Abstract: A threaded fastener apparatus that self-locks onto a threaded bolt only during the very last stage of threading and that provides a predetermined self-locking force that remains substantially constant despite multiple repeated uses. The fastener apparatus includes a nut carried loosely within a locking sleeve that is secured to a workpiece. Threading a bolt into the nut draws the nut's enlarged cylindrical rearward section into compressive engagement with the sleeve's smaller-sized cylindrical forward section, to deform the nut radially inwardly into locking engagement with the bolt. Longitudinal through-slots in the nut's rearward end facilitate the inward deformation.

Abstract: A fluid connection is formed between a tube for carrying fluid and a parent material having a surface wherein the fluid passes between the tube and the parent material. The connection has a first wall in the parent material defining a flow passage having a first diameter in the parent material for the fluid. A second wall is formed between the first wall and the surface of the parent material. Threads are formed in the parent material between the second wall and the surface of the parent material for engaging an insert. A tube having an end portion placed adjacent the second wall is used in the joint wherein the tube is sealed in the parent material between the first wall and the threads in the parent material. An insert engages the threads for maintaining the tube in a sealed condition.

Abstract: Retainer apparatus that functions not only to retain a PC board into a channel in a housing, but also to simultaneously guide the board downwardly into a predetermined installation position in which an electrical connector carried by the board is properly coupled to a mating connector carried by the housing. The retaining apparatus includes a rod assembly mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, along one side edge of the PC board. The rod assembly's lower end engages a helical guide receptacle secured to the housing, to guide the rod assembly, and thus the PC board, downwardly into the desired installation position, in response to a controlled rotation of the rod assembly.

Abstract: A sprocket and drive shaft assembly for a wide conveyor belt composed of modules pivotally connected in chain-like fashion and subject to environmentally caused fluctuations in width such as extreme temperatures. The assemlby includes a drive shaft with a polygonal cross section and a plurality of toothed sprockets each having an axial bore which slidingly engages the cross section of the shaft and permits the sprockets to move laterally in response to fluctuations in conveyor width and lateral alignment, as the rotating sprocket assembly drives the conveyor. Restraining devices such as set screws are provided on the drive shaft to prevent the sprockets from undergoing excessive axial movement (toward the ends of the drive shaft) while allowing the sprockets axial freedom to shift in response to lateral belt misalignment and width fluctuation.

Abstract: A barrel nut fastener apparatus that includes a nut loosely retained in a prescribed position by a retainer that is adapted to be slidably received in a cylindrical bore formed in a panel. The nut is carried loosely on a seat formed in the retainer and is positioned to threadedly receive a bolt projecting through aligned transverse holes in both the panel and the retainer. The nut and seat have conforming cross-shaped configurations such that the compressive force of their engagement is distributed over a relatively large area, thereby substantially reducing the possibility of the nut being deformed if the bolt is overtightened.

Abstract: A conveyor having a series of pans mounted on chain links with the leading and trailing edges of the pans overlapping. The trailing edge of each pan has a stiffened transverse arcuate based contacted by the front corner of a transverse arcuate front bead on the rearwardly adjacent pan under all operating conditions. The shape of the beads causes the front bead to deflect and self bias into contact. End plates are welded to the pan except at the front bead from the leading corner to the peak of the arc of the bead. This leaves the front portion free to flex to develop the bias. The end plates are also shaped to develop bias to maintain line contact of the front edge of the end plate on the rear portion of the end plate next ahead. The plates overlap in all operating conditions.

Abstract: A hold-down device is shown for connecting a chassis to a rack under a predetermined force and for extracting the chassis from the rack. The device includes a threaded bolt which receives a tubular, internally threaded clutch drive shaft having an integral clutch plate. A clutch drive disc slides over the shaft to engage the clutch plate, while a ratchet cam slides over the clutch drive disc. The ratchet cam has a set of ratchet teeth that engage similar teeth on the hook connector that slides over the shaft from the opposite side of the clutch plate. Belleville spring washers urge the clutch plate and clutch drive disc into engagement, while other springs urge the ratchet teeth apart. A knob fits over the springs and slides over the shaft and an extractor slides over the shaft from the opposite direction to complete the device.

Abstract: A locking wedge apparatus for fastening a printed circuit board within an elongated slot in a rack. The apparatus includes an elongated center wedge having sloped surfaces at its opposite ends and two end wedges abutting against the center wedge's opposite sloped surfaces. A screw interconnects the two end wedges, threadedly engaging a threaded bore in the remote end wedge. A friction nut is positioned on a portion of the screw's remote end that projects beyond the remote end wedge, and the apparatus is configured to include a pair of low-friction, abutting surfaces between the nut and the remote end wedge. This ensures that when the screw is fully loosened, the frictional torque applied to the nut by the end wedge is exceeded by the frictional torque applied to the nut by the screw. Further unthreading of the screw is thereby effectively inhibited.

Abstract: Chain links for forming a conveyor each chain link including a base portion having shaft support members extending upwardly from its top surface and shafts supported between the shaft support members. A plurality of rollers are mounted on each shaft, the rollers including a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion the smaller diameter portions of the rollers defining grooves in the upper article supporting surface of the rollers, the grooves being adapted to house fingers of a fingered transfer plate.

