Abstract: A pneumatic nut installation tool has a plunger assembly which advances from a retracted position near the rear of the tool through a nut pickup station to an extended position extending from the front of the tool. A nut shuttle delivers a nut in front of the plunger assembly before it reaches the nut pickup station and retracts away from the nut pickup station before the plunger assembly moves through that station. The nut is picked up on an assembly that includes a split spring ring which engages the bore of the nut. The spring ring is mounted on a fixed member, which also includes a hexagonal key for preventing rotation of a bolt as the nut is threaded onto it. A rotating nut driver moves over the outside of the nut picked up by the pickup assembly for threading the nut onto a bolt.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for blind fasteners providing improved yield and fatigue performance of the blind fasteners is disclosed. The locking apparatus utilizes a locking collar which will slide over the fastener stem and within the tubular rivet sleeve of the fastener without preforming into the locking groove on the stem. The locking collar is formed so that upon the pulling of the stem during installation of the blind fastener, specially formed tapered regions in the locking collar then adjacent the locking groove on the stem cause the region of the locking collar immediately thereabove to be encouraged tightly inward against the locking groove to provide a particularly tight fit in the locking groove. In an alternate embodiment, the locking collar is formed so that upon pulling of the stem during installation of the blind fastener, a specially formed locking collar buckles inward to pack tightly into the locking groove.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use in non-surgical procedures for treating the human uterus. The apparatus of the invention, called a uterine catheter, is of flexible, non-rigid construction which possesses sufficient stiffness to permit introduction of the device into the body by itself, without the need for rigid stylet or stiffening rod introduction means.