Abstract: A method of attaching a support member formed with a hook member and a bendable tab member to a support post formed with a plurality of slots is disclosed and comprises the steps of engaging the hook member in a slot on the post member such that a portion of the hook member underlies the outer surface of the post member, rotating the support member so that the tab member is inserted in another slot on the post member and applying a bending force to the tab member to bend the tab member toward the hook member such that the tab member also underlies the outer surface of the post member. Simultaneous with applying the bending force a reaction surface is provided in the slot in which the hook member is engaged so that the bending force reacts through the reaction surface and the post member.A tool usable in the above described method comprises a handle portion having an arcuate bending finger at one end and which is pivotally connected to a reaction finger having planar bearing surfaces.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a tightening system for tightening an assembly including a threaded fastener including a wrench for applying torque and imparting rotation to the fastener. Associated with the wrench is a control system including measuring means for developing a first signal representative of the angular displacement of the fastener. A second signal representative of a constant incremental time is introduced along with the first signal to gradient calculating means which develops a signal representative of the slope or gradient of an angular speed vs. angular displacement curve which could be plotted for the particular assembly being tightened. When the gradient signal falls to a predetermined percentage of a maximum previously stored gradient signal, at the yield point of the assembly or some similarly significant point characterized by a significant change in slope on the angular speed vs.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a tightening system including a wrench for applying torque to a fastener system. Associated with the wrench is a control system including measuring means for developing a first signal representative of the torque applied to the fastener. A second signal representative of a constant incremental time is introduced along with the torque signal into gradient calculating means which develops a signal representative of the slope of a torque-time curve which can be plotted for the particular fastener system being tightened. When the gradient signal falls to a predetermined percentage of the maximum previously stored gradient signal, at the yield point of the fastener system or some similarly significant point on the torque-time curve, a control signal is generated stopping the tightening of the fastener.

Abstract: A method and fastener assembly for preloading a joint wherein a pin having a shank and a head at one end is disposed with the shank portion passing through aligned apertures of a plurality of workpieces to be joined. The shank portion of the pin extends beyond the surface of the workpiece and is provided with an irregular surface configuration. A deformable collar having an initially smooth surfaced internal bore is disposed about the pin and snugged against the adjacent workpiece by a removably positioned means placed in abutting relationship against the free surface of the collar to lightly clamp the joint assembly together to remove free play in the joint.

Abstract: A method of counting small parts by feeding the parts in bulk to discharge a stream of parts into a separating region leading to a plurality of outlet channels, the separating region including spaced rods capable of spatially distributing the parts in a random manner over the outlet channels as the parts fall through the separating region and cascade from rod to rod, counting the number of parts passing through each outlet channel and adding together the corrected numbers of parts passing through all the channels.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate to a tightening system comprising a wrench for rotating and applying torque to a fastener system, means for developing a signal representative of the torque being applied and means for developing a signal representative of the rotation. A control system is operatively associated with the wrench for determining which of the two signals is increasing faster. If the torque signal is increasing faster than the rotation signal, the control system modifies the rotation signal by increasing it until it corresponds to the torque signal, but cannot decrease the modified rotation signal when the increase of the torque signal is less than the increase of the rotation signal. When the increase of the torque signal decreases relative to the modified rotation signal, the control system develops a decision-making signal which is processed to develop a control signal when a yield point of the fastener system is detected.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate to a tightening system comprising a wrench for rotating and applying torque to a fastener system, means for developing a signal representative of the torque being applied and means for developing a signal representative of the rotation. The signals are compared and the total rotation signal is increased when the torque signal is increasing at a faster rate than the rotation signal so that the rotation signal corresponds to the torque signal. When the torque signal decreases relative to the rotation signal the rotation signal cannot decrease and a decision-making signal is developed which is processed to develop a control signal when a yield point of the fastener system is detected.

Abstract: A rotation resistant nut having an internally threaded nut body and having a portion of the exterior surface of the nut body provided with an irregular configuration. The rotation resistant nut is adapted to be used as an insert-type nut and upon installation of the nut into a round hole in a workpiece having a diameter smaller than the major diameter of the nut, the workpiece deforms the nut body so that the internal threads of the nut become distorted to create a prevailing torque locking characteristic between the internal threads of the nut and a cooperating threaded male fastener.

Abstract: A tightening system for tightening a fastener is disclosed herein and includes a wrench for tightening the fastener, a control system for shutting off the wrench when the fastener has been tightened to a predetermined condition and a quality control system including apparatus for determining the condition of the fastener at the predetermined condition and for also checking the operation of the system during the tightening cycle. Accordingly, an easily discernible and meaningful signal can be provided indicating that the tool has functioned properly and that the joint has been tightened to the predetermined condition.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a fastener assembly and method of using same to preload a joint including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings formed therein. The fastener assembly includes a pin member having an enlarged head and a shank located within the aligned openings in the workpieces and further includes a collar member having a deformable outer portion and a relatively hard inner portion located about a portion of the shank such that the inner portion is directly adjacent the shank portion. Also formed on the shank is a thread configuration adapted to cooperate with a complimentary thread configuration for snugging the workpieces together with a relatively light preload. After the joint has been snugged together, the collar member is crimped causing axial flow of material in the outer portion which reacts to stretch the pin member and induce a desired preload in the joint.

Abstract: A thread forming and vibration resistant fastener having a shank with at least a portion of its length provided with an external thread. At least a portion of the thread has an irregular surface configuration on both of its flanks in the form of a plurality of serrations. The serrations are shaped as teeth, when viewed along a cylinder concentric with the longitudinal axis of the fastener, with the teeth extending inwardly from adjacent the crest of the thread portion to a termination inwardly of the pitch diameter thereof.

Abstract: A meter for determining stiffness or torque gradient including, in one embodiment, a deflectable coupling connected between an output shaft and a power input shaft, sensing means for developing two separate series of signals representative of the displacement of the input and output shafts respectively, a comparator for determining from the two series of signals a function of the stiffness or torque gradient and, in another embodiment, including a single shaft having an input end and an output end, transducer means associated with the shaft for developing a signal representative of the torque being applied through the shaft, sensing means for developing a signal representative of the displacement of the shaft, and comparator means for determining from the two signals a function of the stiffness or torque gradient.

Abstract: A system for suspending a gradient hydrophone from a flotation member at the surface of a body of fluid by a single compliant member attached closely above the center of gravity of the hydrophone, in order to minimize the number of principal vibration modes, such as the rocking mode, and group the frequencies of such principal vibration modes in a band far enough below the operational acoustical bands of the hydrophone to allow effective electronic rolloff.

Abstract: A fastener bushing for use in a panel structure consisting of a pair of spaced outer skins and a low density core therebetween is formed with an elongated shank adapted to be inserted through an opening in the panel. The shank has a longitudinal bore extending therethrough in which a fastener element can be inserted and includes an integral enlarged head formed at one end thereof which will overlie the skin along one side of the panel when the bushing is inserted in the openings. The bushing has a peripheral groove formed on the shank immediately below the head so that when the shank is fully inserted in the panel, the groove receives the edge of the opening through which the shank was inserted, thereby to positively retain the fastener bushing in the panel.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a tightening system including a wrench for applying torque and imparting rotation to a fastener system. Associated with the wrench is a control system including measuring systems for developing a first signal representative of the torque applied to the fastener being tightened and a second signal representative of the rotation of the fastener, both of which are fed to a gradient calculating system for developing a signal representative of the slope of a Torque-Rotation curve which can be plotted for the particular fastener being tightened. The gradient signal is used to develop a signal representative of a theoretical curve which is processed with one of the previously developed signals to develop a control signal when the fastener has been tightened to its yield point or some similarly significant point.

Abstract: A tightening system and method and a fastener assembly usable therewith are disclosed in this specification. According to the method a fastener assembly is provided that causes a change in the slope of the torque-rotation curve which could be plotted while the joint is being tightened, which change occurs at a known load. While tightening the joint, the torque applied to the fastener assembly when the slope of the torque-rotation curve changes is noted and is used to calculate the torque necessary to induce a desired load in the joint. Additional torque is applied to the fastener until the actual torque being applied substantially equals the calculated torque.

Abstract: A tightening system for tightening a fastener is disclosed herein and includes a wrench for tightening the fastener, a control system for shutting off the wrench when the fastener has been tightened to a predetermined condition and a quality control system including apparatus for determining if tightening characteristics of the fastener at the predetermined condition lie within a range which would be expected for those tightening characteristics for fasteners tightened to the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A vibration resistant fastener such as a screw or bolt provided with a series of serrations on the load bearing flank of the thread of a screw or bolt so that the serrations will bear on the pressure flank of a mating thread. Each serration is formed with an inclined ramp terminating in a substantially vertical buttress with the smoothly inclined surface of the ramp being oriented in the direction of tightening so that the buttress presents a surface tending to act against rotation of the fastener to preclude loosening of the screw or bolt.

Abstract: A vibration resistant threaded fastener such as a set screw and method of forming the fastener wherein the load bearing flank of the thread surface of the screw is provided with a series of serrations. Each serration is formed with an inclined ramp terminating in a buttress forming a skewed angle with the radius of the fastener. The ramp surface is inclined in the direction of tightening the fastener so that the buttress presents a surface tending to act against rotation of the fastener to preclude its loosening. In forming the vibration resistant fastener a pair of flat thread roll dies may be used. Each die is provided with a mating segment near the end of the effective thread forming portion of the die having a configuration designed to impart the ramp and buttress serrations on the load bearing flank of the fastener rolled between the dies.

Abstract: A vibration resistant threaded fastener which may be a set screw or any other type of threaded fastener wherein the load bearing flank of the threaded surface of the screw is provided with a series of serrations. Each serration is formed with an inclined ramp terminating in a buttress with the ramp surface being inclined in the direction of tightening the fastener so that the buttress presents a surface tending to act against rotation of the fastener to preclude loosening of the fastener. Upon engagement in a workpiece under compressive load the buttress of the serrations coact with the thread flank of the mating internal thread in a workpiece to preclude disengagement of the fastener. In one embodiment of the fastener bearing pads are provided to limit the degree of coaction between the serrations and the thread flank of the workpiece.