Abstract: A fastener assembly with a break mandrel blind rivet and a mating female component having head and tubular shank portions. The tubular shank includes major and minor bore sections and an intermediate internal shoulder. The blind rivet telescopes into the female component to provide a grip range. Positive axial draw-up between the rivet and component upon tensioning of the mandrel is achieved by engagement between and expanded area of the blind rivet and the internal shoulder of the femal component. The head of the female component has a central aperture for receiving the end of the mandrel to increase the grip range of the assembly. A plastic case molded around the head closes off the aperture and affords a weatherproof seal.

Abstract: A fastener mounting apparatus includes a punch which is connected with a base to be mounted on one section of a press and a fastener mounting section which is movable relative to the punch during operation of the press. A conveyor is operable to conduct fasteners to a loading station in the fastener mounting section. An ejector assembly applies force against a slug cut from a member to move the slug away from a die. The ejector assembly includes a pin disposed in a coaxial relationship with the punch and a spring assembly offset to one side of the punch. A force transmitting member or rocker arm transmits force from the spring assembly to the ejector pin. A loading force applied against the fasteners by the conveyor is terminated during a portion of each operating cycle of the press to reduce the force urging the fasteners toward the loading station and prevent jamming of fasteners at the loading station.

Abstract: An improved fastener includes a shank section which is coaxial with and extends outwardly from a head section. The head section has a rim which cooperates with the shank section to form a groove in which sheet metal is received. The head and shank sections have arcuate indentations into which the sheet metal is forced. In addition, the shank section has arcuate outer side surfaces which oppose flat outer side surfaces on the rim. Due to the difference in the configurations of the side surfaces of the rim and shank sections, constrictions are formed between the rim and shank sections. Each constriction tends to deform or extrude sheet metal upon the application of torque to the fastener. The corners of the indentations in the shank sections and the rim apply shear forces to the sheet metal to further resist relative rotation between the fastener and the sheet metal.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to load articles, such as nuts, into a tube. The nuts are fed into the tube from a bowl of vibratory feeder. In order to maintain the mass being vibrated constant during the feeding of the nuts into the tube, the tube and the bowl are vibrated together. Since the tube and the bowl are vibrated together, the nuts are vibrated when they are in the tube to move the nuts along the tube and to maintain the number of nuts being vibrated constant as the tube is filled with nuts. The tube is advantageously coiled and supported on the bowl.

Abstract: A fastener assembly with a break mandrel blind rivet and a mating female component having head and tubular shank portions. The tubular shank includes major and minor bore sections and an intermediate internal shoulder. The blind rivet telescopes into the female component to provide a grip range. Positive axial draw-up between the rivet and component upon tensioning of the mandrel is achieved by engagement between an expanded area of the blind rivet and the internal shoulder of the female component. The head of the female component has a central aperture for receiving the end of the mandrel to increase the grip range of the assembly. A plastic case molded around the head and shank closes off the aperture and affords a weatherproof seal.

Abstract: An improved fastener includes a shank section which extends outwardly from a head section. The head section has a rim with an inner side surface which cooperates with an outer side surface of the shank section to form a groove. The inner side surface of the rim includes a plurality of indentations which are separated by side surfaces. The outer side surface of the shank section also includes a plurality of indentations which are separated by side surfaces. The side surfaces on the rim are disposed radially outwardly of the indentations in the shank section and cooperate with the shank section to form a plurality of constrictions. Similarly, the indentations in the rim are disposed outwardly of the side surfaces of the shank section and cooperate with the side surfaces of the shank section to form a plurality of constrictions. The constrictions apply deformation forces to material on which the fastener is mounted upon application of torque load to the fastener.

Abstract: A load indicating flange is provided either separately or on a nut or a bolt head. This load indicating flange has an axially directed face which has a wavy surface on which a plurality of crests are disposed for initial engagement with a work surface. A plurality of troughs are provided on the wavy surface one each between two of the crests. A gauge groove is provided at each trough and when the bolt and nut combination is properly tightened on a workpiece, the troughs are flattened toward the work surface to such an extent that a relatively thick gauge cannot enter the gauge groove. If the bolt and nut are improperly tightened, then the gauge will enter the gauge groove. A narrow band peripheral bearing surface is provided on the outer periphery of the face to prevent defacing the work surface.

Abstract: A customized, substantially standard power wrench is disclosed which has been modified to provide bolt holding capability. The housing is machined to provide a cylindrical opening and an internal, shallow, oval-shaped recess. An adapter assembly includes an adapter ring projecting through the housing opening formed with an oval-shaped flange axially positioning the adapter ring and preventing relative rotation between the adapter ring and the main housing of the wrench. A bit rod extends longitudinally through the wrench to the drive end and is biased toward the drive end by a spring located in a spring housing threaded onto the adapter ring. The simple mounting of the bit rod and adapter ring minimizes the conversion cost of the tool to render it capable of bolt holding operation.

Abstract: A system and method for fixedly securing a roller side bearing assembly to the top surface portion of a rail car truck assembly. Elongated threaded fasteners pass through registered openings in a bearing cage bottom wall and truck assembly top surface portion in threaded receipt by locknuts disposed on the underside of the top surface portion. A washer captured on each fastener includes at least a portion thereof which is closely interposed between the fastener head and the bearing cage bottom wall at the associated opening. The fasteners are rotated into threaded advancement with the locknuts to achieve fastener clamploads which fall within predetermined upper and lower limits. Each fastener head advantageously includes a hex type wrench receiving opening which has a limited maximum torque capacity generally correlated to obtaining a fastener clampload no greater than the predetermined upper limit. The washer geometry facilitates use of better or improved fastener head fillets.

Abstract: A system and method for fixedly securing a roller side bearing assembly to the top surface portion of a rail car truck assembly. Elongated threaded fasteners pass through registered openings in a bearing cage bottom wall and truck assembly top surface portion in threaded receipt by locknuts disposed on the underside of the top surface portion. A washer captured on each fastener includes at least a portion thereof which is closely interposed between the fastener head and the bearing cage bottom wall at the associated opening. The fasteners are rotated into threaded advancement with the locknuts to achieve fastener clamploads which fall within predetermined upper and lower limits. Each fastener head advantageously includes a hex type wrench receiving opening which has a limited maximum torque capacity generally correlated to obtaining a fastener clampload no greater than the predetermined upper limit. The washer geometry facilitates use of better or improved fastener head fillets.