and which then permit the screwing on of a further sheet metal part. The screwing on is carried out by means of a bolt or a nut which is screwed into or onto a fastener element made as a nut element or as a bolt respectively. 
         [0009]    There is an increasing need in the sheet metal processing industry, but also in other industries, to screw a highly loaded component such as a mounting for an axle or a door hinge of an automobile to another component, for example a hollow section made up of a plurality of sheet metal parts, in such a way that an extremely stable attachment results. Such stable attachments can only be achieved for the production of such hollow parts with a greater amount of effort, particularly in view of the trend towards thin sheet metals. 
         [0010]    One possibility to improve the stability of the mounting is to insert a spacer tube between two components spaced from one another and to achieve the screw connection via the spacer tube. The two sheet metal parts coupled via the spacer tube reinforce one another in this way. Furthermore, movements of the spacer tube with respect to the one or the other sheet metal part are suppressed by the attachment of the spacer tube at both ends, which is of benefit to the stability of the connection to the screw-on part. 
         [0011]    Such spacer tube connections, see, for example, DE C 39 36 376, have, however, previously only been realized using welding processes. However, this produces the disadvantage that the positional accuracy of the metal sheets relative to one another is very low and the, as a rule, high dynamic permanent stresses cannot be borne without difficulty by the welded joints. Furthermore, the heat development during a welding process is not compatible with the strength requirements when high-strength, alloyed metal sheets are used. 
         [0012]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a fastener device which can be used without difficulty in conventional sheet metal working, which can be realized at low cost and which allows a very stable attachment of a third component to a composite part comprising the first and second components and the fastener device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    In order to satisfy this object there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a fastener device of the kind named initially which is characterized in that it is configured in a region spaced from the first said end for attachment onto or into a second component. The spaced region can be provided in this arrangement at the end of the fastener device opposite the first said end. It can, however, also be at the center of the fastener device so that the other end of the fastener device projects beyond the second component. 
         [0014]    Various possibilities exist for the attachment of the fastener device to the second component in the spaced region. For example, the spaced region can advantageously be designed as a blind-rivet sleeve. It can, however, also be designed for attachment to the second component by a forming technique, with it finally also being possible, depending on the specific embodiment, to design the spaced region such that it is suitable for welding or bonding to the second component. 
         [0015]    The fastener device can be made in one piece or in a plurality of parts. The one piece design is, on the one hand, easy to handle, but has the disadvantage that the length of the fastener device always has to be adapted to the respective purpose, which makes stock-keeping more problematic. A design using a plurality of parts, however, allows such stock-keeping problems to be coped with—for example by the two ends of the fastener device being made by fastener elements available as standard parts which can in each case be joined to the associated sheet metal part by a forming technique, while a middle part termed a spacer tube can be made in different lengths depending on the application. 
         [0016]    Particularly preferred embodiments of the fastener device can be found in the dependent claims  2  to  25 . 
         [0017]    Special combinations of the fastener device and sheet metal parts can be found in the further claims  26  to  31 . 
         [0018]    Methods of making a joint between a first and a second component while utilizing the fastener device in accordance with the invention can be found in claims  32  to  38 . 
         [0019]    The fastener devices in accordance with the present invention in particular have the following advantages: 
         [0020]    they permit the first and second components (sheet metal parts or moldings made of other materials) to be positioned with respect to one another with low tolerances with regard to the position and spacing of the moldings and thus form a kind of gauge during the assembly of the corresponding components; 
         [0021]    they serve as a nut or bolt element for the screwing on of further components with heavy operating loads; 
         [0022]    they serve to secure the angular position and—where required—the security against being pressed out or rotated during assembly; 
         [0023]    they take up operating loads, shear and pressure torque statically and dynamically in each case; 
         [0024]    the integrity of the fastener device is not a problem with the multiple part version either, as the screw connection can be made such that all elements of the fastener device are supported by one another. 
