Abstract: A sealing plug comprises the combination of a stem and sleeve, in which the stem is designed to have an external taper such that, on installation of the plug by a setting tool, sleeve material flows into a gap between the sleeve and taper to assist with locking the sleeve and stem together. Furthermore, the tool nose piece has a conical taper designed to cause sleeve material to flow, initially on installation, radially outward to effect locking of the plug into a blind hole into which it is being installed.

Abstract: A fastener placement tool has a mandrel able to place a series of captive rivets in sequence. The tool employs a single electric motor capable of driving the tool into either a first cycle for rivet placement, to a second cycle for selective release of the mandrel form the tool for rivet replenishment. The tool includes a user-operable switch actual to select which of the first or second cycle the tool is to operate.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for attaching to a lockbolt via a swaged-mounted collar. The apparatus includes an element which permits relative movement between a cutting blade and an opposing surface so that the collar is held centrally within the apparatus during cutting.

Abstract: A lockbolt for installation into apertured workpiece members, comprising a pin having a head and a tail end provided with locking grooves and a single pull groove (20), wherein an installation tool having a collet with a corresponding shape to the pull groove is used to apply an increasing pulling force to the pin tail, thereby to push the collet towards the workpiece, and as the force applied by the hydraulic piston further increases, causing the collar (10) to be swaged into the lock grooves, and halting the force applied by the tool either at a predetermined maximum value or when the pin tail breaks at a breaker groove formed by the single pull groove.

Abstract: A manually-actuated retention and release mechanism is disclosed for use with a blind threaded rivet setting tool. The mechanism has a cap with an internal screw thread which retains a drive screw immovably to a spindle such that axial or rotational movement of the spindle results in concomitant movement of the drive screw. The cap cooperates with a manually-actuable bar via series of serrations formed on the cap, each of which serrations is a latch point for the bar. Movement of the bar into or out of engagement with the serrations dictates whether or not the cap is locked in position.

Abstract: A threaded fastener for installation in an aperture in a workpiece, the fastener having a rear portion defining an internally threaded aperture and a front portion arranged to engage the rear portion and having a front aperture which is aligned with the threaded aperture when the two portions are fully engaged, both portions having bearing surfaces for bearing on the rear and front of a workpiece respectively and the engagement between the portions being arranged to accurately control the distance between the front and rear bearing faces.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool for installing a fastener by gripping and drawing back a stem of the fastener comprises a hydraulic cylinder, and a hydraulic piston assembly located in the hydraulic cylinder for use in drawing back the stem of a fastener. The hydraulic piston assembly comprises an elongate draw part and a separate hollow piston part mounted on the elongate draw part such that the elongate draw part extends at least partly through the hollow piston part. The elongate draw part and the hollow piston part are formed from different materials.

Abstract: A fastener (2) for securing a workpiece comprising a plurality of workpiece members, said fastener comprising a shank (4) and a radially enlarged head (6) wherein the fastener further comprises axial voids (40) and splines (18), such that when the fastener is installed into a workpiece by a mandrel, breakstem or pin, the shank of the fastener is expanded such that the crests of the splines are caused to mechanically engage with the internal walls of the fastener apertures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydro-pneumatically operated fastener installation tool (2), including a head (4) having hydraulically driven gripping and pulling means for gripping and pulling the stem of a fastener, thereby to install the fastener, and a hydraulic inlet port (6) provided in the head (4) for supplying hydraulic fluid to a cylinder (8) to drive the gripping and pulling means, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the hydraulic inlet port (6) is non-circular, such that a cross section of the inlet port (6) has a longitudinal axis and lateral axis, wherein the longitudinal axis runs widthways across the tool head (4).

Abstract: A blind fastener comprising a body (22) and a stem (26), wherein the fastener is installed in a workpiece by applying a pulling force to the bodycausing a bulb to form at a radially expandable section of the body, the stem of the fastener comprising two waisted regions (38, 40) of reduced diameter, such that when the body of the fastener is crimped after assembly with the stem, the body is caused to form a barrel shape, whereby clearance between the body and stem is minimized.

Abstract: A fastener for installation in a workpiece, the fastener comprising a pin and a body comprising a shell and a radially enlarged head, wherein a first engaging means comprising a nylon sleeve is located within a bore of the shell, and a second engaging means comprising a plurality of barbs is located on the exterior of at least part of the pin shank, and wherein the pin shank is insertable into the bore of the body from an end of the body remote from the head end, such that the first and second engaging means mutually engage.

Abstract: A fastener (2) such as a rivet, and a method of manufacture of such, wherein the fastener (2) is formed with helical (16) and annular grooves on the shell (4), such that when the fastener (2) is installed into a workpiece (24), a bulb (30) having a lobed blindside footprint (36) is produced on the blindside of the workpiece (24), the helical grooves (16) having an increasing depth towards the head end (12) of the shell (4) to promote formation of the bulb (30) initially towards the head end (12).

Abstract: Self-tapping blind rivet (10) having a mandrel (12) carrying a hole-forming tip (16) at its end facing the workpiece, wherein the tip (16) is performed as an apparatus for drilling the rivet's own placing hole, wherein a positive or non-positive connection is provided between the mandrel (12) of the rivet and the rivet shank (18) and, wherein a force application point (26) for a tool is provided at or in the rivet head (20), and a method for placing such a blind rivet.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a sealing plug from a bore, the sealing plug has an outer sleeve and an inner stem retained within the outer sleeve, the removal taking place after a suitable hole has been drilled part-way into the stem, the removal apparatus has a tapered punch for forcible insertion into the hole in the stem to create an interference fit between the punch and the stem and thereafter driving the stem out of the sleeve while also retaining the stem on the punch by virtue of the interference fit, and sleeve-engaging portion engagable with the sleeve after the punch has removed the stem from the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging portion and the punch being thereafter removable from the bore to remove both the sleeve and the stem from the bore while the sleeve and the stem are both retained on the appropriate parts of the apparatus.

Abstract: A sealing plug for sealing a hole in a wall, which sealing plug is insertable into the hole by access from only one side thereof, which sealing plug comprises: a radially expandable body which is radially expandable by access thereto from only one end thereof, and a sealing cap which covers the other end of the expandable body and extends therefrom along the exterior of the length of the body, the sealing cap being of a material which is fluid resistant; whereby, when the sealing plug has been inserted in the hole and has been radially expanded so that at least part of the sealing cap adjacent the wall of the hole expands and engages therewith, the sealing cap is secured in the hole with the sealing cap sealing the plug body against access thereto from outside the cap.

Abstract: An insert for blind installation in a workpiece, and method of manufacture of an insert, the insert (2) comprising a body (4) and anchor stud (6); wherein the stud is inserted into a through bore (22) in the body, part of the stud extending beyond the end of the through bore, and a part of the stud provided with opposed areas of knurling (14, 16) such as threading, being enveloped by a reduced diameter section (24) of the body, such that crimping the stud onto the body causes material to enter the knurling, thereby firmly attaching body and stud, allowing the insert to withstand high torque.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydro-pneumatically operated fastener installation tool (2), including a head (4) having hydraulically driven gripping and pulling means for gripping and pulling the stem of a fastener, thereby to install the fastener, and a hydraulic inlet port (6) provided in the head (4) for supplying hydraulic fluid to a cylinder (8) to drive the gripping and pulling means, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the hydraulic inlet port (6) is non-circular, such that a cross section of the inlet port (6) has a longitudinal axis and lateral axis, wherein the longitudinal axis runs widthways across the tool head (4).