Abstract: An installation tool for use with a liner sleeve attachment, such as a nutplate assembly for mounting onto a substrate blind side as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,747. The installation tool includes retractable grip jaws for gripping and pulling a fixture pin protruding from the attachment, for initially advancing a tapered tool nose piece into deforming engagement with an attachment liner sleeve leading end to flare and/or expand the liner sleeve to lock the liner sleeve onto the substrate. Continued pulling action exerts a sufficient force to collapse a fixture pin head and thereby permit pull-removal of the fixture pin from the attachment. The nose piece is carried by a retractable inner housing normally retained in an advanced position for deforming the liner sleeve, and thereafter movable to a retracted position spaced from the liner sleeve to accommodate substantially unobstructed fixture pin separation from the attachment.

Abstract: A standoff attachment for bonded fixation to a substrate includes a standoff post with internal nut for engaging a mating fastener used to mount a support element such as a line clamp substantially at a distal end thereof. The standoff post extends from an enlarged bond-on base and defines a hollow slotted channel of noncircular cross-section which terminates at the distal end in an in-turned flange defining an open fastener-receiving port. The nut includes a keyed rib sized and shaped for axial slide-fit reception into the slotted channel at an inboard side of the distal end flange, wherein this rib mates with the slotted channel shape to preclude substantial nut rotation. An elongated slotted plug is secured within the slotted channel to retain the nut, preferably with a minor degree of axial freedom, axially between the plug and the distal end flange.

Abstract: An adhesive bonded attachment assembly is provided for supporting and retaining an insulation blanket on a substrate such as aircraft engine nacelle or the like. The attachment assembly includes a stud attachment having a base for adhesive bonded affixation to the nacelle substrate and a fastener element such as a threaded stud extending from the base at least partially into a grommet-lined mounting port formed in the insulation blanket. A radially enlarged, insulated cap fastener is secured to the fastener element to retain the insulation blanket on the nacelle substrate in a manner shielding surrounding structures and components from heat generated during engine operation. The insulated cap fastener projects radially beyond the associated grommet for improved heat-shielding of the adhesive bonded stud attachment, thereby safeguarding against debonding of the attachment base in response to high temperature exposure.

Abstract: An adhesive attachment is provided for securely mounting an attachment component such as a threaded stud or the like on the surface of a selected substrate, wherein the adhesive attachment provides an electrically conductive ground path for grounding the attachment component and/or a selected structure mounted thereto to the substrate. In one preferred form, the attachment component is a threaded element such as a stud or nut. Upon mounting of the attachment component on the substrate and subsequent connection of the threaded element to a mating threaded member, e.g., of the selected structure to be mounted onto the attachment component, a conductive ground pin is pressed into electrical contact with the substrate for grounding the attachment component and/or the selected structure mounted thereto.

Abstract: A bond strength tester unit is provided for testing adhesive bond strength of a nutplate or the like attached to a substrate, such as by adhesive bonded attachment to a blind side of the substrate in substantial alignment with a substrate opening. The nutplate may be constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,391, and carries a fastener element such as a threaded nut or the like for subsequent connection with a mating fastener element such as a threaded bolt or the like passed through the substrate opening. The tester unit includes a tool tip having a reaction head for engaging the substrate, in combination with an actuator pin for applying a test force of selected magnitude against the adhesively bonded nutplate. In the event of inadequate bond strength, the actuator pin will separate the nutplate from the substrate.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting bracket for secure adhesive mounting onto an exposed edge of a substrate, wherein the mounting bracket is adapted for subsequently supporting a selected structure such as tubing, wire bundles, etc., relative to the substrate. The mounting bracket includes slidably interfitting, generally L-shaped bracket members which cooperatively define a slidably overlying pair of mounting plates and an associated pair of slidably separable clamp jaw plates having inboard faces carrying a selected bonding agent and adapted to seat firmly against opposed substrate edge surfaces. A resilient fixture pin is carried by the mounting plates and can be actuated to apply a positive force urging the clamp jaw plates against the opposed surfaces of the substrate edge of the duration of a bonding agent cure time, after which the fixture pin can be forcibly removed from the mounting bracket.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting bracket for secure mounting as by adhesive attachment onto an exposed edge of a substrate, wherein the mounting bracket is adapted for quick and easy subsequent mounting of a selected structure such as tubing, wire bundles, etc., relative to the substrate. The adjustable mounting bracket includes a pair of slidably interfitting, generally L-shaped bracket members which cooperatively define a slidably overlying pair of mounting plates and an associated pair of slidably separable clamp jaw plates. The slidably interfitting mounting plates accommodate adjustable spaced-apart separation of the clamp jaw plates to seat firmly against opposed surfaces of the substrate edge, such as mounting onto a rib protruding from the substrate or mounting onto an inner diameter edge of an opening formed in the substrate.

