Abstract: An improved fastener includes a shank section which is coaxial with and extends outwardly from a head section. The head section has a rim which cooperates with the shank section to form a groove in which sheet metal is received. The head and shank sections have arcuate indentations into which the sheet metal is forced. In addition, the shank section has arcuate outer side surfaces which oppose flat outer side surfaces on the rim. Due to the difference in the configurations of the side surfaces of the rim and shank sections, constrictions are formed between the rim and shank sections. Each constriction tends to deform or extrude sheet metal upon the application of torque to the fastener. The corners of the indentations in the shank sections and the rim apply shear forces to the sheet metal to further resist relative rotation between the fastener and the sheet metal.

Abstract: A fastener assembly with a break mandrel blind rivet and a mating female component having head and tubular shank portions. The tubular shank includes major and minor bore sections and an intermediate internal shoulder. The blind rivet telescopes into the female component to provide a grip range. Positive axial draw-up between the rivet and component upon tensioning of the mandrel is achieved by engagement between an expanded area of the blind rivet and the internal shoulder of the female component. The head of the female component has a central aperture for receiving the end of the mandrel to increase the grip range of the assembly. A plastic case molded around the head and shank closes off the aperture and affords a weatherproof seal.

Abstract: An improved fastener includes a shank section which extends outwardly from a head section. The head section has a rim with an inner side surface which cooperates with an outer side surface of the shank section to form a groove. The inner side surface of the rim includes a plurality of indentations which are separated by side surfaces. The outer side surface of the shank section also includes a plurality of indentations which are separated by side surfaces. The side surfaces on the rim are disposed radially outwardly of the indentations in the shank section and cooperate with the shank section to form a plurality of constrictions. Similarly, the indentations in the rim are disposed outwardly of the side surfaces of the shank section and cooperate with the side surfaces of the shank section to form a plurality of constrictions. The constrictions apply deformation forces to material on which the fastener is mounted upon application of torque load to the fastener.

Abstract: An improved fastener has a head section and an axially extending shank section. A thread convolution is disposed in a coaxial relationship with the head and shank sections. An improved holding action against rotational and axial movement of the fastener relative to a metal base member is promoted by a plurality of radially extending wedge-shaped compression ramps. The compression ramps are disposed on the head section and slope radially and axially inwardly toward the shank section. The compression ramps are effective to force metal of the base member into an annular groove which circumscribes and undercuts at least a portion of the shank section. The metal which is received in the undercut portion of the groove is effective to hold the fastener against being pushed or pulled axially outwardly from the base member. The compression ramps also force the metal of the base member radially inwardly against corners formed on the shank section of the fastener to hold the fastener against rotation.

Abstract: A load indicating flange is provided either separately or on a nut or a bolt head. This load indicating flange has an axially directed face which has a wavy surface on which a plurality of crests are disposed for initial engagement with a work surface. A plurality of troughs are provided on the wavy surface one each between two of the crests. A gauge groove is provided at each trough and when the bolt and nut combination is properly tightened on a workpiece, the troughs are flattened toward the work surface to such an extent that a relatively thick gauge cannot enter the gauge groove. If the bolt and nut are improperly tightened, then the gauge will enter the gauge groove. A narrow band peripheral bearing surface is provided on the outer periphery of the face to prevent defacing the work surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new fastening system particularly for fastening of fiber-reinforced polyester/plywood panels 14 to metallic structural members 16 in sealing engagement through apertures 18. The system has a sealing capped nut 10 for receiving in threaded engagement a bolt 12. Upon such engagement a formable shank portion 40 of the sealing capped nut 10 is deformed in a designed fashion to form a seal between the bolt 12 and the aperture 18 opening.

Abstract: A customized, substantially standard power wrench is disclosed which has been modified to provide bolt holding capability. The housing is machined to provide a cylindrical opening and an internal, shallow, oval-shaped recess. An adapter assembly includes an adapter ring projecting through the housing opening formed with an oval-shaped flange axially positioning the adapter ring and preventing relative rotation between the adapter ring and the main housing of the wrench. A bit rod extends longitudinally through the wrench to the drive end and is biased toward the drive end by a spring located in a spring housing threaded onto the adapter ring. The simple mounting of the bit rod and adapter ring minimizes the conversion cost of the tool to render it capable of bolt holding operation.

Abstract: A drive cavity for a threaded fastener which is compatible with a variety of wrench drivers having hexagon-based profiles. The drive cavity is a prismatic projection of a multi-, primarily flat-sided, profile having its radially inner margins defined by the mid-sides of a common base hexagon and its radially outer margins defined by six trapezoid sectors each centered on and outlying the corners of the base hexagon.

Abstract: An improved fastener has a head section and an axially extending shank section. A thread convolution is disposed in a coaxial relationship with the head and shank sections. An improved holding action against rotational and axial movement of the fastener relative to a metal base member is promoted by a plurality of radially extending wedge-shaped compression ramps. The compression ramps are disposed on the head section and slope radially and axially inwardly toward the shank section. The compression ramps are effective to force metal of the base member into an annular groove which circumscribes and undercuts at least a portion of the shank section. The metal which is received in the undercut portion of the groove is effective to hold the fastener against being pushed or pulled axially outwardly from the base member. The compression ramps also force the metal of the base member radially inwardly against corners formed on the shank section of the fastener to hold the fastener against rotation.

Abstract: An improved fastener assembly may be used to mount a vehicle wheel on a hub. The fastener assembly includes a nut which is rotatable relative to a washer to enable the fastener assembly to be tightened without marring the wheel. The washer has an annular collar which is loosely connected with the nut by a retainer section which extends from one axial end portion of the nut. The nut and washer collar have abutting annular load transmitting surface areas. The washer also has an annular load transmitting and indicating section which extends radially outwardly from the collar. The load transmitting and indicating section includes a bearing section and a spring section. The spring section flares radially and axially outwardly from the bearing section. When the fastener assembly is tightened with a predetermined preload, the spring section is flattened to provide a visual indication that the desired preload has been applied.

Abstract: A wrench adapter is disclosed which can be inserted into and removed from standard size wrenches. The adapter includes a plurality of pins interconnected by a resilient retainer which operates to position the pins in an array arranged to fit into the corners of a mating wrench opening. The adapter permits the conversion of wrenches between inch and metric sizes, and also allows a wrench to be used with a damaged fastener or with cylindrical elements such as studs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of forming improved dies for rolling an article, such as a lock thread convolution. The dies are formed by rolling a circular hob along a flank of a thread form ridge on the die. As the hob is rolled along the thread form ridge, teeth on the hob are pressed against the thread form ridge with a constant force to form uniform indentations and/or projections in the thread form ridge. The indentations and/or projections which are formed in the thread form ridge by the hob all have the same configuration since the hob is pressed against the thread form ridge with a force of a constant magnitude as the hob is rolled along the thread form ridge. During the rolling of an external thread convolution on a bolt blank with the improved die, the indentation and/or projections on the thread form ridge shape teeth on the flank of an external thread convolution on the bolt.

Abstract: A system and method for fixedly securing a roller side bearing assembly to the top surface portion of a rail car truck assembly. Elongated threaded fasteners pass through registered openings in a bearing cage bottom wall and truck assembly top surface portion in threaded receipt by locknuts disposed on the underside of the top surface portion. A washer captured on each fastener includes at least a portion thereof which is closely interposed between the fastener head and the bearing cage bottom wall at the associated opening. The fasteners are rotated into threaded advancement with the locknuts to achieve fastener clamploads which fall within predetermined upper and lower limits. Each fastener head advantageously includes a hex type wrench receiving opening which has a limited maximum torque capacity generally correlated to obtaining a fastener clampload no greater than the predetermined upper limit. The washer geometry facilitates use of better or improved fastener head fillets.

