Claims
- 1. A method of removing a self-piercing rivet from a set position in a workpiece, wherein the self-piercing rivet has a first opening and a second opening formed in spaced portions of an outer surface thereof and a passage extending between and in communication with the first and second openings, the self-piercing rivet further formed with an attachable portion, which comprises the steps of:placing a pin adjacent the attachable portion of the self-piercing rivet; attaching the pin to the attachable portion of the self-piercing rivet; applying a force to the workpiece by an abutment supported on the workpiece, and retracting the pin and the attached self-piercing rivet from the workpiece counter to the applying of the force to the workpiece, whereby the self-piercing rivet is withdrawn from the workpiece.
- 2. A method of removing a self-piercing rivet from a set position in a workpiece, wherein the self-piercing rivet has a first opening and a second opening formed in spaced portions of an outer surface thereof and a passage extending within the self-piercing rivet between and in communication with the first and second openings, the self-piercing rivet further formed with an attachable portion, which comprises the steps of:placing a pin in engagement with the attachable portion of the self-piercing rivet to provide a contact area between the pin and the self-piercing rivet; heating the contact area between the pin and the self-piercing rivet to a fusion temperature; cooling the contact area; applying a force to the workpiece by an abutment supported on the workpiece, and retracting the pin and the attached self-piercing rivet from the workpiece counter to the applying of the force to the workpiece, whereby the self-piercing rivet is withdrawn from the workpiece.
- 3. The method as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises the steps of:supplying current through the pin; and producing fusion of the pin and the rivet by arc welding.
- 4. The method as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises the steps of:supplying current through the pin; and producing fusion of the pin and the rivet by resistance welding.
- 5. The method as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises the steps of:rotating the pin toward engagement with the rivet; and simultaneously applying pressure upon the rivet to produce friction welding of the pin with the rivet.
- 6. The method as set forth in claim 3, which further comprises the steps of:moving the pin away from the rivet; and moving the pin back towards the rivet.
- 7. A method of removing a self-piercing rivet from a set position in a workpiece, wherein the self-piercing rivet has a first opening and a second opening formed in spaced portions of an outer surface thereof and a passage extending between and in communication with the first and second openings, the self-piercing rivet further formed with an attachable portion located on a wall of the passage, which comprises the steps of:removing at least portions of the workpiece, previously located within the passage of the self-piercing rivet when the self-piercing rivet was assembled with the workpiece, to expose the attachable portion located on the wall of the passage of the self-piercing rivet; attaching a pin to the exposed attachable portion of the self-piercing rivet; applying a force to the workpiece by an abutment supported on the workpiece, and retracting the pin and the attached self-piercing rivet from the workpiece counter to the applying of the force to the workpiece, whereby the self-piercing rivet is withdrawn from the workpiece.
- 8. The method as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises the step of:removing the at least portions of the workpiece by punching.
- 9. The method as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises the step of:removing the at least portions of the workpiece by drilling.
- 10. A device for implementing the method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pin is a threaded mandrel, and which comprises:a drive device; a chuck for clamping the threaded mandrel with the drive device; means for advancing and rotating the chuck and the threaded mandrel toward the workpiece and the rivet; and an abutment surrounding the drive device.
- 11. The device as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises:a punch extending from a free end of the threaded mandrel.
- 12. The device as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises:a drill bit extending from a free end of the threaded mandrel.
- 13. The device as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises:a feed screw for driving the threaded mandrel; a sensor for measuring the advance of the feed screw; the sensor for stopping the rotation of the feed screw in accordance with an adjustable degree of feed; and the sensor for switching the device to a return stroke operation.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
197 26 104 |
Jun 1997 |
DE |
|
100 12 845 |
Mar 2000 |
DE |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/099,142, filed Jun. 18, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,890 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
197 01 780 |
Jul 1998 |
DE |
636343 |
Apr 1950 |
GB |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/099142 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/648296 |
|
US |