# US 11,078,950 B2 · Fastener biasing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,950 B2 - Document ID: US11078950B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/905,745 - Filed: 2018-02-26 - Published: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-26 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Jacob L. Wymore; Ross Warlick; Eric Klasen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078950B2 ## CPC - F16B 39/10: by a plate, {spring, wire} or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object {and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the bolt}(F16B39/08 takes precedence) - F16B 5/0266: {using springs} - F16B 31/04: for maintaining {a} tensile load - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A biasing system for use with a fastener is disclosed. The biasing system can include a sleeve configured to be disposed about a shank of a fastener and operable to form at least a portion of a first load path between the fastener and a component coupled to the fastener to preload the fastener through the sleeve. The biasing system can also include a spring configured to be associated with the sleeve and operable to form at least a portion of a second load path parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to facilitate biasing the fastener away from the component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A biasing system for use with a fastener, comprising: first and second sleeves configured to be disposed end-to-end about a shank of a fastener and operable to form at least a portion of a first load path through an entire length of the first and second sleeves, and between the fastener and a component coupled to the fastener to preload the fastener through the first and second sleeves; and a spring configured to be associated with the first and second sleeves and operable to form at least a portion of a second load path parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to facilitate biasing the fastener away from the component, wherein at least one of the first sleeve or the second sleeve comprises a flange configured to interface with the spring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein an unloaded length of the spring is greater than a length of the first and second sleeves such that the second load path is formed at a first fastener position and the first load path is formed at a second fastener position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein the flange extends outwardly at an end of the at least one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein the flange extends inwardly at an end of the at least one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein ends of the first and second sleeves comprise interlocking interface surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a compression spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a helical configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, further comprising a seal at an end of at least one of the first sleeve and the second sleeve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The biasing system of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first sleeve and a diameter of the second sleeve is less than or equal to an outer dimension of the fastener. ### Claim 10 A fastener system, comprising: a component; a fastener coupled to the component; and a biasing system having first and second sleeves disposed end-to-end about a shank of the fastener and operable to form at least a portion of a first load path through an entire length of the first and second sleeves, and between the fastener and the component to preload the fastener through the first and second sleeves, and a spring associated with the first and second sleeves and operable to form at least a portion of a second load path parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to facilitate biasing the fastener away from the component, wherein at least one of the first sleeve or the second sleeve comprises a flange configured to interface with the spring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fastener system of claim 10, wherein the spring is disposed on an outer side of the first and second sleeves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fastener system of claim 10, wherein an outer diameter of the flange is less than or equal to a diameter of a head of the fastener. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fastener system of claim 12, wherein the head comprises a cylindrical configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fastener system of claim 10, wherein the spring is disposed on an inner side of the first and second sleeves. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The fastener system of claim 10, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener. ### Claim 16 A method for facilitating removal of a fastener from a component to which the fastener is coupled, the method comprising: providing first and second sleeves and a spring configured to be associated with the first and second sleeves, wherein the first and second sleeves are configured to be disposed end-to-end, and wherein at least one of the first sleeve or the second sleeve comprises a flange configured to interface with the spring; facilitating formation of at least a portion of a first load path through the entire length of the first and second sleeves between a fastener and a component coupled to the fastener to preload the fastener through the first and second sleeves; and facilitating formation of at least a portion of a second load path through the spring parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to bias the fastener away from the component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein facilitating formation of at least a portion of the first load path through the first and second sleeves comprises configuring the first and second sleeves to be disposed about a shank of the fastener. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein facilitating formation of at least a portion of the second load path through the spring comprises configuring the spring and the first and second sleeves such that the spring is positionable about an outer side or an inner side of the first and second sleeves. ### Claim 19 A biasing system for use with a fastener, comprising: first and second sleeves configured to be disposed end-to-end about a shank of a fastener and operable to form at least a portion of a first load path between the fastener and a component coupled to the fastener to preload the fastener through the first and second sleeves; and a spring configured to be associated with the first and second sleeves and operable to form at least a portion of a second load path parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to facilitate biasing the fastener away from the component, wherein at least one of the first sleeve or the second sleeve comprises a flange configured to interface with the spring, and wherein an unloaded length of the spring is greater than a length of the first and second sleeves such that the second load path is formed at a first fastener position and the first load path is formed at a second fastener position. ### Claim 20 A fastener system, comprising: a component; a fastener coupled to the component; and a biasing system comprising: first and second sleeves disposed end-to-end about a shank of the fastener and operable to form at least a portion of a first load path between the fastener and the component to preload the fastener through the first and second sleeves, and a spring associated with the first and second sleeves and operable to form at least a portion of a second load path parallel to the first load path between the fastener and the component to facilitate biasing the fastener away from the component, wherein at least one of the first sleeve or the second sleeve comprises a flange configured to interface with the spring, and wherein an unloaded length of the spring is greater than a length of the first and second sleeves such that the second load path is formed at a first fastener position and the first load path is formed at a second fastener position.