Abstract

A clinch fastener that includes a plurality of ribs disposed under a head of the clinch fastener, wherein the ribs are specifically configured to displace host material more evenly than conventional clinch fasteners. To that end, in cross section, along a line, arc, or combination, going from a central axis of the clinch fastener to an outer periphery of the head of the clinch fastener, each rib preferably provides a curved surface that is formed of multiple sections, wherein different radii define at least two of the sections. The configuration of the ribs allows for a vented escape of host material beyond the rib outside diameter and provides for radially focused material displacement, thereby releasing stress within the host material and reducing warping during clinching.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16B 37/04 - Devices for fastening nuts to surfaces, e.g. sheets, plates

Abstract

A drive system with full surface drive contact. The drive system tends to maximize the surface contact pattern or area at typical bit-recess reaction (drive) torque values, thereby tending to minimize bit-recess surface contact stresses, coating damage, recess ream and premature bit fatigue failure. The drive system comprises a fastener and/or bit having drive surfaces formed of either polygon involutes or a single arc construction. A punch is also provided for forming a recess in either the fastener or the bit, wherein the punch has corresponding surfaces.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16B 23/00 - Specially-shaped heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool

Abstract

A drive system with full surface drive contact. The drive system tends to maximize the surface contact pattern or area at typical bit-recess reaction (drive) torque values, thereby tending to minimize bit-recess surface contact stresses, coating damage, recess ream and premature bit fatigue failure. An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a drive system with full surface drive contact. An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a drive system that tends to maximize the surface contact pattern or area at typical bit-recess reaction (drive) torque values, thereby tending to minimize bit-recess surface contact stresses, coating damage, recess ream and premature bit fatigue failure.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16B 23/00 - Specially-shaped heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool
• B25B 15/00 - Screwdrivers
• B26F 1/14 - Punching tools; Punching dies
• F16B 35/06 - Specially-shaped heads

Abstract

A drive tool (100) that includes a drive socket (102). The drive socket (100) includes alternating flutes (104) and lobes (106) and has a conical section (108). The lobes (106), rather than being tapered in the conical section (108) of the socket (102), are each uniform in width as they progress to an end (110) of the socket (102). The fact that the lobes (106) are uniform in width in the conical section (108) of the drive socket (102) provides for better engagement with the flutes (38) of a conical section (28) of a fastener (22).

IPC Classes  ?

• B25B 31/00 - Hand tools for applying fasteners

Abstract

A thread forming screw (10) having a minimum surface hardness of HRC 56. The screw (10) can form threads in a workpiece having a surface hardness which exceeds HRC 23. A method of surface hardening a screw (10) includes carbon enriching the screw (10) to at least a 0.48 carbon level, and then quenching the screw (10). Then, the screw (10) is tempered such that the surface hardness does not exceed the core hardness by more than 3 Rockwell C points, and both the surface and core are at a Rockwell C33-C39 hardness. Subsequently, the point (16) is induction hardened, and the screw is quenched again. The screw (10) is again tempered such that the lead threads (18) and the first 3-4 full threads (22, 24) are at a Rockwell C56 minimum hardness, preferably to a depth (26) of at least 0.008 inches, and the core of the fastener (10) is at Rockwell C33-C39 hardness. Finally, a finish is applied.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16B 25/00 - Screws that form threads in the body into which they are screwed, e.g. wood screws, self-tapping screws

Abstract

A bolted joint which is formed by using a bolt (20, 20a) having a tapered shoulder (44, 21a) to cold form a deformable sleeve (46, 46a) in order to provide a "zero-clearance" fit. Specifically, preferably a plurality of bolted joints are used to join a ring gear (42) to a differential case (58). As the bolts are installed into the differential case (58) and ring gear (42), tapered shoulders (44, 21a) on the bolts (20) dilate deformable sleeves (46, 46a) until outer diameters of the sleeves (46, 46a) contact internal walls of through holes (56) in the differential case (58).

IPC Classes  ?

• F16B 43/02 - Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts with special provisions for engaging surfaces which are not perpendicular to a bolt axis or do not surround the bolt

Abstract

A lockbolt (100, 200) which includes a head portion (102) and a shaft (104) which extends from the head portion (102). The shaft (104) includes at least a portion which is threaded and has a multi-lobular profile. A collar (120) is swageable onto the multi-lobular threaded portion (104), and thereafter the lobes (114) provide that the collar (120) does not tend to vibrate loose from the threading. The fact that the section which has a multi-lobular profile is also threaded provides that the collar (120) (or a conventional threaded nut) can be selectively rotatably removed and re-installed on the lockbolt (100, 200). Before swaging, the collar (120) may initially include a cylindrical bore (130), or a bore (130) which is multi-faceted, preferably generally corresponding to the profile of the multi-lobular portion of the lockbolt (100, 200). The lockbolt (100, 200) may also include a frangible pintail (106, 202), wherein the multi-lobular threaded portion is disposed between the head portion of the bolt and the frangible pintail.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16B 39/22 - Locking of screws, bolts, or nuts in which the locking takes place during screwing down or tightening