Abstract: The invention is a composite rivet comprising a tubular preform having a longitudinal axis and an aperture therethrough aligned with the longitudinal axis. The preform further comprises a head portion, a head forming portion and a shear portion therebetween. The preform is composed of filamentary material in a resin matrix with the filamentary material in the head forming portion in a helical pattern about the longitudinal axis. A mandrel is mounted in the aperture with the mandrel having an end extending outward from said head forming portion.

Abstract: A composite blind rivet wherein a ductile metallic sheath fully covers the blind head forming portion of the rivet before and after deformation thereof so as to preclude protrustion of said fibers upon formation of said blind head. The sheath is initially expanded radially along a thin-walled portion thereof during blind head formation by the hydrostatic pressure generated by axial compression of the rivet's composite core, whereafter axial compression of the sheath supplants the hydrostatic core pressure to radially outwardly buckle the sheath into a blind head preferably of frusto-conical cross-section. Subsequent to blind head formation, the sheath elastically maintains a radially inward bias on the rivet's composite core while elastically axially biasing the anvil from the workpieces, whereby clamp-up force is maintained notwithstanding nominal plastic cold flow of the rivet's composite core during use.

Abstract: A process for mechanically bonding a sheet of rubber to a sheet of another, e.g. a reinforcing, material, and a composite article made by the process. A molded sheet of rubber having integral upstanding posts is assembled with the sheet of the other material in such a manner that the posts extend through openings in the sheet of the other material. The distal ends of the rubber posts are then reformed (preferably by heating) to shape or form the rubber posts into rivets which mechanically lock the rubber sheet and the sheet of other material together and provide good shear resistance. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcement material is a high melting temperature plastic which has an upstanding post and the molded rubber sheet and has openings therein. The plastic posts are reformed as with a laser to bond the plastic sheet to the rubber sheet.

Abstract: The method of affixing a fastener to a panel, said fastener comprising a body portion and a flange portion, said body portion comprising a thermoplastic material and being of a length greater than the thickness of said panel, comprising the steps of: inserting said fastener into and through said panel opening, whereby an end of said body portion of said fastener extends beyond the plane of the surface of the opposed side surface of said panel; and applying ultrasonic energy to said end of said fastener body portion for reshaping said end into a flange, said ultrasonic energy causing said end to flare over and contact said adjacent panel surface thereby sealing the panel against moisture entering the core space via the fastener installation hole.

Abstract: A twin-tube type shock absorber in which a base valve, a leaf valve and a washer plate are squeezed by a flange portion and a caulked portion of a valve guide. The washer plate has a taper-cut surface of an upper corner of a center hole of the washer plate. When the caulked portion is formed by adding an extremely large axial compression force on the rod portion of the valve guide during construction of the shock absorber, the taper-cut surface prevents the caulking force from being transmitted from the washer plate to the leaf valve and prevents the permanent deformation of the leaf valve due to the caulking force. Thus, stable operation of the leaf valve and stable operation of the shock absorber are assured.

Abstract: A tubular sleeve clamps the work during a drilling step, following which a tubular anvil moves within the sleeve to support the work while a rivet is thrust into the work with an interference fit. The tubular anvil is then withdrawn and moved with an anvil pin to form an upset head. If desired, the pin can then be retracted, and the outer portion of the upset head partially sheared by the tubular anvil and flattened against the work.

Abstract: A riveting or self-fastening element such as a stud for permanent attachment to a panel preferably having a preformed panel opening, including the method of attachment and the panel assembly. The self-attaching element includes an annular barrel portion having a conical external surface which is press fitted in the panel opening to deform the panel opening and form a mating conical internal surface preventing further penetration of the fastening element into the panel. The free end of the barrel portion, which is preferably cylindrical, is simultaneously deformed outwardly in a die member having an annular die cavity, forming an annular rim which is U or hook-shaped in cross section, wherein the free end is biased against the panel preventing pull-out of the fastening element. The fastening element, method of attachment and panel assembly is particularly adapted for relatively thick metal panels, including panels having a thickness greater than 0.1 inches.

Abstract: A lock bolt is disclosed for introduction into a through hole in a structural component. The lock bolt generally is a one piece tubular bolt member having a shank with two sections joined at a first end by a bridge and with a resilient locking member integral with a first of the two sections at a second end and extending within the bolt shank and then radially outward of the bolt shank at the second of the two sections to define an end portion to in conjunction with an abutment on the bolt secure the bolt in the through hole.

Abstract: A fastener is provided for fastening together overlapping panels made from relatively soft materials, such as fiber reinforced composite materials, substantially without damage to the panels. The fastener comprises a generally tubular fastener body received within the openings of the panels. The fastener body has an enlarged body head for engaging the outer panel, an annular sidewall extending through the panel openings, and an endwall at the inner end of the fastener body. A plug having a tapered inner nose is positioned within the upper region of the fastener body in abutting contact with the body head and contiguous sidewall, and an annular sleeve is positioned within the lower region of the fastener body between the plug and endwall. During setting of the fastener, the sleeve deforms over the tapered nose and laterally expands the contiguous sidewall outwardly into a fully set condition in overlying contact with the outer surface of the inner panel.

