Abstract: The heater assembly includes a case having a heating element therein, a channel extending through the case and having a size and shape for selectively receiving therethrough a first end of an elastomeric fixture outstretched through a substrate to a first length having a first width, and a heat transfer surface positioned relative to the heating element for receiving generated heat therefrom. The heat transfer surface is generally positionable relative to the substrate to cooperate with an adhesively bondable attachment coupled to a second end of the elastomeric fixture opposite the first end and including an uncured bonding agent disposed thereon. The heater assembly and attachment simultaneously sandwich the substrate in compression engagement in between when the elastomeric fixture extends through the substrate into the central channel and relaxes to a second relatively shorter length having a second relatively larger width.

Abstract: The self fixturing heater includes an outer casing having a central channel therein for selectively receiving and retaining in friction-fit relation an elastomeric fixture from a nutplate fastener assembly that axially aligns the self fixturing heater with a nutplate fastener assembly. The outer casing encloses a heater element generally disposed circumferentially around the central channel and includes a thermal insulated cover to direct heat energy toward a heat transfer surface that includes a thermally conductive pressure pad in engagement with a substrate underneath a baseplate of a nutplate having an adhesive bonding agent thereon, the heat transfer surface imparting heat energy to the adhesive bonding agent thereby curing the adhesive in four hours or less.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: The self fixturing heater includes an outer casing having a central channel therein for selectively receiving and retaining in friction-fit relation an elastomeric fixture from a nutplate fastener assembly that axially aligns the self fixturing heater with a nutplate fastener assembly. The outer casing encloses a heater element generally disposed circumferentially around the central channel and includes a thermal insulated cover to direct heat energy toward a heat transfer surface that includes a thermally conductive pressure pad in engagement with a substrate underneath a baseplate of a nutplate having an adhesive bonding agent thereon, the heat transfer surface imparting heat energy to the adhesive bonding agent thereby curing the adhesive in four hours or less.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A hollow screw and related process of making is provided, wherein the hollow screw is formed from a generally circular corrosion resistant stainless steel disk cut from flat roll stock. The hollow screw includes a head and an elongated and hollow shaft having a wall thickness between about 0.2 to about 0.7 millimeters extending therefrom and defining a shank portion and a threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon with a rotational drive mechanism configured to facilitate tightening via the threads. The process involves annealing to soften the stamped hollow screw, followed by thread rolling, and then age hardening the hollow screw. As such, the resultant hollow screw is relatively lightweight, about 50% the mass of a solid core screw made from the same material, with a sufficient thread strength to meet most aerospace applications and contributes to important aircraft fuel economy.

Abstract: A sealant mold for sealing a domed nutplate unit particularly at a lower region about an adhesively attached interface with a substrate such as an aircraft fuel tank wall. The sealant mold is formed from a lightweight plastic material, and includes an inner cap in combination with an outer skirt to define a gap or trough for receiving and supporting a metered quantity of a curable sealant material. The mold is fitted onto a dome of the nutplate unit with an inner cap inboard edge landed onto a dome shoulder. The outer skirt is then displaced downwardly about the landed inner cap to extrude the sealant material about the lower region of the nutplate unit particularly such as the adhesively attached interface with the substrate. The sealant material is allowed to cure, after which the sealant mold can be stripped quickly and easily from the cured sealant material.

Abstract: A sealant mold for sealing a dome element particularly at a lower region about an interface with a substrate such as an aircraft fuel tank wall. The sealant mold is formed from a lightweight plastic material, and includes an outer cap portion having an opening formed therein, in combination with an integral outer skirt to define a gap or trough for receiving and supporting a metered quantity of a curable sealant material. The mold is slidably fitted onto a dome element with outer skirt displaced downwardly to extrude the sealant material about the lower region of the dome element. The sealant material is allowed to cure, after which the sealant mold can be stripped from the cured sealant material.

Abstract: An insulated, sealed cap overlies and protects a fastener component or the like on a substrate in association with a substrate opening. The sealed cap includes an outer cap component filled partially with a selected sealant material and assembled with an inner collet sized and shaped to fit with a slip fit about the fastener component such as a nut or the like at one side of a selected substrate, such as the skin of an aircraft. An inboard edge of the inner collet seats on and substantially seals with the substrate. The outer cap component is then displaced toward the substrate to extrude the sealant material into a thin and substantially uniform layer joined with an extruded outer bead on the substrate, and then permitted to cure. Tapered ribs on the inner collet effectively lock with the outer cap component during sealant material curing and subsequently.

Abstract: A sealant mold for sealing a domed nutplate unit particularly at a lower region about an adhesively attached interface with a substrate such as an aircraft fuel tank wall. The sealant mold is formed from a lightweight plastic material, and includes an inner cap in combination with an outer skirt to define a gap or trough for receiving and supporting a metered quantity of a curable sealant material. The mold is fitted onto a dome of the nutplate unit with an inner cap inboard edge landed onto a dome shoulder. The outer skirt is then displaced downwardly about the landed inner cap to extrude the sealant material about the lower region of the nutplate unit particularly such as the adhesively attached interface with the substrate. The sealant material is allowed to cure, after which the sealant mold can be stripped quickly and easily from the cured sealant material.

Abstract: An insulated, sealed cap overlies and protects a fastener component or the like on a substrate in association with a substrate opening. The sealed cap includes an outer cap component filled partially with a selected sealant material and assembled with an inner collet sized and shaped to fit with a slip fit about the fastener component such as a nut or the like at one side of a selected substrate, such as the skin of an aircraft. An inboard edge of the inner collet seats on and substantially seals with the substrate. The outer cap component is then displaced toward the substrate to extrude the sealant material into a thin and substantially uniform layer joined with an extruded outer bead on the substrate, and then permitted to cure. Tapered ribs on the inner collet effectively lock with the outer cap component during sealant material curing and subsequently.

Abstract: A low profile fixture button is provided for adhesive attachment to a substrate in a temporary or substantially permanent manner. The fixture button includes a plurality of preferably four over-center spokes substantially in a common plane and carrying a mounting plate having a pressure sensitive adhesive material thereon. The spokes are carried by an outer backstop rim, and are initially oriented with the mounting plate advanced toward the substrate. In a preferred form, the backstop rim seats within a counterbore formed in the rear side of a larger attachment adapted for low profile mounting onto the substrate. Pressing of the fixture button toward the substrate engages the advanced mounting plate with adhesive thereon with the substrate, and forces the spokes to displace over-center to a retracted position withdrawn substantially into the backstop rim and any associated larger attachment for low profile mounting onto the substrate.

Abstract: A peel ply conformable masking device for protectively overlying a pre-cleaned bonding surface of an adhesive attachment adapted for bonded affixation to a selected substrate, such as an adhesive attachment of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,391 and 6,773,780 having a bonding surface circumscribing a temporary attachment member for holding the attachment against the substrate for the duration of a bonding agent cure time. The bonding surface of the adhesive attachment is pre-cleaned as by sand blasting and/or etching, and the masking device comprising a peel-off film carrying a thin layer of a peel-off adhesive is placed thereover to prevent contamination thereof. The masking device includes at least one aperture surrounding the temporary attachment member, and further includes at least one outwardly protruding and easily grasped pull tab for facilitated peel-off separation from bonding surface immediately prior to bonded affixation to the selected substrate.

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.