Frangible Mandrel Patents (Class 411/43)
  • Patent number: 5913648
    Abstract: A rotatably fastening blind rivet is provided. The blind rivet includes a tubular rivet body of ductile material and an elongate stem engaged into the rivet body which has a radially enlarged rivet head of hexagon configuration at one end having a serrated surface and a central bore, a threaded inner periphery of predetermined pitch and number of threads in an upper region and a progressively introversion inner periphery in a lower region of the body. The stem includes a cylinder shank of threaded outer periphery engageable with the threads of the rivet body, a breakneck on the top of the shank from which a tensioning rod of hexagon spiral outer periphery extends upward and is slidably engageable with the central bore of the rivet head and a terminal head of stiffness material at a lower end of the shank remote from the rod having serrated surface toward the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventor: Wei-Hwang Lin
  • Patent number: 5908277
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lockbolt and a method for installing a lockbolt that removes a coating, such as a sealant that has inadvertently flowed into a hole into which the lockbolt is to be installed. The lockbolt and method prevent a coupling surface of the lockbolt from being contaminated by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John F. Richards
  • Patent number: 5906462
    Abstract: An apparatus for securing a mechanical frame to the base of a circuit breaker. The mechanical frame includes a U-shaped tab defined by first and second legs extending from the bottom of the frame. Each leg has an interior edge and an exterior edge. The interior edges of the legs are separated from one another by a predetermined distance, and at least one of the legs includes a lateral groove across its interior edge. The base includes a generally rectangular slot into which the tab is inserted. At the center of the slot is a cylindrical void extending through the circuit breaker base. A blind rivet having a head portion and a body portion, is inserted into the cylindrical void from the outside of the base such that the body portion of the rivet is between the legs of the tab. The blind rivet is then mechanically upset causing the body portion of the rivet to expand into the lateral groove in the tab and to pull the object securely toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Bergman
  • Patent number: 5846039
    Abstract: A positive lock rivet for joining a plurality of panels is composed of resilient plastic material and has a pin and a body having an axial bore. The pin has a head and a shank, the pin shank having a locking means, a break joint adjacent to the locking means and a break portion adjacent to the break joint and opposite the head. The body has a head and a shank. The body shank has a proximal end, a distal end, a collapsible portion and a noncollapsible portion. Integral with the proximal end of the body shank is a retention means and integral with the body shank between the collapsible portion and the body head is a flexible annular skirt positionable between the panels to be joined. The body shank is insertable into aligned holes in the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Kirchen, Edward P. Massof, Robert Nesky
  • Patent number: 5816761
    Abstract: We achieved extended fatigue endurance and high pre-load in a structural blind fastener by combining the best features of screw type and pull type blind fasteners. We replaced fatigue critical details from the shear plane with close tolerance, slip fit, core bolt and outer bolt shanks to obtain the desired structural load paths while retaining anchoring features of screw type fasteners to introduce adequate pre-load. Our fasteners are compatible with currently available blind bolt insertion tooling. The present invention pertains to a lightweight version of the structural blind fastener wherein we set the backside anchor collar with matching threads that engage between the outer sleeve bolt and inner core bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary G. Cassatt, R. Todd Briscoe
  • Patent number: 5810530
    Abstract: A blind fastener has an assembly including an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve and a pin member and is adapted to be located in workpiece openings with the pin member having an expansion portion adapted to be pulled through the inner sleeve radially expanding both the inner and outer sleeves to provide an interference fit with the workpiece openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Travis
  • Patent number: 5762456
    Abstract: A self-tapping, blind setting bolt rivet assembly capable of permanently fastening one or more sheet metal work pieces or the like together while also providing a hollow cylindrical threaded bolt head onto which a nut may be affixed to a means to removably attach other work pieces, components or the like. The rivet assembly comprises a rivet body having a hollow tubular sleeve and a threaded stud separated by an enlarged flattened head. The rivet body surrounds a mandrel comprising a shank which is terminated in a screw tip. This screw tip punctures, spreads, and self-taps an aperture in the work pieces through which the rivet sleeve passes. The mandrel's shank may have a weakened area of reduced diameter adjacent to the screw tip which allows detachment of shaft following application of sufficient axial force to the shank. This application of force sets the rivet by causing a tapered shoulder section of the mandrel to deform the rivet sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Asar Group, Inc.
