The method of securing a rivet slug to structure containing a bore, a substantially cylindrical first counterbore that opens to one side of the work, and a second counterbore that tapers forwardly between the first counterbore and said bore, includes the steps: A. inserting the slug to extend within the bore and counterbores, and B. deforming the slug axially and radially to fill the bore and counterbores and to expand the first counterbore.

Wire slugs for use as rivets are passed from a slug-forming station to a partial riveting station where a ram forces a slug through a restricted orifice in a spring-loaded guide and clamp member so that the guide and clamp member is pressed against the parts to be riveted as the slug is forced through the orifice into aligned holes in the parts. The parts are positioned upon an anvil which may be a fixture mounted on a turntable moveable from station to station, and the anvil has recesses into which the lower portion of the slug is forced to form a lower cap. The hole in the bottom part is preferably slightly smaller than the hole through the top part so that the slug material will flow outwardly filling the top hole. locking the parts in place and rendering hole alignment noncritical. Upon retraction of the ram, the spring-loaded guide and clamp member is elevated above the partially formed rivet and the two joined parts. The subassembly and anvil may then be moved to a rivet completion station where formation of a top rivet cap may be completed.

Wire slugs for use as rivets are passed from a slug-forming station to a partial riveting station where a ram forces a slug through a restricted orifice in a spring-loaded guide and clamp member so that the guide and clamp member is pressed against the parts to be riveted as the slug is forced through the orifice into aligned holes in the parts. The parts are positioned upon an anvil which may be a fixture mounted on a turntable moveable from station to station, and the anvil has recesses into which the lower portion of the slug is forced to form a lower cap. The hole in the bottom part is preferably slightly smaller than the hole through the top part so that the slug material will flow outwardly filling the top hole, locking the parts in place and rendering hole alignment noncritical. Upon retraction of the ram, the spring-loaded guide and clamp member is elevated above the partially formed rivet and the two joined parts. The subassembly and anvil may then be moved to a rivet completion station where formation of a top rivet cap may be completed.

In a method for sealing a substantially straight intercell connector bar passing through an opening in the upper part of an intercell partition of an electric storage battery, a mould is used having a marginal portion fitting against the face of the partition and defining a cavity, the mould comprising a body open at the bottom, and a closure movable horizontally from a closed position in which it extends under the bar to close the bottom of the cavity, to an open position in which it permits removal of the mould. The closure is formed with a cutter portion arranged to gouge or broach a groove in the upper or lower surface of the bar to ensure leak-proof closure of the mould.

A high fatigue slug squeeze riveting process using two clamps, one of which is a fixed position clamp, and an apparatus for carrying out the process is disclosed. A pair of panels or other items to be riveted together are clamped by upper and lower clamps and a hole is drilled through the items. Thereafter, a nonheaded rivet slug is inserted in the hole. After insertion of the slug, upper and lower rams approach the rivet along vertical, axially aligned paths. The upper ram is flanked by a pair of spring-loaded rods, known as pogo feet, which extend past the impinging face of the ram. The lower ram stops at a predetermined position, providing a positioning stop for the rivet slug. The upper ram continues down. Since the pogo feet extend past the impinging face of the upper ram, they contact the adjacent surface of the items to be riveted prior to the upper ram contacting the rivet slug. As a result, the pogo feet push the items to be riveted away from the upper, fixed position clamp prior to the upper ram contacting the rivet slug. The upper ram stops and is locked in position after it bottoms out. At this time, the rivet slug is in position within the hole such that predetermined portions of the slug protrude past the outer surfaces of the panels. The lower ram then moves upwardly, and the rivet becomes captive between the forming surfaces of the upper and lower rams. The ram squeeze force applied to the rivet slug first partially forms the lower head of the rivet. As the lower ram forms the lower head, force produced by the lower ram is partially transferred through the rivet to the items to be riveted, which in turn exert an upward force on the pogo feet that overcomes the spring load on the pogo feet. As a result, the pogo feet, items to be riveted and the rivet are pushed upwardly. The upward movement of the rivet is terminated against the upper ram. This causes the upper head of the rivet to be formed, while the lower head formation is completed.