Abstract: A connector assembly includes a first member, a threaded shaft, a nut, a set of first teeth, a set of second teeth, and a tab. The threaded shaft is disposed about an axis. The nut is threadably engaged with the threaded shaft. The nut includes a plurality of radially outward extending protrusions. The first teeth face axially and are non-rotatably coupled to the first member. The second teeth are configured to mate with the first teeth. The second teeth are coupled to the threaded shaft for axial movement relative to the threaded shaft and for common rotation with the threaded shaft. The tab is non-rotatable relative to the first member. The tab engages the protrusions to inhibit rotation of the nut relative to the first member.

Abstract: A blind fastener for connecting panels includes a bolt and nut. The bolt includes a shaft, bolt head, and lug. The bolt head is between the shaft and lug. The shaft defines external threads opposite the bolt head. The lug includes a first tool engagement portion and first frangible portion that connects the lug and bolt head. The nut includes a sleeve, nut head, and handling member. A central bore of the sleeve receives the shaft and defines internal threads mated with the external threads. The nut head is between the handling member and sleeve. The nut head extends radially from the sleeve and defines a recess that receives the bolt head. The handling member surrounds a portion of the lug. The handling member includes a second frangible portion and a second tool engagement portion. The second frangible portion couples the second tool engagement portion to the nut head.

Abstract: A method of installing an insert in an aperture of a panel includes inserting a sleeve central portion into the aperture so that a sleeve flange opposes a first side of the panel. The sleeve central portion extends from the sleeve flange. The method further includes inserting a plug central portion into the aperture so that a plug flange opposes a second side of the panel. The plug central portion extends from the plug flange. The method also includes pressing at least one of the plug and sleeve into sliding engagement with the other until the plug and sleeve are installed. When installed, a distal end of the plug is received into a sleeve cavity and resilient beams defined by an extension of the sleeve central portion are elastically deflected by a wall of the plug central portion. The plug flange defines an aperture extending into a plug cavity.

Abstract: A tool for installing a blind fastener including a core bolt and a core nut is provided. The tool includes a driving member, a collet driven by the driving member for engaging the core bolt, and an external sleeve for holding the core nut and preventing the core nut from rotating during installation of the blind fastener. The external sleeve is movable between a first position in which the external sleeve is driven by the collet to rotate with the collet and a second position in which the external sleeve is stationary despite rotating action of the collet.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a first member, a threaded shaft, a nut, a set of first teeth, a set of second teeth, and a tab. The threaded shaft is disposed about an axis. The nut is threadably engaged with the threaded shaft. The nut includes a plurality of radially outward extending protrusions. The first teeth face axially and are non-rotatably coupled to the first member. The second teeth are configured to mate with the first teeth. The second teeth are coupled to the threaded shaft for axial movement relative to the threaded shaft and for common rotation with the threaded shaft. The tab is non-rotatable relative to the first member. The tab engages the protrusions to inhibit rotation of the nut relative to the first member.

Abstract: A tool for installing a blind fastener including a core bolt and a core nut is provided. The tool includes a driving member, a collet driven by the driving member for engaging the core bolt, and an external sleeve for holding the core nut and preventing the core nut from rotating during installation of the blind fastener. The external sleeve is movable between a first position in which the external sleeve is driven by the collet to rotate with the collet and a second position in which the external sleeve is stationary despite rotating action of the collet.

Abstract: A blind fastener for connecting panels includes a bolt and nut. The bolt includes a shaft, bolt head, and lug. The bolt head is between the shaft and lug. The shaft defines external threads opposite the bolt head. The lug includes a first tool engagement portion and first frangible portion that connects the lug and bolt head. The nut includes a sleeve, nut head, and handling member. A central bore of the sleeve receives the shaft and defines internal threads mated with the external threads. The nut head is between the handling member and sleeve. The nut head extends radially from the sleeve and defines a recess that receives the bolt head. The handling member surrounds a portion of the lug. The handling member includes a second frangible portion and a second tool engagement portion. The second frangible portion couples the second tool engagement portion to the nut head.

Abstract: A blind fastener for connecting a plurality of panels includes a core bolt and a core nut. The core nut surrounds the core bolt. The core nut includes a main body, a nut head, and a tool engagement section. The nut head has a larger outside diameter than the main body. The core nut defines a frangible portion between the nut head and the tool engagement section. The frangible portion is configured to allow the tool engagement section to break off from the nut head when a torque applied to the tool engagement section is greater than a threshold torque after the blind fastener is installed in the plurality of panels.

Abstract: A method of installing an insert in an aperture of a panel includes inserting a sleeve central portion into the aperture so that a sleeve flange opposes a first side of the panel. The sleeve central portion extends from the sleeve flange. The method further includes inserting a plug central portion into the aperture so that a plug flange opposes a second side of the panel. The plug central portion extends from the plug flange. The method also includes pressing at least one of the plug and sleeve into sliding engagement with the other until the plug and sleeve are installed. When installed, a distal end of the plug is received into a sleeve cavity and resilient beams defined by an extension of the sleeve central portion are elastically deflected by a wall of the plug central portion. The plug flange defines an aperture extending into a plug cavity.

