Abstract: A drive socket for a male threaded fastener includes a plurality of rounded lobes of equal radius which are located equidistant from the center of the fastener and an equal distance from each other. The drive socket also includes flat surfaces located opposite the lobes and equidistant from the center of the fastener. Another embodiment of a drive socket includes a first set of lobes and a second set of lobes, each lobe being of equal radius and equidistant from the center of the fastener. The lobes of the first set are equidistant apart and the lobes of the second set are also equidistant apart and equidistant apart from the adjacent lobes of the first set on either side of the lobe of the second set. Each of the lobes of the first set includes a flat surface which is adjacent and tangential to the radius portion of the lobe.

Abstract: A threaded insert for providing stronger threads to a parent material. The threaded insert includes a bushing portion having male threads on the external surface and female threads within an internal bore. The threaded insert also includes keys which lock the threaded insert into a threaded hole within the parent material. The keys are positioned within slots along the external surface of the bushing portion of the threaded insert. The slots include two substantially parallel walls which are substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the slots. A method for assembling the threaded insert reduces the tendency of the keys to be installed offset from the bottom surface of the slots.

Abstract: A fastener for installation into a workpiece which may be installed by either a swaging operation or a torquing operation. The fastener includes an enlarged protruding head which is proximal to a substantially cylindrical smooth shank portion. A threaded shank portion positioned distal to the smooth shank portion includes a male thread which is sufficiently strong to have a swage collar swaged onto it. Distal to the threaded shank portion is a pin tail portion having a surface which is configured to engage a tool. Positioned between the threaded shank portion and the pin tail portion is a breakneck groove having a lower tensile strength than any other portion of the fastener. The tensile strength of the breakneck groove is controlled such that the fastener severs within the breakneck groove when a preset range of tension is applied to the pin tail portion by the tool.

Abstract: A drive socket for a male threaded fastener includes three rounded lobes of equal radius which are located equidistant from the center of the fastener and 120° apart from each other. The drive socket also includes three flat surfaces, each flat surface being located opposite one of the lobes and equidistant from the center of the fastener. Another embodiment of a drive socket includes a first set of three lobes and a second set of three lobes, each lobe being of equal radius and equidistant from the center of the fastener. The lobes of the first set are 120° apart and the lobes of the second set are also 120° apart and 60° apart from the lobes of the first set. Each of the lobes of the first set includes a flat surface which is adjacent and tangential to the radius portion of the lobe.

Abstract: The faying surface of one or of both of a pair of substrates is provided with a layer of solid polyurethane sealant which is adherent to at least one of the respective surfaces. The substrates are additionally fastened together so that the faying surfaces compress the polyurethane sealant between them to form a fluid seal across the entire spacing between the two surfaces, and between the polyurethane sealant and the faying surfaces themselves.

Abstract: The faying surface of one or of both of a pair of substrates is provided with a layer of solid polyurethane sealant which is adherent to at least one of the respective surfaces. The substrates are additionally fastened together so that the faying surfaces compress the polyurethane sealant between them to form a fluid seal across the entire spacing between the two surfaces, and between the polyurethane sealant and the faying surfaces themselves.

Abstract: The faying surface of one or of both of a pair of substrates is provided with a layer of solid polyurethane sealant which is adherent to at least one of the respective surfaces. The substrates are additionally fastened together so that the faying surfaces compress the polyurethane sealant between them to form a fluid seal across the entire spacing between the two surfaces, and between the polyurethane sealant and the faying surfaces themselves.

Abstract: A sealant for forming a fluid seal between the faying surface of two metallic substrates that are compressively and mechanically joined together. The sealant is a liquid in its pre-cured condition and a dry solid in its cured condition. The transition of the sealant from its pre-cured condition to its cured condition occurs at room temperature. The sealant's curing time is not less than about 10 minutes and not more than about 16 hours. The cured sealant has a Shore A hardness between about 30 and 70. The cured sealant is impermeable and resistant to chemical attack by air, water, common solvents and petroleum fuels. Also, the cured sealant is resistant to compressive cold flow, however, the cured sealant is deformable to conform to an abutting surface or with a layer of similar sealant. The cured sealant is flexible and resistant to temperatures between about -65 degrees F. and about 250 degrees F.

Abstract: A vibration resistant fastener comprising a pin and a collar. The pin is threaded or peripherally grooved. At a central location, the major diameter of the thread or groove is reduced to a diameter which is still larger than its minor diameter. A collar is threaded or swaged on to the pin and collar material is pressed into an open region that was formed by the reduction of the major diameter, to form a thread lock.

