Rivetless nut plate

A rivetless nut plate for attachment to a panel (P) via a panel bore (PB), comprising:

• a nut (100), a washer (500), and a cage (600) that retains the nut (100) and washer (500);
• the nut (100) having a nut distal end (102), a nut proximal end (104), and a nut length (106) measured from the nut distal end (102) to the nut proximal end (104), wherein the nut (100) includes:
• (A) a main nut section (200) adjacent the nut proximal end (104) and having a MNS distal end (202), a MNS proximal end (204), a MNS length (206) measured from the MNS distal end (202) to the MNS proximal end (204), and a MNS wall thickness (208), wherein the main nut section (200) includes:
• (i) a tool engagement portion (210);
• (ii) a MNS flange (220);
• (iii) a MNS bore (230) extending from the MNS distal end (202) toward the MNS proximal end (204) and having a MNS bore distal end (232), a MNS bore proximal end (234), a MNS bore length (236) measure from the MNS bore distal end (232) to the MNS bore proximal end (234), a MNS bore width (237), and a plurality of MNS bore threads (238);
• (iv) a MNS rotation prevention interface including at least one MNS flange nut locking prong receiving recess (229);
• (B) a nut axial protrusion section (300) adjacent the nut distal end (102) and having a NAPS distal end (302), a NAPS proximal end (304), a NAPS length (306) measure from the NAPS distal end (302) to the NAPS proximal end (304), and a NAPS section wall thickness (308), wherein the nut axial protrusion section (300) includes:
• (i) a NAPS threaded portion (320) having a plurality of external NAPS threads (332) sized to create a NAPS threaded portion taper angle (330) of 0.5-15 degrees, a NAPS threaded portion distal end (322), a NAPS threaded portion proximal end (324), a NAPS threaded portion length (326) measure from the NAPS threaded portion distal end (322) to the NAPS threaded portion proximal end (324), a NAPS threaded portion minimum width (328), and a NAPS threaded portion maximum width (329);
• (ii) a NAPS bore (340) extending through the nut axial protrusion section (300) and having a NAPS bore distal end (342), a NAPS bore proximal end (344), a NAPS bore length (346) measured from the NAPS bore distal end (342) to the NAPS bore proximal end (344), and a NAPS bore diameter (347);
• (C) a nut flangible section (400) located between the main nut section (200) and the nut axial protrusion section (300), and having a NFS distal end (402), a NFS proximal end (404), a NFS length (406) measured from the NFS distal end (402) to the NFS proximal end (404), and a NFS wall thickness (408);
• the washer (500) having a washer distal end (502), a washer proximal end (504), and a washer length (506) measure from the washer distal end (502) to the washer proximal end (504);
• the cage (600) having a cage distal end (602) and a cage proximal end (604), wherein the cage (600) includes:
• (A) a cage radial flat interconnection (630) having a CRFI distal end (632), a CRFI proximal end (634), a CRFI length (636) measured from the CRFI distal end (632) to the CRFI proximal end (634), and a CRFI width (638);
• (B) a washer retaining rim (610) extending from the cage radial flat interconnection (630) toward the cage proximal end (604) and having a WRR distal end (612), a WRR proximal end (614), a WRR length (616) measured from the WRR distal end (612) to the WRR proximal end (614), a WRR inner width (617), and a WRR outer width (618);
• (C) a cage locking projection (620) extending from the cage radial flat interconnection (630) toward the cage distal end (602) and having a CLP distal end (622), a CLP proximal end (624), a CLP length (626) measured from the CLP distal end (622) to the CLP proximal end (624), and a CLP outer width (628), wherein the cage locking projection (620) includes:
• (i) a CLP bore (640) extending through the cage (600) and having a CLP distal end (642), a CLP proximal end (644), a CLP length (646) measured from the CLP distal end (642) to the CLP proximal end (644), a plurality of CLP threads (652) sized to create a CLP bore taper angle (650) of 0.5-15 degrees, a CLP bore minimum width (648), and a CLP bore maximum width (649);
• (D) at least one nut locking prong (660) extending away from the cage radial flat interconnection (630) and having a NLP distal end (662) and a NLP proximal end (664), wherein a portion of the at least one locking prong (660) entraps a portion of the main nut section (200) to prevent separation from the cage (600);
• (E) a cage rotation prevention interface;
• wherein in a nonactivated state a portion of the plurality of external NAPS threads (332) engages a portion of the plurality of CLP threads (652), and a portion of the nut (100) is in contact with the washer (500), and upon further rotation of the nut (100), through a separation rotation angle of 45-540 degrees, additional engagement of the plurality of external NAPS threads (332) and the plurality of CLP threads (652) occurs thereby displacing the washer (500) and increasing the CLP outer width (628) until the nut frangible section (400) releases to achieve an activated state with the main nut section (200) separated from the nut axial protraction section (300) and the main nut section (200) constrained by the cage (600) and biased toward the cage proximal end (604) by the washer (500) to engage the at least one MNS flange nut locking prong receiving recess (229) and at least one nut locking prong (660) and thereby limit rotation of the main nut section (200) relative to the cage (600) to a constrained angular rotation range of no more than 20 degrees, wherein in the activated state the main nut section (200) is movable throughout a constrained degree of freedom including a constrained X-direction translation distance of 2-20% of the NAPS bore diameter (347), a constrained Y-direction translation distance of 2-50% of the NAPS bore length (346), a constrained Z-direction translation distance of 2-20% of the NAPS bore diameter (347), and a constrained tilt rotation range of 0.5-20 degrees with the constrained tilt rotation range being the angle between a MNS bore longitudinal axis of the MNS bore (230) from a NAPS bore longitudinal axis of the NAPS bore (340).