Abstract: An adjustment system for a fastener pulling head is provided that includes a swivel adapter configured for engagement with a proximal end portion of a drawbolt body of the pulling head, the swivel adapter defining an internal bore. A cap screw is disposed within the internal bore of the swivel adapter and configured to threadably engage the drawbolt body, and a set screw is configured to engage and secure the swivel adapter within the drawbolt body. The set screw is tightened in order to install or remove the fastener pulling head from a power tool. Once installed on the power tool, the set screw is disengaged from the swivel adapter, the pulling head can be rotated, which causes the frame to move relative to the drawbolt body within the pulling head to adjust a jaw gripping force.

Abstract: A locknut assembly for securing a component to a shaft is provided that includes, in one form, a locknut defining an internal cavity and an aperture having internal threads, the internal cavity defining an internal wall comprising at least one location feature. A lockwasher defines an internal cavity, an external wall comprising at least one mating location feature, and an anti-rotation feature disposed within the internal cavity and adapted for engagement with a corresponding anti-rotation feature located at an end portion of the shaft. The internal threads of the locknut aperture engage continuous external threads of the shaft, the mating location feature of the lockwasher engages the location feature of the locknut, and the anti-rotation feature of the lockwasher engages the corresponding anti-rotation feature of the shaft to limit rotation of the locknut.

Abstract: An insert for use in a panel and method of installation is provided by the present disclosure. The insert includes a plug having an outer flange, a central portion having a wall extending from the outer flange, and a distal end portion having a rollover. A cavity extends through the central portion, and an aperture extends through the outer flange and into the cavity. A sleeve is configured for sliding engagement with the plug, the sleeve having an outer flange, a central portion defining an extension having a plurality of resilient beams, and a cavity extending through the central portion, the cavity adapted for receiving the distal end portion of the plug. A retaining plate is secured to the plug by the rollover, and a threaded insert is disposed within the cavity of the plug and adapted to float therein.

Abstract: A coupling for joining fluid conduits includes a nut portion having a circumferential groove that extends at least partially along an interior surface thereof. The nut portion further includes a tab opening extending therethrough. A cylindrical shaft portion extends from the nut portion. A retaining clip is disposed within the circumferential groove of the nut portion and includes a tab disposed within the tab opening. A first arc of the retaining clip extends from the tab in a first circumferential direction, and a second arc of the retaining clip extends from the tab in a second, opposing circumferential direction. The first arc includes a first knob and terminates in a second knob, and the second arc includes a third knob and terminates in a fourth knob. The second and fourth knobs are larger than the first and third knobs, respectively.

Abstract: A tacking fastener for securing workpieces together to form a temporary assembly includes a stem and an elongated sleeve. The stem includes a head disposed at a proximal end portion, a tapered portion extending between the proximal end portion and a central portion, a break notch extending around a circumference of the proximal end portion between the head and the tapered portion, and a plurality of ridges and grooves disposed along a distal end portion. The elongated sleeve is disposed around the stem between the head and the plurality of ridges and grooves and configured to form a tacking rivet upon installation of the tacking fastener. The elongated sleeve is plastically deformed during installation to form a plurality of bulbs, thereby being capable of securing workpieces of varying grip length. The stem and the tacking rivet remain within the workpieces after the workpieces are secured.

Abstract: The invention provides a pulling head, a jaw gripping assembly, and an adjustment assembly. The pulling head has a frame having first and second ends with the first end being configured to receive a stem of a fastener therein. The jaw gripping assembly is generally positioned within the frame. The adjustment assembly is operatively associated with at least one of the frame and the jaw gripping assembly. Manipulation of the adjustment assembly in a first manner moves the jaw gripping assembly closer to the first end of the frame in order to minimize an amount of jaw grip force generated by the jaw gripping assembly, while manipulation of the adjustment assembly in a second manner moves the jaw gripping assembly distal to the first end of the frame in order to maximize an amount of jaw grip force generated by the jaw gripping assembly.

Abstract: The invention provides a system configured to adjust a jaw gripping force of a pulling head. A locking nut is threadedly attached to the pulling head and defines an aperture which extends therethrough. A frame adaptor is at least partially positioned within the aperture of the locking nut. The frame adaptor further receives a portion of the pulling head and a piston of a power tool within an aperture thereof, with the portion and the piston engaging one another within the aperture of the frame adaptor. The portion of the pulling head is operatively associated with a jaw of the pulling head. An adjustment nut is threadedly attached to the frame adaptor. Rotation of the adjustment nut, with the locking nut in an unlocked position, causes the jaw gripping force of the pulling head to either be strengthened or weakened, depending on the direction of rotation.

Abstract: A tool for setting blind fasteners is disclosed. A stem of a fastener is engaged by a pulling head and its sleeve is also engaged by the pulling head. In an initial stage, a pump piston compresses fluid in a hydraulic pump, affecting movement of a drawbar and piston in relation to a stationary adaptor connected to the tool, pulling the stem in relation to the sleeve at a fast rate per pump. As the pulling force increases, pressure in the pump triggers a logic system to shift the tool into a high pressure mode, decreasing the effort to complete fastener installation. The logic system resets after each squeeze of the lever, minimizing the number of pumps necessary to complete the installation while keeping effort at a comfortable level. An adjustable pressure relief valve allows the fluid to return to the reservoir chamber, returning the tool to its initial condition.