    Inventor: A. L. Pepper Aasgaard
  • Patent number: 5759001
    Abstract: An improved blind rivet assembly is disclosed, in which a plastics cylinder is moulded along a pulling stem of a long break mandrel. On setting the mandrel is broken within the cylinder providing the cylinder with an additional degree of shear strength, allowing the cylinder to be used as a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Robin Smith
  • Patent number: 5741099
    Abstract: A self-tapping, blind setting rivet assembly to secure two or more work pieces together and suitable for power or hand tool application. The rivet assembly comprises a rivet body having a hollow tubular sleeve and an enlarged flattened head. The rivet body surrounds a mandrel comprising a shank which is terminated in a screw tip. This screw tip punctures, spreads, and self-taps an aperture in the work pieces through which the rivet sleeve passes. The mandrel's shank may have a weakened area of reduced diameter adjacent to the screw tip which allows detachment of shaft following application of sufficient axial force to the shank. This application of force causes the tapered shoulder section of the screw tip to compress and deform the rivet sleeve which sets the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: ASAR Group, Inc.
    Inventor: A. L. Pepper Aasgaard
  • Patent number: 5688089
    Abstract: A fastening element for fitting into a drilled hole and a method of fixing a fastening element in a drilled hole are proposed. In the method, an expandable sleeve is fixed in the drilled hole upon drawing of an axially movable anchor, in the direction out of the drilled hole, it being possible for all the elements of the fastening element to consist of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Solle
  • Patent number: 5685663
    Abstract: A fastening system for securing structural members such as C-channels for buildings, bridges and the like and including a fastener construction for securing the structural members through spaced flanges or plates at locations where there is limited support between such flanges or plates with the fastener as installed having a member providing substantially direct, columnar support between the spaced flanges or plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventor: Shahriar M. Sadri
  • Patent number: 5645383
    Abstract: A blind rivet comprising a mandrel 2 and a sleeve 3 is provided with two external grooves 11, 12 of different cross-section. This enables the rivet to set on the blind side of a workpiece to form a taper 19 increasing in diameter towards the blind side of the workpiece 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Graham Frank Harry Williams
  • Patent number: 5634751
    Abstract: A blind fastener having a body, a core bolt, a nut and a sleeve. The core bolt passes through an axial bore of the body and includes an externally threaded portion at an inner end thereof. The nut has an enlarged head, a reduced diameter stem and a threaded bore for engaging the threaded portion of the core bolt. The sleeve is located between the enlarged head of the core bolt and a conically shaped inner portion of the body. An inner end portion of the sleeve is fixed to the stem of the nut. In a preferred embodiment, the inner end portion of the sleeve is crimped to the nut and has a thickness sufficient to engage the nut across the full width of an annular shoulder of the nut during setting of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Monogram Aerospace Fasteners
    Inventors: Edgar L. Stencel, Paul P. Krawiec
  • Patent number: 5620287
    Abstract: A fastener structure for particular use in clamping a panel assembly includes a bolt or pin member having a generally elongate shank for extension through a panel, and a locking-recess in the shank for reception of a locking formation. The pin shank is insertable through a sleeve having a bore which terminates at an anvil portion surrounding the inserted pin shank. A lock collar is insertable into the sleeve bore radially between the shank locking-recess and the sleeve into abutment against the anvil portion of the sleeve. Compression of the locking collar against the abutting anvil portion of the sleeve produces cold flow deformation of a portion of the collar into the locking-recess of the shank to form a locked joint so that the collar then blocks any subsequent relative movement between the pin shank and sleeve to secure the fastener structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Pratt
  • Patent number: 5618142
    Abstract: A self-drilling blind rivet includes a deformable sleeve and a shaft having a drill bit at one end. The shaft extends through the sleeve and the drill bit is connected to one end of the sleeve. The shaft and sleeve are rotatable as a unit. A method for making a riveted joint with a self-drilling blind rivet includes the steps of passing the drill bit through a work piece and pulling the drill bit entirely within the sleeve so that the drill bit does not extend beyond the end of the sleeve to which it is connected. Thus, the diameter of a portion of the sleeve in increased and the riveted joint is rendered pressure tight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Lindab AB
