Self-piercing female fastener, method of forming a sealed female fastner and panel assembly and panel assembly

摘要

Method of forming a sealed joint between a nut ( 20 ) having a cylindrical pilot ( 22 ), an annular flange portion ( 28 ) surrounding the pilot and an re-entrant groove ( 32 ) and a panel with a die having an annular lip ( 62 ) which deforms a panel portion into the groove ( 32 ) and simultaneously shaves an outer surface of the pilot onto the panel. The annular groove in the flange portion includes an arcuately inclined outer side wall ( 36 ) and an inner side wall ( 38 ) arcuately inclined toward the flange portion.