The Boeing Company

Nathan A Muntz

Aaron William Bartel

Tanni Sisco

Farahnaz Sisco

Blake Alexander Simpson

A structural blind sleeve includes a monolithic body. The monolithic body has a sleeve shank having an elongated tubular structure defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, the sleeve shank having a structural portion proximate the proximal portion, a threaded portion proximate the distal portion, and a softened portion between the structural portion and the threaded portion. The structural portion is capable of carrying a clamp-up structural load. The monolithic body further includes a sleeve head connected to the proximal portion of the sleeve shank.

Structural blind sleeves and associated systems and methods for clamping a first structure relative to a second structure to yield a clamped-up structure

A fastener system for joining substrates of a workpiece with working and blind sides includes a nut member, a sleeve member and a bolt member. The nut member includes a nut bore with internal threads. The nut member is placed with the nut bore over a joining bore through the substrates on the blind side. The sleeve member includes an outer sleeve surface with a lubricious coating. The sleeve member is inserted in the joining bore from the working side. The bolt member includes a head portion, a threaded portion and a shank portion. The bolt member is inserted in a central bore of the sleeve member. The threaded portion engages with the internal threads of the nut member. As the bolt member becomes fully engaged, the shank portion causes radial expansion of the sleeve member, and the sleeve member provides an interference fit within the joining bore.

Fastener systems and methods for joining multiple substrates of workpiece

A blind fastener includes a sleeve defining a sleeve central axis and having a sleeve shank having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion axially opposed from the distal end portion and a stop connected to the distal end portion of the sleeve shank. The sleeve defines an eccentric through-bore that extends along a through-bore axis from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The blind fastener includes a core bolt at least partially received in the eccentric through-bore of the sleeve, defining a core bolt central axis. A core bolt shank has a distal end portion, a proximal end portion axially opposed from the distal end portion, and a threaded portion. A core bolt head is connected to the proximal end portion of the core bolt shank. An eccentric nut is threaded into engagement with the threaded portion of the core bolt shank.

Blind fasteners and associated systems

Composite fasteners have a high fraction of discontinuous, randomly oriented reinforcing fibers. A charge of thermoplastic fiber flakes are heated to melting temperature within a reservoir, flowed into multiple mold cavities and compression molded. The molded fasteners have high strength, exhibit quasi-isotropic properties and may be produced in high volume.

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Everett, WA, United States of America

Nathan A Muntz