Lockheed Corporation

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation

Other

Gerald W Tyree

Charles R Smith

Anthony E Brindisi

Randall C Hatton

The invention is a flush head fastener for joining two or more structural elements together. The structural elements have a fasterner hole therein with one of the structural elements being countersunk to accommodate the head of the fastener. The fastener includes head and shank portions and a layer of material joined to the top of the head of the fastener which can readily be deformed to fill any gaps between the head and the countersink. Thereafter, the excess material can be removed leaving an aerodynamically smooth surface. The surface also will have no electrical discontinuities. The procedure for installing the fastener includes the steps of (1) providing two or more structural elements having a countersunk fastener hole therein (2) thereafter the fastener is installed in the hole (3) the layer of material is deformed so as to fill any gaps between the head of the fastener and the countersink, and (4) thereafter, excess material is removed leaving a smooth external surface. Preferably, the step of deforming includes the step of heating the layer of material to a point where it is readily deformable.

Method of installing a flush head fastener

The invention is a close out fitting for installing in a structural element, the structural element having a port extending from a first surface to a second surface thereof, the port countersunk at both ends, and a method of installing the closeout fitting. In detail, the fitting comprises a hollow, tubular sleeve having a flared first end, a flarable second end and internal threads therebetween. The fitting further comprises a plug having a head portion and a shank portion attached to the head portion with the shank portion having external threads. The method of installing the close out fitting comprises the steps of forming a port through the structural elements, countersinking both ends of the port, providing a hollow sleeve having a flared first end and flarable second end and internal threads therebetween, installing the sleeve in the port such that the flared first end is in contact with one of the countersink ends of the port and the flarable second end extends into the other countersink end of the port, flaring the second end of the sleeve into contact with the other countersink end of the port locking the sleeve into the port, providing a plug having a head and a shank with the shank having external threads thereon, and installing the plug into the sleeve.

Close out fitting

The invention is a flush head fastener for joining two or more structural elements together. The structural elements have a fastener hole therein with one of the structural elements being countersunk to accommodate the head of the fastener. The fastener includes head and shank portions and a layer of material joined to the top of the head of the fastener which can readily be deformed to fill any gaps between the head and the countersink. Thereafter, the excess material can be removed leaving an aerodynamically smooth surface. The surface also will have no electrical discontinuities. The procedure for installing the fastener includes the steps of (1) providing two or more structural elements having a countersunk fastener hole therein (2) thereafter the fastener is installed in the hole (3) the layer of material is deformed so as to fill any gaps between the head of the fastener and the countersink, and (4) thereafter, excess material is removed leaving a smooth external surface. Preferably, the step of deforming includes the step of heating the layer of material to a point where it is readily deformable.

Flush head fastener

An assemblage of a rivet for securing at least a pair of sheets or other members, wherein the rivet is formed with a cavity in its upset end of predetermined dimensions with respect to the sheets and the remainder of the rivet. The cavity preferably terminates in the thickness of the bottom sheet, thus facilitating rivet upset while providing maximum strength.

Growing community of inventors

Sun Valley, CA, United States of America

Gerald W Tyree