Fatigue Technology, Inc.

Other

Leonard F Reid

Charles M Copple

Timothy Howard Johnson

Eric T Easterbrook

Roger T Bolstad

Michael A Landy

Mark R Weiss

James Ryunoshin Ross

Dean C Madden

Darryl E Quincey

Alec K Hitchman

David A Gorton

Louis A Champoux

Richard Z Jarzebowicz

Joy Sarah Ransom

Kevin J Dooley

Doug Glenn

Taeksun Nam

Timonth H Johnson

June Denise Copple, Legal Representative

Bruce F Gibson

Louis A Champoux, Deceased

Matt Shultz

Charles A Copple

Tim Johnson

Timothy H Johnson

A member has a wave inhibitor adapted to control the effects of a wave of longitudinally displaced material positioned ahead of an expansion mandrel used to expand the member. The wave inhibitor has a decreasing transverse cross-sectional area to diminish the effects attributable to the wave, such as workpiece distortions, material upset of the workpiece, lengthening of the member, and excessively high strains in the workpiece. The wave inhibitor can also induce radially compressive stresses in the workpiece and produce an interference fit.

Expandable member with wave inhibitor and methods of using the same

One or more crack inhibitors can be installed to improve fatigue performance by producing stress states that prevent or inhibit crack initiation. Crack inhibitors can also prevent or retard crack growth. A mandrel can be used to radially expand the crack inhibitors to both induce compressive residual stresses and to form an interference fit between the crack inhibitor and a workpiece. The mandrel can be removed from the installed crack inhibitor, which is left in the workpiece to ensure proper stress states are maintained.

Expandable crack inhibitor method

A nut plate assembly includes a nut retainer and a bushing for expanding a tubular body of the retainer. The retainer assembly is used to cold work an opening of a workpiece in order to fix the nut retainer assembly relative to the workpiece. A nut member can be snapped into the retainer. A method of installation includes passing a mandrel through the bushing to radially expand the bushing into a tubular body of the retainer. The tubular body is compressed between the workpiece and bushing as the bushing is displaced radially causing corresponding radial displacement of the tubular body. The expanded bushing applies pressure to the tubular body for a desired fit between the nut retainer and workpiece.

Nut plate assembly and methods of using the same

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.

Expandable fastener assembly with deformed collar

A sealed attachment fastener assembly with a receiving member and a cap that can be inserted into an opening in a work piece and fixed therein from only one side of the work piece. A portion of the fastener assembly on the blind side of the work piece is collapsible into a flange. In addition, another portion of the fastener assembly is contemporaneously radially expandable within the opening of the work piece to at least rotationally secure the fastener assembly with respect to the work piece. The radial expansion will result in a high interference fit of the fastener in the work piece, which may enhance the fatigue of the installation. A cap completes the fastener assembly to substantially prevent fluid from leaking through the fastener assembly opening. The cap can be assembled with the receiving member after the internal threads within the receiving member have been machined.

Sealed, blind fastener assembly

This disclosure relates to a pre-assembled fastener assembly having a retainer, a nut member, and a cold expansion mandrel that is forcibly removable after the assembly is installed into an opening of a structural workpiece. The mandrel is captured between a portion of a retainer and a portion of a nut member. The forced removal of the mandrel expands the retainer into the opening, securing the fastener assembly therein. The assembly may also include a cap coupled to the retainer to seal the opening in the structural workpiece. The nut member can be fixed or free-floating with respect to the retainer. In addition, the nut member can be threaded to receive a fastener. The mandrel is recyclable or disposable.

Nut plates and threaded inserts and methods of assembling and installing the same

A tubular fastener element is inserted into an opening in a wall until a flange at the trailing end of the fastener element is in contact with the wall. Then, an externally threaded end of a rod is inserted into a center opening in the fastener element from the flange side of the wall and is mated with internal threads in the fastener element beyond the second side of the wall. A tubular mandrel that surrounds the rod is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening in the tubular fastener. The outside diameter of the mandrel is larger than the inside diameter of the center opening in the fastener element. The rod is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion of the fastener element to collapse and form a second radial flange on the second side of the wall. The mandrel is forced axially into the center opening in the fastener element. This causes a tubular end portion of the fastener element that is in the opening in the wall to radially expand into tight engagement with the sidewall of the wall opening. It also cold expands the wall material surrounding the opening for fatigue enhancement of the wall material.

Method and apparatus for connecting a fastener element to a wall

A tubular fastener element ( ) is inserted into an opening ( ) in a wall (W) until a flange ( ) at the trailing end of the fastener element ( ) is in contact with the wall (W). Then, an externally threaded end ( ) of a rod ( ) is inserted into a center opening ( ) in the fastener element ( ) from the flange side ( ) of the wall (W) and is mated with internal threads ( ) in the fastener element ( ) beyond the second side ( ) of the wall (W). A tubular mandrel ( ) that surrounds the rod ( ) is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening ( ) in the tubular fastener ( ). The outside diameter of the mandrel ( ) is larger than the inside diameter ( ) of the center opening ( ) in the fastener element ( ). The rod ( ) is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion ( ) of the fastener element ( ) to collapse and form a second radial flange ( ) on the second side ( ) of the wall (W). The mandrel ( ) is forced axially into the center opening ( ) in the fastener element ( ). This causes a tubular end portion ( ) of the fastener element ( ) that is in the opening ( ) in the wall (W) to radially expand into tight engagement with the sidewall of the wall opening ( ). It also cold expands the wall material surrounding the opening ( ) for fatigue enhancement of the wall material.

A tubular fastener element ( ) is inserted into an opening( ) in a wall (W) until a flange ( ) at the trailing end of the fastener element ( ) is in contact with the wall (W). Then, an externally threaded end ( ) of a rod ( ) is inserted into a center opening ( ) in the fastener element ( ) from the flange side ( ) of the wall (W) and is mated with internal threads ( ) in the fastener element ( ) beyond the second side ( ) of the wall (W). A tubular mandrel ( ) that surrounds the rod ( ) is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening ( ) in the tubular fastener ( ). The outside diameter of the mandrel ( ) is larger than the inside diameter ( ) of the center opening ( ) in the fastener element ( ). The rod ( ) is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion ( ) of the fastener element ( ) to collapse and form a second radial flange ( ) on the second side ( ) of the wall (W). The mandrel ( ) is forced axially into the center opening ( ) in the fastener element ( ). This causes a tubular end portion ( ) of the fastener element ( ) that is in the opening ( ) in the wall (W) to radially expand into tight engagement with the sidewall of the wall opening ( ). It also cold expands the wall material surrounding the opening ( ) for fatigue enhancement of the wall material.

A tubular stem (,) at one end of a nut mount (,) is inserted into an opening (O) in a wall (W) and is expanded to connect it to the wall (W). An annular collar or space (,) contacts the wall (W) where it immediately surrounds the opening (O). A clip-on nut (,) is clipped onto a nut receptor (,) that is endwise outwardly of the collar (,). A pushing movement on the clip-on nut (,) moves catch tabs (,) past diametrically opposite edge portions (,) of the nut receptor (,), placing them into positions below the edge portions (,) of the nut receptor (,). When the catches (,) are so positioned, they hold the clip-on nut (,) on the nut receptor (,). The clip-on nut (,) may be a sealed nut. If so, catch tabs (,) are positioned so that when they engage underneath portions of the edge portions (,) of the nut receptor, a seal ring at the base of the clip-on nut (,) is compressed. This compressing of the seal ring (,) causes the clip-on nut to be sealed prior to connection of a bolt to the clip-on nut (,).

Wall nut and bolt assemblies

A tubular stem (16) of a bolt mount (12) is coldexpanded into an opening (70) in a wall (72). A second wall (76) is placed against the first wall (72), with an opening (70) in it in alignment with the center opening (32) in the tubular stem (16). An elongated shank portion (88) of a tubular nut (86) is inserted through the opening (70) and then through a center opening (32) in the tubular stem (16), and into an annular space (58) defined by and between a tubular sidewall (48) of a bolt-element retainer (14) and a bolt-element (54). The tubular bolt (86) has internal threads (90) that mesh with and thread onto external threads (56) on the bolt-element (54). The tubular nut (86) is rotated until a head (84) on its end is in tight clamping engagement with the portion of the second wall (76) that surrounds the opening in the second wall. Tightening of the tubular nut (86) draws the bolt-element retainer (14) and the tubular nut (86) together, firmly connecting the second wall (76) to the first wall (72).

Wall bolt assembly

A tubular stem (S) at one end of a nut cage (NC) is inserted into an opening in a wall and is expanded to connect it to the wall and to coldwork the wall material surrounding the opening for fatigue life enhancement. The nut cage (NC) includes a cage floor region (22) for receiving the central portion (46) of a nut (N). One end portion (48) of the nut base (44) is inserted into a socket (22). A second end portion (50) of the nut base (44) is moved axially into a channel (28). Then a snap ring (SR) is installed and moved to place a closed portion (52) over the nut base end portion (50). The socket (26) and channel (28) restrain the nut base (44) against rotation in the nut cage (NC). The channel (28) and a portion of the snap ring (SR) which closes the channel (28) and the axial boundaries of the socket (26) restrain the nut base (44) from axial movement out from the nut cage (NC).

Wall nut assembly

A circular opening (54) is formed in a wall (12). A tubular shank (42) of a nut mounting unit (40) is inserted into the opening (54). The unit (40) is moved endwise to place a nut cage base (46) against the wall (12). A split sleeve (82) is installed on a small diameter portion (90) of a mandrel (M). The mandrel (M) and sleeve (82) are inserted into the tubular shank (42) from the side of the wall (12) opposite the nut cage (44). The mandrel (M) is then retracted to successfully move increasing and maximum diameter portions (90, 92) of the mandrel (M) through the split sleeve (82). The mandrel portions (92, 94) exert a radially outwardly expanding force on the split sleeve (82). The split sleeve (82) in turn imposes a radially outwardly expanding force on the tubular shank (42). This causes a plastic deformation of the tubular shank (42), creating a tight interference fit between the tubular shake (42) and the sidewall of the opening (54). In this manner, the unit (40) is firmly secured to the wall (12). Next, a nut (20) is inserted into the nut cage (44), between end stops (56, 58). A retainer spring (68) is placed over the base (24) of the nut (20), and is compressed an amount sufficient to move side portions (64, 66) together enough that they will fit between cage sidewalls (48, 50). Then, the squeezing force on the retainer spring (68) is released, allowing side portions (64, 66) to move outwardly into openings (60, 62) in the sidewalls (48, 50). In this position the sidewalls (48, 50) restrain sideways movement of the nut. The end stops (56, 58) restrain endwise movement of the nut (20). The inner spring (68) prevents movement of the nut (20) out from the nut cage (44).

Nut cage and mount

An anchor nut mount (10) including a mount base (13) and a snap ring (14), the mount base (13) including a base plate (15) having base sidewall portions (16) and radial slots (18) defined in the outer side regions (20) of the base sidewall portions (16). The snap ring (14) includes a loop portion (32) and enlarged end knobs (34). The snap ring (14) mounts onto the mount base (13) with the loop portions (32) of the ring carried by the radial slots (18). The snap ring (14) and base sidewall portions (16) removably secure an anchor nut (12) to the nut mount (10) for positioning about a fastener hole.

Anchor nut mount

A tubular bushing (68) is positioned into an opening (88) in a member (84). An axially split expansion sleeve (66) is placed onto a small diameter portion (54) of an extended mandrel (10). The mandrel (10) includes an increasing diameter portion (56) and a maximum diameter end portion (58) endwise from the small diameter portion (54). The maximum diameter portion (58) is sized to fit through the tubular bushing (68). The expansion sleeve (66), while on the small diameter portion (54) of the mandrel (10) can also fit through the bushing (68). The sleeve (66) is placed on the small diameter portion (54) of the mandrel (10) with its inner end (76) against the end (78) of a sleeve positioner (40). A tubular nosepiece (16) surrounds the sleeve positioner (40), and extends axially beyond the end surface (78). The mandrel (10) is inserted through the bushing ( 68) while the bushing (68) is within opening (92). The mandrel (10) is moved to place the sleeve (66) within the bushing (68), and an end surface (41) of the nosepiece (16) against a surface portion (84) of the workpiece (88). At the same time, the end surface (43) of a nosepiece extension (39) is positioned against an end surface (82) of the bushing (68). The mandrel (10) is then pulled through the sleeve (66). Movement of the increasing diameter portion (56) and the maximum diameter portion (58) through the sleeve (66) imposes a radially outwardly directed force on the sleeve (66), causing the sleeve (66) to expand. The expanding sleeve (66) exerts a radially outwardly directed force on the bushing (68). In response, the bushing (68) is expanded radially into a secure interference fit within the opening (92) in the workpiece (88).

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Leonard F Reid