Abstract: A fastener with improved threading for resisting multi-axial forces and off-axis loading scenarios is provided. The fastener may include a shaft and a plurality of helical threads disposed about the shaft. The plurality of helical threads may include a first helical thread and a second helical thread adjacent the first helical thread. The first helical thread may include a first concave undercut surface and a first convex undercut surface. The second helical thread may include a second concave undercut surface and a second convex undercut surface. When the fastener is viewed in section along a plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the shaft, the first concave undercut surface and the second convex undercut surface may be oriented toward the proximal end of the shaft, and the first convex undercut surface and the second concave undercut surface may be oriented toward the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: Bone anchor assemblies are disclosed herein that can provide for improved fixation as compared with traditional bone anchor assemblies. An exemplary assembly can include a bracket or wing that extends down from the receiver member. The distal portion of the wing can define a bone anchor opening through which one or more auxiliary bone anchors can be disposed to augment the fixation of the assembly's primary bone anchor. A distal surface of the distal portion of the wing can be obliquely angled relative to a proximal-distal axis of the spanning portion to face one of a caudal direction or a cephalad direction. A distal surface of the distal portion of the wing can be obliquely angled relative to the proximal-distal axis of the spanning portion to face one of a medial direction or a lateral direction. Surgical methods using the bone anchor assemblies described herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: Bone anchor assemblies are disclosed herein that can provide for improved fixation as compared with traditional bone anchor assemblies. An exemplary assembly can include a bracket or wing that extends down from the receiver member. The distal portion of the wing can define a bone anchor opening through which one or more auxiliary bone anchors can be disposed to augment the fixation of the assembly's primary bone anchor. A distal surface of the distal portion of the wing can be obliquely angled relative to a proximal-distal axis of the spanning portion to face one of a caudal direction or a cephalad direction. A distal surface of the distal portion of the wing can be obliquely angled relative to the proximal-distal axis of the spanning portion to face one of a medial direction or a lateral direction. Surgical methods using the bone anchor assemblies described herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for installing a fastener system. A position on a structure relative to an overhang on the structure is automatically sensed for installing a fastener system in a hole using an offset collar installer. The offset collar installer is moved about a rotation axis to the position such that a collar in the fastener system is held in the position over the hole. The offset collar installer is connected to a platform and rotatable about the rotation axis. The collar is fastened to an engagement feature for a bolt in the hole.

Abstract: An assembly comprising first and second structural elements having aligned holes, an fastener that occupies at least respective portions of the holes without a surrounding sleeve, and a mating part that is coupled to the fastener. The fastener comprises: a head; a circular cylindrical shank extending from the head; a mating portion comprising external projections; and a transition portion disposed between the shank and the mating portion. The transition portion comprises a first radiused lead-in section that meets the shank at a shank/lead-in intersection and a second radiused lead-in section that meets the first radiused lead-in section. The first radiused lead-in section curves gradually in a first axial direction toward the mating portion and has a first profile that is a circular arc having a first radius, while the second radiused lead-in section curves abruptly in the first axial direction and has a second profile that is a circular arc having a second radius which is much smaller than the first radius.

Abstract: A thermal protection system comprises a ceramic panel, a plurality of apertures, and a fastener system within each of the plurality of apertures. The ceramic panel has a plurality of attachment points to a structure. The plurality of apertures extends through the ceramic panel, each aperture of the plurality of apertures located at an attachment point of the plurality of attachment points. Each fastener system comprises a fastener having a head with a spherical underside and a ceramic bushing with a mating surface configured to mate with the spherical underside of the head of the fastener.

Abstract: A tolerance equalizing element includes at least two support bodies (120, 122) which are in threaded engagement with one another such that the axial dimension of the tolerance equalizing element can be adjusted by relative rotation of the support bodies (120, 122), at least one of the support bodies (120, 122) including a helical spring which is wound from a wire having a rectangular cross-section, and the rectangle forming the cross-section of the wire is oriented such that its sides extend obliquely relative to the axis of the helical spring.

Abstract: A high speed fastener member and method of assembling duct sections, uses an externally threaded element having a threaded portion of known diameter, and a piloted nut having a threaded cavity configured to threadedly receive the externally threaded portion, and an open ended unthreaded cavity connected to the threaded cavity, the unthreaded cavity having a known diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the externally threaded portion and being aligned with the threaded cavity. The externally threaded portion is inserted through holes of associated corner elements of flanges of the duct sections, and into the unthreaded cavity to align the threaded portion for threaded engagement, and at least one of the nut and externally threaded element is rotated to threadedly engage them to hold the duct flanges together, eliminating need to start the engagement by hand and allow fastening using a power tool such as a drill only.

Abstract: A fastening member that exerts a high loosening-inhibition effect is provided. A fastening member 1 has an upper portion 11 on a thread top portion side and a lower portion 12 on a thread root side in at least a part of a thread 10. The upper portion 11 and the lower portion 12 have following constructions. A pressure-side flank surface 13 and a play-side flank surface 14 are formed on the upper portion 11. A pressure-side side surface 15 and a play-side side surface 16 are formed on the lower portion 12. The pressure-side side surface 15 is formed to be continuous from a lower end of the pressure-side flank surface 13.

