US 12,128,473 B2
Apparatus and method for securing a clinch nut to a sheet of advanced high strength steel
Mark A. Savoy, Warren, MI (US); and Phillip J. I. Morgan, Royal Oak, MI (US)
Assigned to Utica Enterprises, Inc., Troy, MI (US)
Filed by UTICA ENTERPRISES, INC., Troy, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 2, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/910,599.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/466,489, filed on Mar. 3, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2018/0250734 A1, Sep. 6, 2018
Int. Cl. B21J 15/08 (2006.01); B21D 39/03 (2006.01); B21J 15/28 (2006.01); B23K 26/08 (2014.01); B23P 19/06 (2006.01); F16B 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC B21J 15/08 (2013.01) [B21D 39/031 (2013.01); B21J 15/28 (2013.01); B23K 26/0853 (2013.01); B23P 19/064 (2013.01); F16B 37/068 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for securing a clinch nut to a sheet of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) comprising:
the clinch nut;
the sheet of AHSS;
a joining assembly adjacent to where the AHSS sheet is positioned;
the joining assembly including a base and a clinch die;
a heat assembly to provide heating of a work location of the AHSS sheet to make the work location more ductile to permit piercing and interlocking of the work location of the AHSS sheet;
a nut ram to which the clinch nut and a plurality of clinch nuts, each of which has a threaded hole, are fed, to pierce a hole through the heated work location of the AHSS sheet and attach the clinch nut to the AHSS sheet with a clinch interlock at the heated work location of the AHSS sheet whereby the heated work location of the AHSS sheet flows into an undercut of the clinch nut, so a threaded fastener can be connected to the AHSS sheet; and
a controller configured to operate the joining assembly and the nut ram.