    Inventors: Carl-Gustaf Sonden, Kenneth Lennartsson
  • Patent number: 5581867
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for riveting materials by means of a blind rivet and corresponding blind rivets. The process of the invention in particular carries out the step of stretching the body of the sleeve (31) before blocking it from one part to another of an assemblage (13, 14) between an abutment head (50) and a blocking head (51). The extending of the body of the sleeve is especially permitted by the cooperation of a stop means (44) with a shoulder (36a) of the shank of the mandrel (32), and by the pulling exerted on the mandrel. The present invention also relates to blind rivets adapted to be set by the process of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Gaquere
  • Patent number: 5569006
    Abstract: A fastener including a sleeve, a stem extending through the sleeve, an integral shear ring adjacent a tail end of the sleeve, and an expander ring between the shear ring and the sleeve tail to facilitate bulbing of the sleeve tail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmundo Alvarado, Soheil A. Eshraghi, Su Q. Tran
  • Patent number: 5551816
    Abstract: A removable rivet which includes a shank and a preformed head located at at least one end of the shank, the shank being insertable through workpieces and being capable of being permanently deformed to rivet the workpieces together. The rivet includes an annular groove at the junction of the shank and the head, the annular groove extending radially inwardly of the diameter of the shank, thereby to facilitate separation of the head from the shank when a drill of diameter substantially equal to that of the shank is applied to the head of an installed rivet co-axially with the shank until the drill meets the annular groove; an annular rim carried by the head of the rivet for cooperating with a drill, thereby to locate the drill co-axially with the annular groove; and abutment faces carried by the head of the rivet for engaging dogs of a non-rotating sleeve of the drilling apparatus thereby to prevent rotation of the rivet under the influence of the rotating drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Avdel Systems Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Brewer, Keith Denham, Neil J. Sherry
  • Patent number: 5536123
    Abstract: A metal plug with a plug screw in a casing for attachment of articles to penetrable material. The plug screw of the plug serves a dual function; fixing the plug in the material and also permitting the variation of the distance of the articles relative to the penetrable material. The plug screw has a plug-screw head at a back end, a constricted diameter portion designated as an intended breaking point, and a front end coupled to a spreading cone, a spreading head, and a fixing head. The plug is anchored in the penetrable material by means of the spreading head in the following way. First, by turning the plug screw by means of the plug-screw head, the spreading head with spreading jaws is pulled onto the spreading cone and the spreading jaws of the spreading head engage in the penetrable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Helmut Einsiedler
  • Patent number: 5503510
    Abstract: A blind rivet includes a tubular shell formed with an enlarged head and a shank, and a mandrel formed with a stem and an enlarged head. The shell and mandrel are insertable from one side of a plurality of members to be fastened together through aligned openings such that a pull force applied to the mandrel from that side causes the shell shank to bulge outwardly, and thereby to securely fasten the members between the shell head and the bulged portion of the shell shank. The mandrel includes two gripping portions axially spaced from the mandrel head and each other by bridging portions of smaller diameter than the gripping portions such that the shank is firmly gripped by the outer surfaces of the two gripping portions when the mandrel is pulled to outwardly bulge the shell shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ornit Blind Rivets
    Inventor: Yaakov Golan
  • Patent number: 5501695
    Abstract: A fastener adapted to expand into bone has a tubular body having a longitudinal opening therethrough with a stop within the opening. The body has a head at one end and a longitudinal slot extends through the body near the other end to form ribs that expand radially when the body is compressed. A puller projects through the opening in the rivet and has a head that engages the other end to compress the rivet when the puller is pulled through the body. An annular recess is formed in the puller near the head and the other end of the body is crimped into the recess to aid expansion of the ribs. The puller is weakened at a point so that it will break upon continued pulling after the ribs reach a fully expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: The Anspach Effort, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Anspach, Jr., William S. Reid, Eddy H. Del Rio, William E. Anspach, III
