CA1141438A - Weld nut - Google Patents
Weld nutInfo
- Publication number
- CA1141438A CA1141438A CA000337057A CA337057A CA1141438A CA 1141438 A CA1141438 A CA 1141438A CA 000337057 A CA000337057 A CA 000337057A CA 337057 A CA337057 A CA 337057A CA 1141438 A CA1141438 A CA 1141438A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- projections
- mating surface
- weld nut
- plate
- nut
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Connection Of Plates (AREA)
Abstract
WELD NUT;
ABSTRACT
A weld nut for use in securing a fastener to a sheet of supporting material. The weld nut com-prises a triangular-shaped plate with truncated vertices.
The plate has a mating surface from which are raised first, second and third integral projections. Each of the integral projections has a frusto-conical body with a rounded top and is surrounded by an annular channel to contain the flow of the material forming the projection when the nut is welded to the supporting material. Each channel preferably intersects an adja-cent truncated end to permit the formation of an external fillet.
ABSTRACT
A weld nut for use in securing a fastener to a sheet of supporting material. The weld nut com-prises a triangular-shaped plate with truncated vertices.
The plate has a mating surface from which are raised first, second and third integral projections. Each of the integral projections has a frusto-conical body with a rounded top and is surrounded by an annular channel to contain the flow of the material forming the projection when the nut is welded to the supporting material. Each channel preferably intersects an adja-cent truncated end to permit the formation of an external fillet.
Description
4~
WELD NUT
TECHN~C~I FIELD
This invention relates to wela nuts which are secured to an apertured support.member by a welding .process t~ permit the support member to receive a complementary ~astener~
BACKGROUND ART
A weld nut is welded to sheet metal or similar type supporting material to permit the sheet metal to receive a complementar,y fastener, The sheet metal alone is ordinarily insufficient to support the fastener, and the weld nut.provides the required supporti~lg strength.
A typical weld nut is formed from a piece of flat metal stock and has a central tapped hole ~ormed therethrough ~or the receipt of.a threaded bolt. The surface of the weld nut which is to bear against the sheet,metal or supporting material includes a plurality of raised integral projections or~nibs. The nut can be secured to the supporting material by xesistance welding which causes the projections to ~low and'alloy with the supporting materi~l.
One concern in the use of weld nuts is that the weld be se¢ure. This requires a fusion of su~fi-cient material to maintain the weld throu~h all typesof normal use. Of particular concern is the pro~lem of the weld nut not sea~ing flush against the supporting material. Where a rectangular weld nut is usea with four pxo jections, i.e. one at each Yertex~ t~ere is th,e possihility that the nut will not seat flush with the supportin~ material if there is an~ discrepancy in the heiyht o~ the projections~ This c~n be'especially troublesome if resistance weIdin~ is used to join the 'nut to the supporting material and there is an air gap .' ' ' -~ ~1414~
P-302 - ~ -between ~ projectio~ ~nd the supporting material. Moxe-over, the misorientation of the nut m~y cause cross-threading with the bolt which it receives~
Another concern is that the fusion must not be so extensive that weld flash or splatter reaches into the tapped hole or aperture in the weId nut and interferes with the entr~ of the bolt~
In addition, the weld nut must be given to high volume manufacture at relatively low cost in order to be cost-effective with competing forms of fasteners, It is, therefore, an objective o~ -khe invention to provide a weld nut which will form a secure weld with a supporting material.
It is another objective of the invention to pro-vide a weld nut which is designed to be free of weld; flash or splatter in the aperture of the weld nut.
It is yet another objec:tive of the invention to provide a weld nut design which is relatively low cost to manufacture.
DISCLOSURE OF THE IN~IENTION
A weld nut in accordance with the present inven-tion includes a nut bod~ defined by a flat metal plate.
The 1at metal plate has the shape of an equilateral tri-angle with its vertices truncated by flat-tening or round-ing. A central opening is formed through the nut bod~ toreceive a complementary fastener. In a typical embodiment~
the central opening is a tapped hole.
One of the surfaces of the nut body is adapted to bear against the supporting material after welding and is termed a mating surface. A set o ~ixst, second and third integral projections or ~ibs are raised from the mating sur~acet The raised projections are spaced about the central opening in equila~eral relation with respect to one another. Each projection has a rusto-conical body with a rounded top. In -the preferred em~odiment, one ' :
.
