High performance jaw system for blind fastener installation

Abstract

A pulling head having jaws that have a conical angle of at least forty-five degrees, and preferably sixty degrees, relative to a longitudinal axis about which the jaws are arranged. Another pulling head includes an elastic collet that has a plurality of fingers. Each of the fingers includes an internal jaw area, and a back end of the elastic collet preferably contacts a bushing. Preferably, the bushing provides high and reliable push force and also acts as a shock absorber during operation. The fingers of the elastic collet are configured to open and close during tool operation, and are configured to grip a break stem of a fastener such that there is no side loading. The elastic collet is also configured such that the fingers stay accurately centered and positioned, eliminating any possibility of jaw damage caused by the jaws tumbling, being off-center, or being otherwise positioned incorrectly. The elastic collet is positioned somewhat forward in the pulling head, thus increasing the grip length of a break stem. The elastic collet also renders the pulling head easy to assemble.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.