  • Patent number: 5498110
    Abstract: A blind fastener having a body, a core bolt, a nut and a sleeve. The core bolt passes through an axial bore of the body and includes an externally threaded portion at an inner end thereof. The nut has an enlarged head, a reduced diameter stem and a threaded bore for engaging the threaded portion of the core bolt. The sleeve is located between the enlarged head of the core bolt and a conically shaped inner portion of the body. An inner end portion of the sleeve is fixed to the stem of the nut. In a preferred embodiment, the inner end portion of the sleeve is crimped to the nut and has a thickness sufficient to engage the nut across the full width of an annular shoulder of the nut during setting of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Monogram Aerospace Fasteners
    Inventors: Edgar L. Stencel, Paul P. Krawiec
  • Patent number: 5496140
    Abstract: A blind rivet includes a mandrel shaft having a head disposed at one axial end. A hollow rivet shell has a cylindrical shape including an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface. The rivet shell surrounds the mandrel shaft. The outer cylindrical surface has at least one attenuation groove, which includes at least two recesses. Each recess has a bottom surface that substantially forms a secant with respect to the outer cylindrical surface. A method of manufacturing a blind rivet comprises the steps of placing a mandrel shaft having a head within a hollow rivet shell, producing at least one attenuation groove in an outer cylindrical surface of the rivet shell after the placing step so that at least two recesses are formed. Each of the recesses has a bottom surface that substantially forms a secant with respect to the outer cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Gesipa Blindniettechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Gossmann, Eckhard Ditzel
  • Patent number: 5472303
    Abstract: A blind rivet-type clamping fastener includes a deformable sleeve, a drift section insertable into or connectable to the sleeve, and a drilling section. The latter is held on either the sleeve or a drift section so that it can be axially moved towards the free end of the fastener or removed therefrom upon exertion of an axial force onto the drilling section during the setting of the clamping fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: SFS Industrie Holding AG
    Inventors: Erich Palm, Daniel Gasser
  • Patent number: 5443344
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching two members together which includes forming an opening through a first member. A second member has a first portion thereof which is larger than the opening in the first member and a second portion disposed about a longitudinal axis. The second portion is smaller than the opening in the first member and the second portion is divided along the longitudinal axis into at least two sections. A hole is formed through the second member along the longitudinal axis. An elongated member having an enlarged head thereon is placed through a washer, the enlarged portion of the elongated member being larger than the opening in the washer, but smaller than the hole through the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Ted T. Underwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5429464
    Abstract: A blind fastener which comprises a fastener body, a stem and a two-piece shear/expander assembly. The assembly includes an anchor section sized to fit within an annular groove in a neck portion of the stem and an expander collar which surrounds the shear ring. When the fastener is installed, a bulbing portion of the expander collar upsets the tail end of the fastener until an inner shoulder of the collar step causes an outer section of the ring to shear from the anchor section. A lock ring groove is formed in the stem midsection of smaller diameter at the intersections of the stem neck and midsection. The shear ring may be formed of shaped wire which is wrapped around the fastener stem, while the expander collar is an annular element next to the shear ring. The shear ring dimensions and material properties can be modified to alter the fastener characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Soheil A. Eshraghi
  • Patent number: 5399052