Abstract: A threaded element for forming a threaded profile in the wall of a bore formed in a material and for insertion into the bore so as to reinforce the bore. The threaded element includes a cylindrical stem having an external thread having a plurality of separate tapping lobes for cutting the threaded profile in the wall of the bore. The stem has an unthreaded radius smaller than the unthreaded radius of the bore and a threaded radius greater than the unthreaded radius of the bore. A recess is defined between each adjacent pair of tapping lobes. Each tapping lobe is defined by two cutting arcs formed at its opposite ends and a convex escape-gap arc is located intermediate the two cutting arcs. Each cutting arc has a convex configuration relative to the center of the stem, and the apex of each of the cutting arcs defines the maximum thread radius of the threaded profile, as measured from the center of the stem.

Abstract: A threaded locking beam nut 20 in which each of a plurality of beams 22 is configured such that confronting side walls 27 and 28 of adjacent beams diverge outwardly away from each other. Any debris located between that confronting side walls of adjacent beams thereof does not inhibit movement of the beams from a locking, expanding position to a free, inwardly-tapered position.

Abstract: An adjustable latching mechanism is provided having a fixture (12, 13) which contains a rotatable element (14) and restrains that element from movement linearly along its axis. Also provided is a member (15) which is positioned intermediate the rotatable element (14) and the connecting element (10), e.g. a latch keeper, and intermediate the fixture (13) and the connecting element (10). The intermediate member (15) translates rotational movement of the rotatable element (14) into linear movement of the connecting element (10), allowing infinitely small, non-incremental adjustment of the position of the connecting element (10) relative to the structures joined by the mechanism. The connecting element (10) is restrained against rotational movement. A sleeve-like member (47) is fitted around a portion of the fixture (12) and prevents inadvertent dislodging of a pin (30) inserted through the connecting element (10) and contained within slots (28, 29) in the fixture (12).

Abstract: A stud fastening assembly 10 including a stud 11 having a threaded end threadable into a hole 15 formed in a workpiece 16 and a plurality of serrated rings 21 and 22 for securing the stud in place. The serrated rings include inner serrations 20 sized to slidably engage longitudinal serrations 14 formed on a mid-section of the stud and further include outer serrations 19 configured to engage the sidewalls of the hole formed in the workpiece and thereby prevent relative rotation. The lower ring includes fewer outer serrations than does the upper ring, to facilitate installation.

Abstract: A locking wedge apparatus for fastening a printed circuit board within an elongated slot in a rack. The apparatus includes an elongated center wedge having sloped surfaces at its opposite ends and two end wedges abutting against the center wedge's slopes surfaces. A screw extends lengthwide through a channel in the center wedge to connect together the two end wedges. Rotating the screw in a forward direction draws the two end wedges toward each other, causing them to slide on the center wedge's sloped surfaces and thereby deflect transversely to lock the printed circuit board in place. A clutch mechanism limits the maximum torque that can be applied to the screw, to provide predetermined tightening of the apparatus and thereby prevent physical or functional damage to the printed circuit board. A biasing spring biases the wedges into longitudinal alignment, to facilitate initial installation of the printed circuit board and wedge assembly into the slot.

Abstract: A tool for use in automatically installing a helical coil insert to a preselected depth in a tapped hole formed in a workpiece. The tool includes a tubular tool body carrying an insert near its lower end, and a mandrel in treadedly received in the tool body for engaging the insert and rotatably advancing it into the tapped hole. An adjusting sleeve encircles the mandrel and is threaded to a selected position in the tool body, to serve as a stop for further advancement of the mandrel, thereby controlling the depth to which the insert is installed. The sleeve's position can be adjusted quickly and conveniently without the need for removing the mandrel from the tool body.

Abstract: A supplemental locking mechanism is provided for an overcenter tension latch assembly. The mechanism prevents the keeper engaging member or latch hook (50) from moving out of its toggle position whether or not under load with the keeper of the latch assembly. The mechanism may be a rigid impeding element (90) which is spring biased for direct actuation by the operator through the handle of the latch assembly. The impeding element (90) is arranged in the latch assembly such that it will bear upon a portion of the latch hook (50) at a position which will counteract forces applied to the assembly which forces would otherwise cause the latch assembly to move out-of-toggle.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-broaching key for locking a fastener assembly in a relatively hard carrier material and a method for making such a key. A unique cutting surface (40) is provided with a particular angular orientation relative to the thread form of the carrier passage threads, and includes a curvilinear portion (42) immediately adjacent the tang portion (32). As the key (30) is installed for locking engagement, the cutting surface (40,42) displaces carrier material in a manner which directs the displaced material away from the cutting surface (40) as the key (30) advances into the carrier material. Also provided on the tang portion (32) is a curvilinear surface (46) which further assists in directing the displaced material away from the cutting surface (40). Two pairs of arcuate extensions (47a, 47b and 48a, 48b) are located on the tang portion (32) to temporarily but reliably secure the key (30) in a key slot with a minimum of frictional engagement between the key and the walls of the key slot.