Cross-threading prevention apparatus for installing nut inserts

Abstract

An insert installation apparatus comprises a housing having a body section and a nose piece. The nosepiece comprises a forward end and a rearward end, where the rearward end of the nose piece is attached to the body section. The apparatus comprises a rotary power source and reciprocating means which are employed to set a threaded insert in a work piece. The rotary power source has an extension member which connects the rotary power source to the first end of a drive shaft which is received by the extension member. The second end of the drive shaft is operationally coupled to a partially threaded mandrel which extends out of the forward end of the nose piece. The apparatus further comprises mandrel shock absorbing means which allow the mandrel to reciprocate with respect to the nose piece from a first position to a second position, where the mandrel shock absorbing means operates independently from the reciprocating means which usually employed to set the threaded insert. The mandrel shock absorbing means allows the threaded shaft to 'give' if the tip of the mandrel impacts the crests of the threads of the insert as the tip is inserted into the opening of the insert. While a small spring or other biasing means are used to bias the threaded shaft forward the threaded shaft may be partially pushed back into the nose piece upon contact with the threads of the insert, thus preventing impact damage to the root thread of the insert and preventing cross-threading.