U.S. patent application number 15/856723 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-03 for swage lock fasteners.
This patent application is currently assigned to Arconic Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Arconic Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert Brown.
Application Number | 20180119718 15/856723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53267566 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180119718 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Robert |
May 3, 2018 |
SWAGE LOCK FASTENERS
Abstract
A fastener includes a pin member, a swage collar, and a nut. The
pin member includes a shank portion having first and second ends
and a threaded portion including an external thread. The swage
collar has first and second ends and is adapted to be installed on
the pin member and swaged onto the external thread of the pin
member. The second end of the swage collar is positioned distal
from the first end of the pin member when the swage collar is
installed on the pin member. The nut is adapted to be installed on
the pin member and has first and second ends and an internal thread
adapted to engage the external thread of the pin member. When the
nut is installed on the pin member, the nut is adapted to engage
the swage collar such that the swage collar is retained on the pin
member before swaging.
Inventors: |
Brown; Robert; (Melbourne,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arconic Inc. |
Pittsburgh |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Arconic Inc.
Pittsburgh
PA
|
Family ID: |
53267566 |
Appl. No.: |
15/856723 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14697857 |
Apr 28, 2015 |
9856898 |
|
|
15856723 |
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61985641 |
Apr 29, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 39/026 20130101;
F16B 37/044 20130101; F16B 19/05 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16B 19/05 20060101
F16B019/05; F16B 39/02 20060101 F16B039/02 |
Claims
1. A fastener, comprising: a pin member including an elongated
shank portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first
end, and a threaded portion intermediate the first and second ends
end and including an external thread; a swage collar having a first
end and a second end opposite the first end of the swage collar,
the swage collar being adapted to be installed on the pin member
and swaged onto the external thread of the pin member, the second
end of the swage collar being positioned distal from the first end
of the pin member when the swage collar is installed on the pin
member; and a nut adapted to be installed on the pin member and
having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the nut,
and an internal thread adapted to engage threadedly the external
thread of the pin member, wherein when the nut is installed on the
pin member, the first end of the nut is adapted to engage the
second end of the swage collar such that the swage collar is
retained on the pin member prior to the swage collar being swaged
onto the pin member.
2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the external thread comprises a
helical thread.
3. The fastener of claim 2, wherein the threaded portion further
comprises an annular groove positioned intermediate the first and
second ends of the pin member.
4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein a width of the annular groove
is in the range of one times a pitch of the helical thread to two
times a pitch of the helical thread.
5. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the pin member includes a pull
portion having at least one pull groove.
6. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the swage collar further
comprises an internal fit-up tab.
7. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the nut is hexagonal in shape
or square in shape.
8. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the swage collar includes a
flange.
9. The fastener of claim 8, wherein the flange of the swage collar
is cylindrical in shape or hexagonal in shape.
10. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the internal thread of the nut
extends from the first end of the nut to the second end of the
nut.
11. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the pin member comprises
carbon steel.
12. The fastener of claim 11, wherein the pin member comprises a
bolt selected from the group consisting of a Grade 9 strength level
bolt, a Class 12.9 strength level bolt, a Grade 2 strength level
bolt, a Grade 5 strength level bolt, a Grade 8 strength level bolt,
a Class 8.8 strength level bolt, and a Class 10.9 strength level
bolt.
13. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the swage collar comprises a
material selected from the group consisting of low carbon steel,
unannealed low carbon steel, annealed low carbon steel, medium
carbon boron steel, 10B22 steel, medium carbon steel, and 1038
steel.
14. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the nut comprises medium
carbon alloy steel.
15. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the pin member includes a head
located at the first end of the elongated shank portion of the pin
member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/697,857, entitled "SWAGE LOCK FASTENERS`,
filed Apr. 28, 2015, which is a Section 111(a) application relating
to and claiming the benefit of commonly-owned, U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/985,641, entitled "SWAGE LOCK
FASTENERS," filed Apr. 29, 2014, the contents of both of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to fasteners and, more
particularly, swage lock fasteners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Swage lock fasteners are used to secure a plurality of work
pieces to one another. Typically, swage lock fasteners include a
pin member having lock grooves and a lock bolt collar adapted to be
swaged into the lock grooves of the pin member by a fastener
installation tool. It is desired that a swage lock fastener include
a fit-up capability in order to pre-assemble it on a work piece and
adjust it as required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In an embodiment, a fastener includes a pin member, a swage
collar, and a nut, the pin member including an elongated shank
portion having a first end, a second end opposite the first end,
and a threaded portion intermediate the first and second ends end
and including an external thread, the swage collar having a first
end and a second end opposite the first end of the swage collar,
the swage collar being adapted to be installed on the pin member
and swaged onto the external thread of the pin member, the second
end of the swage collar being positioned distal from the first end
of the pin member when the swage collar is installed on the pin
member, the nut adapted to be installed on the pin member and
having a first end, a second end opposite the first end of the nut,
and an internal thread adapted to engage threadedly the external
thread of the pin member, wherein when the nut is installed on the
pin member, the first end of the nut is adapted to engage the
second end of the swage collar such that the swage collar is
retained on the pin member prior to the swage collar being swaged
onto the pin member.
[0005] In an embodiment, the external thread includes a helical
thread. In an embodiment, the threaded portion also includes an
annular groove positioned intermediate the first and second ends of
the pin member. In an embodiment, a width of the annular groove is
in the range of one times a pitch of the helical thread to two
times a pitch of the helical thread.
[0006] In an embodiment, the pin member includes a pull portion
having at least one pull groove. In an embodiment, the swage collar
includes an internal fit-up tab. In an embodiment, the nut is
hexagonal in shape or square in shape. In an embodiment, the swage
collar includes a flange. In an embodiment, the flange of the swage
collar is cylindrical in shape or hexagonal in shape. In an
embodiment, the internal thread of the nut extends from the first
end of the nut to the second end of the nut.
[0007] In an embodiment, the pin member includes carbon steel. In
an embodiment, the pin member includes a bolt selected from the
group consisting of a Grade 9 strength level bolt, a Class 12.9
strength level bolt, a Grade 2 strength level bolt, a Grade 5
strength level bolt, a Grade 8 strength level bolt, a Class 8.8
strength level bolt, and a Class 10.9 strength level bolt. In an
embodiment, the swage collar includes a material selected from the
group consisting of low carbon steel, unannealed low carbon steel,
annealed low carbon steel, medium carbon boron steel, 10B22 steel,
medium carbon steel, and 1038 steel. In an embodiment, the nut
includes medium carbon alloy steel. In an embodiment, the pin
member includes a head located at the first end of the elongated
shank portion of the pin member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of a fastener in accordance
with an embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the fastener shown in FIG.
1 preassembled on a joint;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the fastener shown in FIG.
2 at an initial stage of a swaging process;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the fastener shown in FIG.
3 after the swaging process is complete;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a collar and an
insert employed by the fastener shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of the fastener shown in FIG. 1
engaged with a spring member of a structure;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the fastener shown in FIG.
6 at an initial stage of a swaging process;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the fastener shown in FIG.
7 after the swaging process is complete;
[0016] FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views of another
embodiment of a fastener; and
[0017] FIGS. 11 and 12 are side elevational views of another
embodiment of a fastener.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, in an embodiment, a fastener 10
includes a pin member 12, a collar 14 that is sized and shaped to
mate with and be swaged onto the pin member 12, and an insert 16
that is sized and shaped to mate with the pin member 12 and the
collar 14. In an embodiment, the pin member 12 includes an
elongated shank portion 18 with a head 20 at one end thereof. In an
embodiment, the shank portion 18 includes a threaded portion 22
having an external thread 24 and a plurality of lock grooves 26,
and a pull portion 28 having a plurality of pull grooves 30. In an
embodiment, the thread 24 includes a helical thread. In an
embodiment, the plurality of pull grooves 30 of the pull portion 28
includes annular grooves. In an embodiment, the threaded portion 22
includes an annular groove 32. In an embodiment, the annular groove
32 is positioned intermediate the head 20 and the pull portion 28.
In an embodiment, the annular groove may positioned anywhere along
the threaded portion 22. In an embodiment, the width of the annular
groove 32 is two times the pitch of the thread 24. In an
embodiment, the width of the annular groove 32 is one times the
pitch of the thread 24. In an embodiment, the annular groove 32
need not be included. In an embodiment, the pin member 12 is made
from medium carbon alloy steel. In an embodiment, the pin member 12
is a Grade 9 (Class 12.9) strength level bolt. In other
embodiments, the pin member 12 can be characterized by any grade
known in the art, such as, for example, Grade 2, Grade 5, Grade 8,
Class 8.8, and Class 10.9. In other embodiments, the pin member 12
may be made from other suitable materials known in the art. In
other embodiments, the pin member 12 can consist of any of the pin
members as disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,339 to
Mercer et al., which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0019] Still referring to FIG. 1, the collar 14 includes a
tubular-shaped shank 34 having a first end 36 and a second end 38
opposite the first end 36, an exterior surface 40, a flange 42
extending circumferentially from and at the first end 36, and a
through-bore 44 extending longitudinally from the first end 36 to
the second end 38. In an embodiment, the flange 42 is cylindrical
in shape. In another embodiment, the flange 42 is hexagonal in
shape. In another embodiment, the exterior surface 40 of the shank
34 includes a hex-shaped portion located proximate to the second
end 38 (not shown in the Figures). In an embodiment, the
through-bore 44 includes a first interior portion 46 that extends
from the first end 36 to a stepped portion 48 intermediate the
first and second ends 36, 38, and a second interior portion 50 that
extends from the stepped portion 48 to the second end 38. In an
embodiment, the stepped portion 48 is positioned perpendicularly to
a longitudinal axis of the collar 14. In an embodiment, the first
interior portion 46 forms a first inner wall 52 and the second
interior portion 50 forms a second inner wall 54. In an embodiment,
an inner diameter of the second inner wall 54 is greater than an
inner diameter of the first inner wall 52.
[0020] In an embodiment, the collar 14 includes an internal fit-up
tab extending from the first inner wall 52 (not shown in the
Figures). In an embodiment, the fit-up tab includes a single
thread, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,625 to Dixon,
which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In an
embodiment, the fit-up tab is positioned proximate to the first end
36 of the shank 34 of the collar 14. In another embodiment, the
collar 14 need not include the fit-up tab.
[0021] In an embodiment, the collar 14 is made of low carbon steel.
In another embodiment, the collar 14 is made from unannealed low
carbon steel. In another embodiment, the collar 14 is made from
annealed low carbon steel. In another embodiment, the collar 14 is
made from medium carbon boron steel, such as, for example, 10B22
steel. In another embodiment, the collar 14 is made from medium
carbon steel, such as, for example, 1038 steel. In another
embodiment, the collar 14 is "as-headed" and does not require
thermal processing, as disclosed and described in aforesaid U.S.
Pat. No. 7,293,339 to Mercer et al. As employed herein, the term
"as-headed" refers to a collar which is strain hardened, for
example, from cold working, rather than changing hardness using a
thermal process (e.g., quench and tempering; stress relieving;
etc.).
[0022] Still referring to FIG. 1, in an embodiment, the insert 16
includes a first end 56, a second end 58 opposite the first end 56,
an outer wall 60, a through-bore 62 extending longitudinally from
the first end 56 to the second end 58, which forms an inner wall
64. In an embodiment, the inner wall 64 includes an internal thread
66 that extends from the first end 56 to proximate to the second
end 58. In an embodiment, the internal thread 66 is a free-running
thread. In an embodiment, the internal thread 66 extends from the
first end 56 to the second end 58. In an embodiment, the inner wall
64 includes an unthreaded inner portion 68 located at the second
end 58. In an embodiment, the insert 16 is made from medium carbon
alloy steel. In other embodiments, the insert 16 may be made from
other suitable materials known in the art.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, in an embodiment, the fastener 10 is
adapted to secure a joint 70 consisting of plurality of work
pieces. In an embodiment, the shank portion 18 of the pin member 12
is inserted through holes of the work pieces, with the head 20
abutting one side of the work pieces (not shown) and the shank
portion 18 extending outwardly from an opposite side of the work
pieces. In an embodiment, the collar 14 is fitted on the shank
portion 18 of the pin member 12, whereby the shank portion 18 is
inserted within the through bore 44 of the collar 14. In an
embodiment, the insert 16 is threaded on the threaded portion 22 of
the pin member 12 such that the internal threads 66 of the insert
16 engage threadedly the external threads 24 of the pin member 12.
The unthreaded portion 68 of the insert 16 acts as a lead-in. In an
embodiment, the insert 16 is positioned within the second interior
portion 50 of the collar 14, such that the first end 56 of the
insert 16 abuts the stepped portion 48 of the collar 14. In an
embodiment, the inner diameter of the inner wall 54 of the second
interior portion 50 of the collar 14 and the outer diameter of the
outer wall 60 of the insert 16 are sized to form an interference
fit with one another. As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 10 is
pre-assembled such that the collar 14 is installed on the pin
member 12 and retained by the insert 16 prior to swaging.
[0024] The pull grooves 30 of the pull portion 28 of the pin member
12 are adapted to be gripped by matching teeth of chuck jaws (not
shown) of a fastener installation tool having a swage anvil 72 (see
FIG. 3). In an embodiment, the fastener installation tool may
consist of the tools disclosed and described in aforesaid U.S. Pat.
No. 7,293,339 to Mercer et al. In an embodiment, the swage anvil 72
of the tool is adapted to engage the collar 14 and apply a relative
axial force between the collar 14 and the pin member 12, and to
move over the collar 14 and swage it into the lock grooves 26 of
the pin member 12.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, swaging of the collar
14 by the swage anvil 72 commences at the second end 38 thereof,
and the collar 14 moves longitudinally away from the insert 16 and
towards the joint 70 to close any sheet gap. Referring to FIG. 4,
in an embodiment, the collar 14 is completely swaged on the pin
member 12, wherein the material of the collar 14 fills the lock
grooves 26 of the pin member 12. In an embodiment, material of the
collar 14 fills the annular groove 32 to provide a further locking
capability. In an embodiment, the stepped portion 48 of the collar
14 deforms and flows around the first end 56 of the insert 16 in
order to further secure the fastener 10.
[0026] FIGS. 5-8 disclose an embodiment of a fastener 110. In an
embodiment, the fastener 110 can be utilized to compress a
compression spring that is used to hold down a first structure onto
a second structure. In an embodiment, the first structure is a
timber sleeper and the second structure is a bridge beam. In this
regard, referring to FIG. 5, in an embodiment, a collar 114
includes a tubular-shaped shank 134 having a first end 136 and a
second end 138 opposite the first end 136, an exterior surface 140,
a flange 142 extending circumferentially from and at the first end
136, and a through-bore 144 extending longitudinally from the first
end 136 to the second end 138. In an embodiment, the flange 142 is
cylindrical in shape. In another embodiment, the flange 142 is
hexagonal in shape. In an embodiment, the exterior surface 140 of
the shank 134 includes a hex-shaped portion located proximate to
the second end 138 (not shown in the Figures). In an embodiment,
the through-bore 144 includes a first interior portion 146 that
extends from the first end 136 to a stepped portion 148
intermediate the first and second ends 136, 138, and a second
interior portion 150 that extends from the stepped portion 148 to
the second end 138. In an embodiment, the stepped portion 148 is
positioned perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the collar
114. In an embodiment, the first interior portion 146 forms a first
inner wall 152 and the second interior portion 150 forms a second
inner wall 154. In an embodiment, an inner diameter of the second
inner wall 154 is less than an inner diameter of the first inner
wall 152.
[0027] Still referring to FIG. 5, the insert 16 is inserted into
the second interior portion 150 of the collar 114 in a reverse
manner from that described above, such that the second end 58 of
the insert abuts the stepped portion 148 of the collar 114.
