1732results about "Rivets" patented technology

A joining pin (3.2) with which two parts (1 and 2) made from a porous material, particularly wood or a wood-like material, are to be joined together, is anchored in the porous material at predetermined anchoring points (31, 33). For this purpose, a bore (4.2) with a closed inner end (41) is made in the parts (1 and 2). The shape of this bore (4.2) is so matched to the joining pin (3.2) that it can be introduced substantially without force expenditure into the bore and is positionable in a first position. At least one predetermined anchoring point (31, 33) between the joining pin (3.2) and the wall of the bore (4.2) is formed when pressure is built up by pressing the joining pin (3.2) with a pressing force (F) more deeply into the bore to a second position. Energy is supplied in a planned manner to the joining pin (3.2) so that at the predetermined anchoring points (31, 33) the thermoplastic material of the joining pin (3.2) is plasticized. The locally plasticized plastic material is pressed by the local pressure into the porous material of the parts and forms local, macroscopic anchors (10, 20). The joining pin (3.2) is, e.g., made entirely from a thermoplastic material and the energy for plasticizing is supplied thereto by ultrasonic vibration.

A self-locking pin having a shaft, a headed end, and detent means biased in a bore in the pin. The portion of the detent or plunger that extends outwardly from the bore is wedge-shaped, while the portion of the plunger disposed inside the bore is cylindrical. A transitional angle is formed at the point where the configuration of the plunger changes from cylindrical to wedge-shaped. The transitional angle defines shoulders on either side of the plunger. The shaft is staked at points along the perimeter of the bore so that the inwardly extending surface created by the staking abuts the shoulders and prevents the plunger from rotating or being removed from the bore. In an alternate embodiment, the plunger may be rotated to a locked depressed position.

A fastening element capable of being attached to a panel by deforming the panel is disclosed. A barrel portion is tubular with an open free end and has an axis defining a circumference. A radial flange portion is integral with the tubular barrel portion opposite the free end and defines a circumferential surface. The radial flange portion includes a plurality of projections spaced apart and extending outwardly from the circumferential surface. Each of the projections defines at least one wall generally perpendicular to the circumference about the axis of the barrel portion.

A fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener is made of layers of material, a light curable material and/or multiple built-up materials. Another aspect uses a three-dimensional printing machine to emit material from an ink jet printing head to build up a fastener.

An expandable collet body and anchor system incorporating a collet body anti-rotation feature and preferably collet body translation arresting means are disclosed. The collet body includes a first end, a first wall portion having at least two fingers, a second end including a head, a second wall portion, an annular protrusion and anti-rotation means where the anti-rotation means engages with an auxiliary structure defining a hole having an internal surface adapted to translationally accept the collet body and operatively function with the collet body anti-rotation means. The auxiliary may include a work piece to be optionally joined to another structure or a sleeve insert locatable in a hole defined by a work piece. Because the collet body is relatively free to translate within the auxiliary structure, a wide spectrum of work piece depths can be engaged with a single length collet body with the use of a stud to radially expand the fingers, thereby engaging a distal structure.

A locking device is disclosed for interlocking two members having aligned openings extending therethrough. The device includes a hollow cap and a pin with an enlarged head at one end and a nose at the opposite end. The pin is insertable through the aligned openings of the members, with its nose received in interlocked engagement within the cap, and with the two members captured between the cap and the enlarged head of the pin. A frangible portion of the pin is severable in response to relative rotation between its nose and enlarged head to thereby destructively disassemble the locking device.

A fastener adapted to pass through aligned holes through workpieces is disclosed. The fastener includes a pin member having a transition portion wherein the diameter of the transition portion decreases radially as it extends from the smooth cylindrical shank portion to the threaded portion. The fastener may also comprise a sleeve member and a clamping means. The clamping means includes a collar, a nut, or any other possible clamping means. In exemplary embodiments, the workpieces can be formed with a plurality of materials, the materials including composite, metallic, or composite/metallic structures, any combination thereof. In particular embodiments, the fastener has interference capability of 0.0005 to 0.0100 inches in composite structures without risk of composite delamination or damage. As a result of the fastener interference, gaps between the fastener and the structure are eliminated thereby providing good electrical conductivity between components. As a result, the potential for electrical sparks is reduced, providing a safer fastener for use with aerospace applications.

