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US 10,350,718 B2Granted
Hybrid fastener and method of making the same
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorAdriana Willempje Blom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid fastener comprises a composite body having a tip, and a metal sleeve surrounding and locked to the tip.
Claims19
A method of producing a hybrid fastener, the method comprising:
- forming a metal sleeve comprising a singular piece comprising a tapering thickness and an internal through-hole therein;
- inserting the metal sleeve in a mold cavity;
- and thereafter;
- joining, via filling the internal through hole with a mixture comprising a melted thermoplastic resin and fiber flakes via flowing the mixture into the mold cavity, the metal sleeve to and forming a composite body comprising:
- a shank;
- a tip extending lengthwise from the shank and comprising a diameter tapering from an end, away from the shank, of the tip to an end, joining the shank, of the tip;
- and
- a shoulder stepping down a diameter of the composite body from a diameter of the shank to the diameter of the end, joining the shank, of the tip;
- and
- curing the composite body such that the metal sleeve covers an outer surface of the tip, one end of the metal sleeve aligns flush with the end, away from the shank, of the tip, and another end of the metal sleeve engages the shoulder.
7 more elements
A method of fastening items using a hybrid fastener, the method comprising:
- forming a metal sleeve as a singular piece comprising a tapering thickness and an internal through-hole;
- connecting the metal sleeve to a composite body comprising a thermoplastic resin and randomly oriented, short reinforcing fibers distributed throughout the thermoplastic resin via die mold forming:
- the composite body comprising a shank;
- a shoulder stepping down a diameter of the composite body from a diameter of the shank to a diameter of an end, joining the shank, of a tip of the composite body, the tip extending lengthwise from the shank and comprising a diameter tapering from an end, away from the shank, of the tip to the end, joining the shank, of the tip
- covering an outer surface of the tip with the metal sleeve, one end of the metal sleeve aligning flush with the end, away from the shank, of the tip, and another end of the metal sleeve engaging the shoulder;
- and
- fastening a first item to a second item via the hybrid fastener.
4 more elements
A method of fabricating a composite fastener comprising quasi-isotropic properties, the method comprising:
- molding a resin body that comprises an elongate shaft that comprises:
- a head;
- a shank;
- a shoulder stepping down a diameter of the composite fastener from a diameter of the shank to a diameter of an end, joining the shank, of a tip extending lengthwise from the shank and comprising a diameter tapering from an end, away from the shank, of the tip to an end, joining the shank, of the tip;
- and
- a metal sleeve comprising-a singular piece comprising a tapering thickness;
- and
- joining an outer surface of the tip to the metal sleeve while die mold forming the resin body, the metal sleeve covering the outer surface of the tip, one end of the metal sleeve aligning flush with the end of the tip, another end of the metal sleeve engaging the shoulder, the tip and the metal sleeve each tapering radially outward in a direction away from the head, and the metal sleeve comprising:
- an outer surface of the metal sleeve comprising male threads;
- and
- an inner surface of the metal sleeve engaging, tapering, and substantially matching the taper of the outer surface of the tip, the outer surface of the tip and the inner surface of the metal sleeve interlocking and holding the metal sleeve on the elongate shaft.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.