Abstract: An internally threaded fastener, such as a nut, includes a body having an axially extending opening with a side wall. A coarse internal thread convolution is formed in the side wall of the nut body. A fine thread convolution is also formed in the side wall of the nut body. The turns of the coincident coarse and fine thread convolutions are intermingled to enable them to engage a fastener having either a coarse or a fine external thread. An improved tap has a first section for forming the fine thread convolution and a second section for forming the coarse thread convolution. The two sections of the tap are interconnected in a coaxial relationship by a connector section having an axial extent which is less than the axial extent of the coincident coarse and fine thread convolutions. When a plurality of nuts are to be tapped, the fine thread convolution is tapped first.

Abstract: A system and method for fixedly securing a roller side bearing assembly to the top surface portion of a rail car truck assembly. Elongated threaded fasteners pass through registered openings in a bearing cage bottom wall and truck assembly top surface portion in threaded receipt by locknuts disposed on the underside of the top surface portion. A washer captured on each fastener includes at least a portion thereof which is closely interposed between the fastener head and the bearing cage bottom wall at the associated opening. The fasteners are rotated into threaded advancement with the locknuts to achieve fastener clamploads which fall within predetermined upper and lower limits. Each fastener head advantageously includes a hex type wrench receiving opening which has a limited maximum torque capacity generally correlated to obtaining a fastener clampload no greater than the predetermined upper limit. The washer geometry facilitates use of better or improved fastener head fillets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lug nut 10 capable of manufacture on existing nut forming machinery having a continuous thread through the entire axially inner surface 12 while having suitable drive means placed upon the axially outer surface 14 such as a conventional hex 16. The lug nut 10 has a conical bottom section 18 for tight engagement and centering of a vehicle wheel upon a vehicle and an integrally formed flange 20 at the other end thereof along with seat 26 for acceptance of an insert 28 in tight engagement therewith. The insert 28 can have a highly reflective surface 32 to provide a safety feature for night time driving.

Abstract: A tri-lobular, all metal, prevailing torque nut is disclosed providing a cone having three locking sections, each of which extends around the threaded opening for about one-third of the surface of its thread. Each locking section provides a minimum radial distance at its center and extends with gradually increasing radial distance to the ends thereof. When the nut is threaded onto a mating threaded fastener, portions of each locking section are radially displaced from their unstressed condition to the circular shape of the mating fastener, producing frictional engagement between the nut and the fastener to resist unintentional loosening. Each locking section is arranged so that it provides a maximum resistance to deflection at its center and decreasing resistance to deflection at locations progressively spaced from the center so that excessive pressures are not developed which would tend to produce excessive wear or permanent deformation.

Abstract: A self-locking fastener is disclosed having a load surface adapted to be tightened against a flat mating surface providing self-locking means which include an inner bearing surface having an outer extremity located in a bearing plane and inclined inwardly and back from such plane, radially extending teeth extending outwardly from the inner bearing surface and a skirt at the outer extremity of the teeth. The skirt provides an axial extremity located in the bearing plane and inclined inner and outer walls extending back therefrom. The teeth define recesses into which material from the mating part is displaced to provide the locking of the fastener. The inner bearing surfaces and the skirt cooperate to support the ends of the teeth and to provide a full seal at each extremity thereof.

Abstract: A self locking threaded fastener is disclosed wherein the self locking system includes a plurality of bearing surfaces contained within a bearing plane and positioned in an annulus around the thread means. Extending inwardly from each bearing surface is a ramp surface which is inclined inwardly and back from the bearing plane. An axially extending shoulder joins one edge of each ramp surface. When the fastener is tightened against a mating part to clamp such part, the engagement causes sufficient pressure to displace material of the mating part by cold flow or other type of displacement into the recesses between the ramp surfaces and shoulders. Continued tightening rotation does not encounter excessive torque since the ramp surfaces provide a camming action but loosening rotation is resisted by the interference between the displaced material and the shoulders.