AU2000266742A1

AU2000266742A1 - Two sided piloted weld nut

Info

Publication number: AU2000266742A1
Application number: AU2000266742A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lee Clarke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-26
Filing date: 2000-08-15
Publication date: 2001-12-03
Also published as: EP1285174A1; CA2309851A1; WO2001090588A1; CN1454295A; MXPA02012610A

Description

Two sided pi lo ted weld nut

1. "This invention relates to piloted weld nuts or the like, intended to "positioned on a metal plate or sheet and welded to enable a member to be fastened."

2. "It is common for all piloted weld nuts to have one flat surface that contacts with an electrode and the opposing side to have projections and the pilot that will located and weld to a metal sheet. When the electrode contacts the flat surface an electric current is sent through the nut to the point of greatest resistance, the opposing end which is contacting the metal sheet. With the pilot located in the hole in the sheet, the weld projections contacting the surface will bind to the metal. This will fasten the nut to the sheet. This type of nut can be inefficient when it comes to fast production welding. Often nuts will be welded upside down. Binding only until the part cools. This is a common problem in the Automotive industry, usually caused from operator error or nut feeders that fail to detect this. Also the large flat surface of the nut that contacts with the electrode can create expulsion and loss of heat."

3. "I have found these disadvantages can be overcome by duplicating the pilot and weld projections on both sides of the nut With the pilot member being of greater distance from the body than the weld projections the electrode will now make contact with the pilot The smaller surface area of the pilot creates a more concentrated current flow and the weld projections on the opposing end will bind to the metal sheet. Usually with a deeper weld penetration than an ordinary weld nut. The advantage of the two sided weld nut is the fact that it will eliminate the root cause of upside nuts being welded, lowering the cost of rejected material. With the two sided piloted weld nut you can increase production. Operators will not have to be cautious of which way they are placing the nut. You can also automate by use of a nut feeder with relative ease."

4. In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical square weld nut with pilots and projections extending both top and bottom of nut. Figure 2 is a top view of this embodiment. Figures 3 and 4 are side views of this embodiment. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a typical hex shaped weld nut with pilot and weld projections on both top and bottom. Figure 6 is the top view of this embodiment. Figure 7 is the side view of this embodiment. Figure 8 shows the weld nut example in Figure 5, 6, 7 application and process as a sectional drawing including the electrode 4, base 5 and the metal sheet 3 that the nut is welded to.

The weld nuts shown compromises of two pilots 1 top and bottom of nut. One end the pilot 1 will locate in a hole in the metal sheet 3, the opposing end the pilot I will contact with the electrode 4. When an electric current is sent through the electrode 4 and through the weld nut the resistance between the weld projections 2 and the metal sheet 3 create the weld. " The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows."

1. A weld nut or the like including all shapes and projection patterns having a metal body with said projections extending outwardly from two faces. Having pilot members also extending outwardly on both faces, being of greater distance from the body than the said projections.

2. A weld nut or the like as stated in claim 1, having pilot portions with a flat surface of enough area to make contact with an electrode ensuring a good current flow. Two surfaces of the pilots to be parallel and concentric of the same width, diameter and height on both sides of the nut. Weld ^'> projections are to be mirrored and duplicated on both sides of the nut in pattern, width, length and height.

3. A weld nut or the like as stated in claim 1 and 2 in which the body, pilot and projections are made from the same metallic material.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 20 February 2000 (20.02.01); new claims 4-6 added; remaining claims unchanged (1 page)]" The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows."

2. A weld nut or the like as stated in claim 1, having pilot portions with a flat surface of enough area to make contact with an electrode ensuring a good current flow. Two surfaces of the pilots to be parallel and concentric of the same width, diameter and height on both sides of the nut. Weld projections are to be mirrored and duplicated on both sides of the nut in pattern, width, length and height.

4. A weld nut or the like as stated in claims 1 and 3 in which the projections on one face are staggered in relation to the projections on the other face. The pilots as stated in claims 1,2 and 3.

5. A weld nut or the like as stated in claims 1,2,3 and 4 wherein having a centrally tapped hole.

6. A weld nut or the like as stated in claims 1,2,3,4 and wherein having a centrally untapped plain hole.