Variable expansion compression nut and bolt assembly

Claim 2

A variable expansion compression nut having inner and outer surfaces with first and second ends, the first end of the nut including a rigid washer portion providing a washer face for engaging a member to be held while the second end provides a rigid hoop, said outer surface being contoured to place a reduced diameter therearound having a substantially cylindrical thin wall section between the first and second ends, the thin wall section being of less outer diameter than either of said first and second ends and being the thinnest wall section between the first and second ends, said inner surface having a threaded portion extending inwardly from the end providing a rigid hoop, said inner surface having an unthreaded portion extending inwardly from the washer face of the other end, said thin wall section having at least a length of substantially two threads of the threaded portion of said inner surface, said threaded portion and said unthreaded portion meeting at a point on the inner surface of said nut with the first inner thread of said threaded portion being located so that it is radially aligned with and will be engaged within the reduced diameter of the thin wall section whereby the nut is deflected outwardly in the thin wall section upon loading of the threads of the threaded portion.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer surface tapers outwardly from the substantially cylindrical thin wall section of reduced diameter towards the first end of the nut including the washer face.

Claim 4

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer surface tapers outwardly from the substantially cylindrical thin wall section of reduced diameter towards the first end of the nut including the washer face and the outer surface tapers outwardly from the substantially cylindrical thin wall section of reduced diameter towards the rigid hoop.

Claim 5

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein means for turning the nut are placed on the outer surface between the section of reduced diameter and the washer face.

Claim 6

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer surface tapers outwardly from the substantially cylindrical thin wall section of reduced diameter towards the rigid hoop.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of the nut at the rigid hoop is approximately 10% greater than the cross-sectional area of the section of reduced diameter.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 1 where the first inner thread of said threaded portion will be engaged within the reduced diameter adjacent the end nearest the washer face.

Claim 9

A variable expansion compression nut having inner and outer surfaces with first and second ends, the first end of the nut including a rigid washer portion providing a washer face for engaging a member to be held while the second end provides a rigid hoop, said outer surface being contoured to place a section of reduced diameter therearound having a substantially cylindrical thin wall section between the first and second ends, the thin wall section being of less outer diameter than either of said first and second ends and being the thinnest wall section between the first and second ends, said inner surface being threaded, said thin wall section having at least a length of substantially two threads of the threaded inner surface, a bolt, said bolt having an enlarged head on one end and a threaded section on the other with an unthreaded section therebetween, said unthreaded section of said bolt being of a diameter so as to permit engagement of said threaded surface of said nut and the threaded section of the bolt, said unthreaded section of said bolt being made a predetermined length so that in use for holding members together having a predetermined thickness the first thread of said bolt nearest the head thereof engages the threaded section of said nut at a point within the reduced diameter on the inner surface of said nut in radial alignment with said substantially cylindrical thin wall section to deflect the nut outwardly in the area of the reduced section permitting the loading of the threads to increase outwardly in an axial direction towards the rigid hoop.

Claim 10

A variable expansion compression nut having inner and outer surfaces with first and second ends, the first end of the nut including a rigid washer portion providing a washer face for engaging a member to be held while the second end provides a rigid hoop, said outer surface being contoured to place a section of reduced diameter therearound having a substantially cylindrical thin wall section between the first and second ends, the thin wall section being of less outer diameter than either of said first and second ends and being the thinnest wall section between the first and second ends, said inner surface being threaded, said thin wall section having at least a length of substantially two threads of the threaded inner surface, a bolt, said bolt having an enlarged head on one end and a threaded section on the other with an unthreaded section therebetween, said unthreaded section of said bolt being of a diameter so as to permit engagement of said threaded surface of said nut and the threaded section of the bolt, said unthreaded section of said bolt being made a predetermined length so that in use for holding members together having a predetermined thickness the first thread of said bolt nearest the head thereof engages the threaded section of said nut at a point within the reduced diameter on the inner surface of said nut in radial alignment with said substantially cylindrical thin wall section to deflect the nut outwardly in the area of the reduced section permitting the loading of the threads to increase outwardly in an axial direction towards the rigid hoop.

Claim 11

A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the spring rate of the section of reduced diameter of the nut is of a predetermined value with respect to the spring rate of the bolt so that the nut and bolt will deflect with relation to each other to improve bolt loading.

Claim 12

A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the spring rate of the section of reduced diameter of the nut is approximately equal to the spring rate of the bolt so that the nut and bolt will deflect with relation to each other to improve bolt loading.

Claim 13

A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein the minimum area of the section of reduced diameter of the nut is approximately equal to the minimum area of the threaded section of the bolt.