A blind fastener for securing a plurality of workpieces is provided that has a sleeve, and a pin member. In an alternate embodiment, the blind fastener has a sleeve, a pin member and a nut. The sleeves have a head with a plurality of rearwardly sloping recesses disposed therein. The recesses are adapted to be engaged with a plurality of rearwardly sloping nibs disposed on one end of a nose secured to an installation tool. The pin members have a splined head adapted to be engaged with a splined driver secured to an installation tool. Use of the splined head on the pin member, the splined driver, rearwardly sloping recesses on the sleeve, and rearwardly sloping nibs on the nose eliminates camming out of the nibs from the recesses during installation of the blind fastener. A nose assembly for installation of the blind fastener is also provided.

A fastener in which a sleeve 3 and a plug 4 are put into concavo-convex engagement both before and after execution to exert an effect of preventing separation between the two and an effect of preventing loosening therebetween after execution and which can be released by a single action during disassembling. Before execution, the sleeve 3 and the plug 4 press fitted therein are positioned by concavo-convex engagement between a fitting protrusion 8 on the inner periphery of an expanding portion 7 and a neck portion 11 of the plug 4. After execution, the fitting protrusion 8 on the inner periphery of the expanding portion 7 as expanded put into concavo-convex engagement with a neck portion 10 of the plug 4 again, thereby exerting an effect of stopping loosening between the two with respect to vibration, etc. During disassembling, a striking force is given to an end of the plug 4 to release the expanded state by a single action, allowing immediate pulling-away of the fastener 1.

The invention relates to fasteners adapted for use in automobile air bag attachment systems. The fastener comprises a hook to engage a vehicle structure during installation and a pin to lock the fastener in place. Advantageously, the hook portion may be quickly installed and will support the air bag assembly while allowing any positional adjustments to be made prior to locking the fastener by depressing the pin until it is fully engaged in the vehicle structure. An embodiment of the invention incorporates both a locking method to prevent the fastener from being disengaged and a method of releasing this lock if needed for servicing. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for reducing the likelihood of improperly installed parts by preventing locking when the fastener is in a partially installed configuration.

A method and apparatus for performing an assembly operation. A tool may be macro-positioned relative to an exterior of a fuselage assembly. The tool may be micro-positioned relative to a particular location on the exterior of the fuselage assembly. An assembly operation may be performed at the particular location on the panel using the tool.

A fastener and method for fastening structural members wherein the fastener comprises a metallic stem defining a shank extending between first and second ends, the stem defining a deformable first head at the first end of the shank, and a resin-fiber composite sleeve defining the second end of the shank. The sleeve defines an aperture longitudinally extending through the sleeve, and a portion of the sleeve has a cross-sectional dimension greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the aperture through the structural members. Tensile strength of the composite sleeve is increased by incorporation of a support washer into the composite sleeve and/or by substantially orienting the fibers of the resin-fiber sleeve composite in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve.

At least one embodiment generally relates to an installation assembly for an opening in a workpiece that includes a swaged collar, an inner member, and an outer member. The swaged collar has a first end, a second end, and a main body extending between the first end and the second end. The main body includes an inner surface defining a passageway through the collar. The inner member has a mandrel section for expanding the outer member. The inner member is used to expand the outer member and to keep the outer member in an expanded state.

An apparatus for anchoring at least two graft ligaments within a longitudinal bone tunnel includes a longitudinal sleeve having at least two radially spaced ligament-contacting surfaces located in lateral opposition to a sleeve inner lumen. The sleeve is configured for at least partial insertion into the bone tunnel with each graft ligament positioned laterally adjacent a different ligament-contacting surface. The graft ligaments are at least partially located between the bone tunnel and the sleeve. An actuating member has longitudinally separated proximal and distal actuating member ends. An asymmetrically offset profile is defined by at least one of the sleeve and the actuating member. The asymmetrically offset profile has a plurality of longitudinally spaced engagement thresholds. The actuating member is inserted longitudinally into the sleeve to cause frictional engagement of each graft ligament with both the bone tunnel and at least one ligament-contacting surface. The frictional engagement of each graft ligament is temporally spaced apart from the frictional engagement of at least one other graft ligament. The temporal spacing is provided by the plurality of engagement thresholds. A method of anchoring at least two longitudinally extending graft ligaments within a bone tunnel is also provided.

A substrate such as a heat shield for a vehicle is provided with a unitary compressed wire mesh bushing or isolator formed in place though a bore in the substrate. The bushing is formed by supporting an uncompressed or partially compressed wire mesh sleeve, optionally including a grommet or spacer, on a mandrel positioned within the bore; the mandrel is surrounded on either side of the bore by outer sleeves forming a molding cavity on each side of the substrate, and a slidable tamp is disposed in each outer sleeve and moved towards each other to compress the mesh within the bore and provide the unitary bushing.