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 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 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: 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 noncircular opening is formed in a material. A mandrel or mandrel and expansion sleeve are used for coldworking a circular region of the noncircular opening, and for forcing a hard metal insert into coldworking contact with the material immediately bordering the remaining portion of the noncircular opening. An insert may be placed within a slot to form with a circular closed end of the slot a substantially circular opening. An expansion sleeve is placed in the opening and an expansion mandrel is pulled through it, or an expansion mandrel is used alone in the opening, to coldwork the circular region of the opening. An insert may be placed within an opening and then a mandrel moved through an expansion sleeve placed in a circular opening in the insert, or a mandrel alone may be moved through the opening, to radially expand the insert and coldwork the material bounding the noncircular opening.