         [0025]    It is of particular advantage that the shearing, tensile and compression forces as well as any torques, which have to be taken up at the end of the fastener device, can be taken up substantially better due to the length of the fastener device and the reinforcing of the structure it effects. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    The invention will be described in more detail in the following with reference to embodiments and the drawings in which are shown: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  a partly sectioned view of a first embodiment of the fastener device in accordance with the invention for an application with two components made of sheet metal; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  the same embodiment as  FIG. 1 , but during the fastening of two components to one another; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  the completed joint between the two components of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  a partly sectioned longitudinal view of a second embodiment of a fastener device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  a view of the fastener device of  FIG. 4  partly sectioned in the longitudinal direction for an application with two components made of sheet metal; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  a representation similar to the lower part of  FIG. 5  for an embodiment where the first component is made of two shaped sheet metal parts placed next to one another; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  a partly sectioned representation, similar to  FIG. 5 , but for three different lengths of the fastener device in accordance with the invention of  FIG. 4 , with the screwing on of a third component simultaneously being shown; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  a view partly sectioned in a longitudinal direction of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention of a fastener device having a blind-rivet sleeve and a blind-rivet mandrel; 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  a representation similar to  FIG. 8 , but after the insertion of the fastener device in accordance with the invention between two components composed of sheet metal, with the situation prior to the tightening of the blind-rivet joint being shown on the left side and the situation after the tightening of the blind-rivet joint on the right side. 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  a representation of the lower part of a fastener device in accordance with the invention similar to  FIG. 8 , but in a slightly modified embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  the lower part of the fastener device of  FIG. 10  after insertion into a shaped sheet metal part; 
           [0038]      FIG. 12  a slightly modified embodiment of the fastener device of  FIG. 8  in a representation corresponding to  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 13  a view partly sectioned in a longitudinal direction of a further embodiment in accordance with the invention of a fastener device which represents the preferred embodiment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 14  a schematic representation of the fastener device of  FIG. 13  installed in two components; 
           [0041]      FIGS. 15-21  representations similar to  FIG. 7 , but of modified embodiments of the fastener device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 22  a representation sectioned in a longitudinal direction of a three-part fastener device in accordance with the invention after the insertion into two components; 
           [0043]      FIG. 23  a representation similar to  FIG. 22 , but in a sloped position of the fastener device; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 24  a representation sectioned in a longitudinal direction of a further embodiment in accordance with the invention of a fastener device; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 25A to 25D  various manufacturing steps for the installation of a fastener device in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0046]      FIG. 1  first shows a fastener device  10  in accordance with the invention whose first lower end  12  is fastened to a first component  14  in the form of a shaped sheet metal part via a joint  11  which can be made by a forming technique. The joint made by a forming technique was made in this embodiment in accordance with German patent P 34 47 006. That is, the unitary fastener device  10  has a form at its lower first end corresponding to the so-called SBF (piercing bolt with flange) design of Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH &amp; Co. KG (hereinafter “Profil”) which leads to the joint with the component  14  shown in  FIG. 1  after piercing and riveting. The noses  16  extending in a radial direction and forming rotational security between the fastener device  10  and the first component  14  can also be seen from  FIG. 1 . 
         [0047]    At its upper end  18  opposite the first said end  12 , the fastener device of  FIG. 10  has a design corresponding to the RSF nut element (round shoulder nut with flange) of Profil which is made in accordance with German patent P 36 10 675. The upper end  18  of the fastener device  10  therefore substantially has the design of a nut element with a flange part  20  and with a piercing and riveting section  22  which merges into the flange  20  via a shoulder  24  extending substantially radially, with rotational security features  26  also being provided in the region of the shoulder. A thread cylinder  28 , which extends further in the direction of the central region of the fastener device  10  in this embodiment, is located within the flange part. 
