Bi-direction self-piercing riveting

摘要

A sheet metal assembly includes first and second metal sheets having flanges extending from the sheets. The flanges overlap and are in engaged parallel facing relation for a width between outer edges and flanges. At least one pair of self-piercing rivets joins the flanges at spaced locations along the width. The rivets each have a head and a shank extending into the flanges from opposite sides. The rivet heads of each pair are located in opposite flanges and are spaced further from the outer edges of their respective flanges (nearer the load-application ends) than are the shank portions of other rivets of the pair.