Abstract: Blind fastener of the type having a tubular outer member with a head at one end and a conical portion at the other end, the conical portion having its apex within the outer member. The conical portion is expanded radially to form a second head on the fastener for securing it in place. The member selected for expanding the conical portion comprises a spring pin. In some embodiments novel apex contacting means are interposed between the spring pin and the apex of the conical portion. The apex contacting means is either formed integrally with one end of the spring pin or as a separate piece disposed between the spring pin and the apex of the conical portion. One important advantage of using a spring pin as the setting means is that its resilience retains it within the outer member despite vibrations, temperature changes, or other conditions which might tend to dislodge the setting means. Other advantages are lighter weight and greater strength at no more cost than previous solid setting pins.

Abstract: A rivet has a head and an elongated shank of generally circular cross section extending axially therefrom. The head has a periphery including a multiplicity of spaced portions projecting radially outwardly of the periphery of the shank and at least three guide portions between these projecting portions which provide guide surfaces extending axially of the rivet with their root surface disposed in substantial axial alignment with the periphery of the shank. The head may have a configuration shaped like a dome, or an inverted frustoconical element, or a prism, and the guide portions can be arcuate in transverse section or rectilinear. The rivet shank may have a groove along its length to facilitate securing of the workpieces therewith without requiring upsetting of the shank, and the shank may have a sharp cutting edge at its free end to facilitate penetration of the workpieces to avoid the necessity for predrilling and the like.

Abstract: A rivet installation method creates a preload on the workpieces being joined. The rivet shank is urged to resist compression during installation while a ring on the end of the shank is compressed against the workpieces. Withdrawing the compression releases the shank to provide the preload.

Abstract: A composite rivet comprises a preformed head portion, a shear portion, an integral mandrel extending from said shear portion having an annular recess therein, a deformable plastic locking ring radially aligned with and filling the recess in said mandrel, and a collar telescoped about and radially aligned with said locking ring for controlling deformation thereof.

Abstract: A self-threading polymeric fastener and blank therefor which can be used, for example, to support a wall plate over an electrical outlet or switch. The fastener blank comprises three portions, all integrally molded together, including a slotted head, a substantially cylindrical shank and a tapered tip. A helical thread is formed on the shank and tip by deforming the outer surfaces thereof without removing any significant amount of polymeric material therefrom. This is accomplished by rotating the tip and shank in a helically threaded bore, such as that provided in an outlet or switch. The polymeric fastener blank can be integrally molded with a polymeric wall plate to make their colors identical.

Abstract: A threaded fastener for installation in threaded engagement with an initially unthreaded apertured workpiece and which after installation can be removed in the manner of a screw or bolt, has a shank and an enlarged head. At least part of the shank intermediate between its ends has an external screw thread having a sharp crest, and can be radially expanded to cause the thread to embed in the workpiece. A bore extends through the head and the entire shank or at least the threaded part of the shank for receiving means for expanding the shank. An end portion of the shank remote from the head may be unthreaded to avoid splitting of the shank during expansion.The method of installing the fastener involves pulling a tapered mandrel along the bore to expand the shank. The mandrel may have a key-forming head of non-circular cross-section whereby the bore of the fastener can be adopted to receive a key of non-circular cross-section for turning the fastener in the workpiece.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant angled head fastener is disclosed for use with at least two non-metallic panels. The panels defining a bore and a counterbore with the counterbore and a portion of the bore being in one panel and the bore extending through another panel. The fastener head has an end face with two angled sections. The first section extends forwardly of the face of the head and the second section extends forwardly of the first second. The included angle of the taper of the second section is between about 100.degree. and about 170.degree.. The head section is configured to fit into the counterbore of the panel.

Abstract: An easily removable blind rivet of the type having an open rivet body with a flange on one end and a mandrel positioned within the opening in the rivet body, the mandrel having an enlarged head at one end adapted to upset the rivet body when the mandrel is pulled. The rivet is assembled with a separate strip of material surrounding the rivet body below the flange, the strip of material is adapted to be pulled so that the rivet flange can be removed from the rivet body enabling the rivet body to be passed through the opening in a workpiece.