Abstract: An improved cable tie is provided for securely bundling one or more wires or the like. The cable tie includes a buckle formed by a buckle housing having a double-ended barbed insert mounted therein. The buckle housing defines an anchor slot open at one end for seated reception of a first end of a flexible cable strap, with the barbed insert gripping and retaining the strap therein. A through channel is also formed in the buckle housing and accommodates unidirectional slide-through passage of an opposite or free end of the strap, with the barbed insert gripping and retaining the strap free end against withdrawal relative to the through channel. This flexible strap can be formed from a high strength material such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) suitable for use in a relatively high temperature environment.

Abstract: A self fixturing adhesive attachment is provided for securely mounting an attachment component such as a threaded stud on the surface of a substrate. The self fixturing attachment includes a base fixture carrying the attachment component and defining a base surface for receiving a selected curable bonding agent thereon. A resilient pressure sensitive adhesive member has a first portion carried by the attachment component at a blind side thereof, a second portion secured to the base fixture, and a third portion extending therebetween. Following pressed mounting of the base fixture with bonding agent thereon onto the substrate, the attachment component is movable to press the first portion of the pressure sensitive adhesive member into adherence with the substrate, resulting in stretched elongation of the third portion thereof to pull the base fixture with a positive force toward the substrate for the duration of the bonding agent cure time.

Abstract: An adhesive attachment assembly is provided for mounting an attachment member such as a threaded stud or the like onto a substrate, wherein the attachment assembly includes a heat source for rapidly curing a selected adhesive bonding agent. The adhesive attachment assembly includes a first attachment component defining a base surface for receiving the curable bonding agent thereon, and a second attachment component adapted for temporary connection to the substrate. Upon pressed mounting of the first attachment component with bonding agent thereon onto the substrate, the second attachment component is movable into temporary engagement with the substrate, and a spring member reacts between the first and second attachment components to apply a positive force urging the first attachment component toward the substrate for the duration of the bonding agent cure time. A heat source is carried by the first attachment component for activating and/or rapidly curing the bonding agent.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing multi-part reaction materials under a vacuum comprises a container including a mixing chamber sized to contain a reaction material. An agitator for mixing the reaction material to form a mix includes both rigid blades and flexible paddles. The rigid blades are substantially non-deflected during mixing and cut the mix, and the flexible paddles are deflected and knead the mix. The combined action of the rigid blades and the flexible paddles under vacuum throughly mixes reaction materials and removes entrapped gases from the mix. The mix can be dispensed directly from the mixing chamber. The apparatus can be used to mix viscous materials such as bone cement.

Abstract: An adhesive bonded nutplate assembly is provided for mounting onto a substrate, particularly such as a composite substrate having an opening therein for passage of a fastener such as a bolt or screw. The nutplate assembly includes an integral liner sleeve to project through the substrate opening when the nutplate assembly is mounted thereon. An installation tool includes a tapered nose in combination with a pulling mandrel to pull and separate a fixture pin from the nutplate assembly while flaring a leading edge of the liner sleeve to lock the nutplate assembly in place.