Adjustable diameter bolt assembly

Claim 2

In a self-retaining bolt assembly including a bolt having an enlarged head at one end, a threaded section at the other end and a shank portion between the head and the threaded section, the bolt being adapted to be inserted through aligned apertures in a pair of abutting panels with the head on the access side of said panels, the shank portion including a pawl disposed in a hole in the shank portion movable from a first position into said hole to a second position abutting against the blind side of the panels in which the bolt may be inserted to hold the bolt in a hold-out position with respect to the panels, the pawl being adapted to be disengaged from abutment with the panels whereby the bolt can be removed from the aligned apertures, the threaded section being adapted to be threaded to a nut on the blind side of said panels, the improvement which comprises: bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, one of said bushing means including a first bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion some of said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion t the walls of said apertures when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt; and said nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing said one of said bushing means toward said bolt head whereby said bushing means are adapted to fill the spacing between said bolt shank portion and the walls of said aligned apertures.

Claim 3

In the assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said bushing means is a split ring bushing segment, and at least one of said bushing means is a non-split ring bushing segment.

Claim 4

In the assembly of claim 1 wherein the hole through said first bushing segment is oblong and of an overall length determined by the amount of stroke required to fully expand all of said bushing means.

Claim 5

In the bolt assembly of claim 3 wherein said pawl has a face portion adapted to abut against one of said panels.

Claim 6

In the bolt assembly of claim 3 including orienting means associated with said pawl and said oblong hole for orienting said pawl in a predetermined direction.

Claim 7

In the assembly of claim 1 wherein said male-type bushing means and said female-type bushing means are staggered along said shank portion.

Claim 8

In the bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein said pawl is spring biased in said pawl hole.

Claim 9

In the bolt assembly of claim 1 including an aperture extending through said threaded section, the longitudinal axis of said aperture extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said bolt, said nut being a counterbored castellated self-locking nut threaded onto said threaded section of said bolt providing a plurality of openings for insertion of a cotter pin therethrough and through said aperture thereby positively retaining said nut to said bolt.

Claim 10

In the bolt assembly of claim 1 wherein said first bushing segment is a split-ring having a split extending all the way through said segment.

Claim 11

In the bolt assembly of claim 9 wherein said hole through said first bushing segment is an oblong hole having said split intersecting said oblong hole on each side thereof.

Claim 12

In the bolt assembly of claim 9 wherein said pawl has a lower body portion and an upper body portion, and a pair of opposed flats on said upper body portion, said oblong hole having an oblong shaped wall and said flats engaging said oblong shaped wall of said oblong hole when extending through said oblong hole.

Claim 13

in the bolt assembly of claim 11 wherein the lower body portion of said pawl is generally cylindrical.

Claim 14

In the bolt assembly of claim 11 wherein said pawl has a face portion on said upper body portion adapted to abut against one of said panels, said flats being disposed on opposite sides of said face portion for orienting said pawl in a direction whereby said face portion faces said one of said panels.

Claim 15

In a self-retaining bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a threaded end at the other with a shank portion therebetween, said shank portion including a pawl adapted to extend out beyond the outer surface of said shank portion when in a first position and adapted to extend back into the shank portion of said bolt when in a second position, the shank portion including a hole partway therethrough, the central longitudinal axis of said hole extending in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion, said shank portion being free of any longitudinally extending passageway along the interior length thereof, or cross through passage in the area of the pawl, the pawl being disposed in said hole and loosely retained therein, said pawl having a face portion having a plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shank position, spring biasing means in said hole engaging said pawl normally biasing said pawl to a first position wherein said face portion extends out of said hole and movable along an axis generally coincident with the central longitudinal axis of said hole to a second position wherein said face portion is disposed in said hole, and keying means keying said pawl to said bolt so that said pawl is oriented so that its face portion faces the head of said bolt with the plane thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion, the improvement which comprises: a plurality of bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, said bushing means including at least one bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion, said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion when said nut is tightened onto the threaded sections of said bolt; and said nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and overlying said pawl when said nut is threaded onto said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing said one of said segments toward said bolt head whereby said bushing means are adapted to fill the spacing between said bolt shank portion and the walls of said aligned apertures.

Claim 16

In a self-retaining bolt having an enlarged head at one end and a threaded end at the other with a shank portion therebetween, said shank portion including a pawl adapted to extend out beyond the outer surface of said shank portion when in a first position and adapted to extend back into the shank portion of said bolt when in a second position, the shank portion including a hole partway therethrough, the central longitudinal axis of said hole extending in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion, said shank portion being free of any longitudinally extending passageway along the interior length thereof, or cross through passage in the area of the pawl, the pawl being disposed in said hole and loosely retained therein, said pawl having a face portion having a plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shank position, spring biasing means in said hole engaging said pawl normally biasing said pawl to a first position wherein said face portion extends out of said hole and movable along an axis generally coincident with the central longitudinal axis of said hole to a second position wherein said face portion is disposed in said hole, and keying means keying said pawl to said bolt so that said pawl is oriented so that its face portion faces the head of said bolt with the plane thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shank portion, the improvement which comprises: a plurality of bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, said bushing means including at least one bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion, said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion when said nut is tightened onto the threaded sections of said bolt; and said nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and overlying said pawl when said nut is threaded onto said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing said one of said segments toward said bolt head whereby said bushing means are adapted to fill the spacing between said bolt shank portion and the walls of said aligned apertures.

