Abstract: A method and fastener for fastening one or more apertured members (48) to an apertured workpiece (52), an aperture (50) of the or each member (48) being aligned with an aperture (54) in the workpiece (52), the method comprising the steps of inserting a fastener (10) into the aligned apertures, the fastener (10) being formed of ductile material and having a head (14), a shank (12), and an axial bore (22) extending through the shank (12) and into the head (14), the shank (14) being circumferentially entire and being formed with an external screw-thread (18) the fastener (10) being inserted so that the head (14) engages a face of the one member (48), and the shank (12) extends through the member (48) or members and into the workpiece (52), and at least a part of the screw-thread (18) is within the workpiece (52), and then, while supporting the fastener (10) at the head (14), drawing into and entirely through the bore (22), in the direction from the tail portion to the head (14), a tapering, enlarged, mandrel hea

Abstract: A sealing plug for sealing a hole in a wall, which sealing plug is insertable into the hole by access from only one side thereof, which sealing plug comprises: a radially expandable body which is radially expandable by access thereto from only one end thereof, and a sealing cap which covers the other end of the expandable body and extends therefrom along the exterior of the length of the body, the sealing cap being of a material which is fluid resistant; whereby, when the sealing plug has been inserted in the hole and has been radially expanded so that at least part of the sealing cap adjacent the wall of the hole expands and engages therewith, the sealing cap is secured in the hole with the sealing cap sealing the plug body against access thereto from outside the cap.

Abstract: A sealing plug for blind installation in a suitable hole thereby to plug and seal the hole, which sealing plug has a sleeve (1); a stem (2) having a head at least part of which is radially enlarged with respect to the remainder of the stem (2); the stem head (4) having a shoulder, the shoulder being provided with an annular protrusion (9); the stem (2) protruding from one end of the sleeve (1), and the annular protrusion (9) abutting the other end of the sleeve (1); the stem head (4) being of a material which is harder than that of the sleeve (1) and being formed with a weakened portion (3) intermediate the head (4) and the part of the stem remote therefrom; whereby, when the sealing plug is inserted in a suitable hole, with the sleeve (1) entirely within the hole, and increasing force is applied to the stem (2) with respect to the sleeve (1), axial compression is applied by the shoulder to the sleeve material abutting it, thereby causing the annular protrusion (9) on the stem head (4) to embed into the sleev

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatically operated repetition riveting tool, which tool includes a gripping means for releasably gripping an elongated mandrel at a position remote from the mandrel head, which gripping means comprises a housing with an internal taper, and a plurality of mandrel-gripping jaws which are urged into contact with the mandrel by means of the internal taper; hydraulic retraction means for retracting the mandrel, thereby to pull the head of the mandrel through a rivet on the mandrel and adjacent the head, thereby to place the rivet; return means for returning the mandrel forwardly again after placing a rivet; and rivet feeding means for feeding rivets forwardly towards the mandrel head; in which the return means is pneumatically powered; and in which the housing of the gripping means comprises a first part and a second part, spring means for urging the first and second parts relatively apart from each other, and limiting means for limiting the movement apart of the first and second parts under the urging

Abstract: A sealing plug for blind installation in a suitable hole thereby to plug and seal the hole, which sealing plug comprises a sleeve (1) having one end closed, a stem (2) having a head (4) at least part of which is radially enlarged with respect to the remainder of the stem, the stem head being within the sleeve and the stem protruding from the open end of the sleeve by passing through a part of the sleeve which has an internal cross-sectional dimension less than that of the stem head, the stem head having a shoulder (8), and there being an abutment of sleeve material against at least the radially outer part of the shoulder, the stem head being of a material which is harder than that of the sleeve and being formed with a weakened portion at a position intermediate the head and the part of the stem remote therefrom, whereby, when the sealing plug is inserted in a suitable hole, with the sleeve entirely within the hole, and increasing tension force is applied to the stem with respect to the sleeve, axial compressi

Abstract: A hand-held riveting tool is driven by a battery-powered electric motor, and comprises a hydraulically-actuated riveting head, and a reciprocating hydraulic pump driven by the electric motor. The tool includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, the hydraulic supply line from the pump to the riveting head being connected to the reservoir by a reservoir inlet valve which is normally open to allow hydraulic fluid to flow from the supply line into the reservoir. Operation of the tool-actuating trigger firstly closes the reservoir inlet valve, and then switches on the electric motor to operate the pump. Release of the tool-actuating trigger firstly switches off the electric motor to stop operation of the pump, and then opens the reservoir inlet valve. When the reservoir inlet valve is closed by operation of the trigger, it acts as a pressure-relief valve to relieve over-pressure of hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool for installing fasteners of the type in which a part of the fastener is broken off during installation. The tool is provided with a collection means for collecting broken-off fastener parts during operation of the tool, the collection means being removably connectable to the tool. The tool includes retaining means for retaining the collection means against removal from the tool and the retaining means is air-pressure actuated into the retaining condition. The tool may include resiliently urged shutter means which are held open when the collection means is attached.