Abstract: A unitary fastener insert (50) for structural sandwich panels (52) is comprised of a shaft (58) of a generally uniform circular cross section having a base (64) and a tip (62), a generally circular flange (68) extending radially outward from the base circumferentially peripheral the shaft, and a central stepped bore therethrough (72) including an enlarged fastener seat recess (78) disposed interiorly of the tip for receiving the head (90) of a fastener (54) merging to a reduced bore (82) for receiving the shank (94) of the fastener. The insert of the present invention is specifically configured for production by a forging technique, also described herein.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for attaching a first member to a second member such as for attaching a disposable work engaging assembly to a master holder assembly comprising a first member having opposed surfaces and at least one opening extending therethrough between the opposed surfaces, a second member formed of a malleable material having a corresponding number of tubular portions projecting therefrom at locations to register with and to be insertable into the openings in the first member, each of the tubular portions having a passageway extending therethrough formed at least in part by a non-round portion in the area thereof that extends through the opening in the first member, and a tool member having a work engaging end portion adapted to be positioned extending respectively into each of the passageways extending through the tubular portions, rotation of the tool member forcing the tool work engaging end portion into engagement with the non-round portion of the passageway extending through each of the tubular p

Abstract: An easily removable blind rivet of the type having an open rivet body with a flange on one end and a mandrel positioned within the opening in the rivet body, the mandrel having an enlarged head at one end adapted to upset the rivet body when the mandrel is pulled. The rivet flange has a portion formed out of the surface of the flange which is adapted to be gripped so that the flange can be removed from the rivet body enabling the rivet body to be passed through the opening in a workpiece.

Abstract: A daze fastener system for connecting two or more structural elements wherein the structural elements and fastener parts have substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion physical property characteristics is employed in this invention. By providing frusto-conical abutting surfaces between the structural elements and fastener parts any differences in thermal expansion/contraction between the parts is translated to sliding motion and avoids deleterious thermal stresses in the connection. An essential feature for isotropic homogeneous material connections is that at least two sets of mating surfaces are required wherein each set of mating surfaces have line element extensions that pass through a common point.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a reinforced plastic rivet comprising a plurality of substantially continuous carbon fibres encapsulated in a partially polymerized thermoset resin matrix and enveloped in a high tensile strength low modulus tubular sheath. A portion of the rivet is deformable to form a head and fully polymerizable upon heating thereof.

Abstract: There is provided a termination assembly for a cable shield which is particularly useful in connecting the shield to ground. The termination includes a tubular rivet for compressing a serrated ring into the shield for making electrical and mechanical termination. A resilient Belleville washer is compressed by the rivet for maintaining the termination.

Abstract: A rivet nail for forming a nailed joint to join parts together. The nail has a shank with a longitudinally-extending opening formed therein in the shape of a rhomb defined by two congruent triangles with an imaginary common base line. The widest portion of the opening is defined by the base line. The length of the opening is at least three times as long as the largest width of the shank, and the length of the shank between the end of the nail and the opening is at least one-fourth as long as the length of the opening.

Abstract: A horizontal hermetic type rotary compressor to be used in a refrigerator, air conditioner, or the like comprises an outer hermetic casing provided at both ends with suction and discharge pipes for a gaseous refrigerant, a compression device contained in the casing and a motor operatively connected to the compression device in the casing. The compression device has a cylinder body on both sides of which main and sub-bearings are attached and a silencer is provided for the cylinder body. The silencer comprises a plurality of silencer chambers formed in casting in the cylinder body at portions outside of the peripheries of the bearings and communicated with each other and a pair of cover plates secured to the cylinder body by tubular rivets so as to hermetically seal openings of the silencer chambers on both sides of the cylinder body.

Abstract: A pedal for a bicycle, which has a pedal shaft supported rotatably to a crank arm, the pedal shaft carrying a frame which is displaced with respect to the axis of the pedal shaft and extends in parallel to the axis thereof. A pedal body is fit onto the frame to be fixed thereto, so that the frame may reinforce the pedal body and bear an unbalanced load applied thereto.

Abstract: To attach a segmental stator, for example in the form of armature laminations, to the housing of a flywheel of an internal combustion engine, and permanent magnet rotor elements to the flywheel circumference, while permitting differential thermal expansion, the attachment elements include a shaft or web element (10, 210, 403, 403') which connects the respective magnetic structural component--stator laminations (1) or permanent magnet field (19)--to the engine structure housing (2) or flywheel (15), respectively, by two headed ends (8, 208, 408; 7, 207, 407) which may be in form of tapped cylindrical or spherical elements or cylindrical tubular portions fitted into holes (415) of the engine structure and expanded after placement, by driving a pin (FIG. 4c: 16) thereinto, or pulling a headed pin (FIG. 4d: 17) therethrough.

Abstract: In combination with a structural component, an improved self-retaining, non-metallic, molded bushing suitable for use in close tolerance applications--viz., applications where the inside and/or the outside diameters of the bushing must be maintained within .+-.0.005" and, in many instances, within .+-.0.002". More particularly, a self-retaining, non-metallic, close tolerance molded bushing having: (i) a tubular body portion with an outside diameter D.sub.1 ; (ii) an integral, enlarged, premolded first retaining head at one end of the tubular body portion; (iii) the tubular body portion having an axially extending area of reduced wall thickness at its opposite end terminating in an outwardly flared extremity having an outside diameter D.sub.2 (where D.sub.2 is greater than D.sub.

Abstract: A tacking rivet has a shaft and a head with a longitudinal bore through the haft and through the head. The head forms a rim extending radially outwardly and the rim or head has a divider which divides the head and/or rim into at least two portions. The divider may, for example, be a slot or recess or indentation.