43~ 1 P-302 - 3 ~
raised projection is formed near each truncated vertex - of the triangular shaped flat plate defining the n~t body.
Each of the raised projectîons is surrounded by - an annular channel. The annular channeI serves to accommodate metal flow when ~he projections are welded to the supporting material. In this regard the annular channels contain the flow a.nd pre~ent weld flash or splatter from reaching the central opening through the nut. In addition, the channels permit the mating surface of the weld nut to se~t against the supportin~ material without an air gap in between. B~ forming each channel ` to intersect with a flattened or rounded vertex it provides a path for material to flow outwardly and form an external fillet.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better under-stood by reference to the followi.ng detailed descri.ption when considered in connection with the accompan~ing drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a plan view o the matin~ surface of a weld nut embodying the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sect.ional view ta~en along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and which shows the weld nut ready to be welded to a sheet of suppor~in~ material; and . FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view o~
a portion of the we~d nut showing it welded to the sheet of supporting material.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING O~T THE INVENTION
- 30 A weld nut embodying the present invention is shown generally at 10 in the drawinys. With combined reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, tlle weld nut 10 comprises a body 1~ formed of a flat triangular steel plate of sufficient thickness to support a threaded bolt or similar ~ . , . .
3~
P-302 ~ 4 ~
type fastener. The triangular shape of the body 12 is preferably modeled a~ter an equilateral triangle, i.e. each side is of equal len~th. A modification . from the triangular shape occurs at the vertices which are trunca~ed to ~orm ends 14; in this context the term "truncated" is meant to include both rounded and flattened. In the pre~erred em~odiment, ~he width W
between the points 22a and b, which represent the transi-tion points between the triangular shape of the plate 12 and the truncated end 14, is no less than the thickness D of the plate; i,e. the ratio W:D is > 1.
. A central opening 16 is ~ormed through the nut body 12. The central opening 16 is typicall~ tapped to receive a threaded bolt, It has chamers 18 and 20 ~ormed at its opposite ends to fac.ilitate engagement of he nut 10 with a threaded bolt.:
E.ither side of the weld nut 10 can ha~e a local extrusion (not shown) formed about the periphery of the central opening 16. The extrusion can be used as a pilot if formed on the same side as the projections. The wall thickness of the extrusion will be less than or .
equal to the thickness D of the plate 12 depending on specific requirements;
The surface of the weld nut 10 which is to be : 25 mated with a sheet of supporting material r e . g. as indi-cated by the phantom lines 40 in FIGU~E 2, is termed .
a mating surace 24 and is substantially planar. The mating surface 24 has formed in i~ a set of first, .
second and third integral raised projections ox nibs 26, .
28, and 30, respectively. The projections 26, 28 and 30 are spaced about the central opening 16 in equilateral relation to one another. More particularly, each of the projections 26, 28 and 30 is formed in proximity to a flattened end 14, and includes a generally frusto~conical body 32 which terminate~ in a rounded top 34, The , , 143~
P-30~ - 5 -rounded top 34 provides good contact resistance with the supporting material 40 for resistance welding, yet is not so pointed as to puncture t~e ~upporting material ~hen pressure ~s applied to join the nut-to the material in the welding process. Accordingly, the rounded top 34 requires a relatively small amount of in~tial current to begin the melting process and the frusto~conical body 32 continues t~is e~f~cient mel~ process~ The energy efficiency is greater as compared with other shapes of projections or nibs.
It is preferred that for each projection, the smaller, outer end of the rusto~conical portion, where it joins to the rounded portion 34, have a diameter approximately one-half the diameter of the larger, inner end of the frusto-conical portion. Additionally, it is preferred thàt the angle of taper of the ~rusto-conical portion be from 60-90, such angle being 70 in the pre-ferred embodiment shown~
An annular channel is -Eormed in the mating surface 24 in surrounding relation to each of the pro-jections 26, 28 and 30. The annular channel i5 defined by a lower waIl 36 and a flared side wall 38. Each of ` the channels preferably intersects an adjacent truncated end 14 to provide a path for material to flow outwardly and form an external fillet. However, if no fillet is -; desired, the channel can be formed to completely sur~
round t~e projection.
A blind hole 42 is formed in the surface of the nut body 12 opposite the bearing surface 24. The blind hole 42 results from stamping the body 12 to form the raised projections 26, 28 and 30 and annular chan-nels in the ~earing surface. As a consequence, a blind hole such as 42 complements each of the projections 26, 28 and 30.