    Abstract: There is disclosed an aerospace fastener system in which a threaded bolt fastener is secured with a free spinning threaded nut or collar and in which the engagement of the threaded members is fixedly secured by an adhesive. The length of the bolt fastener is preselected such that when the fastener is applied in a maximum grip condition, the end of the bolt fastener does not project beyond the top surface of the nut or collar, or is even slightly shorter than the length necessary to reach the top surface of the nut or collar. There is also disclosed a blind fastener system in which the adhesive is applied to the threads of the core screw of the blind fastener which are engaged upon installation of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Inventors: Josef F. Volkmann, Richard Ohlman
  • Patent number: 5397205
    Abstract: A fastener is provided for joining two components together, particularly advantageous with respect to aluminum components, in which a nut insert is secured within the components and a rivet is inserted into the nut. After insertion of the rivet into the nut, the rivet is offset to conform to the internal threads of the nut, and when a tool receiving bit is included on the outer face of the rivet, threaded removal of the rivet and disassembly of the components can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Diepeveen
  • Patent number: 5378098
    Abstract: A blind fastener designed to secure workpieces having aligned holes therein is provided. The fastener comprises an elongated stem having a head at one end and a serrated tail at the other, and a tubular sleeve having a head through which tail of the stem extends and a tail which is engaged by the head of the stem. The stem further includes a shear ring for bulbing the sleeve tail and a lock ring groove for receiving a lock ring for locking the stem to the sleeve. The stem also has a shoulder which engages shoulder portion in the sleeve to cause the sleeve to expand radially outward so as to fill any clearance or gap between the sleeve and the workpieces. A reservoir located in the stem accepts excess shoulder material displaced during the hole filling process. In one embodiment, a preformed lock ring is positioned in the lock ring groove to lock the stem to the sleeve. In another embodiment, a lock ring is formed from material in the sleeve head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Andrews, John D. Pratt, Soheil Eshraghi
  • Patent number: 5375953
    Abstract: A blind rivet, especially for the production of rivet connections between load carrying components in aircraft construction, has a rivet shaft or mandrel with a thickened end and a pulling end. The shaft has a conical section tapering from the thickened end to the pulling end. Grooves run around at least the conical section. The rivet mandrel or shaft is axially received in a rivet sleeve with a set head. Adhesive is provided in the grooves, especially along the conical section of the blind rivet. The adhesive hardens in the seam or gap formed between the rivet sleeve and rivet shaft when the blind rivet has been set. This two-component blind rivet has a structural strength equivalent to that of a solid rivet so that it can also meet higher structural strength requirements. Additionally, the adhesive prevents cold welding between the shaft and the sleeve and seals the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Krug, Holger Krueger, Heinrich Stoelcken
  • Patent number: 5352077
    Abstract: A fixing element of metal, in particular for fixing facing panels, has a slotted expansible sleeve arranged to be expanded into an undercut of a drilled hole and having an inner bore with a slotted part, and an expander element effecting an expansion of the expansible sleeve and arranged to clamp an article to a facing panel. The expansible sleeve has a plurality of inwardly bent expansible segments having a leading end face and an outer surface and provided with a circumfernetial enlargement arranged on the outer surface of the expansible segment in the region of the leading end face. The expander element is formed as a blind rivet with a rivet shank and a clench head which is drawn with the rivet shank into the slotted part of the inner bore of the expansible sleeve and riveted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Fischerwerke, Artur Fischer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Lind
  • Patent number: 5345734
    Abstract: The disclosure herein describes a sealing device for a use in a sealed double glazed window assembly consisting of a pair of glass sheets arranged in spaced parallel relationship to form an air space therebetween and of a spacing unit disposed between the inner marginal edges of the glass sheets. The device comprises a flexible plug that fits into holes made in the spacing unit to allow a gas to be injected into the space between the sheets. A blind rivet is provided within the plug and when an outward pull is exerted on the rivet, an expansion of the plug results to thereby sealingly contain the gas injected between the glass sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Rivetec Inc.
    Inventor: Luc Tremblay
  • Patent number: 5346348
    Abstract: A self-plugging blind fastener suitable for fastening apertured sheets together, and of the type comprising a body having a shank, headed at one end, and an axial bore in which is disposed an elongate stem which, in use, is pulled to expand the shank and lock part of the stem in the body, has an improvement for locking the stem in the body. The head end of the bore is of reduced diameter and presents a stop-shoulder. The stop-shoulder is an annular skirt partly separated from surrounding material by an annular cleavage, and presents a planar stop-face facing away from the head-end. The stem comprises a plug which is connected by a breakneck to a stem-tail for pulling the plug into the bore of the body. The plug has an annular locking recess spaced from the breakneck, and is radially enlarged on the side of the locking recess remote from the breakneck to provide a plug-shoulder and shank-enlarging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Avdel Systems Limited
    Inventor: Keith Denham
  • Patent number: 5326205
    Abstract: An expandable rivet assembly for attaching objects, especially when using bone. The assembly includes a rivet and puller where the puller is pulled to expand the rivet. A stop is provided in the rivet to set an upper limit to the expansion of the rivet by the puller. This rivet is useful in material of varying density, and has slots on the side and a contoured surface to initiate bending at a desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventors: William E. Anspach, Jr., William S. Reid, Eddy H. Del Rio
  • Patent number: 5320465
    Abstract: A blind pin fixing is provided comprising a headed pin having a series of radial grooves in that part of its stem beneath the head and a flanged body with a first circular flange and a deformable body portion projecting therefrom and arranged for the reception of the head of said headed pin so that in operation the deformable body portion is inserted through a hole in a workpiece and the fastener set by drawing the pin from the side of the flange remote from the deformable body portion so that the deformable body portion is collapsed round the hole and the collar and metal flow into the grooves locks the pin to the flanged body, the deformable body portion being of square section and formed with axial slots extending fully to the end remote from the flange so that it is divided into a plurality of, preferably four, legs which facilitate collapsing when the fastener is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Emhart Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Smith
  • Patent number: 5286151
    Abstract: A fastener mandrel has formed on one end a shoulder and a twisted, generally rectangular shaped head adjoining the shoulder. In setting the fastener in a workpiece, the shoulder enlarges the end of a tubular rivet and clamps workpieces together in combination with a preformed head on the other end of the rivet. The mandrel head deforms the rivet tail into a twisted appearing shape with a somewhat elliptical cross-section that partially encloses the mandrel head to provide good stem retention and prevent axial looseness. A plurality of axial ribs on the mandrel stem are drawn into a reduced diameter section of the rivet head end when the rivet is set, thereby providing additional stem retention and torsional interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Soheil Eshraghi
  • Patent number: 5256017
    Abstract: A blind rivet assembly comprising a body made with an insertion head at one end and having a setting concave face at the other end, and an axial thread hole in which a screw is located, the screw having a head at one end and a break-away stem at the other end. A deformable, cylindrical socket, or sleeve, with a two-step axial hole is installed on the screw between its head and the setting concave face of the body, the step with the larger inside diameter being located at the side of the body. In order to prevent damage to the composite materials which are being joined and the tearing-off of the screw by limiting assembly loads, the axial hole of the cylindrical sleeve has an additional step with the smallest inside diameter located at the side of the screw head, a predetermined ratio of the thickness of the walls of the additional step and the second step adjacent being provided, the thickness of the wall and the length of the second step also having a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignees: P/O Normal, VSI Corporation
    Inventors: B. E. Smirnov, S. G. Golinskikh
  • Patent number: 5252014
    Abstract: A blind fastener designed to secure workpieces having aligned holes therein is provided. The fastener comprises an elongated stem having a head at one end and a serrated tail at the other, and a tubular sleeve having a head through which tail of the stem extends and a tail which is engaged by the head of the stem. The stem further includes a shear ring for bulbing the sleeve tail and a lock ring for locking the stem to the sleeve. The stem also has a neck which engages a reduced diameter shoulder portion in the sleeve. Interference between the neck and the shoulder causes the sleeve to expand radially outward so as to fill any clearance or gap between the sleeve and the workpieces. A reservoir located in the stem accepts excess shoulder material sheared off during the hole filling process, the excess material also serving to form a secondary lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: George A. Andrews
  • Patent number: 5252013