Abstract: A vibration resistant fastening system including a high fatigue strength bolt made from a first material and a nut made from a second material that is softer than the first material of the bolt. The bolt includes bolt threads and the nut includes pre-tapped nut threads that match with the bolt threads. The fastening system utilizes a combination of unique geometry of the nut and bolt threads and a hardness differential between the nut and bolt to provide vibration resistance. When tightened, crests of the bolt threads embed into the soft bearing flanks of the nut threads. Simultaneously with the bolt crest embedment, the softer nut thread crests flow radially inward into the root radius of the bolt threads. This complete contact between the nut and the bolt restricts the nut from moving in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the bolt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internal thread member and an external thread member that can achieve stable finishing accuracy, can assure a desirable thread overlap, and have sufficient breaking strength and pullout strength. This invention also provides a cutter which can machine internal threads with stable finishing accuracy and can assure improved durability.

Abstract: The distribution of load stresses on threads engaged with a standard screw or nut is very unequal. Indeed, the first threads in engagement support a large majority of the load. So if the load is too important, the threads give way and the function is not provided any more by the screw or the nut. In the prior art, threads are known whose depth or pitch varies a lot in order to cause a self-clamping. In particular, the invention aims at optimizing the resistance and the fatigue resistance of the screws by distributing the load at the very best on their threads without causing this self-clamping. It was shown that the control of the pitch variation, within a chosen pitch tolerance, makes it possible to control the stress distribution on the threads. It is possible to determine a different variation for each load case encountered.

Abstract: An improved threaded connection, in which a first part having a female thread is threadably engageable with a second part having a male thread. The first and second parts have different strengths in at least the area of the thread turns, and the thread turns have cross-sectional areas that differs from the cross-sectional areas of gaps between the thread turns.

Abstract: A security screw formed by a cylinder part divided in two parts in the threaded area with a division line in a partial way of the axial axle or very close to it. In one of these parts a cylinder area has been removed, coaxial (max. eccentricity: 1% of the radius of the thread), with the result that both parts can be moved between themselves, with the thread lined up or not lined up depending on the function of the angle position. Depending on the removed area position, the nut can be threaded or unscrewed. In addition, the nut can be unblocked by immobilizing these parts in the corresponding angle position according to the lining up of the threads.

Abstract: A connector for earth-moving equipment subjected to contact with earth, abrasive materials and the like has a nut with a body and a hole extending through the body. A bolt with a shank adapted to extend into the hole has an enlarged head at one end of the shank. Cooperating thread formations are defined on the shank and in the hole. The thread formations have cooperating matching cross-sections that decrease from a vicinity of the head of the screw towards the other end of the screw and that extend over a circumference of less than 360° and typically of no more than 270°. The connector is adapted to connect various components, including teeth and adapters, to each other and to lips at the front end of earth moving buckets and the like.

Abstract: The thread form can provide a controlled thread stiffness which can more evenly distribute loads and can be less sensitive to changes in relative pitch. The controlled stiffness of the thread can provide a desired cantilever bending of the thread under assembled load. The thread form can utilize a traditional thread form at and/or above the pitch diameter, thereby maintaining the area of contact close to that of a standard thread form. Standard gaging implements can be used to ascertain the thread pitch and for quality control. The thread form includes a side extending between the crest and the root. The side has a first portion extending from the crest toward the root and the second portion extending from the first portion toward the root. The first and second portions extend toward the root in different orientations relative to the thread.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a secure composite fastener. In some embodiments, a threaded inner core is formed of a polymeric based composite and is surrounded by an outer portion formed of a different polymeric composite that has a high resistance to permanent mechanical deformation. The fastener can have a threaded bore located centrally and extending axially therethrough. The diameter of the threaded bore is reduced in the section of the bore that extends through the outer portion. The reduction in diameter can form a locking portion.

Abstract: A downhole tool including a selectively releasable joint, a downhole drilling assembly including the downhole tool, and a corresponding method. In one embodiment of the invention, a downhole drilling assembly includes a downhole tool having a first body and a second body mounted for relative rotation; a joint part for use in forming a selectively releasable joint between the second body and a part of the assembly coupled to the second body; and one or more locking member(s) for locking the first and second bodies relative to one another against relative rotation so as to allow a release force to be applied through the first body to release the releasable joint and allow the tool to be separated from the part of the assembly.

Abstract: A ratcheting fastener system such as for point of purchase displays. A bolt has a shank with a head end and a distal end, and a plurality of bolt threads on the shank, each thread having a thread start at the distal end. A nut has a bore with a plurality of thread segments in the bore adapted for engaging the bolt threads when axial force is applied to the bolt with the distal end inserted in the nut. Deflection of the nut thread segments occurs in controlled locations. The bolt and nut can be formed as a single unit connected by a frangible link.

Abstract: This invention is directed towards a paint spray gun having a gun body with a male thread and having an air nozzle ring with a female thread which can be screwed onto the male thread of the gun body. The diameter of the thread is between about 30 and about 40 mm. The thread of the invention is a trapezoid thread with a flank angle in the range of about +/−20% of 30°. The thread has a thread height within the range of about +/− 20% of 1.1 mm, a root to crest clearance within the range of about +/−20% of 0.1 mm and a flank clearance within the range of about +/−20% of 0.15 mm. The effect of these modifications to a standard trapezoid thread with a flank angle of about 30° is that the thread is optimally adjusted to serve as a thread connecting the body of a paint spray gun and a nozzle ring.