With reference to FIGURE 3, the manner in which the weld nut 10 is secured to the supporting .
... .
~ , , : . . .
material 40 is next described. By resistan~e welding the weld nut 10 to the supporting material 40, the projections are caused to flow and alloy with the sup-porting material to form a weld. The extruded material 44 forming the projections flows radially outward and fills the annular channel surroundin~ the original projection. An external fillet 46 is formed adjacent the point where the flattened end 14 and annular channel intersect. The extruded material 44 is contained at the diametrically opposed side of the channel to prevent ~eld flash or splatter from reaching the central open-ing 16.
As a result, the weld nut 10 is secured to the supporting material 40 by at least three welds sym-metrically spaced around the central opening. The nut10 is seated against the supporting material 40 such that the mating surface 24 is flush therewith without an intervening air gap.
The invention has been described in an i~lus-trative manner, and it is to ~e understood that theterminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of word description rather than limitation.
- Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, ~o be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be ~racticed otherwise than as specifically described.
WELD NUT
TECHN~C~I FIELD
This invention relates to wela nuts which are secured to an apertured support.member by a welding .process t~ permit the support member to receive a complementary ~astener~
BACKGROUND ART
A weld nut is welded to sheet metal or similar type supporting material to permit the sheet metal to receive a complementar,y fastener, The sheet metal alone is ordinarily insufficient to support the fastener, and the weld nut.provides the required supporti~lg strength.
A typical weld nut is formed from a piece of flat metal stock and has a central tapped hole ~ormed therethrough ~or the receipt of.a threaded bolt. The surface of the weld nut which is to bear against the sheet,metal or supporting material includes a plurality of raised integral projections or~nibs. The nut can be secured to the supporting material by xesistance welding which causes the projections to ~low and'alloy with the supporting materi~l.
One concern in the use of weld nuts is that the weld be se¢ure. This requires a fusion of su~fi-cient material to maintain the weld throu~h all typesof normal use. Of particular concern is the pro~lem of the weld nut not sea~ing flush against the supporting material. Where a rectangular weld nut is usea with four pxo jections, i.e. one at each Yertex~ t~ere is th,e possihility that the nut will not seat flush with the supportin~ material if there is an~ discrepancy in the heiyht o~ the projections~ This c~n be'especially troublesome if resistance weIdin~ is used to join the 'nut to the supporting material and there is an air gap .' ' ' -~ ~1414~
P-302 - ~ -between ~ projectio~ ~nd the supporting material. Moxe-over, the misorientation of the nut m~y cause cross-threading with the bolt which it receives~
Another concern is that the fusion must not be so extensive that weld flash or splatter reaches into the tapped hole or aperture in the weId nut and interferes with the entr~ of the bolt~
In addition, the weld nut must be given to high volume manufacture at relatively low cost in order to be cost-effective with competing forms of fasteners, It is, therefore, an objective o~ -khe invention to provide a weld nut which will form a secure weld with a supporting material.
It is another objective of the invention to pro-vide a weld nut which is designed to be free of weld; flash or splatter in the aperture of the weld nut.
It is yet another objec:tive of the invention to provide a weld nut design which is relatively low cost to manufacture.
DISCLOSURE OF THE IN~IENTION
A weld nut in accordance with the present inven-tion includes a nut bod~ defined by a flat metal plate.
The 1at metal plate has the shape of an equilateral tri-angle with its vertices truncated by flat-tening or round-ing. A central opening is formed through the nut bod~ toreceive a complementary fastener. In a typical embodiment~
the central opening is a tapped hole.
One of the surfaces of the nut body is adapted to bear against the supporting material after welding and is termed a mating surface. A set o ~ixst, second and third integral projections or ~ibs are raised from the mating sur~acet The raised projections are spaced about the central opening in equila~eral relation with respect to one another. Each projection has a rusto-conical body with a rounded top. In -the preferred em~odiment, one ' :
.
43~ 1 P-302 - 3 ~
raised projection is formed near each truncated vertex - of the triangular shaped flat plate defining the n~t body.
