Abstract: A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.

Abstract: A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.

Abstract: A method and fastener for fastening one or more apertured members (48) to an apertured workpiece (52), an aperture (50) of the or each member (48) being aligned with an aperture (54) in the workpiece (52), the method comprising the steps of inserting a fastener (10) into the aligned apertures, the fastener (10) being formed of ductile material and having a head (14), a shank (12), and an axial bore (22) extending through the shank (12) and into the head (14), the shank (14) being circumferentially entire and being formed with an external screw-thread (18) the fastener (10) being inserted so that the head (14) engages a face of the one member (48), and the shank (12) extends through the member (48) or members and into the workpiece (52), and at least a part of the screw-thread (18) is within the workpiece (52), and then, while supporting the fastener (10) at the head (14), drawing into and entirely through the bore (22), in the direction from the tail portion to the head (14), a tapering, enlarged, mandrel hea

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blind threaded insert from metal which method comprises the steps of at least partially forming the insert, by a cold-forming process, other than the internal thread; forming the internal thread; and annealing the appropriate part of the insert to promote later deformation during installation.

Abstract: A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.

Abstract: A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.

Abstract: A blind fastener for installation in a workpiece comprising a plurality of members thereby to secure them together, which fastener comprises first securing means whereby the fastener may be subject to a first part of an installation process in the workepicce to provide a controlled lower level of clamp force in the workpiece, whereby the workpiece members are initially coupled together but may be laterally adjusted relative to each other, and second securing means whereby the fastener may be subject to a second part of the installation process to provide a high level of clamp force in the workpiece, thereby to lock the workpiece members together.

Abstract: A sealing plug for blind installation in a suitable hole thereby to plug and seal the hole, which sealing plug comprises a sleeve (1) having one end closed, a stem (2) having a head (4) at least part of which is radially enlarged with respect to the remainder of the stem, the stem head being within the sleeve and the stem protruding from the open end of the sleeve by passing through a part of the sleeve which has an internal cross-sectional dimension less than that of the stem head, the stem head having a shoulder (8), and there being an abutment of sleeve material against at least the radially outer part of the shoulder, the stem head being of a material which is harder than that of the sleeve and being formed with a weakened portion at a position intermediate the head and the part of the stem remote therefrom, whereby, when the sealing plug is inserted in a suitable hole, with the sleeve entirely within the hole, and increasing tension force is applied to the stem with respect to the sleeve, axial compressi

Abstract: A method and fastener for fastening one or more apertured members (48) to an apertured workpiece (52), an aperture (50) of the or each member (48) being aligned with an aperture (54) in the workpiece (52), the method comprising the steps of inserting a fastener (10) into the aligned apertures, the fastener (10) being formed of ductile material and having a head (14), a shank (12), and an axial bore (22) extending through the shank (12) and into the head (14), the shank (14) being circumferentially entire and being formed with an external screw-thread (18) the fastener (10) being inserted so that the head (14) engages a face of the one member (48), and the shank (12) extends through the member (48) or members and into the workpiece (52), and at least a part of the screw-thread (18) is within the workpiece (52), and then, while supporting the fastener (10) at the head (14), drawing into and entirely through the bore (22), in the direction from the tail portion to the head (14), a tapering, enlarged, mandrel hea

Abstract: An insert for installation in a relatively thin or weak workpiece to provide an anchor for a self-tapping screw, which insert is in the form of an integral metal structure which comprises: a body portion; a head portion located at or near one end of the body portion and extending radially therefrom; a receptacle portion located at the other end of the body portion remote from the head portion; and a through bore extending throughout the head, body and receptacle portions; the interior bore of the receptacle portion being substantially unthreaded for the reception of a self-tapping screw; in which the exterior cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the receptacle portion, and the interior cross sectional shape and dimensions of the body portion are respectively such that the body portion is deformable, when the receptacle portion is drawn towards the head portion, to secure the insert in a suitable hole in a workpiece through which the receptacle and body portions have been inserted so that the head portion i

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blind threaded insert from metal which method comprises the steps of at least partially forming the insert, by a cold-forming process, other than the internal thread; forming the internal thread; and annealing the appropriate part of the insert to promote later deformation during installation.

Abstract: A sealing plug for blind installation in a suitable hole thereby to plug and seal the hole, which sealing plug comprises a sleeve (1) having one end closed, a stem (2) having a head (4) at least part of which is radially enlarged with respect to the remainder of the stem, the stem head being within the sleeve and the stem protruding from the open end of the sleeve by passing through a part of the sleeve which has an internal cross-sectional dimension less than that of the stem head, the stem head having a shoulder (8), and there being an abutment of sleeve material against at least the radially outer part of the shoulder, the stem head being of a material which is harder than that of the sleeve and being formed with a weakened portion at a position intermediate the head and the part of the stem remote therefrom, whereby, when the sealing plug is inserted in a suitable hole, with the sleeve entirely within the hole, and increasing tension force is applied to the stem with respect to the sleeve, axial compressi

