US 11,684,992 B2
Resistance spot rivet welding systems and methods of use thereof
Daniel Peter Vanderzwet, Omemee (CA); Simon Maurice Britton, Windsor (CA); Larry Frank Koscielski, LaSalle (CA); Eric Jean Michaud, Amherstburg (CA); David Mario Simone, Amherstburg (CA); Stuart Cameron Cosgrave, LaSalle (CA); Kyle Alexander Wasyliniuk, Essex (CA); Donald J. Spinella, Greensburg, PA (US); Gino N. Iasella, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Daniel Bergstrom, Sarver, PA (US); Robert B. Wilcox, McGregor, TX (US); Thomas R. Kingsbury, Waco, TX (US); and Graham Scott Musgrove, Waco, TX (US)
Assigned to HOWMET AEROSPACE INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US); and CENTERLINE (WINDSOR) LIMITED, Windsor (CA)
Appl. No. 16/768,157
Filed by ARCONIC INC., Pittsburgh, PA (US); and CENTERLINE (WINDSOR) LIMITED, Windsor (CA)
PCT Filed Dec. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/065329
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 29, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/118659, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 20, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/598,715, filed on Dec. 14, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0361020 A1, Nov. 19, 2020
Int. Cl. B23K 9/20 (2006.01); B23K 9/28 (2006.01); B23K 11/00 (2006.01); B23K 11/25 (2006.01); B23K 11/30 (2006.01); B23K 11/31 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/20 (2013.01) [B23K 9/28 (2013.01); B23K 11/0053 (2013.01); B23K 11/0066 (2013.01); B23K 11/25 (2013.01); B23K 11/3009 (2013.01); B23K 11/314 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A resistance spot rivet welding system comprising:
(i) a rivet dispensing system comprising:
a first rivet receiving member defining a first channel therein, the first rivet receiving member comprising
an inlet communicating with the first channel and configured to receive rivets,
an outlet communicating with the first channel and configured to dispense rivets,
wherein the first channel extends between the inlet and the outlet and is configured to transport rivets from the inlet to the outlet;
a seat member communicating with the outlet and configured to selectively engage with a rivet holder of a resistance spot rivet welding apparatus and introduce a single rivet to the rivet holder at one time, wherein the seat member comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a block structure to receive a rivet from the second port and maintain the rivet in a preselected position and orientation; and
an actuation member configured to move a rivet located within the seat member to a secondary position located above the seat member; and
(ii) the rivet holder comprising a collet assembly, the collet assembly comprising an actuator and a collet connected to the actuator, the collet assembly being adapted to be installed on an external electrode holder, the collet being moveable by the actuator from an advanced position, in which the collet is adapted to grip a rivet, and a retracted position, in which at least a portion of the collet is retracted into the actuator to enable an electrode attached to the electrode holder to engage the rivet.