Each of the raised projectîons is surrounded by - an annular channel. The annular channeI serves to accommodate metal flow when ~he projections are welded to the supporting material. In this regard the annular channels contain the flow a.nd pre~ent weld flash or splatter from reaching the central opening through the nut. In addition, the channels permit the mating surface of the weld nut to se~t against the supportin~ material without an air gap in between. B~ forming each channel ` to intersect with a flattened or rounded vertex it provides a path for material to flow outwardly and form an external fillet.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better under-stood by reference to the followi.ng detailed descri.ption when considered in connection with the accompan~ing drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a plan view o the matin~ surface of a weld nut embodying the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sect.ional view ta~en along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and which shows the weld nut ready to be welded to a sheet of suppor~in~ material; and . FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view o~
a portion of the we~d nut showing it welded to the sheet of supporting material.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING O~T THE INVENTION
- 30 A weld nut embodying the present invention is shown generally at 10 in the drawinys. With combined reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, tlle weld nut 10 comprises a body 1~ formed of a flat triangular steel plate of sufficient thickness to support a threaded bolt or similar ~ . , . .
3~
P-302 ~ 4 ~
type fastener. The triangular shape of the body 12 is preferably modeled a~ter an equilateral triangle, i.e. each side is of equal len~th. A modification . from the triangular shape occurs at the vertices which are trunca~ed to ~orm ends 14; in this context the term "truncated" is meant to include both rounded and flattened. In the pre~erred em~odiment, ~he width W
between the points 22a and b, which represent the transi-tion points between the triangular shape of the plate 12 and the truncated end 14, is no less than the thickness D of the plate; i,e. the ratio W:D is > 1.
. A central opening 16 is ~ormed through the nut body 12. The central opening 16 is typicall~ tapped to receive a threaded bolt, It has chamers 18 and 20 ~ormed at its opposite ends to fac.ilitate engagement of he nut 10 with a threaded bolt.:
E.ither side of the weld nut 10 can ha~e a local extrusion (not shown) formed about the periphery of the central opening 16. The extrusion can be used as a pilot if formed on the same side as the projections. The wall thickness of the extrusion will be less than or .
equal to the thickness D of the plate 12 depending on specific requirements;
The surface of the weld nut 10 which is to be : 25 mated with a sheet of supporting material r e . g. as indi-cated by the phantom lines 40 in FIGU~E 2, is termed .
a mating surace 24 and is substantially planar. The mating surface 24 has formed in i~ a set of first, .
second and third integral raised projections ox nibs 26, .
28, and 30, respectively. The projections 26, 28 and 30 are spaced about the central opening 16 in equilateral relation to one another. More particularly, each of the projections 26, 28 and 30 is formed in proximity to a flattened end 14, and includes a generally frusto~conical body 32 which terminate~ in a rounded top 34, The , , 143~
P-30~ - 5 -rounded top 34 provides good contact resistance with the supporting material 40 for resistance welding, yet is not so pointed as to puncture t~e ~upporting material ~hen pressure ~s applied to join the nut-to the material in the welding process. Accordingly, the rounded top 34 requires a relatively small amount of in~tial current to begin the melting process and the frusto~conical body 32 continues t~is e~f~cient mel~ process~ The energy efficiency is greater as compared with other shapes of projections or nibs.
It is preferred that for each projection, the smaller, outer end of the rusto~conical portion, where it joins to the rounded portion 34, have a diameter approximately one-half the diameter of the larger, inner end of the frusto-conical portion. Additionally, it is preferred thàt the angle of taper of the ~rusto-conical portion be from 60-90, such angle being 70 in the pre-ferred embodiment shown~
An annular channel is -Eormed in the mating surface 24 in surrounding relation to each of the pro-jections 26, 28 and 30. The annular channel i5 defined by a lower waIl 36 and a flared side wall 38. Each of ` the channels preferably intersects an adjacent truncated end 14 to provide a path for material to flow outwardly and form an external fillet. However, if no fillet is -; desired, the channel can be formed to completely sur~
round t~e projection.
A blind hole 42 is formed in the surface of the nut body 12 opposite the bearing surface 24. The blind hole 42 results from stamping the body 12 to form the raised projections 26, 28 and 30 and annular chan-nels in the ~earing surface. As a consequence, a blind hole such as 42 complements each of the projections 26, 28 and 30.
With reference to FIGURE 3, the manner in which the weld nut 10 is secured to the supporting .
... .
