US3727660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bolt retainer and compressor employing same
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1973-04-17
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure shows a sealing member secured to the inner end of a compressor stator vane row by bolts and nuts. One form of bolt retainer prevents a loosened bolt from entering the flow field. The retainer is of hollow, box-like cross section with keyhole slots in its inner wall for assembly and access holes in its outer wall for insertion of an allen wrench to torque the bolts. Another form of bolt retainer provides access to the outer portion of the bolt heads so that they may be tightened and loosened. A third form of retainer may be assembled laterally and comprises a plate and retainer lugs for the bolts.
Inventors
- 👤 J Burge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:56
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/40; F04D29/52; F04D29/54; F04D29/541; F04D29/542; F16; F16B; F16B41/00; F16B41/002; F05; F05B; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/30; F05B2260/301; F05B2260/97; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/966; Y10S411/999
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A fastener comprising a plurality of internally threaded elements, a plurality of headed bolts respectively threaded into said elements, each bolt having torquing surfaces on its head, and a collar at the base of the bolt head, a box-like cross-section bolt retainer including an elongated plate-like portion having a plurality of elongated slots spaced apart along the longitudinal length thereof, having large ends which register respectively with and pass over the heads of said bolts and small ends which respectively receive the bodies of the bolts as the bolt heads clamp the plate-like element, and further including an integral elongated retainer portion overlying portions of the bolt head and providing access to the torquing surfaces thereof wherein the external height of the box-like cross-section is less than the height of the bolt heads and the interior height of the box-like cross-section approximates the height of the bolt head collar, and slots are provided in the outer retainer portion of the bolt retainer in overlying relation to said elongated slots, the width of said outer slots being sufficiently large for the bolt heads to project therethrough but small enough to prevent the collars from passing therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A fastener comprising a plurality of internally threaded elements, a plurality of headed bolts respectively threaded into said elements, each bolt having torquing surfaces on its head, and a collar at the base of the bolt head, a box-like cross-section bolt retainer including an elongated plate-like portion having a plurality of elongated slots spaced apart along the longitudinal length thereof, having large ends which register respectively with and pass over the heads of said bolts and small ends which respectively receive the bodies of the bolts as the bolt heads clamp the plate-like element, and further including an integral elongated retainer portion overlying portions of the bolt head and providing access to the torquing surfaces thereof wherein the external height of the box-like cross-section is less than the height of the bolt heads and the interior height of the box-like cross-section approximates the height of the bolt head collar, and slots are provided in the outer retainer portion of the bolt retainer in overlying relation to said elongated slots, the width of said outer slots being sufficiently large for the bolt heads to project therethrough but small enough to prevent the collars from passing therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The fastener of claim 1 for clamping two overlapping arcuate flanges wherein: the bolt retainer is arcuate along the longitudinal length thereof for abutting engagement against an outside surface of said overlapping arcuate flanges, and the internally threaded members take the form of captured nuts for engagement against the opposing outside surface of said overlapping arcuate flanges with the bolts extending through said flanges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fastener of claim 2 wherein said bolt retainer is formed as an annulus with inadvertent circumferential indexing occurring only when all bolts become loosened.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
182 words
A fastener comprising a plurality of internally threaded elements, a plurality of headed bolts respectively threaded into said elements, each bolt having torquing surfaces on its head provided by a non-circular socket in the outer end thereof, a box-like cross-section bolt retainer including an elongated plate-like portion having a plurality of keyhole slots spaced apart along the longitudinal length thereof, having large ends which register respectively with and pass over the heads of said bolts and small ends which respectively receive the bodies of the bolts as the bolt heads clamp the plate-like element, and further including an integral elongated retainer portion overlying portions of the bolt head and providing access to the torquing surfaces thereof wherein the interior height of the hollow, box-like cross-section is sufficient to receive the entire bolt head and openings are provided in the outer retainer portion of the bolt retainer in registration with the smaller ends of the keyhole slots said openings being sufficiently large enough for insertion of a torquing tool into said sockets and small enough to prevent the bolt head from passing therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
A fastener comprising a plurality of internally threaded elements, a plurality of headed bolts respectively threaded into said elements, each bolt having torquing surfaces on its head provided by a non-circular socket in the outer end thereof, a box-like cross-section bolt retainer including an elongated plate-like portion having a plurality of keyhole slots spaced apart along the longitudinal length thereof, having large ends which register respectively with and pass over the heads of said bolts and small ends which respectively receive the bodies of the bolts as the bolt heads clamp the plate-like element, and further including an integral elongated retainer portion overlying portions of the bolt head and providing access to the torquing surfaces thereof wherein the interior height of the hollow, box-like cross-section is sufficient to receive the entire bolt head and openings are provided in the outer retainer portion of the bolt retainer in registration with the smaller ends of the keyhole slots said openings being sufficiently large enough for insertion of a torquing tool into said sockets and small enough to prevent the bolt head from passing therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The fastener of claim 4 for clamping two overlapping arcuate flanges wherein: the bolt retainer is arcuate along the longitudinal length thereof for abutting engagement against an outside surface of said overlapping arcuate flanges, and the internally threaded members take the form of captured nuts for engagement against the opposing outside surface of said overlapping arcuate flanges with the bolts extending through said flanges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fastener of claim 5 wherein said bolt retainer is formed as an annulus with inadvertent circumferential indexing occurring only when all bolts become loosened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |