US 12,420,952 B2
Method for fastening a part to another part using electrically deformable rivets
Matthias Hegenbart, Hamburg (DE); Hermann Benthien, Hamburg (DE); and Peter Linde, Hamburg (DE)
Assigned to Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
Filed by Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/342,253.
Claims priority of application No. 22181933 (EP), filed on Jun. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0002071 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. F16B 5/04 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/60 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); F16B 5/06 (2006.01); F16B 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 5/10 (2017.01) [B29C 65/605 (2013.01); B29C 66/1122 (2013.01); B29C 66/30321 (2013.01); B29C 66/721 (2013.01); B29C 66/723 (2013.01); F16B 5/04 (2013.01); F16B 5/0642 (2013.01); F16B 21/00 (2013.01); B29C 66/0246 (2013.01); F16B 2200/77 (2023.08)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fastening a first fiber composite part to a second fiber composite part each fiber composite part including a matrix material and fibers embedded therein, the method comprising:
a) forming an opening, that has an inner circumferential surface, in the first and second fiber composite parts;
b) removing matrix material from the inner circumferential surface so as to expose fibers;
c) activating a fastener, that includes electroactive polymer material, so as to reduce a diameter of the fastener and inserting the activated fastener into the opening;
d) deactivating the fastener inside the opening so that the diameter of the fastener increases and an outer circumferential surface of the deactivated fastener engages the exposed fibers.