~ , , : . . .
material 40 is next described. By resistan~e welding the weld nut 10 to the supporting material 40, the projections are caused to flow and alloy with the sup-porting material to form a weld. The extruded material 44 forming the projections flows radially outward and fills the annular channel surroundin~ the original projection. An external fillet 46 is formed adjacent the point where the flattened end 14 and annular channel intersect. The extruded material 44 is contained at the diametrically opposed side of the channel to prevent ~eld flash or splatter from reaching the central open-ing 16.
As a result, the weld nut 10 is secured to the supporting material 40 by at least three welds sym-metrically spaced around the central opening. The nut10 is seated against the supporting material 40 such that the mating surface 24 is flush therewith without an intervening air gap.
The invention has been described in an i~lus-trative manner, and it is to ~e understood that theterminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of word description rather than limitation.
- Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, ~o be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be ~racticed otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims (5)
1. A weld nut comprising a metal plate having a substantially planar mating surface and a central opening adapted to receive a complementary fastener and having a set of three projections formed integrally with the mating surface and spaced equi-laterally with respect to one another about the central opening, each of said projections being com-pletely surrounded by an annular channel in the mating surface which intersects with an edge of the plate to accommodate metal flow from the projection to said edge during welding, the portion of each of said projections extending above said mating surface having a frusto-conical shape with a rounded top,
2. A weld nut as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the frusto-conical portion of each of said projections has an angle of taper of from 60° to 90°.
3. A weld nut comprising a triangular-shaped metal plate with truncated vertices, said plate having a substantially planar mating surface and a central opening adapted to receive a comple-mentary fastener and having a set of three projec-tions formed integrally with the mating surface and spaced equilaterally with respect to one another about the central opening, each of said projections being completely surrounded by an annular channel in the mating surface which intersects with an edge of the plate to accommodate metal flow from the projection to said edge during welding, the portion of each of said projections extending above said mating surface having a frusto-conical shape with a rounded top.
4. A weld nut as set forth in Claim 3 wherein the width of each of the truncated vertices is not less than the thickness of the plate and wherein the frusto-conical portion of each of said projections has an angle of taper of from 60° to 90°.
5. A weld nut as set forth in Claim 3 wherein each channel intersects the edge of the plate on one of the truncated vertices thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US96402878A | 1978-11-27 | 1978-11-27 | |
| US964,028 | 1978-11-27 | ||
| US05/966,840 US4263831A (en) | 1978-12-06 | 1978-12-06 | Weld nut |
| US966,840 | 1978-12-06 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1141438A true CA1141438A (en) | 1983-02-15 |
Family
ID=27130459
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000337057A Expired CA1141438A (en) | 1978-11-27 | 1979-10-05 | Weld nut |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1141438A (en) |
-
1979
- 1979-10-05 CA CA000337057A patent/CA1141438A/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4263831A (en) | Weld nut | |
| US4557100A (en) | Unitary fastener insert for structural sandwich panels | |
| US7086817B2 (en) | Collapsible nut | |
| US8740534B2 (en) | Flanged hillside washer for improved load distribution | |
| US20040228700A1 (en) | Cage nut assembly having stand-offs | |
| US20030175092A1 (en) | Weld nut | |
| FR2621361A1 (en) | IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENING SYSTEMS INCLUDING NUTS CONTAINED IN CAGES | |
| US20040247214A1 (en) | Bearing assembly and method of manufacturing a bearing assembly | |
| CA1141438A (en) | Weld nut | |
| JPS63231009A (en) | Decorative cap wheel nut and manufacture thereof | |
| JPH0642519A (en) | Weld nut having sealing function | |
| US11486643B1 (en) | Refractory anchor(s), systems and methods of use | |
| EP0819858B1 (en) | Clinch nut with embedded head | |
| CA2524734C (en) | Cage nut assembly having stand-offs | |
| JP2003120640A (en) | Welding screw part | |
| GB2347187A (en) | Captive fastener | |
| JPH0239050Y2 (en) | ||
| JP2506959Y2 (en) | Attached nut | |
| US20230268798A1 (en) | Method for the production of a bush | |
| JPH045604Y2 (en) | ||
| JPH1082213A (en) | Supporting structure of membrane-end fixing section and fixing bolt used for the structure | |
| JPS6333008B2 (en) | ||
| JPH0415421Y2 (en) | ||
| JP2004205001A (en) | Mounting structure of pierce nut | |
| JP2520256Y2 (en) | Curing clamp |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |