Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for delivering an article formed of a shape memory alloy to a surgical implantation site. The apparatus may include a body having a passage for receiving the proximal portion of the shape memory article, the passage being shaped to substantially prevent the shape memory article from deforming in accordance with its shape memory properties when the proximal portion of the shape memory article is positioned in the passage. An exemplary involves placing the distal portions of legs of a staple in at least one passage in a constraining device that substantially constrains the legs from deforming; and placing the proximal portions of the legs of the staple in at least one passage in an apparatus that, independently of the constraining device, substantially prevents the legs from deforming.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mechanically-joining components to assemble a composite structure. A first component and a second component may be provided. At least one of the first and second components may comprise a composite component. A hole may be formed in each of the first and second components. A metallic sleeve may be placed in the holes in the first and second components such that the metallic sleeve is in contact with the first and second components, and a composite rivet may be placed in the metallic sleeve. Heat and a deforming force may be applied to the composite rivet to join the first and second components to form an assembled composite structure.

Abstract: A composite fastener, a belly nut, a tie system and/or a method reduce heat transfer through a building envelope. The composite fastener, the belly nut, the tie system and/or the method secure a wall to a backup structure. The composite fastener is constructed from a fiber reinforced polymer that has fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix. The composite fastener has a low thermal conductive value (k-value) and has non-corrosive properties. The belly nut has a fastening hole on a first side of the belly nut to attach the composite fastener to the belly nut. Further, the belly nut has a pathway to receive a leg of a pintle from a top surface of the belly nut to a bottom surface of the belly nut. The pathway is sized to allow for greater vertical adjustment eccentricity between the belly nut and the pintle without creating large horizontal deflections of the tie system.

Abstract: A hybrid clinch-type standoff consists of two component parts, a metal core base and a overmolded plastic barrel. The base has a through-bore and a displacer flange at the bottom. A first undercut is located immediately above the flange and extends upwardly along an outside surface of the base for providing clinch attachment of the base to a substrate. A frustoconical ramp convergent in the upward direction lies along the outer surface of the base is and is located directly above the first undercut. An axially extending segmented ring with circumferential teeth is located at the top of the base. The overmolded plastic tubular barrel composed of plastic fills the second undercut and surrounds the segmented ring. The barrel has an inner portion including a threaded inner wall which extends downardly inside the through-bore to a point flush with the bottom of the flange.

Abstract: A relatively low cost, lightweight and thermal stress-free mechanical fastener system having particular application for reliably joining together high temperature structural members (e.g., a pair of flat fiber-reinforced ceramic composite plates). The mechanical fastener system includes a ceramic composite fastener having a semi-circular head at one end to be countersunk in the structural members to be joined together and a dove tail retention feature formed in the shank or root at the opposite end. The composite fastener has a 2-dimensional (i.e., flat) profile that facilitates an economic manufacture thereof from densified ceramic composite material. A matched pair of thread forms having external threads and an internal dove tail relief to match the dove tail retention feature at the root of the composite fastener is held in face-to-face mating engagement with one another so as to establish a mechanical interlock around the root of the composite fastener.

Abstract: A fastener for a turbine engine includes a bolt and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) cap mechanically secured to the bolt. CMC components are attached to an exhaust nozzle case with the fasteners. The fastener includes a bolt made of metal and having a head. A CMC cap is located on the head of the bolt and secured to the bolt by a mechanical device. The mechanical device allows the CMC cap to have a different thermal expansion than the bolt. The CMC cap also acts as a thermal shield for the bolt, aiding in the reduction of a heat signature of the turbine engine.

Abstract: A fastener assembly including a retention and alignment element used in combination with a first component having a cylindrical wall defining a bore and a second component having an elongated shaft for insertion into the bore of the first component. The retention and alignment element comprises a plurality of elongated polymeric protuberances, each having (i) a base fixed to the cylindrical wall of the first component, (ii) a height sufficient so that together the free ends of the protuberances define a passageway that creates an interference fit with the shaft of the second component, and (iii) a length sufficient to maintain the shaft of the second component generally collinear with the axis of the bore of the first component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an improved pultruded and clinched Z-axis fiber reinforced composite laminate structure. The upper and lower skins and the core are pulled automatically through tooling where the skin material is wetted-out with resin and the entire composite laminate is preformed in nearly its final thickness. The preformed composite laminate continues to be pulled into an automatic 3-dimensional Z-axis fiber deposition machine that deposits “groupings of fiber filaments” at multiple locations normal to the plane of the composite laminate structure and cuts each individual grouping such that an extension of each “grouping of fiber filaments” remains above the upper skin and below the lower skin. The preformed composite laminate then continues to be pulled into a secondary wet-out station.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for securing a wrapper about a bale which is intended to be subsequently treated comprising inserting a fastener pin through the wrapper into the bale, the fastener pin being adapted to remain in the bale during subsequent treatment thereof. Fasteners are also disclosed for securing wrappers about bales.

Abstract: An arrangement for insulating a wall of a metallic combustion chamber is disclosed. A layer of insulating material is applied to the metallic wall and a plurality of ceramic wall panels are applied over the ceramic insulation material. The wall panels are retained by fastening elements that pass through an opening in the wall panels. The opening in the wall panels has a frusto-conical surface and the engagement surface of the fastening element is at least partially spherical to avoid mechanical and thermal stresses.

Abstract: A door hinge assembly is provided which includes a mounting body with a pocket for receiving an edge of a door, a clamping mechanism positioned on and securing the mounting body to the door, a pin projecting upwards from the mounting body and a bushing for receiving the pin. The bushing is mounted in a recess of a door frame and preferably includes a series of fluted ribs along its outer wall. An annular ring projects inwardly from an inner wall of the bushing. A channel on the pin receives the annular ring and retains same within the bushing.

Abstract: A fastening member is formed from a fiber-reinforced ceramic composite material, in which a ceramic material is reinforced with a plurality of inorganic long fibers. The inorganic long fibers are located in the ceramic material such that first orientated layers, in which the inorganic long fibers are orientated in a predetermined direction, and second orientated layers, in which the inorganic long fibers are orientated in a direction different from the direction of orientation of the inorganic long fibers in the first orientated layers, may be laminated alternately.

Abstract: High temperature ceramic nut of aluminum oxide for use in coupling a flared tube to a flare fitting.

Abstract: A composite fastener member, in one form, having integral head and shank portions is defined by a plurality of superimposed composite fiber reinforced sheets spirally wound about a longitudinal axis. A plurality of fastener members, oppositely disposed within an opening in an article, define a fastener especially useful in joining lightweight composite structures such as aircraft or aircraft engine components. In another form, the ends of a single spirally wound composite fastener member are splayed to fasten a plurality of sheets.

Abstract: A self-closing receiverless surgical fastener comprises a fastener body of biocompatible or bioabsorbable material including a bridge member and at least two tines extending from opposite ends of the bridge member. The tines are resiliently deformable from a normally closed position with the distal ends of the tines pointing toward each other to an open position with the distal ends of the tines extending substantially parallel to each other for penetrating into tissue. The tines are resiliently returnable to the closed position with the distal ends of the tines pointing toward each other to secure the fastener body to the tissue.

Abstract: A malleable, bioabsorbable polymeric staple includes a back span with two legs depending perpendicularly therefrom that are deformed along an arcuate path toward each other initially and then upwardly toward the back span such that end points on each leg extend through a gap formed between an underside of the back span and a bend in an opposite leg. A surgical staple-deforming anvil for deforming the staples has a staple-receiving face formed with a pair of guiding path depressions each having an entry end lying on a longitudinal axis parallel to the back span of the staple, and an exit end. The guiding paths are arcuately shaped and form a groove curving and crossing each other approximately at the longitudinal axis. Accordingly, the legs of a staple driven toward the anvil and received in the guiding paths are initially bent toward each other and then steered upwardly and along the horizontally curved path toward the gap formed between the back span and the bend in the opposite leg.

Abstract: A low conductivity mounting stud for attaching an electronic component to a base structure such as a heat sink eliminates the need for several insulating washers and other insulators around the shaft of the mounting stud. The mounting stud may be composed of ceramic material such as partially stabilized zirconia. The mounting stud is secured with a press-on fastener such as a "Tinnerman nut".

Abstract: The tapered split-bushing fastener has been designed for high temperature applications. The fastener consists of a pin (with a standard countersunk head at one end and a tapered end at the other end), a split tapered bushing, a washer and a sleeve with an internal taper. Installation is accomplished by inserting the pin in the parts to be fastened, then slipping the washer and the split bushing on the tapered end and finally pushing the sleeve onto the split bushing. Pushing the sleeve causes the split-bushing to react against the washer and generate the fastener axial preload. A high temperature adhesive is then injected to lock the fastener in place.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for fastening layers of body tissue as in skin grafting procedures. The fastener comprises a backspan and at least two barbed prongs. The barbs are flat, triangular and are coplanar with respect to each other, as well as being in parallel alignment with the axis of the backspan. The surgical fastener is made of bioabsorbable material to eliminate the need for removal.

Abstract: Various methods of fixedly connecting together carbon-carbon composite structures are disclosed herein along with the ultimately connected structural assemblies. These assemblies for the most part consist only of the carbon-carbon composite structures and a char forming material such as pitch which has been charred and do not require fastening means made of any other type of material such as metal bolts or the like. As a result, each of these assemblies, in its entirety, is especially suitable for use in high temperature environments including specifically hyperthermal environments.

Abstract: A sterile internal organ fastening device comprising a staple and a receiver. The legs of the staple have a tapered portion terminating in a sharp point with the taper having a specific configuration to minimize penetration forces and reduce trauma and with the receiver protecting the surrounding tissue from the sharp point.

Abstract: A fastener comprises composite head and shank portions having an encapsulating metal sheath thereon that is electrically isolated from conductive fibers in the head and shank portions and from an exposed surface of the head portion.

Abstract: A ceramic interiorly threaded hollow insert for incorporation in a refractory preformed shape such as hot metal runners into which eyelet carrying bolts may be threaded so that the preformed shapes can be handled by mechanical means. The ceramic insert is made of material similar to that of the preformed shape with which it is used. The ceramic insert is bonded in the preformed shape during the drying and baking formation thereof.