ENCAPSULATED FASTENER AND METHOD AND TOOLING FOR MANUFACTURING SAME
An encapsulated fastener includes a nut adapted to receive a bolt. The nut is encapsulated by an encapsulation including an extension, which includes a tube adapted for receiving a portion of the bolt and a flange adapted for engaging a face of the nut. The encapsulation extension is placed on the nut in an overmolding tool, wherein an encapsulation base is injection molded over a portion of the encapsulation extension. The encapsulation base encapsulates the nut, except for its bore, which is sealed off during the overmolding process by a spring-mounted mandrel. Alternative embodiments of the invention include tubes with different configurations for contacting the bolt whereby the tube or cylinder is reinforced. A method and tooling for manufacturing the encapsulated fastener are also provided.
This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/186,605, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,225,003, issued Jul. 31, 2007 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fasteners, and in particular to an encapsulated fastener and a method and tooling for manufacturing same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mechanical fasteners are available in a wide variety of designs, which accommodate various objects being joined. The specific fastener design features are generally determined by such criteria as the functional requirements of the applications, the static and dynamic loads imposed thereon, the materials being fastened and the operating environment.
Threaded fasteners include bolts, nuts, screws, threaded rods and the like. An advantage of such fasteners is that they can be tightened and loosened with readily available hand and power tools. Consequently, threaded fasteners are used extensively in construction, manufacturing and other industries.
Although steel is a logical material choice for many fasteners based on high strength and low cost, many steel alloys are susceptible to rust, corrosion and galvanic action. Such effects can be countered in some applications by making the fasteners of stainless steel and other alloys that are resistant to rust and corrosion. However, such materials tend to be relatively expensive or ineffective in applications requiring the cost-effectiveness and material strength of steel. Another solution is to zinc-coat (i.e. galvanize), paint or otherwise provide surface protection for the fasteners. However, such solutions can be ineffective in highly corrosive liquid environments, such as salt water, wastewater, process chemicals, acid compounds and base compounds. Examples of highly corrosive dry materials include fertilizers, calcium chloride and other caustic powders and granular materials. In addition to corrosion resistance, impact and abrasion resistance are important design objectives for fasteners installed in severe service applications.
Fasteners that can withstand such severe service conditions are used extensively in the construction of tanks and other vessels for processing, storing and transporting highly corrosive liquids and solid bulk materials. Various applications for such fasteners are found in a number of industries, including petrochemical, manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, construction, defense, etc.
For example, large tanks and storage vessels are commonly constructed on site using prefabricated steel panels, which can be coated or lined with suitable corrosion-resistant materials. Bolting the panels together on site tends to be a relatively efficient and cost-effective construction method. Moreover, bolts and nuts have the advantage of installing with basic hand and power tools.
The prior art includes bolts and nuts encapsulated in injection-molded plastics, which can provide the necessary chemical resistance and other physical characteristics for these applications. For example, snap-on and spin-on plastic covers have previously been utilized for protecting the exposed portions of nut-and-bolt fasteners. The prior art also includes deep metal nuts with blind-end threaded receivers with sufficient lengths to enclose the bolts. Such nuts can be coated with anti-corrosive materials. However, such specialized fasteners tend to be more expensive than standard-size nuts. Moreover, manufacturing techniques generally require gripping the extended nuts by their interior internal threads in order for the entire exterior surface to be effectively coated. Another prior art nut encapsulation technique involves encapsulating standard size nuts in plastic materials with extensions adapted for receiving the bolt shafts protruding from the nuts. Problems with such encapsulation configurations include misalignment between bolt and extension internal threads and unsupported extensions when the extension bores are oversized to avoid contact with the bolt shafts received therein.
Heretofore there have not been available an encapsulated fastener and a method and tooling for manufacturing same with the advantages and features of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIn the practice of an aspect of the present invention, an encapsulated fastener is provided, which includes a two-part encapsulation comprising a base encapsulating a nut and an extension encapsulating a portion of a bolt extending from the base. A manufacturing method embodying the present invention includes the steps of injection molding the encapsulation extension, placing it on a nut and overmolding the base over the nut and a portion of the extension with tooling embodying another aspect of the invention.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as oriented in the view being referred to. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. The invention can be fabricated in various sizes and configurations from a wide variety of suitable materials, which are chosen for their characteristics according to the intended use and the operation of the invention. For example, engineered plastics, such as glass-filled nylon, can be chosen for such characteristics as chemical resistance, rigidity and toughness. Without limitation on the range of suitable materials for manufacturing the encapsulated fasteners and practicing the manufacturing method, a wide range of plastics and other formable materials can be utilized to satisfy the applicable performance, manufacturing and cost parameters.
II. Encapsulated Nut 2Referring to
The spring-compressed close fit of the nut convex face 24 and the flange proximal face 20 further seal the encapsulation extension 14 against the injected overmolding plastic. The mandrel 46 is biased downwardly by a compression spring 52, which is adapted for accommodating variations in thicknesses of nuts 8 and tends to press the nut convex face 24 tightly and sealingly against the flange proximal face 20.
A subgate 54 is formed in the overmolding tool 40 for receiving the molten material for molding the encapsulation base 12, which preferably fuses with the portion of the encapsulation extension 14 exposed within the lower mold cavity 43. The distal-most ring 38 provides a stop for the encapsulation base 12 material.
Applications of fasteners embodying aspects of the present invention are shown in
An encapsulation hat or extension 134 includes multiple, longitudinally-extending ribs 136 within its bore 138, which are similar in construction and function to the splines 74 described above.
It is to be understood that the invention described here in can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. Other components and configurations can be utilized in the practice of the present invention.
Claims
1. An encapsulated nut, which comprises:
- a nut with first and second faces, an internally-threaded bore extending between and open at said faces and at least one sidewall;
- an encapsulation extension including a tube with proximate and distal ends and a tube bore open at said proximate end and generally aligned with said nut bore;
- said encapsulation extension having a flange located at said tube proximate end and engaging a respective nut face;
- an encapsulation base encapsulating said nut, said flange and said tube proximate end, said encapsulation base having an opening at the other face of said nut, said opening providing access to said nut and tube bores;
- said nut having a shoulder at said nut face; and
- said encapsulation base having a foot extending into said nut shoulder.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 27, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2008
Inventor: Steven L. Thompson (Girard, KS)
Application Number: 11/829,846