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 ferrule for connecting two adjacent components is provided, wherein the ferrule defines an exterior wall portion having a plurality of asymmetrical dimples. Each asymmetrical dimple has at least two sidewalls, and one sidewall defines a first ramp angle, and the other sidewall defines a second ramp angle that is steeper than the first ramp angle. At least one feature of one of the adjacent components engages the plurality of asymmetrical dimples such that the sidewall with the first ramp angle provides less force in an engaging direction and the sidewall with the second ramp angle provides more force in a disengaging direction.

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 blind fastener includes a core bolt and a core nut. The core bolt has a threaded section, a non-threaded section, a bolt head, and a stop shoulder. The non-threaded section is disposed axially between the threaded section and the bolt head. The stop shoulder is disposed axially between the threaded section and the non-threaded section. The core nut surrounds the core bolt and is threadably engaged with the threaded section of the core bolt. The core nut has an internal positive stop extending radially inward from an inner surface of the core nut. The positive stop of the core nut opposes the stop shoulder and cooperates with the stop shoulder to inhibit further tightening of the core bolt when the blind fastener is in a completely installed condition.

Abstract: An adjustment system for a fastener pulling head includes a swivel adapter, an adjustment member, and a retention member. The fastener pulling head includes a frame, a jaw, and a drawbolt body, the adjustment system. The swivel adapter is configured to engage with a proximal end portion of the drawbolt body. The swivel adapter defines an internal bore. The adjustment member is disposed within the internal bore and configured to engage the drawbolt body. The retention member is configured to engage and secure the swivel adapter at a location within the drawbolt body. When the retention member is disengaged from the swivel adapter, the pulling head can be rotated to cause the frame to move relative to the drawbolt body to adjust a gripping force of the jaw.

Abstract: A self-locking plug assembly is provided that includes a plug, a lower clutch disposed around the plug and defining engagement features, an upper clutch disposed around the plug and defining mating engagement features, a resilient member and a cap surrounding the resilient member and disposed around a proximal end portion of the plug. The mating engagement features are configured to apply higher torque to the engagement features in one direction than in an opposite direction. In one form, the engagement features of the lower clutch and upper clutch comprise a plurality of teeth arranged around a central aperture.

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: An insert for use in a sandwich-type structure, such as a honeycomb panel, is provided that includes a plug and a sleeve. The sleeve includes a plurality of resilient beams, and when the plug is inserted into the sleeve, the resilient beams are elastically deflected by an exterior surface of a wall of the plug such that the insert is adjustable in height and can be positioned properly in an axial/insertion direction to accommodate sandwich-type structures of varying thickness. The result is an insert that maintains a flush profile with both opposing face sheets of the sandwich-type structure, thus reducing discontinuities in surface profile of the overall assembly.

Abstract: A ferrule for connecting two adjacent components is provided, wherein the ferrule defines an exterior wall portion having a plurality of asymmetrical dimples. Each asymmetrical dimple has at least two sidewalls, and one sidewall defines a first ramp angle, and the other sidewall defines a second ramp angle that is steeper than the first ramp angle. At least one feature of one of the adjacent components engages the plurality of asymmetrical dimples such that the sidewall with the first ramp angle provides less force in an engaging direction and the sidewall with the second ramp angle provides more force in a disengaging direction.

Abstract: An insert for use in a sandwich-type structure is provided that includes a housing defining an internal bore, a proximal flange, opposed distal flanges, and an exterior wall portion extending between the proximal flange and the opposed distal flanges. The opposed distal flanges define lateral walls arranged tangentially with a wall of the internal bore. A nut is disposed within the internal bore of the housing and configured to float therein, the nut defines a truncated flange and a hollow shaft extending from the truncated flange. The hollow shaft of the nut defines internal threads and an exterior wall, the exterior wall having a diameter at least equal to a thread lock diameter. A cap is configured for engagement with the opposed distal flanges such that the nut is floatingly captured within the internal bore of the housing.

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: 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 sandwich-type structure, such as a honeycomb panel, is provided that includes a plug and a sleeve. The sleeve includes a plurality of resilient beams, and when the plug is inserted into the sleeve, the resilient beams are elastically deflected by an exterior surface of a wall of the plug such that the insert is adjustable in height and can be positioned properly in an axial/insertion direction to accommodate sandwich-type structures of varying thickness. The result is an insert that maintains a flush profile with both opposing face sheets of the sandwich-type structure, thus reducing discontinuities in surface profile of the overall assembly.

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 tacking fastener for securing workpieces together to form a temporary assembly is provided that includes a stem and a sleeve. The stem includes a proximal end portion, a central portion, and a distal end portion. The stem further includes a head disposed at the proximal end portion, the head defining a distal face having a gripping feature. The sleeve includes a flange disposed at the distal end portion, the flange defining a proximal face having a gripping feature. The sleeve is disposed around the stem and configured to form a tacking rivet upon installation of the tacking fastener. The 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: 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.