         [0048]    Although the upper end  18  of the fastener device is provided with a self-piercing design in the form of the piercing and riveting section  22 , in this variant of the embodiment the piercing and riveting section is not used for piercing; instead the second component  30  also designed as a shaped sheet metal part is pre-pierced. The hole is shown at  32  and is coaxial to the longitudinal axis  31  of the fastener device  10  and to the lower joint  11  made by a forming technique to the first component  14 . 
         [0049]    There are substantially two reasons why the piercing and riveting section  22  is not used for self-piercing here. Primarily, there is a problem in that when the piercing and riveting section  22  is used to pierce the hole  32  in the component  30 , the slug would close the upper end of the fastener device  10  and thus prevent access to the thread cylinder. It would, however, be possible to subsequently remove the slug. But the fastener device  10  would have to be made hollow for this purpose so that a corresponding plunger could be inserted from the lower end. This can certainly be realized. However, after the making of the form-locked joint  12 , it would then first be necessary to remove the slug  33  located there. 
         [0050]    The second reason why the piercing and riveting section  22  is not used to pierce the hole  32  here is that this self-piercing function is normally only used for metal sheet thickness of up to 2 mm. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , however, the second component  30  is made of two metal sheets on top of one another which have a total thickness of more than 2 mm. It is, however, by no means problematic that the piercing and riveting section  22  is not self-piercing. There is instead even an advantage in this respect which can be seen from a comparison of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0051]    The rounded drawing edge  34  of the piercing and riveting section namely serves to align the second component  30  with respect to the first component  14 . As a rule, not just one fastener device  10  is provided, but rather a second or a plurality of further fastener devices which are arranged at positions spaced from one another. These can then take over the task of aligning the two components  14  and  30  with respect to one another. 
         [0052]      FIG. 2  shows the position after the alignment of the two components  14  and  30  relative to one another and, however, also shows a die  40  which is arranged beneath the first component  14 , and an upper die  42  which is arranged in the plunger of a setting head and is used to rivet the piercing and riveting section  22  to the second component  30 . The exact design of this die  42  is not described here as it is actually well-known due to the familiarity of the RSF elements. The corresponding method is additionally described in detail for the RSF nut element in German patent 36 10 675. 
         [0053]    The joint between the two components  14  and  30  and the fastener device  10  arranged therebetween has the appearance shown in  FIG. 3  after the riveting of the piercing and riveting section  22  to the second component  30 . It can be seen that the piercing and riveting section  22  has been formed into a peripheral rivet flange  44  by the pressing of the joint between the two dies  40  and  42 . 
         [0054]    It can also be seen that the two components  14  and  30  now touch closely at two points, namely at points  46  and  48 . The structure formed in this way is now completed by the carrying out of welding at points  46  and  48 . Then a third component (not shown) can be screwed to the component assembly of  FIG. 3  by means of a bolt, with the thread of the bolt being screwed into the thread cylinder  28  of the fastener device  10 . 
         [0055]    The invention is further explained below by means of further embodiments, with identical parts being provided with the same reference numerals and these parts substantially only being described again if properties are of significance which differ from the properties of the corresponding parts in the embodiment in accordance with  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  shows a view partly sectioned in a longitudinal direction of a further fastener device  10  whose upper end is basically designed in accordance with the lower end of the fastener device  10  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , but only with the difference that the upper end, like the whole fastener device  10 , is hollow and has a thread cylinder  28 . The lower end  12  of the fastener device of  FIG. 4  is made in this example in accordance with an RSN nut element of the Profil company, i.e. corresponding to a nut element in accordance with European patent 0 539 739, so that the exact design of the corresponding features of shape is not described in detail here. The nut element-like design at the lower end  12  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 4  is made with a somewhat larger diameter, i.e. substantially corresponding to the so-called RND nut elements of the company of Profil. 
         [0057]    The joint of the lower end  12  of the fastener device  10  to the first component  14  is shown in  FIG. 5 . It can be seen that the corresponding shaped sheet metal part has a conical collar  50  between the flange  52  at the lower end of the fastener device  12  and the riveting section  54  deformed by the riveting procedure, with this bent-around riveting section being planar with the lower side of the component  14  in this embodiment, in accordance with one of the advantages of the clamping hole method, which is particularly favorable during the bolting of further components to the lower side of the component  14 . 
         [0058]    When carrying out the clamping hole method, the conical collar  50  is first set somewhat steeper and then pressed flatter during the joining process, whereby a high-quality joint connection is created. The noses providing security against rotation, which are not shown here, but which are present, ensure that no rotation of the fastening device  10  occurs with respect to the sheet metal part  14  when a screw is inserted. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5 , however, also shows the joint between the upper end  18  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 4  to the second component  30 . This joint is substantially identical in design to the design at the lower end  12  of  FIG. 1 , but for one exception. 
         [0060]    The sheet metal part  14  is pre-pierced during the carrying out of the clamping hole process in the lower region of the fastener device  10 . After this joint has been made, i.e., at the first lower end of the fastener device  10 , the second component  30  is then placed over the not yet deformed piercing and riveting section  22  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 4  and subsequently turned over into a flange as shown in  FIG. 5 . As the component  30  is pre-pierced here, no slug is created, unlike the design in the lower part of  FIG. 1 . It would, however, easily be possible to utilize the self-piercing function of the piercing and riveting section  22  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 1 , whereby then a slug would arise which would close the upper end  18  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 5 . The slug can, however, be removed if desired via a plunger which is led through the hollow fastener device  10 . 
         [0061]    The formation of both the first joint made by a forming technique in the region of the first component  14  and the second joint made by a forming technique in the region of the second component  30  takes place in both cases in a press. Use is made of the appropriate die and the appropriate pressing plunger which are described precisely in the relevant patent applications covering the different types of fastening so that these parts are not described further here. 
         [0062]      FIG. 6  only shows that the fastener device  10  can also be attached to a component in the region of the lower end  12  comprising two layers of sheet metal  56  and  58 . The joint made by a forming technique in the region of the upper end  18  of the fastener device  10  can—if desired—also be made with two or more layers of sheet metal. 
         [0063]      FIG. 7  now shows three fastener devices  10  designed in accordance with the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 4 , but having three different lengths. 
         [0064]    For illustration purposes, all three fastener devices  10  of  FIG. 7  are inserted spaced from one another into different regions of the two components  14  and  30 , whereby a step-like design is created. While this design can easily be realized, it was chosen more to make clear the different lengths of the different fastener devices  10 . 
         [0065]    It can be seen that for all three fastener devices  10  of  FIG. 7 , the joints made by a forming technique to the respective components  14  or  30  are made at both ends  12  and  18  in exactly the same way as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 7 , however, also shows how a third component  60  is fastened to the component assembly  62  of  FIG. 7 , via three screws  64  here, with the head part  66  of each bolt  64  contacting the third component  60  and the shaft part  67  extending through the third component  60 , the first component  14  and partially through the fastener device  10  and the thread  68  of each bolt  64  being screwed into the thread cylinder  28  of the respective fastener device  10 . 
         [0067]    As the thread cylinder  28  is spaced relatively far away from the first component  14 , relatively long screws, which can then be designed as waisted bolts, can be used for all three fastener devices  10  of  FIG. 7 . 
         [0068]    The fastener devices of  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  have particular advantages for the intended application. On the one hand, the annular flange  52  ensures that each fastener device  10  is precisely at right angles to the first component  14 . The joint in the region of the first component is also capable of accepting shear and pressure torque statically and dynamically without problem thanks to the comparatively large diameter of the part  52 . The joint in the region of the deformed riveting section  54  serves, on the one hand, for security against press-out and, on the other hand, for rotational security of the fastener device  10  with respect to the first component  14 . 
         [0069]    The riveting section  22  at the second end  18  of the fastener device  10  ensures a high-quality centering and positioning of the second component  30  with respect to the first component  14  when the second component  30  is being assembled with the first component  14 . The noses providing security against rotation in the shoulder region around the piercing and riveting section  22  increase the rotational security of the joint between the fastener device and the two components. In addition, the joint in the region of the end  18  is also capable of accepting shear and pressure forces. Furthermore, a good seal is achieved for both the joint to the first component  14  made by a forming technique and for the joint to the second component  30  made by a forming technique, which can be made liquid-tight without any problem and ensures a gas-tight joint with exact tolerances. Moreover, in this case—as also with every other joint addressed in this application—a sealing adhesive can also be used if absolute gas-tightness is required. 
         [0070]    It is easy to understand that a dynamic tilting movement of the fastener device  10  with respect to the first component  14  can be excluded by the length of the fastener device  10  and of the other joints between the two components  14  and  30  so that the joint is capable of withstanding dynamic stresses without problem. The structure has a great strength so that it is particularly suitable for the attachment of other high stiffness components, for example the component  60 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment in accordance with the invention of the fastener device  10 , with the lower end  12  being made in accordance with the upper end  18  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 1 , i.e., in accordance with the RSF nut element of Profil. The upper end  18  of the one-piece fastener device  10  shown in  FIG. 8  is, however, made as a blind-rivet sleeve  70 . The fastener device  10  has a tightening mandrel  72  having a shaft part  74 , a head part  76  and a position of fracture  78 . The lower region of the shaft part  74  is provided with cross-knurling  80 . The point of this design is to generate features of shape which avoid slippage when a drawing tool is applied. These features of shape  80  can also have any other shape which serves the given purpose. 
         [0072]    It can be seen that the rivet sleeve  70  merges into a first shoulder  82  extending radially to the axial direction  31  of the fastener device  10 , with the transition taking place via a second annular shoulder  84  whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the blind-rivet sleeve  70 , but smaller than the outer diameter of the annular shoulder  82 . 
         [0073]    The fastener device  10  of  FIG. 8  is first inserted in a first sheet metal part  14 , with the design in the region of the lower end  12  of the fastener device  10  in  FIG. 9  corresponding to the design of the corresponding lower end  12  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0074]    The second component  30  is also pre-pierced here and, as shown on the left-hand side of  FIG. 9 , provided with a conical collar  90  which extends in a direction away from the first component  14 . The conical collar  90  bounds a hole  92  having a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the annular shoulder  84 , but smaller than the outer diameter of the annular shoulder  82 . 
         [0075]    When the mandrel  74  is tightened in the direction of arrow  94  (with a simultaneous pushing away of the component  14  in the opposite direction), the head part  76  of the mandrel deforms the blind-rivet sleeve  70  into an annular flange  96  and presses the conical annular collar  90  back flat again so that a design is created as shown at the top right in  FIG. 9 . As soon as this position is reached, the shaft part  74  of the mandrel  72  breaks at the position of fracture  78 . The lower end of the shaft part  74  shown in  FIG. 9  can then be removed. It can be seen, in particular from  FIG. 8 , that the lower side of the head  76  of the mandrel  72  has a rounded undercut  98  in the region of the transition to the shaft part  74 . When the rivet sleeve  70  is being deformed, material of the rivet sleeve is also displaced into this rounded undercut. This leads to the head part  76  of the mandrel being held in the fastener device  10  with the shaft part in a force-transmitting and/or form-locked manner above the fracture position and cannot be lost. If, for some reason, the head part of the mandrel should be removed, for example to attain access to a female thread in the upper region of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 9  (not shown in  FIG. 9 ), then this rounded undercut  98  can be omitted. 
         [0076]    It can be seen that the fracture position  78  is above the thread cylinder  28  in the  FIG. 9  embodiment so that the rest of the mandrel does not prevent the insertion of a screw into the thread cylinder  28  from below. 
         [0077]      FIG. 10  shows a modified version of the lower end  12  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 8 . The lower end is here made in correspondence with the lower end  12  of the fastener device  10  of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with  FIG. 10  showing the embodiment before the attachment of the first component  14  and  FIG. 11  the position after the attachment to the first component  14 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 12  shows a version similar to  FIG. 9 , but of a further modification of the fastener device  10 . In this case, the joint with the second component  30  is not made at the upper end of the fastener device  10 , but in a region  100  spaced from the first lower end, with the upper end  18 ′ of the fastener device  10  now protruding away from the side of the second component  30  remote from the first component  14  after the pulling up of the blind-rivet joint. This could, for example, be of advantage if the upper end  18 ′ were fitted with a further thread cylinder  102  so that another part could be screwed on here. For example, with the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , the one end of a shock absorber could be screwed to the component  14  while utilizing the thread cylinder  28 , while the thread cylinder  102  serves the fastening of a brake line. 
         [0079]      FIG. 13  shows a further embodiment in accordance with the invention of a fastener device  10  which has the already described features of shape of the SBF element in the region of its lower end  12 , but which is made hollow here with a thread cylinder  28 —as is also shown in the  FIG. 4  embodiment. 
         [0080]      FIG. 14  shows a possible attachment of the lower end  12  to a cup-like first component  14 . The upper end  18  of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 14  is then bonded to a second component  30 . The two components  14  and  30  are subsequently welded to one another at the positions  46  and  48 . A third component  60  is subsequently screwed to the component assembly comprising the components  14  and  30  by means of a bolt  64 , with the threaded part of the bolt  64  being screwed into the thread cylinder  28  of the fastener device  10 . The adhesive bonding to the second component  30  can optionally be omitted here. 
         [0081]      FIG. 15  shows an embodiment very similar to the embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 7 . Here, the fastener device  10  is made in three parts. It consists at its end  12  of an RND element  12 A from Profil, at its end  18  of an RSF or SBF element  18 A (realized in the case of the SBF element as a nut instead of a bolt element) and of a spacer tube  112  therebetween. The joint between the spacer tube  112  and the element  12 A at the lower end  12  and the element  18 A at the upper end  18  can be carried out, for example, by welding. The thread of the bolt  64  engages the thread cylinder in element  18 A at the end  18  of the fastener device  10 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 15  shows how fastener devices  10  of different lengths can be generated by utilizing spacer tubes of different lengths, with no spacer tube at all being used with the fastener device  10  in the bottommost embodiment. The joint between the two elements  12 A,  18 A and the spacer tube  112  can also be made otherwise. For example, the elements and the spacer tube could be fastened to one another by an adhesive bond. This is easily sufficiently secure in some cases since all joints are loaded in compression when the screw  64  is tightened. 
         [0083]    The embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 16  is similar to that of  FIG. 15 , except that here the spacer tube  112  is pressed (optionally adhered) into a cylindrical recess  116  of the element  12 A at the end  12  of the fastener device  10 , whereby a secure joint is ensured between the spacer tube  112  and the element. A corresponding joint would actually also be possible with the element at the end  18 . However, it may be better to omit an interengagement of the two parts here so that a more simple alignment of the two elements is possible when the screw is inserted. The joint between the element at the end  18  and the spacer tube  112  can, however, also be welded in the  FIG. 16  embodiment. 
         [0084]    In the bottommost embodiment of the fastener device in accordance with the invention of  FIG. 16 , the end of the element  18 A engages with the end  18  of the fastener device directly into the cylindrical recess  116  of the element  12 A at the end  12 . 
         [0085]    In  FIG. 17 , the fastener device is made in two parts, with the lower end of the fastener device  10  being formed by the end  12  of the spacer tube  112  and this being received in a cup-like recess  115  in the first component  14  and being capable of being pressed in, bonded or welded there. The joint between the spacer tube  112  and the element at the other end  18  of the fastener device  10  is carried out such as described in connection with  FIGS. 15 and 16 . In the bottommost embodiment of the fastener device  10  of  FIG. 17 , the spacer tube  112  is an integral component of the element  18 A which is connected by a forming technique to the component  30 . 
         [0086]    A three-part embodiment of the fastener device  10  is present in  FIG. 18 . Two identical fastener elements  12 A,  18 A are used here in the form of RND nut elements from Profil, with a spacer tube  112  being arranged therebetween to make the three-part fastener element  10 . In these embodiments, the elements  12 A,  18 A each have a cylindrical part  122  which is pressed into a respective end of the spacer tube. The joints between the individual elements  12 A,  18 A and the spacer tube  112  can be selected freely, i.e., for example, with a fit as a force fit, by an adhesive bonding, as a welded joint or as a pinched joint. 
         [0087]      FIG. 19  shows a similar embodiment to  FIG. 18 , except that here the spacer tube  112  is provided with cylindrical recesses  123  at its two ends so that it is made with a thicker wall at its middle between the two elements than in the embodiment of  FIG. 18 . The stability is increased even further in this way. 
         [0088]    The embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 20  is performed while utilizing shaped sheet metal parts  14  and  30  which each have cup-like recesses  115  corresponding to  FIG. 17 . A multi-part fastener device  10  is also utilized here. It comprises an element  18 A made as an RND element and connected in a form-locked manner to the second component  30 . The second part of the fastener device  10  consists of a spacer tube  112  having cylindrical annular flanges  117  at its two ends which sit in form-filled manner in the respective cup-like recesses  115 . The joints between the ends of the spacer tube  112  and the respective recesses can be made freely, for example as a fit, a force fit or by means of a bond or weld. 
         [0089]      FIG. 21  then shows an embodiment corresponding to the previous  FIG. 19 , with, however, the two elements being pressed into the respective ends of the spacer tube  112  and this having ribs or grooves  119  extending in an axial direction which serve for rotational security. A radial pinched joint can also be made between the elements and the spacer tube. 
         [0090]      FIG. 22  again shows an alternative, three-part embodiment of a fastener device, here while utilizing two circular elements  12 A,  18 A which each have a flange  130  having a first diameter and a cylindrical part  132  having a smaller diameter than the flange  130 . The cylindrical part  132 , which has a chamfer  134  at its end remote from the flange  130 , is inserted in the component  14  or  30  through a corresponding hole  136  or  138  respectively. The arrangement is made such that the two flanges  130  of the two elements are on opposite sides of the first and second components  14  and  30 , the ends  140  of the two elements face one another. The end  140  of the element  18 A is provided with a conical recess  141  which is intended as an insertion aid for the tip of a bolt. This type of insertion aid is particularly of importance when the inner diameter of the spacer tube  112  is much greater than the outer diameter of the bolt, as such a difference in diameter involves the risk of the bolt tilting which can be overcome by means of such an insertion aid, optionally with a corresponding design of the free end of the bolt, for example with a conical tip. Another possibility of overcoming this risk of tilting, which makes the insertion of the bolt more difficult or even impossible and could even lead to thread damage, is described below in connection with  FIGS. 25A  to D. Both the conical inserting aid and the corresponding centering sleeve in accordance with  FIGS. 25A  to D can be used in all other embodiments where there is a risk of tilting. 
         [0091]    A spacer tube  112  having a peripheral annular nose  142  at its two ends is located between the two components  14 ,  30 . The upper element has a thread cylinder  28 , the lower element a cylindrical bore  28 A whose diameter is somewhat greater than the outer diameter of the thread cylinder  28 . The arrangement is pressed together by pressure. During this pressure, the annular noses  142  displace material of the two components  14 ,  30  so that the displaced material is formed into respective annular grooves  144  of the elements  12 A,  18 A, whereby a form-locked joint is created between the two components  14  and  30  and the respective elements  12 A and  18 A. The chamfers  134  make the slipping in of the respective elements into the spacer tube  112  more simple. The cylindrical region  132  has a diameter which is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the spacer tube  112  so that a force fit is created here. 