    Abstract: A self-plugging blind rivet, of the kind comprising a tubular body having a head and a shank which is deformed by means of a headed stem which is disposed in the body and pulled so as to form a blind head and, if necessary, to cause the shank to bulb so as to grip workpieces of lesser thickness than the maximum for which the rivet is designed, is so shaped and dimensioned as to avoid the need for a crimping or hardening operation to be performed on the shank. Thus the shank is made of uniform hardness, and has a waist and a tail portion, the waist being of reduced external diameter compared with the tail portion, and the tail portion having a length B and an external diameter D which are related to satisfy the expressionB=mD+nwhereinB is the length in millimeters, of the tail portion;D is the external diameter, in millimeters, of the tail portion;n is a length, in millimeters, of from 2.15 to 2.73 millimeters, andm is a number from 0.373 to 0.527 inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Avdel Systems Limited
    Inventors: Laurence A. Browne, Keith Denham, Raymond D. Lacey
  • Patent number: 5248231
    Abstract: A self-plugging blind rivet 10 comprises a tubular body 14 having a preformed head 34 at one end, and in the bore 36 of which a headed stem 12 is disposed. The stem 12 projects from the head 34 end of the body 14, and the head 18 of the stem 12 is substantially enclosed by a region 42 of the body 14 remote from the preformed head 34. The head 18 of the stem 12 abuts a shoulder 44 provided by a region 43 of the body 14 in which the diameter of the bore 36 is reduced and the wall is thickened. Axially spaced apart annular grooves 46, 48 in the external surface of the body 14 define between them a portion 50 which will collapse to form a blind head when the body 14 is compressed axially by pulling the stem 12 while supporting the preformed head 34. Finally, the stem head 18 may be pulled into the reduced diameter region 40 of the bore 36 and thereby cause the blind head to be reshaped and forced into compressive engagement with work being fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Avdel System Limited
    Inventors: Keith Denham, Laurence A. Browne
  • Patent number: 5238342
    Abstract: A fastener having an internally threaded nut body, an externally threaded stem and a lock collar keyed to the nut body. The lock collar has a plurality of spring arms extending radially at an angle into the internally threaded bore of the nut body. During setting of the fastener, the stem is rotated in a tightening direction relative to the nut body. However, when the fastener is fully set, the spring arms will engage axial grooves in the stem to prevent relative rotation in a loosening direction between the nut body and the stem. This configuration forms a positive mechanical lock between the stem and the nut body and prevents the fastener from loosening and losing its clamping force, even when the fastener is subjected to high levels of stress and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Monogram Aerospace Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Edgar L. Stencel
  • Patent number: 5219252
    Abstract: A fixing element for fixing in a through hole accessible only from one side comprises an upsettable sleeve with a flange-like end and an insert member which is disposed in the sleeve and which has a flange-like head, the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve, with the underside of the head of the insert member being connected to the adjoining end face of the sleeve by direct contact therewith for the transmission of pressure therebetween, The sleeve can be deformed to produce a bead-like configuration by a axial pulling from applied to the insert member. There is a material bonding connection such as spot welds between the outer periphery of the insert member and the inner periphery of the sleeve in the end region thereof. In the region of the connection the sleeve comprises a round shank portion while in its deformable region it has a portion of polygonal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventor: Herbert Schruff
  • Patent number: 5213460
    Abstract: A high strength, high clamp blind bolt for fastening structural workpieces, which blind bolt has a core pin with a blind side head and a plurality of locking grooves or threads, a high stand-off collar adapted to be swaged into the locking grooves or a nut adapted to be threaded onto the pin threads, a compression frangible main sleeve structure and an expandable, short fixed length blind side sleeve structure; the blind bolt is set by a relative axial force applied to the pin which forces the short blind sleeve structure against the main sleeve structure causing the blind side sleeve to expand and form a blind side structural load bearing blind head; the relative axial force can be applied by pulling in a swage configuration or by torque in a threaded configuration; the core pin head acts on the main sleeve structure to cause a frangible portion to shear and reduce the main sleeve structure length after which the blind head engages the blind side of the workpieces; the high stand-off collar is then swaged in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahriar M. Sadri, Keith D. Nordyke, Mark R. Plunkett
  • Patent number: 5207750