Referring to FIG. 6, in an embodiment, a structure 74 includes a
compression spring member 76. In an embodiment, the pin member 12
is inserted through the spring member 76, such that the shank 18
extends outwardly therefrom, and head 20 of the pin member 12
engages the coils of the spring member 76 (not shown in the
Figures). In an embodiment, the insert 16 is threaded onto the pin
member 12 and the collar 114 is fitted over the insert 16, such
that the second end 58 of the insert abuts the stepped portion 148
of the collar 114, as described above. Referring to FIG. 7, the
swage anvil 72 of the fastener installation tool commences swaging
of the collar 114 onto the pin member 12, and the collar 114 moves
longitudinally in a direction toward the structure 74. Referring to
FIG. 8, in an embodiment, the collar 114 is completely swaged on
the pin member 12, wherein material of the collar 114 fills the
lock grooves 26 of the pin member 12. In an embodiment, material of
the collar 114 fills the annular groove 32 to provide a further
locking capability. In an embodiment, the stepped portion 148 of
the collar 114 deforms and flows around the second end 58 of the
insert 16.
[0028] FIGS. 9 and 10 disclose an embodiment of a fastener 210. The
fastener 210 is similar in structure and function of the fastener
10 unless as noted below. Referring to FIG. 9, the fastener 210
includes a pin member 212 and a collar 214 adapted to be swaged
onto the pin member 212. In an embodiment, an insert 216 includes
first and second cylindrical-shaped smooth portions 217a, 217b and
a nut portion 219 intermediate the smooth portions 217a, 217b. In
an embodiment, each of the smooth portions 217a, 217b is sized and
shaped to fit within a through bore 244 of the collar 214, while a
diameter of the nut portion 219 is larger than the inner diameter
of the through bore 244 of the collar 214. In an embodiment, the
nut portion 219 is hexagonal. In another embodiment, the nut
portion 219 is square. In an embodiment, the fastener 210 is
adapted to secure a plurality of work pieces 270a, 270b to one
another. In an embodiment, the pin member 212 is inserted through
holes of the work pieces 270a, 270b, and the collar 214 is fitted
on the pin member 212. In an embodiment, the insert 216 is threaded
onto the pin member 212 and the smooth member 217a (or if the
insert 216 is reversed, the smooth member 217b) is positioned
within the through bore 244 of the collar 214, and the nut portion
219 abuts a first end 236 of the collar 214, providing a fit-up,
pre-assembled fastener prior to swaging. After swaging, as shown in
FIG. 10, the collar 214 is swaged onto the pin member 212 and any
gap between the work pieces 270a, 270b is closed by the collar 214.
In an embodiment, the collar 214 moves away from the insert 216,
and the insert 216 can be unthreaded and removed from the pin
member 212.
[0029] FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose an embodiment of a fastener 310.
The fastener 310 is similar in structure and function of the
fastener 110 unless as noted below. Referring to FIG. 11, the
fastener 310 includes a pin member 312, a collar 314 adapted to be
swaged onto the pin member 312, and a nut 319. In an embodiment,
the nut 319 is a hexagonal nut. In another embodiment, the nut 319
is square nut. In an embodiment, the fastener 310 is adapted to
secure a plurality of work pieces 370a, 370b to one another. In an
embodiment, the pin member 312 is inserted through holes of the
work pieces 370a, 370b, and the collar 314 is fitted on the pin
member 312. In an embodiment, the nut 319 is threaded onto the pin
member 312 until it abuts a first end 336 of the collar 314,
providing a fit-up, pre-assembled fastener prior to swaging. After
swaging, as shown in FIG. 12, the collar 314 is swaged onto the pin
member 312 and any gap between the work pieces 370a, 370b is closed
by the collar 314. In an embodiment, the collar 314 moves away from
the nut 319, and the nut 319 can be unthreaded and removed from the
pin member 312.
[0030] It should be understood that the embodiments described
herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art
may make many variations and modifications without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and
modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *