US3920338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fastener assembly for preloading a joint
Assignee: SPS Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1973-03-26
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and fastener assembly for preloading a joint wherein a pin having a shank and a head at one end is disposed with the shank portion passing through aligned apertures of a plurality of workpieces to be joined. The shank portion of the pin extends beyond the surface of the workpiece and is provided with an irregular surface configuration. A deformable collar having an initially smooth surfaced internal bore is disposed about the pin and snugged against the adjacent workpiece by a removably positioned means placed in abutting relationship against the free surface of the collar to lightly clamp the joint assembly together to remove free play in the joint. The collar is radially inwardly deformed by a crimping tool so that the initially smooth surfaced internal bore of the collar is deformed to assume a configuration complimentary to the irregular surface configuration of the pin shank and upon continual application of the crimping force an axial elongation of the collar and the shank of the pin is effected to provide a predetermined tension or preload on the joint assembly. After the collar has been deformed, the means to snug the joint together initially is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren F Dahl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:22
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B19/00; F16B19/04; F16B19/05; F16B31/00; F16B31/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/955; Y10S411/965; Y10S411/969; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4983
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
In a joint assembly including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings therein, a preload fastening assembly comprising: a fastener member having a head and shank portion extending through said openings, said head engaging the outer surface of one of said workpieces, said shank portion including a free end projecting beyond the free surface of another of said workpieces, at least one portion of said projecting end of said shank portion provided with a segment having an irregular surface configuration to provide a locking surface and another portion of said projecting end of said shank portion adjacent said free end thereof having a configuration cooperating with a selectively reusable removably positioned abutment means for eliminating free play in said joint assembly prior to inducing the final preload therein, a deformable collar having one end disposed against the free surface of said another workpiece and its other end initially bearing on said abutment means, said collar further having an initially smooth surfaced internal bore surrounding said projecting end of said shank in the vicinity of said irregular surface configuration on said shank, said collar being deformed radially inwardly toward said shank portion at selected areas so that material of said collar extends radially inwardly into interlocking engagement with said irregular surface configuration on said shank portion and axially against both said free surface of said another of said workpieces and said abutment means thereby effecting an axial elongation of said collar and said shank and preloading said joint assembly, after assembly of said joint the interlocking engagement between said collar and said irregular surface configuration on said shank portion developing the only reaction force on said shank fixing the preload in said joint assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
In a joint assembly including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings therein, a preload fastening assembly comprising: a fastener member having a head and shank portion extending through said openings, said head engaging the outer surface of one of said workpieces, said shank portion including a free end projecting beyond the free surface of another of said workpieces, at least one portion of said projecting end of said shank portion provided with a segment having an irregular surface configuration to provide a locking surface and another portion of said projecting end of said shank portion adjacent said free end thereof having a configuration cooperating with a selectively reusable removably positioned abutment means for eliminating free play in said joint assembly prior to inducing the final preload therein, a deformable collar having one end disposed against the free surface of said another workpiece and its other end initially bearing on said abutment means, said collar further having an initially smooth surfaced internal bore surrounding said projecting end of said shank in the vicinity of said irregular surface configuration on said shank, said collar being deformed radially inwardly toward said shank portion at selected areas so that material of said collar extends radially inwardly into interlocking engagement with said irregular surface configuration on said shank portion and axially against both said free surface of said another of said workpieces and said abutment means thereby effecting an axial elongation of said collar and said shank and preloading said joint assembly, after assembly of said joint the interlocking engagement between said collar and said irregular surface configuration on said shank portion developing the only reaction force on said shank fixing the preload in said joint assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said another portion of said projecting end of said shank portion includes an end segment provided with external screw threads and said abutment means positioned against the other end of said collar comprises a member threadably engaged on said external screw threads to abut said collar member and snug said joint assembly together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the threaded end segment extending beyond said other end of said collar extends beyond said other end of said collar no more than three full thread forms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said irregular surface configuration on said one portion of said projecting end of said shank comprises a screw thread configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said collar is deformed by crimping said collar radially inwardly at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said collar is deformed by crimping said collar radially inwardly at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations in at least two axially spaced positions along said collar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said collar includes a flanged portion adjacent said one end having a diameter greater than the diameter of the remainder of the collar whereby said flanged portion maintains surface-to-surface contact with said free surface of said another workpiece as said collar is radially inwardly deformed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A joint assembly as defined in claim 1 including means to preclude rotation of said shank portion within Said openings in said workpieces during assembly of said joint assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a joint assembly including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings therein, a preloaded fastening means comprising, a fastening member having a head and a shank portion extending through said openings, said said head engaging the outer surface of one of said workpieces, said shank portion including a free end projecting beyond the outer surface of another one of said workpieces with at least said free end of said shank portion provided with peripheral thread-like deformations on its exterior surface, some of said thread-like deformations coacting with a selectively reusable removably positioned abutment means for eliminating free play in said joint assembly prior to inducing a final preload therein, a deformable collar having an initially smooth surfaced internal bore surrounding said free end about said thread-like deformations on said shank and having one end engaging the outer surface of said another workpiece and another end initially bearing on said abutment means, portions of said collar being deformed radially inwardly against said shank portion and axially against said workpiece and said abutment means, said inwardly deformed portions defining collar portions of denser material than the remainder of the collar and forming complementary thread-like deformations within the surface of said collar internal bore, said collar being engaged with other of said thread-like deformations on said shank portion, said complementary thread-like deformations and said axial deformation effecting an elongation of said shank portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, whereby the final preload is developed in said joint assembly and is maintained when said removably positioned abutment means is removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a joint assembly including a plurality of adjacent workpieces having aligned openings therein, a preloaded fastening means comprising, a fastening member having a head and a shank portion extending through said openings, said said head engaging the outer surface of one of said workpieces, said shank portion including a free end projecting beyond the outer surface of another one of said workpieces with at least said free end of said shank portion provided with peripheral thread-like deformations on its exterior surface, some of said thread-like deformations coacting with a selectively reusable removably positioned abutment means for eliminating free play in said joint assembly prior to inducing a final preload therein, a deformable collar having an initially smooth surfaced internal bore surrounding said free end about said thread-like deformations on said shank and having one end engaging the outer surface of said another workpiece and another end initially bearing on said abutment means, portions of said collar being deformed radially inwardly against said shank portion and axially against said workpiece and said abutment means, said inwardly deformed portions defining collar portions of denser material than the remainder of the collar and forming complementary thread-like deformations within the surface of said collar internal bore, said collar being engaged with other of said thread-like deformations on said shank portion, said complementary thread-like deformations and said axial deformation effecting an elongation of said shank portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, whereby the final preload is developed in said joint assembly and is maintained when said removably positioned abutment means is removed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |