Avdel Systems Limited, a British Company

James C Hendry

Frederick A Summerlin

A breakstem rivet installation tool includes a jaw mechanism (12) for gripping the stem of a rivet, and a pneumatically actuated piston and cylinder device (13) for applying pulling force to the jaw mechanism. It is provided with a damping valve (22) for damping the flow of air from the piston and cylinder device (13) when the force is suddenly released on breaking of a rivet stem (23), thereby to reduce mechanical shock to the tool, and noise of fast-escaping air. The damping valve (22) comprises a resilient steel circular disc (32) which is secured at its center to the apex of a domed member (28) provided with vent holes (26). The undeformed shape of the disc (32) is flat. When, in use of the tool, a rivet stem breaks and the restraining force on the piston (15) is released, the velocity of air flow past the disc (32) urges the disc to bend towards the domed surface of the member (28), thereby restricting the air flow through the vents (26). It may be that the valve closes completely, so that the peripheral edge (36) of the disc (32) contacts the annular valve seat (37) surrounding the air vents (26).

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Barford, United Kingdom

James C Hendry