Abstract: This disclosure relates to a pre-assembled fastener assembly having a retainer, a nut member, and a cold expansion mandrel that is forcibly removable after the assembly is installed into an opening of a structural workpiece. The mandrel is captured between a portion of a retainer and a portion of a nut member. The forced removal of the mandrel expands the retainer into the opening, securing the fastener assembly therein. The assembly may also include a cap coupled to the retainer to seal the opening in the structural workpiece. The nut member can be fixed or free-floating with respect to the retainer. In addition, the nut member can be threaded to receive a fastener. The mandrel is recyclable or disposable.

Abstract: An elongated first tubular member has a mandrel receiving center passageway and a slotted outer end portion that comprises first axial fingers separated by first axial slots. An elongated second tubular member surrounds the first tubular member and has a slotted outer end portion that comprises second axial fingers separated by second axial slots. An elongated third tubular member surrounds the second tubular member and has a slotted outer end portion comprising third axial fingers separated by third axial slots. An elongated mandrel is positioned inside the center passageway. The first tubular member is extendable and retractable longitudinally of the second and third tubular members. A tubular sleeve is provided that has an inner end and a flange projecting radially outwardly from the sleeve at the inner end.

Abstract: A tubular stem (14) at one end of a nut mount (10) is inserted into an opening (O) in a wall (W) and is expanded to connect it to the wall (W). An annular collar or space (16) contacts the wall (W) where it immediately surrounds the opening (O). A clip-on nut (12) is clipped onto a nut receptor (18) that is endwise outwardly of the collar (16). A pushing movement on the clip-on nut (12) moves catch tabs (54, 56) past diametrically opposite edge portions (30, 32) of the nut receptor (18), placing them into positions below the edge portions (30, 32) of the nut receptor (18). When the catches (54, 56) are so positioned, they hold the clip-on nut (12) on the nut receptor (18). The clip-on nut (12) may be a sealed nut. If so, catch tabs (54, 56) are positioned so that when they engage underneath portions of the edge portions (30, 32) of the nut receptor, a seal ring at the base of the clip-on nut (12) is compressed.

Abstract: A tubular stem (16) of a bolt mount (12) is coldexpanded into an opening (70) in a wall (72). A second wall (76) is placed against the first wall (72), with an opening (70) in it in alignment with the center opening (32) in the tubular stem (16). An elongated shank portion (88) of a tubular nut (86) is inserted through the opening (70) and then through a center opening (32) in the tubular stem (16), and into an annular space (58) defined by and between a tubular sidewall (48) of a bolt-element retainer (14) and a bolt-element (54). The tubular bolt (86) has internal threads (90) that mesh with and thread onto external threads (56) on the bolt-element (54). The tubular nut (86) is rotated until a head (84) on its end is in tight clamping engagement with the portion of the second wall (76) that surrounds the opening in the second wall. Tightening of the tubular nut (86) draws the bolt-element retainer (14) and the tubular nut (86) together, firmly connecting the second wall (76) to the first wall (72).

Abstract: A tubular stem (S) at one end of a nut cage (NC) is inserted into an opening in a wall and is expanded to connect it to the wall and to coldwork the wall material surrounding the opening for fatigue life enhancement. The nut cage (NC) includes a cage floor region (22) for receiving the central portion (46) of a nut (N). One end portion (48) of the nut base (44) is inserted into a socket (22). A second end portion (50) of the nut base (44) is moved axially into a channel (28). Then a snap ring (SR) is installed and moved to place a closed portion (52) over the nut base end portion (50). The socket (26) and channel (28) restrain the nut base (44) against rotation in the nut cage (NC). The channel (28) and a portion of the snap ring (SR) which closes the channel (28) and the axial boundaries of the socket (26) restrain the nut base (44) from axial movement out from the nut cage (NC).

Abstract: A circular opening (54) is formed in a wall (12). A tubular shank (42) of a nut mounting unit (40) is inserted into the opening (54). The unit (40) is moved endwise to place a nut cage base (46) against the wall (12). A split sleeve (82) is installed on a small diameter portion (90) of a mandrel (M). The mandrel (M) and sleeve (82) are inserted into the tubular shank (42) from the side of the wall (12) opposite the nut cage (44). The mandrel (M) is then retracted to successfully move increasing and maximum diameter portions (90, 92) of the mandrel (M) through the split sleeve (82). The mandrel portions (92, 94) exert a radially outwardly expanding force on the split sleeve (82). The split sleeve (82) in turn imposes a radially outwardly expanding force on the tubular shank (42). This causes a plastic deformation of the tubular shank (42), creating a tight interference fit between the tubular shake (42) and the sidewall of the opening (54). In this manner, the unit (40) is firmly secured to the wall (12).

Abstract: An anchor nut mount (10) including a mount base (13) and a snap ring (14), the mount base (13) including a base plate (15) having base sidewall portions (16) and radial slots (18) defined in the outer side regions (20) of the base sidewall portions (16). The snap ring (14) includes a loop portion (32) and enlarged end knobs (34). The snap ring (14) mounts onto the mount base (13) with the loop portions (32) of the ring carried by the radial slots (18). The snap ring (14) and base sidewall portions (16) removably secure an anchor nut (12) to the nut mount (10) for positioning about a fastener hole.