Claim 17

In the bolt of claim 14 wherein at least one of said bushing means is a split ring bushing segment, and at least one of said bushing means is a non-split ring bushing segment.

Claim 18

In the bolt of claim 14 wherein the hole through said one first bushing segment is oblong and of an overall length determined by the amount of stroke required to fully expand all of said bushing means.

Claim 19

In the bolt of claim 15 wherein said male-type bushing means and said female-type bushing means are staggered along said shank portion.

Claim 20

In the bolt of claim 14 wherein said first bushing segment is a split-ring having a split extending all the way through said segment.

Claim 21

In the bolt of claim 18 wherein said hole through said first bushing segment is an oblong hole having said split intersecting said oblong hole on each side thereof.

Claim 22

In the bolt of claim 18 wherein said pawl has a lower body portion and an upper body portion, a pair of opposed flats on said upper body portion, said oblong hole having an oblong shaped wall and said flats engaging said oblong shaped wall of said oblong hole when extending through said oblong hole.

Claim 23

In the bolt of claim 20 wherein the lower body portion of said pawl is generally cylindrical.

Claim 24

In the bolt of claim 20 wherein said pawl has a face portion on said upper body portion adapted to abut against one of said panels, said flats being disposed on opposite sides of said face portion for orienting said pawl in a direction whereby said face portion faces said one of said panels.

Claim 25

An adjustable diameter bolt assembly comprising: a bolt having an enlarged head at one end; a threaded end at the other end and a shank portion therebetween; a spring biased pawl mounted in a hole in said shank portion adapted to extend out beyond the outer surface of said shank portion when in a first position and adapted to extend back into the shank portion of said bolt when in a second position; bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, said bushing means including at least one bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough, and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion, some of said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion when said nut is tightened; and a nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and overlying said pawl when said nut is threaded on said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing at least said one segment toward said bolt head.

Claim 26

An adjustable diameter bolt assembly comprising: a bolt having an enlarged head at one end; a threaded end at the other end and a shank portion therebetween; a spring biased pawl mounted in a hole in said shank portion adapted to extend out beyond the outer surface of said shank portion when in a first position and adapted to extend back into the shank portion of said bolt when in a second position; bushing means encircling the shank portion of said bolt, said bushing means including at least one bushing segment disposed adjacent said threaded section and having a hole therethrough receiving said pawl therethrough, and another of said bushing means including a bushing portion adjacent said head integral with said shank portion, some of said bushing means comprising male-type bushing means adapted to contract against the shank portion of said bolt when said nut is tightened onto the threaded section of said bolt, and other of said bushing means comprising female-type bushing means adapted to expand outwardly from said shank portion when said nut is tightened; and a nut having a main threaded body portion and a generally cylindrical skirt portion extending toward said threaded section and overlying said pawl when said nut is threaded on said threaded section and tightened thereon forcing at least said one segment toward said bolt head.

Claim 27

In the bolt assembly of claim 23 wherein at least one of said bushing means is a split ring bushing segment and at least said one of said bushing means is a non-split ring bushing segment.

Claim 28

In the bolt assembly of claim 23 wherein the hole through said first bushing segment is oblong and of an overall length determined by the amount of stroke required to fully expand all of said bushing means.

Claim 29

In the bolt assembly of claim 25 wherein said male-type bushing means and said female-type bushing means are staggered along said shank portion.

Claim 30

In the bolt assembly of claim 23 wherein said pawl has a face portion thereon, and orienting means associated with said pawl and said at least one bushing segment for orienting the face portion of said pawl in a predetermined direction.

Claim 31

In the bolt assembly of claim 23 including an aperture extending through said threaded section, the longitudinal axis of said aperture extending in the same direction as the longitudinal axis of said hole in said shank portion, said nut being a counterbore castellated self-locking nut threaded onto said threaded section of said bolt providing a plurality of openings for insertion of a cotter pin therethrough and through said aperture thereby positively retaining said nut to said bolt.

Claim 32

In the bolt assembly of claim 23 wherein said at least one bushing segment is a split-ring having a split extending all the way through said segment.

Claim 33

In the bolt assembly of claim 29 wherein said hole through said first at least one bushing segment is an oblong hole having said split intersecting said oblong hole on each side thereof.

Claim 34

In the bolt assembly of claim 29 wherein said pawl has a lower body portion and an upper body portion, a pair of opposed flats on said upper body portion, said oblong hole having an oblong shaped wall and said flats engaging said oblong shaped wall of said oblong hole when extending through said oblong hole.

Claim 35

In the bolt assembly of claim 31 wherein the lower body portion of said pawl is generally cylindrical.

Claim 36

In the bolt assembly of claim 31 wherein said pawl has a face portion on said upper body portion, said flats being disposed on opposite sides of said face portion for orienting said pawl in a predetermined direction.