Apparatus and method for inserting a component through the surface of a workpiece

摘要

A rotary tool (11) for use with a rotary driving unit (12) for inserting a component (14,14′,14″) through a surface of a workpiece made of a material showing friction-induced plasticity such as aluminum, includes a tool body (22) having a working end (24) defining a shoulder portion (26) and a securing device (28,28′) for selectively engaging the component to impart rotation thereof in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion thereof by plasticizing the material through friction. The shoulder portion is provided with a deburring device (34) capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body (22) in the first rotation direction (30), to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction (30′), to provide deburring of the workpiece surface.

主权项

1. A rotary tool for use with a rotary driving unit for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material showing friction-induced plasticity to attach said component to the workpiece, said component having an insert portion extending along an insertion axis of said component, at least an outer surface of said insert portion being made of a second material harder than said first material, said tool comprising:
a tool body adapted to be operationally coupled to the rotary driving unit and having a working end defining a shoulder portion; and a securing device provided on the tool body for selectively engaging the component to impart rotation thereof upon operation of the rotary driving unit in a first direction while applying an axial force of a sufficient magnitude onto the component to produce insertion of the insert portion along said axis by plasticizing the first material through friction at least until said shoulder portion is contacting said workpiece surface while maintaining said axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce said attachment; wherein said shoulder portion is provided with a deburring device capable of being displaced from an inoperative position upon rotation of the tool body in said first rotation direction, to an operative position whenever the tool body is caused to rotate in an opposite direction by the rotary driving unit following disengagement of the securing device with said component, to provide deburring of said workpiece surface in contact with said shoulder portion following said attachment.