Improvements relating to Riveting by the Aid of Electricity.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1890-Accepted, 20th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements relating to Riveting by the Aid of Electricity.
I, MARK WESLEY DEWEY, of 150 North Salina Street in the City of Syracuse, in
the County of Onondaga, and State of New York, United States of America, Elec-
trician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to electric riveting, and is a method or process consisting
essentially in interposing insulating material between the pieces or plates to be riveted
together, then inserting the rivet into the rivet-hole or holes and then passing a
heating electric current through and between the plates and rivet.
The object of my invention is to confine the current, in its passage between the
metal blocks or riveting tools forming the terminals of an electric circuit, to the rivet
and metal body through which it passes, or, in other words, to direct or guide the.
current in a certain path through the work that will tend to produce more effective
and economical results than heretofore.
In the usual methods of electric riveting heretofore employed, the metal pieces or
plates to be riveted together were laid one upon the other without insulating material
between them, and then punched or drilled and the metallic rivet inserted in the, rivet.
hole or holes. The metal blocks or terminals of an electric circuit were then brought
into contact with the ends of the rivet and the current allowed to pass through said
rivet and plates until the ends of the rivet were sufficiently softened, when it was set
by pressure applied to its ends to form heads. The rivet was in direct contact with the
electric terminals and also with the plates through which it extended and the current
in its passage between the terminals naturally expanded and divided when it reached:
the plates except at the projecting ends of the rivet in contact with the terminals. The
ends alone of the rivet, therefore, were sufficiently heated and the portion of the rivet
shank within the holes in the plates remained comparatively cool as it received but a
small part of the current and did not become properly welded or united to the walls of
the rivet-hole; consequently, it was very necessary to form heads on the ends of the
rivets by pressure in order. to secure the plates together. It will be seen that a large
part of the current was wasted by this method, especially when it was desired to unite
the sides of the rivet to the metal body through which it passed as the current had to
pass through the work a long time.
It is essential that the riveting operation be done as quickly as possible, otherwise,
as the plates have usually a great radiating surface, and good conductivity, the heat
will be rapidly dissipated and wasted.
It will be apparent from the above that heretofore an electric riveting operation
depended largely upon the resistance derived by the ends of the rivet, as the
portion within the hole, with the metal body surrounding and in contact with it,
formed a path for the current of very low resistance, which became heated, if
heated at all, only by the conduction of heat from the highly heated ends of the
rivet.
By my improved method I confine the current passing between the metal blocks,
forming the terminals of the circuit to a path of high resistance, so that the rivet
shank within the hole and the walls of the hole are both raised to a welding
temperature and completely united. The expansion of the rivet-shank and the metal
body surrounding it, produced by the heat of the current is alone sufficient to
effect the union of the parts without pressure of any kind, nevertheless, if desired,
suitable pressure may be applied also, as when a heading operation is required.
A heading operation is not necessary with my process, as the rivet is firmly welded

page_text: to the metal body or plates throughout its length and they become one piece, thus
saving all heading and countersinking.
It has been proposed, in order to confine the current to the rivet, to cover the rivet-
shank with insulating material, but this entirely prevents the union of the rivet with
the metal body, and the plates are held together only by the rivet-head, which is
objectionable.
In practising my improved process, I first coat the surface of one of the plates in
any suitable manner at all points where it will lap on or come in contact with the
other plate when in position to be riveted with suitable insulating material such as
a mineral paint, lead, or an oxide or an enamel, then the rivet R is inserted in the
holes therein, and the teriminals of the electric circuit are brought in contact with
the bare sides of the plates, preferably at points near and surrounding the ends of
the rivet, which latter are insulated from said terminals in any desired manner.
By this arrangement the current is passed from one of the terminals or metal-
blocks, holding or pressing the plates together, into one of the plates in the vicinity
of the rivet, from the said plate to and through the rivet to the other plate and
then from the latter plate, in the vicinity of said rivet to the other terminal or
metal-block.
The method may be practised by means of apparatus varied in form and construction
and different from that shown in the drawings although this is suitable for carrying
out my method.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents one form of apparatus for
riveting by my method and Fig. 2 is another form to be employed when pressure is
applied to the ends of the rivet. Figure 3 is a sectional view of the plates and rivet
after the operation has been effected, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the plates after the
insulating material has been applied and the holes drilled, but before the plates are.
placed together and the rivet inserted in position, and Figure 5 is a section of a rivet
having insulating material on its ends.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
"Referring now more specifically to the drawings, A and A¹ indicate two metal plates
to be secured together by means of a rivet R placed in a hole or holes passing through
lapped portions of the plates having insulating material I between them, and B and 13¹
indicate two metal blocks or terminals of a suitable electric circuit and of sufficient size
to conduct a current of large volume without becoming greatly heated thereby.
The beating current employed may be derived from any suitable source, or may be
the same as that described in my prior United States Patent No. 402,416 dated
April 30th, 1889. The current is conveyed by means of cables of good conductivity C
and C to the blocks D and D which are insulated one from the other as shown at E
to prevent the current short-circuiting around the work. The metal block D is in the
shape of a plunger supported by the end of the upper arm of the frame Gand may be
raised and lowered upon the work as desired by means of the screw H. The block Di
is stationary, forms an anvil, is connected with the cable C1 and is fixed to but insulated
from the end of the lower arm of the frame G. The conducting faces' of the blocks D
and 'D' are parallel to and opposite each other, and D is movable toward and from
block 'D'. After the plates are placed together in position and the rivet inserted, the
latter is placed between the 'blocks, and the upper block D is forced down by means of
the screw Hupon said plates to hold or press them together and at the same time make
good electrical connection with the same. The upper block D is hollowed out on its
conducting surface so that it does not come in contact with its end of the rivet, and the
lower block is also hollowed out in a similar manner, but for convenience the hollow in
this block is nearly or entirely filled with some refractory insulating material i. In
Figure 2 the upper block is also shown filled with the same material. When the said
blocks are in position the current is allowed to flow, and on account of the insulation
between the plates and the insulation on the ends of the rivet, the current is passed
through the plates and rivet blank as before described, effecting thorough union of
the sides of the rivet to the plates or metal body surrounding it,.as shown clearly in
Figure 3.
a

page_text: When it is desired to upset or head the rivet slightly, a plunger J may be provided
to work in the block D' as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, by means of a pivoted
lever K coupled at one end to said plunger by a link L. By depressing the handle
of the lever K the plunger J is lifted and pressure is applied to the end of the rivet
to upset, or head the rivet or to perfect the union of the parts.
The lapping surfaces of both plates may be coated with the insulating material I,
but if one of them is coated as indicated in Fig. 4, it will be sufficient for the
purpose of my invention.
It will be obvious that an ordinary electric riveting apparatus may be employed
and the current passed through the rivet and plates, if desired, and with good results
when the insulating material is interpos d between the plates. Instead of using a
rivet with bare ends and placing insulating material i in the blocks, when it is
desired to make contact with the ends of said rivet during the operation, the ends
of the rivet itself may be coated or covered with suitable insulating paint or enamel.
as shown in Fig. 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The herein-described method or process of electric riveting consisting in inter-
posing insulating material between the pieces or plates to be riveted together, then
inserting the rivet into the rivet hole or holes, and then passing a heating electric
current through the rivet and plates to unite the sides of the rivet to the metal body
through which it passes.
2. The herein described method or process of electric riveting, consisting in inter-
posing insulating material between the pieces or plates to be riveted together, then
inserting the rivet into the rivet hole or holes, then passing a heating electric current
into one of the plates in the vicinity of the rivet, from the said plate to and through
the rivet to the other plate and then from the latter plate in the vicinity of said
rivet, to unite the sides of the same to the metal body through which it passes.
3. The herein described method of electric riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the plates, pressing the same together, and heating the
rivet inserted through the plates by a heavy electric current flowing through the
rivet and plates to unite the sides of the rivet to the metal body through which
it passes.
4. The herein described method of electric riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the plates, pressing the same together, and heating the
rivet inserted through the plates by a heavy electric current flowing through the
rivet and plates, to unite the sides of the rivet to the metal body through which it
passes, and then applying pressure to perfect the union as desired.
5. The herein described method of electric riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the plates, pressing the same together, heating the rivet
inserted through the plates by a heavy electric current flowing through the rivet and
plates to unite the sides of the rivet to the meta! body through which it passes, and
then applying end-pressure to the rivet to perfect the union of said parts.
6. The herein described method or process of riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the plates, and heating the rivet and plates electrically
while in position, to weld or unite the sides of the rivet to the metal body'through
which it passes.
7. The herein described method or process of riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the pieces or plates to be riveted together, then inserting
the rivet into the rivet hole or holes, insulating the ends of the rivet, then passing
a heating electric current into one of the plates in the vicinity of the rivet, from the
said plate to and through the rivet to the other plate, and then from the latter plate
in the vicinity of said rivet, to unite the sides of the same to the metal body through
which it passes.
8. The herein described method or process of riveting, consisting in interposing

page_text: insulating material between pieces or plates to be riveted together, then inserting
the rivet into the rivet hole or holes, holding the plates together by applying metal
blocks on each side, insulating the ends of the rivet from the blocks, then passing.
a heating electric current into one of the plates in the vicinity of the rivet, from the
said plate to and through the rivet to the other plate, and then from the latter plate
in the vicinity of said rivet, to unite the sides of the same to the metal body through
which it passes.
9. The herein described method or process of riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the pieces or plates to be riveted together, then inserting the
rivet into the rivet hole or holes, holding the plates together by applying metal blocks
on each side, insulating the ends of the rivet from the blocks, then passing a heating
electric current into one of the plates in the vicinity of the rivet, from the said plate
to and through the rivet to the other plate, and then from the latter plate in the
vicinity of said rivet, to unite the sides of the same to the metal body through which
it passes and then applying pressure to perfect the union as desired.
10. The herein described method or process of riveting, consisting in interposing
insulating material between the pieces or plates to be riveted together, then inserting
the rivet into the rivet hole or holes, and then passing a heating electric current
through and between the plates and rivet, to unite the sides of the same to the metal
body through which it passes.
T
1000
MARK WESLEY DEWEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.