Abstract: An improved locking element for a quick-connect coupling is designed for use in joining together tubular fluid conduits. The locking element comprises an annular segment and a plurality of annularly distributed resilient curled fingers which is sized to fit inside an annular cage mounted on one end of an inner coupling. The locking element of the inner coupling engages the flared end of an outer coupling when the couplings are telescopically fitted together.

Abstract: A fastener clip is adapted to be pushed onto an edge of sheet materials of varying thicknesses. The clip has two legs. The first leg has a U-shaped elongated tongue cut from it and bent towards the second leg to frictionally engage a sheet material disposed between the two legs; the second leg has an integral threaded barrel for receiving a bolt. The U-shaped tongue is formed with offset bends to allow the tongue to yield when the clip is mounted on a thick sheet material.

Abstract: A retainer is provided for holding at least two valve rocker trunnions in predetermined, fixed relationship prior to and during installation in a diesel engine assembly. The retainer is an elongated strip arcuate in cross-section and provided with shoulders. At least two cut-out sections provided with pairs of opposing spring members are adapted to receive the trunnions in an interference fit and hold them in fixed relationship while the retainer and trunnions are installed in the engine. Means are provided for holding the retainer in position on the engine assembly during installation.

Abstract: An improved shock isolating mount is designed for securing a body part of a vehicle to a support. The shock mount comprises a two-part spool that includes: a spacer formed from an annular flange integral with a tube, the tube projecting through apertures in mating elastically resilient bodies and a mounting part of a vehicle body part disposed between them; a thimble, formed from a flange integral with a tube designed such that the thimble tube can telescope into the spacer tube. The thimble tube is formed into a polygon shape at the tube shoulder adjacent the thimble flange and the spacer tube is formed in a matching polygon shape such that the thimble tube shoulder can mate with the spacer tube. The thimble tube has an enlarged end which is engaged by a plurality of inward protrusions mounted in the spacer tube to prevent the spacer and thimble assembly from accidental disengagement.

Abstract: An improved impact plug assembly is provided which will not become entangled with neighboring such assemblies when a plurality thereof is shipped or stored in containers prior to use to close apertures in a workpiece. The plug is of the type having a cooperating crossbar for locking the plug in place in the aperture to be closed, the crossbar being retained in diametrically opposed slots formed in the peripheral walls of said plug. The improvement comprises the provision of raised means such as dimples on the surface of the plug on each side of the crossbars to prevent projecting edges of crossbars of neighboring plugs in a storage bin from becoming inextricably entangled.

Abstract: An improved impact plug assembly is provided, said assembly having a plug for insertion into an aperture in a workpiece and a cooperating crossbar for locking the plug into place in the aperture, the improvement comprising at least one shear lip means formed in said crossbar outwardly of said plug adjacent said slots to engage said plug walls adjacent said slots, whereby said crossbar is captured in said plug.

Abstract: A self-retaining nut, and panel assembly, in which the nut body includes a shoulder portion having two or more panel piercing pins which, are caused to pierce the panel and are bent to secure the nut to the panel. In addition, a piercing and extruding punch pierces the panel and causes extrusion or cold flow of the panel metal in the piercing region to flow into a enlarged bore or undercut portion of the nut to further aide in its retention. The assembly of the nut type fastener and the sheet panel can be accomplished in a method of application in which the pins are caused to pierce the panel, bent into fastening position and the panel is pierced and extruded to provide an opening for a threaded fastener to be secured to the nut while causing cold flow of panel material into the nut for further retention in essentially one operative step.

Abstract: An improved fastener assembly is designed for securing a workpiece, having known thickness and a hole therethrough and being subject to plastic deformation, to a support. The fastener assembly can apply a high clamping load to the workpiece yet causes minimal cold plastic deformation of it and includes a fastener having a head and a shank projecting from the head. The shank includes an upper portion adjacent the head, an annular rib that protrudes radially outwardly from the upper portion at its extreme opposite the head, and an operative portion engageable in the support. A washer having a hole therein is received about the upper portion of the shank and is formed on one of its faces with an annular rabbet encircling the hole. A sleeve includes a generally cylindrical side wall having an axially extending split discontinuity and circular edges at its opposing axial extremes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wheel nut cap welding in which two capped wheel nuts are axially aligned with their capped ends facing one another and spaced apart from one another by a cylindrical electrically conductive ring the opposite ends of which contact the sheath of the capped nut adjacent the area at which the weld has to be formed. The capped nuts and ring are telescopically assembled within a cylindrical guide sleeve of insulating material so that the conical, threaded opening end of each of the nuts extends beyond the ends of the guide sleeve where they are each contacted by cylindrical electrodes having conical indentations to fit the nut conical ends.

Abstract: There is disclosed a capped machine nut comprising a polygonal-sided metal nut body having a conical bearing surface projecting from a first axial end, the opposite axial end and the polygonal sides of the body being encased in a sheet metal cup-shaped cap tightly conforming to the polygonal nut body but spaced from said opposite axial end to form a dome. The nut body is formed with a peripheral groove axially intermediate the polygonal sides and conical bearing surface, wherein the shoulder of the groove adjacent the polygonal sides is substantially right-angled so that the lip of the cap skirt can effectively grip the shoulder when crimped into the groove, and thereby retain the cap on the nut body. In a preferred form, the lip of the cap skirt is doubly crimped by folding the skirt edge into the groove at the apices of the polygonal sides, and also intermediate the polygonal apices.

Abstract: A fastening device comprises an electrically conductive sheet metal nut element which may function to complete electrical connections and a plastic, electrically insulating cap member which covers the nut element. Even though plastic material such as that from which the cap member is made is pliable and exhibits a certain amount of plastic flow or "creep," the cap member and nut element are configured so that they can be tightly assembled to transmit high torques through the cap member to the nut element. Specifically, the nut element is formed with a web portion, which is generally perpendicular to the fastening device axis, and a stud-engaging configuration associated with the web portion. A cylindrical section is formed at the periphery of the web portion to extend in the direction of the device axis and has at least one pair of circumferentially opposing wings which project outwardly away from the axis.