Abstract: An internally lubricated, longitudinally split sleeve is positioned on a small diameter portion a mandrel having a rear end connected to a piston with a puller tool. The rear end of the split sleeve is flared and is against the front end of a tubular sleeve stop which immediately surrounds the mandrel. The puller tool includes a tubular sleeve holder which surrounds the sleeve stop. A forward main portion of the sleeve holder is separated by a pair of longitudinal slots into a pair of elongated fingers. The forward ends of the fingers define a sleeve and mandrel receiving end opening and jaws radially outwardly bounding the opening. The mandrel and sleeve holder are both extended and then the puller tool is moved into alignment with a sleeve and is moved endwise to push the mandrel through the sleeve until the flared end of the sleeve is against the sleeve stop. Then the sleeve holder is retracted.

Abstract: A split sleeve (96) is seated in a fastener hole (10) in the web (8) of a rail section (2). The tapered portion (26) of a mandrel (20) is firmly seated in the hole (10) inside the sleeve (96). A puller mechanism jaw (40) and a nosecap (78) are moved downwardly over the projecting rear end portion of the mandrel (20) to position the rear end portion in aligned U-shaped slots (50, 84) in the jaw (40) and nosecap (78). During the downward movement, guide surfaces (72) carried by the jaw (40) guide a chamfer (32) on the mandrel (20) into seating engagement with a tapered surface (56) on the jaw (40). The guide surfaces (72) may be formed by cylindrical pins (70) received into angled openings (58) in the jaw body. The front surface (88) of the nosecap (78) securely abuts the Web (8). With the mandrel ( 20) seated and the nosecap (78) abutting, the jaw (40) is moved rearwardly to pull the mandrel (20) through the hole (10) and cold expand the hole (10).

Abstract: A split sleeve (S) is deposited into a sleeve loader (24, 24'), with a lower end of the sleeve (S) on a sleeve support surface (154). A mandrel (M) carried by a puller tool (10, 10') is inserted into the sleeve loader (24, 24'), and through the sleeve (S), to position the sleeve (S) on a small diameter portion (50) of the mandrel (M), and an end portion of the sleeve (S) within a nosepiece (12), against a sleeve end contacting surface (66). The tool (10, 10') is moved away from the sleeve loader (24, 24') to pull the mandrel (M) out from the sleeve loader (24, 24'). Then the mandrel (M) is inserted into an opening (16) in a workpiece (14). The tool (10, 10') is moved endwise to place the sleeve (S) within the opening (16) and a workpiece contacting end surface of the nosepiece (12) into contact with the workpiece (14). The tool (10, 10' ) is then operated to retract the mandrel (M).

Abstract: A circular opening (48) is formed in a structural wall (12). A tubular shank (28) of a nut mounting grommet (26) is inserted into the opening (48). The grommet (26) is moved endwise to place a shoulder surface (34) on the base of a nut mounting cup (30) against the wall (12). A split sleeve (54) is installed on a small diameter portion (62) of a mandrel (52) and the mandrel and sleeve (52, 54) are inserted into the tubular shank (28) from the side of the wall (12) opposite the nut receiving cup (30). The mandrel (52) is then retracted to successively move increasing and maximum diameter portions (64, 66) of the mandrel (52) through the split sleeve (54). The mandrel portions (64, 66) exert a radially outwardly expanding force on the split sleeve (54). The split sleeve (54) in turn imposes a radially outwardly expanding force on the tubular shank ( 28).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of installing a grommet within an opening in a wall of composite material. An opening (10) is formed in a wall of composite material (12). A countersink (20) is formed at one end of the opening (10). A grommet (22) is placed into the opening (10). A split sleeve (28) is placed on the small diameter portion (30) of a mandrel (32) which is attached to a power puller (36). The mandrel (32) with the split sleeve (28) is placed through the opening (10) and a grommet (22). The power puller (36) is then operated to pull the mandrel (32) back through the opening (10) and the grommet (22) thereby expanding the split sleeve (28) which in turn provides for the radial expansion of the grommet (22). During the radial expansion of the grommet (22), ends of fibers (16) are forced into the surface of the grommet (24 ). After the mandrel (32) has been pulled all the way through the split sleeve (28) both it and the split sleeve (28) are removed from the grommet (22).

Abstract: A pull gun (10) is used for pulling a mandrel (12, 150, 180) through an expandable sleeve (74, 144, 180) positioned in a fastener hole. The mandrel expands the sleeve as it moves therethrough causing the sleeve to put the metal which surrounds the hole in a state of compression. The pull gun has alternative extensions or sleeve retainers having general appearances of collet chucks and they are adapted to be positioned adjacent holes being prestressed. The retainers are of relatively small diameter for operation through a drill fixture and in small spaces on a workpiece.

Abstract: A pull gun (10) is used for pulling a mandrel (12, 150, 180) through an expandable sleeve (74, 144, 180) positioned in a fastener hole. The mandrel expands the sleeve as it moves therethrough causing the sleeve to put the metal which surrounds the hole in a state of compression. The pull gun has alternative extensions or sleeve retainers having general appearances of collet chucks and they are adapted to be positioned adjacent holes being prestressed. The retainers are of relatively small diameter for operation through a drill fixture and in small spaces on a workpiece.