    Abstract: An insertable moldable ratchet rivet assembly of a unitary construction for securing a plurality of panels together includes a drive-pin insert of a unique construction to facilitate the pull-up operation with a reduced amount of force and to form slots in the shank of a rivet housing. The drive-pin insert includes a body portion having a plurality of segments which are spaced apart from each other to form recessed flattened surfaces therebetween. Each of the flattened surfaces is provided with a plurality of lengthwise-spaced horizontal teeth. The rivet housing includes a head flange and a shank. The rivet shank is formed of a plurality of shank wall portions extending substantially from the rear surface of the rivet head flange. The plurality of shank wall portions are spaced apart from each other to provide slots therebetween which are formed by the plurality of segments on the body portion of the drive-pin insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: George M. Rapata
  • Patent number: 5197838
    Abstract: In a blind rivet having a blind rivet body which comprises a rivet head with a hollow shank formed thereon and through which extends a rivet pin which carries a thickening portion arranged at the end of the hollow shank outside the rivet body, the end of the rivet pin, which is remote from the rivet head, in the region of the clamping chuck which engages same in the setting operation, has a portion which decreases towards the rivet head, preferably a cone portion. An apparatus for setting a blind rivet of that kind has a clamping chuck which during the rivet setting operation engages the cone portion of the blind rivet, wherein the engagement surface of the clamping chuck extends from the inside outwardly in the pulling direction, being matched to the cone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Manfred Schwab
  • Patent number: 5195855
    Abstract: A blind rivet (10) comprises a head (12), a shank (14) made at least partially of heat-softenable polymeric material, and force transmitting means (22, 24) operable to apply force to a portion (14a) of the shank (14) to cause it to deform to form a further head (30) opposed to the first-mentioned head (12). The rivet also comprises electrical heating means (26) arranged to be supplied with electrical current through the first-mentioned head (12) and operable to heat the deformable portion (14a) of the shank (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: The Bentley-Harris Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Alan W. Atkinson, Melanie J. Walsh, David Cater
  • Patent number: 5178502
    Abstract: A high strength blind bolt for fastening structural workpieces the blind bolt being of a swage type, pull type construction and having a pin member with a plurality of locking grooves, a main sleeve, an expandable sleeve and a collar adapted to be swaged into the lock grooves, the main sleeve having a tapered nose portion adapted to radially expand the expandable sleeve in response to the application of a preselected relative axial force applied between the pin member and the collar, the tapered nose portion being defined by a preselected small angle to limit the radial expansion of the expandable sleeve to provide a high strength blind head for engaging the adjacent, blind side of the structural workpieces and to initially clamp the structural workpieces together at a high clamp load and to provide a final high, residual clamp load upon swaging of the collar into the lock grooves of the pin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Huck International, Inc.
    Inventor: Shahriar M. Sadri
  • Patent number: 5152648
    Abstract: The fastener assembly includes a generally solid pin, positioned within a tubular fastener body and a buckle sleeve. The fastener body has a generally cylindrical configuration and includes an enlarged head adjacent one end thereof, an intermediate shank portion, and a nose portion adjacent the other end thereof. The nose portion engage the buckle sleeve, and during installation causes the buckle of the buckle sleeve to form prior to workpiece contact by the interaction between the nose portion of the fastener and the leading edge of the buckle sleeve. The sleeve buckles the intersection between a trailing section and the largest inner diameter at the end of a tapered interior section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Pratt
  • Patent number: 5141373
    Abstract: A pull-type blind fastener for installation in aligned bores in juxtaposed workpieces to be joined has a sleeve, a pin through the sleeve, and a barrel on the pin between a pin head and the sleeve. The pin is pulled into the sleeve by an installation tool to expand the sleeve and make an interference fit with the workpieces, the barrel forms a blind side retaining bulb on the sleeve, and a selectively annealed zone on the pin shank elongates to accommodate different workpiece thicknesses within a grip range of the fastener. The annealed zone remains exterior to the workpieces to preserve integrity of the interference fit. The installation force deforms a head on the sleeve into engagement with a stop shoulder on the pin to stop a pin break neck in flush breaking relationship with the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: James W. Kendall
  • Patent number: 5135340
    Abstract: A fastener for blind installation where only one side of a workpiece is accessible for installation of the fastener. The fastener utilizes two methods of deformation on its blind side. The fastener has a tubular body made of a ductile material with a head at one end. A separate expander nut is made of a harder material and adapted with internal screw threads. The expander is engaged by a threaded pulling mandrel attached which protrudes through the tubular fastener to be installed. The pulling mandrel engages the expander by means of the screw thread and pulls it onto the tubular sleeve which then fails in columnar buckling to form a substantial bulge and foot print on the blind side of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Hi-Shear Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis D. Stinson