         [0092]    When a third component  60  is attached to the first component  14 , a screw element  64  is inserted through the through bore  28 A of the first element  12 A and screwed together with the thread cylinder  28  of the second element  18 A. The screw connection provides additional security of the joint of the three elements to a fastener device  10 . 
         [0093]      FIG. 23  basically shows the same arrangement as  FIG. 22 , but it shows that the fastener element can here in inserted in bent regions of the respective sheet metal parts  14  or  30 . 
         [0094]      FIG. 24  shows a one-piece fastener device  10  similar to  FIG. 4 , with, however, the two ends of the fastener device being offset with respect to one another. Such an embodiment can sometimes be of help with special installations when particular space restrictions exist. It is also possible to equip the fastener device of  FIG. 24  with two thread cylinders  28 ,  102 , with, for example, the thread cylinder  28  at the lower end of the fastener device in  FIG. 24  serving the attachment of a third component  60 , while the thread cylinder  102  at the upper end of the fastener device can be used for the attachment of an additional part, for example, a brake line fastener. 
         [0095]    The drawings of  FIGS. 25A  to D, finally, show a possible method for the making of a joint in accordance with the invention. 
         [0096]      FIG. 25A  first shows a first sheet metal part  14  in a tool  149  having a centering mandrel  150 . The sheet metal part  14  has a recess U-shaped in cross-section in whose base region a first hollow element corresponding to the middle element  12 A of  FIG. 18  is fastened by a forming technique. The formation comprising the sheet metal part  14  with the elements  12 A is placed over the centering mandrel  150 . The two lateral, horizontal regions  14 A and  14 B are situated on respective welding electrodes  152  and  154  respectively. A loose centering sleeve  156 , which is made, for example, of plastic and which can optionally be slit to save weight, is located on the centering mandrel above the element  12 A. 
         [0097]      FIG. 25B  shows the formation of  FIG. 25A , with, however, the spacing tube  112  now being placed over the centering sleeve and being optionally capable of being pressed onto the cylindrical projection  158  of the element  12 A if a force fit is present. Alternatively thereto, for example, an adhesive bond or a joint having play could be present. The spacer tube  112  could, however, also be fastened to element  12 A by one of the methods given above before its attachment or be welded thereto or formed in a one-piece fashion therewith. 
         [0098]    A second sheet metal part  30  is located above the sheet metal part  14  and is provided with a nut element  18 A in accordance with  FIG. 18 , with the element  18 A already being riveted to the sheet metal part  30 . The assembly part consisting of the nut element  18 A and the sheet metal part  30  is now placed in a centered fashion over the sheet metal part  14  and the element  12 A with spacer tube  112  while utilizing the centering mandrel. The cylindrical projection  160  of the nut element  18 A is optionally pressed or bonded into the free end of the spacer tube or sunk therein with play. The two sheet metal parts are welded together by means of two further welding electrodes  162 ,  164 . 
         [0099]      FIG. 25  then shows the completed construction after removal from the tool  149  and after attachment of a component  60  by means of a bolt  64 . The centering sleeve  156  prevents the tilting of the bolt  64  during its insertion. Instead of first riveting the element  18 A to the sheet metal part  30 , the element  18 A could first be connected to the spacer tube and then riveted to the sheet metal part. The fastener device comprising the element  12 A, the spacer tube  112 , the centering sleeve  156  and the element  18 A could also be prefabricated as a unit, then riveted to the sheet metal part  18  or  30  and subsequently riveted to the respective other sheet metal part  30  or  18  either before or after its weld fastening to the sheet metal part  18  or  30 . 
         [0100]    The components are preferably sheet metal parts, but can also be extruded parts or be made of another material, for example, of plastic.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5