Abstract: An insert for installation in a relatively thin or weak workpiece to provide an anchor for a self-tapping screw, which insert is in the form of an integral metal structure which comprises: a body portion; a head portion located at or near one end of the body portion and extending radially therefrom; a receptacle portion located at the other end of the body portion remote from the head portion; and a through bore extending throughout the head, body and receptacle portions; the interior bore of the receptacle portion being substantially unthreaded for the reception of a self-tapping screw; in which the exterior cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the receptacle portion, and the interior cross sectional shape and dimensions of the body portion are respectively such that the body portion is deformable, when the receptacle portion is drawn towards the head portion, to secure the insert in a suitable hole in a workpiece through which the receptacle and body portions have been inserted so that the head portion i

Abstract: A riveting apparatus is described, including a body having an abutment means (19,32) mounted at one end thereof, and stop means (52,53) mounted at a position remote therefrom, so that a mandrel (30) inserted through the abutment means (19,32) has it end remote from the head located axially by the stop means (52,53) in predetermined axial relationship to the body, characterized in that the abutment means (19,32) is adjustable with respect to the body in the direction along the mandrel axis, thereby to provide adjustment of the relative positions of the abutment (19,32) and the mandrel head (33). A pneumatic piston means for use in the rivet feeding means (55) in the riveting apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A blind fastener which can be installed by access to one side only of a workpiece comprises a pin, a sleeve, and an abutment member. The pin extends inside the sleeve and engages the sleeve at one end. The other end of the sleeve has a radially enlarged head. The sleeve is of one piece and has a radially expandable portion. The abutment member is adjacent to the sleeve head and abuts a frangible element of the sleeve head. The sleeve is inserted into an aperture in a workpiece with the expandable portion protruding beyond the blind face of the workpiece and the head abutting the near face of the workpiece. A pulling force is applied to the part of the pin extending beyond the abutment member and the expandable part of the sleeve expands radially to form a blind head against the blind face of the workpiece.

Abstract: A riveting tool (11) for placing a blind breakstem rivet (28), which tool comprises: a body (12, 13, 14), a nosepiece (18) removably and replaceably securable to the body (14); a drawbar (17) reciprocable with respect to the body (14) and the nose-piece (18); and stem-engaging means (22) removably and replaceably securable to the drawbar (17), in which the nosepiece (18) is readily and rapidly removable from and replaceable on the body (14), and the stem-engaging means (22) is readily and rapidly removable from and replaceable on the drawbar (17); thereby to enable the rapid removal and replacement of the nosepiece (18) and stem-engaging means (22).

Abstract: A method of forming a tubular member with longitudinal slots along part of its wall, comprising the steps of: firstly, forming longitudinal zones of weakness along part of the wall of the tubular member, and secondly, expanding the said part of the tubular member radially to cause fracture of the wall of the member along the longitudinal zones, thereby to form longitudinal slots.

Abstract: A threaded fastener which includes a shank, a radially enlarged head at one end, an external thread on at least a part of the shank, and a bore which extends through the head and into the threaded part of the shank. At least the threaded part of the shank is radially expandable into the threaded engagement with the wall of a suitable unthreaded bore in a workpiece in which the threaded part has been inserted. The fastener thereafter is removable by unscrewing it from the workpiece bore. The expandable part of the shank is provided with a plurality of radially extending lugs or other protrusions provided on the threaded part of the shank thereby to resist unscrewing of the fastener from the workpiece bore.

Abstract: A method of blind riveting to secure together a plurality of members (26, 27, 28) with aligned apertures, using a blind rivet comprising a tubular shell (11) with a head (13) and a stem (12) extending through the tubular shell. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the shell through the aligned apertures, from the near face of the near member, so that the remote end of the shell protrude beyond the remote face of the remote member and the nearest end of the shell is substantially level with the near face of the near member; supporting the near end of the shell while pulling the stem head to form a remote blind head; applying a force to the near member with respect to the stem, until any gap (28) between the members is taken up and deforming the now protruding portion of the shell to form a near-side head of the rivet. The invention also encompasses a blind riveting apparatus and blind rivets for carrying out the method described above.