Abstract: A self-locking nut for application to a threaded shaft, especially a wheel bearing nut. The shaft has a spline groove along its thread. A cup-like thrust washer fits on the shaft with a tang in the spline grove to prevent its rotation. It has retention grooves in its wall. A lock ring is slidably retained in the washer with tangs in the retention grooves. A bias spring is fitted between the washer and the lock ring. An internally threaded nut is threaded to the shaft and has a depending neck passing through the lock ring having a bearing surface to bear against the washer, and an outward deformation which prevents removal of the nut from the lock ring.

Abstract: A computer controlled pull gun system for pulling interference fit fasteners into a mounting hole. The pull gun has a rotatable and axially movable mandrel the is driven by a pneumatic motor. An axially movable piston in a hydraulic cylinder of the pull gun is attached to the mandrel to move it axially after it has been threaded into an interference fit fastener. A digital control system precisely controls the operation to the functions thread mandrel, pull mandrel, unthread mandrel to quickly and efficiently install a fastener. The digital control system controls pressurized fluid pneumatic and hydraulic valves to perform the installation functions. The digital controller responds to commands from buttons on the pull gun that select the functions and determines when a fastener has been properly installed by feedback from a pressure sensing transducer. A reset command button is provided on the pull gun to abort an installation or reset the pull gun for a new installation.

Abstract: An adjuster to establish and maintain tension in a cable system including a reference body, and a ratchet member having succession of ratchet teeth each with a pass face and an abutment face. Two pawl members engage the ratchet member, both permitting passage of the ratchet member in the same direction. A flexible linkage anchored to the body and joining the pawl members multiplies the speed of one pawl versus the other along the ratchet member so as to maintain and adjust the residual tension in the cable system when the system is actuated and released.

Abstract: An interference fit fastener and threaded puller attachment in combination. The fastener has a shank with an external thread and an axial recess with an internal thread, the threads being of opposite hands. The puller attachment is threadly engaged to the internal thread so as to exert an axial pull on the fastener, and to resist torque exerted on a nut or collar being applied to the external thread. After the fastener is set, the puller is removed.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench with unitary floating pawl. The pawl has arcuate sides which rest against arcuate walls in the wrench body permitting rotation of the pawl in the body when a detented flat reaction bar slidably contained in the wrench body is positioned against one of two projecting pads on the pawl. The contacted projecting pad on the pawl restrains the pawl from rotation in one direction and the clearance of the second pad with the reaction ar permits the pawl to ratchet in the other direction. Sliding the detented reaction bar changes the direction of wrenching and ratcheting. An efficient, strong, thin-walled body for effective use in close quarters is the result.

Abstract: A lock nut to be threaded onto a threaded shank which has a keyway. The lock nut has a base, a key on the base to fit in the keyway, a peripheral wall with axial angularity spaced apart recesses, and a wave spring. The wave spring has ridges and radial tabs to fit in the recesses. An internally threaded nut has radially-extending grooves complementary to the ridges to hold the nut against rotation relative to the wave spring when the ridges fit in the grooves. The tabs can be contacted by a drive member to compress the wave spring and remove the ridges from the grooves to enable the nut to turn during installation and removal.

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.

Abstract: A fastener which includes a threaded pin having a notched helical thread to receive a threaded collar which, after being set to a torque, is deformed to move material into some notches on the thread to form a lock to prevent unthreading. The notched thread can be formed by a three-section roll die, the first section of which forms the thread, the second of which notches the thread, and the third section of which smoothes the thread. The invention comprehends the die, the die forming method, the pin, the pin and collar, and a joint formed with the pin and collar.

Abstract: A power driven torque tool for turning a socket to set a threaded fastener. A socket drive to drive the socket from its side has a passage through which a key passes. The key is held in a key holder which itself is held against rotation by a bias spring that biases the key away from the socket, and by holding the key holder against rotation also holds the key against rotation. The key can quickly be changed by releasing the spring from the key holder, changing the key, and then reattaching the spring.

Abstract: A fastener for use in fatigue resistant structures such as aircraft wings. The fastener is installed into interference fit by tool engagement in a tapped hole coaxial with the threaded end of the pin, at the threaded end of the fastener pin. The tapped hole is engaged by a hardened mandrel which is detachably threaded into the threaded hole in the pin. The mandrel has an extending tail end which may be gripped by a pulling tool after the threaded end of the pin is partially inserted into the workpiece with the mandrel extending through the workpiece. The tail end of the mandrel is engaged by a pulling tool that can be manually or power actuated to pull the interference fit shank into the structure workpiece to produce a fatigue resistant interference between the pin shank diameter and the workpiece hole diameter.

Abstract: A fastener includes a threaded pin and an internally threaded collar. The threads can freely be run without impediment during tightening. After the fastener is tightened, a tool engages a shoulder on the collar and presses a deflector against the collar on the pin to deflect it so as to form a lock against loosening.