Abstract: An insert (11) for installation in a relatively thin or weak workpiece (49) to provide an anchor for a self-tapping screw (48) or the like, which insert is in the form of an integral metal structure having a body portion, a head portion located at or near one end of the body portion and extending radially therefrom a receptacle portion located at the other end of the body portion remote from the head portion; and a through bore extending throughout the head, body and receptacle (25) portions the interior bore of the receptacle portion being substantially unthreaded for the reception of a self-tapping screw of the like the exterior cross-sectional shape and dimensions of the receptacle portion, and the interior cross-sectional portion, respectively being such that the body portion is deformable, when the receptacle portion is drawn towards the head portion, to secure the insert in a suitable hole in a workpiece through which the receptacle and body portions have been inserted so that the head portion is adjace

Abstract: A blind fastener which can be installed by access to one side only of a workpiece comprises a pin, a sleeve, and an abutment member. The pin extends inside the sleeve and engages the sleeve at one end. The other end of the sleeve has a radially enlarged head. The sleeve is of one piece and has a radially expandable portion. The abutment member is adjacent to the sleeve head and abuts a frangible element of the sleeve head. The sleeve is inserted into an aperture in a workpiece with the expandable portion protruding beyond the blind face of the workpiece and the head abutting the near face of the workpiece. A pulling force is applied to the part of the pin extending beyond the abutment member and the expandable part of the sleeve expands radially to form a blind head against the blind face of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of forming a tubular member with longitudinal slots along part of its wall, comprising the steps of: firstly, forming longitudinal zones of weakness along part of the wall of the tubular member, and secondly, expanding the said part of the tubular member radially to cause fracture of the wall of the member along the longitudinal zones, thereby to form longitudinal slots.

Abstract: A method of blind riveting to secure together a plurality of members (26, 27, 28) with aligned apertures, using a blind rivet comprising a tubular shell (11) with a head (13) and a stem (12) extending through the tubular shell. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the shell through the aligned apertures, from the near face of the near member, so that the remote end of the shell protrude beyond the remote face of the remote member and the nearest end of the shell is substantially level with the near face of the near member; supporting the near end of the shell while pulling the stem head to form a remote blind head; applying a force to the near member with respect to the stem, until any gap (28) between the members is taken up and deforming the now protruding portion of the shell to form a near-side head of the rivet. The invention also encompasses a blind riveting apparatus and blind rivets for carrying out the method described above.

Abstract: Riveting apparatus of the type in which an elongated mandrel, having an enlarged head at one end and loaded with a plurality of the tubular rivets forming a column of rivets on the mandrel, is gripped by gripping mechanism at or near the end remote from the head, and reciprocated relative to an abutment (32), by relative reciprocation between the gripping means (43) and the abutment, the rivets in the column being fed forwardly along the mandrel so that the leading rivet nearest the mandrel head is positioned between the mandrel head and the abutment (32) and can then be set by moving the mandrel rearwardly relative to the abutment (32) so as to draw the head of the mandrel through the bore of the rivet while the rivet is supported by the abutment (32), includes pneumatically operated rivet-feeding mechanism for feeding rivets forwardly along the mandrel, a valve mechanism for shutting off the supply of air to the rivet feeding mechanism thereby to disable it, and the valve mechanism is responsive to the pres

Abstract: A method of riveting two metal sheets together including the steps of inserting the shank of a blind rivet through superposed oversized holes in the sheets, and deforming the parts of the sheets immediately surrounding the apertures by compression between the blind head and the preformed head of the rivet when the rivet is placed. The holes are oversized to allow for manufacturing and assembly tolerances, and deformation of the sheets provides interengagement between the sheets and substantially increases their resistance to slipping sideways relative to each other.

Abstract: A riveting apparatus which includes an elongated mandrel, a mandrel gripping mechanism, a mechanism for feeding rivets forwardly along the mandrel, and an abutment provided by a plurality of members, and a control system including an actuation device such that, upon actuation by an operator of the actuation device, the control system controls the riveting apparatus so that the rivet feeding mechanism is activated and deactivated, the abutment members are closed or opened, and the mandrel gripping mechanism is activated or deactivated, with a time delay between each step, to enable rapid removal and replacement of the mandrel.

Abstract: A pin-type fastener capable of dual-function includes a pin which can be used in fastening workpieces together. The pin has a pintail capable of being removed from the remainder of the pin after the pin has been installed as a fastener in a workpiece, and the pintail can then be used as a weldstud and welded to the same workpiece as the pin-type fastener, or to another workpiece. The pin-type fastener can be a two-part fastener, for example a lockbolt including a nut or swageable collar engageable with the pin. The pin may have a breakneck to facilitate removal of the pintail. The pin itself may be a weldstud. In use, the pin-type fastener is installed in a workpiece and the pintail is removed, and then the pintail is used as a weldstud, being welded to a workpiece. Electric welding is employed. The advantage of the fastener is in economy through second use of the pintail as a stud.