Huck International, Inc.

Larry D Mercer

Robert J Corbett

A collet for a fastener installation tool having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth. The teeth include a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The pull section includes a protrusion extending from the fastener engagement end, thereby extending the length of the pull section. The pull section includes a cross-sectional thickness, wherein the collet is adapted to engage a pin member having a locking portion with a first diameter and a pull portion with a smaller second diameter. An increase in the difference between the first diameter of the locking portion and the second diameter of the pull portion of the pin member allows for a corresponding increase in the cross-sectional thickness of the collet, thereby extending the fatigue life of the tool.

Collet for a low swage load fastening system

A fastener installation tool including an anvil member having a swage cavity, a collet having a pull section with a fastener engagement end and a plurality of teeth, and an anvil member. The plurality of teeth includes a first tooth with a first inner diameter, and each of the remainder of teeth includes a second inner diameter, the first inner diameter being greater than the second inner diameter. The collet has a protrusion extending the length of the pull section to increase the contact area with the anvil member. The anvil member includes a swage cavity with an entrance section, a swage land located adjacent to the entrance section, and an inner bore located adjacent to the swage land.

Low swage load fastening system and method

A swage-type fastener to secure a plurality of workpieces together, which includes a pin member, having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. The collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin member is also provided, a reduced diameter, and a relatively short pull portion pin extension.

A low swage load fastening system is provided for installing swage-type fasteners to secure a plurality of workpieces together. The fastener includes a pin member, having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. As one aspect of the system, the collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin is also provided, a reduced diameter, relatively short pull portion pin extension, installation tool improvements, and an associated method of use are also disclosed. The collet has a protrusion from said collet thereby extending the length of the pull section in a direction towards the collar thereby to increase the contact area with said anvil. The end of the pull is not rolled down to a diameter position in line with the base of the groove thereby to increase the shear strength of the end pull crest of the pull. The last pull crest of the pull have a contour to conform with an enlarged puller radius of the last tooth of the collet.

A low swage load fastening system is provided for installing swage-type fasteners to secure a plurality of workpieces together. The fastener includes a pin member having an elongated pin shank to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces. An enlarged head at one end of the pin engages one side of the workpieces. A grooved pin portion extends past an opposite side of the workpieces. A collar includes a shank portion adapted to be swaged into the pin lock grooves in response to a relative axial swage load applied by an installation tool. As one aspect of the system, the collar is as-headed and does not require thermal processing yet provides an optimum balance of reduced collar shank wall thickness and increased hardness, whereby the swage load is minimized. A low swage load thread form for the lock grooves of the pin is also provided, a reduced diameter, relatively short pull portion pin extension, installation tool improvements, and an associated method of use are also disclosed.

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Waco, TX, United States of America

Larry D Mercer