Fastening objects to each other

Abstract

A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fastening a second object to a first object, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the first object comprising a first attachment surface;   providing the second object;   providing the second object relative to the first object, with a resin between the first attachment surface and a second attachment surface of the second object;   while the resin is in contact with the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface, causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the first object or both, thereby activating the resin to cross-link;   whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the first object.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein first object comprises a fiber composite part comprising a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the fiber composite part comprises a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the first attachment surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , comprising the step of removing matrix material to expose the portion of the structure of fibers prior to the step of placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the first attachment surface and the second object. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of removing matrix material comprises sandblasting. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of pressing the second object and the first object against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act causes the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the resin comprises a same material as the matrix material. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second object is a connector equipped for fastening a further object to the first object. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second object comprises a fiber composite, wherein the second object is of a heterogeneous composition and in addition to the fiber composite comprises a portion of a different material, and wherein the second object at the second object attachment surface has a portion of the structure of fibers exposed, whereby the resin is capable of penetrating into the portion of the structure of fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second attachment surface in the step of placing the second object relative to the first object is placed to abut against the first attachment surface, with the resin between the first and second attachment surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second attachment surface comprises a pattern of indentations or protrusions, wherein at least one indentation forms a radial or circumferential channel. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second object is a fastener having an anchoring plate and a fastening element secured to the anchoring plate, wherein the anchoring plate has at least one through opening, wherein the anchoring plate comprises a spacer element protruding from a distal anchoring plate surface that forms the second attachment surface, wherein the fastening element comprises at least one of a threaded bar, a pin, a nut, a hook, an eyelet, a base for a bayonet coupling, wherein the step of pressing the second object and the first object against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act comprises coupling the mechanical vibration into the anchoring plate by pressing a vibrating tool against a proximal coupling face of the anchoring plate, and wherein the vibrating tool and the second object are adapted to each other for the tool to be pressed directly against a proximally facing surface of the anchoring plate by the vibrating tool having a receiving indentation for receiving the fastening element. 
     
     
         13 . The method according  claim 12 , wherein the vibrating tool comprises a guiding structure cooperating with the fastening element to guide the second object relative to the vibrating tool and, wherein the guiding structure is configured as a fastening structure cooperating with the fastening element for fastening the second object to the vibrating tool. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second object has a second object peripheral confining feature confining the resin during the step of pressing the second object and the first object against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of pressing the second object and the first object against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act comprises pressing a vibrating tool against a proximal coupling face of the second object, and wherein the vibrating tool has a tool peripheral confining feature confining the resin during the step of pressing the second object and the first object against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , and comprising using a confining element at least partially surrounding the second object to confine the resin during the step of pressing the second object and the first object against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , and comprising pressing the second object and the first object against each other while mechanical vibration is caused to act. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the step of placing the second object relative to the first object, with a resin between the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface, the resin is in a flowable state. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in the step of causing mechanical vibration to act and thereby activating the resin to cross-link, only a portion of the resin is activated to cross link, whereas a further portion of the resin remains essentially uninfluenced by the mechanical vibration, and wherein at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
 the step of causing mechanical vibration to act and thereby activating the resin to cross-link is repeated for a plurality of discrete locations of an assembly comprising the first object, the second object and the resin;   the second object has an indented portion, and wherein in the step of causing mechanical vibration to act, a vibrating tool is in contact with the indented portion   wherein the second object has a corrugated portion, and in the step of causing mechanical vibration to act, a vibrating tool is in contact with the corrugated portion   the second object has an annular joint structure and wherein in the step of causing mechanical vibration to act, a vibrating tool is in contact with a region radially-inwardly of the annular joint structure   the method further comprises providing an auxiliary element, the auxiliary element comprising thermoplastic material, wherein in the step of causing mechanical vibration to act, the auxiliary element is placed between the first and second objects and absorbs mechanical vibration energy, thereby heating resin material in a vicinity of the auxiliary element, the auxiliary element comprising at least one energy director.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second objects is at least partially of a thermoplastic material, and the other one has a piercing portion that is equipped to pierce into the thermoplastic material of the first object or second object, respectively, during the step of applying the pressing force and the mechanical vibration.