Wedge fastener

A method of coupling two flanges with a fastener including a pin with a head and an elongate slot in a shank, a wedge, a locking key, and a locking bolt, the method comprising:

• inserting the shank of the pin through the two flanges;
• sliding at least a portion of the wedge through the elongate slot in the shank of the pin until the two flanges are gripped between the head of the pin and the wedge;
• locking the wedge into position by engaging the locking key with the wedge and the shank;
• and
• tightening the locking bolt onto the wedge and the locking key to prevent movement of the wedge.

A fastener configured to couple a slotted flange and a support member, the fastener comprising:

• a swing bolt including a head at a first end configured to pivotally engage the support member, and a shank extending from the head to a second end, the shank including an elongate slot configured to be disposed at least partially above the slotted flange when the shank is inserted into the slotted flange;
• a wedge sized so that at least a portion of the wedge may extend through the elongate slot and including an upper side surface and a lower side surface, the wedge having a width between the upper side surface and the lower side surface that increases from a first end to a second end, the first end including at least one threaded bore;
• a jack plate including at least one threaded coupling bolt configured to engage the at least one threaded bore when at least a portion of the wedge is inserted through the elongate slot in the shank;
• and
• two adjustment bolts engaged with the jack plate on opposing sides of the wedge and extending to contact the shank on opposite sides of the elongate slot, the two adjustment bolts configured to pull the wedge through the elongate slot until the lower side surface of the wedge urges the slotted flange toward the support member.

A method of coupling a slotted flange to a support structure with a fastener including a swing bolt with a head and an elongate slot in a shank, a wedge, a jack plate, and a pair of adjustment bolts extending from the jack plate, the method comprising:

• coupling the head of the swing bolt to pivotally engage the support structure;
• pivoting the swing bolt to swing the shank into the slotted flange;
• sliding at least a portion of the wedge through the elongate slot of the shank until the slotted flange is gripped by the wedge;
• coupling the jack plate to the wedge;
• and
• tightening the adjustment bolts into engagement with the shank to pull the wedge through the elongate slot.

An apparatus for coupling a pot to a lid and a support structure, comprising:

• a plurality of first fasteners for coupling a flange of the lid to a first flange of the pot, each first fastener including:
• a pin including a head and an elongate shank extending from the head to a lower end, the shank including an elongate slot disposed between the head and the lower end,
• a wedge sized so that at least a portion of the wedge may extend through the elongate slot, the wedge including an upper surface configured to face toward the head, a lower surface configured to face away from the head, first and second side surfaces that increase in width as defined between the upper surface and the lower surface along a longitudinal length of the wedge, and a longitudinal slot extending between the first and second side surfaces, the wedge further including a plurality of angled slots formed in at least one of the side surfaces adjacent to the longitudinal slot,
• at least one locking key adapted to engage the wedge when the wedge is inserted through the elongate slot, the locking key including an inner surface facing the wedge, an outer surface, an end surface facing the shank of the pin, and a transverse slot extending between the inner and outer surface, the inner surface further including a plurality of angled ridges adjacent to the transverse slot and configured to engage the plurality of angled slots in the at least one side surface of the wedge, and
• a locking bolt inserted through the longitudinal slot of the wedge and the transverse slot of the at least one locking key;
• and
• a plurality of second fasteners for coupling a second flange of the pot to the support structure, each second fastener including:
• a swing bolt including a head at a first end configured to pivotally engage the support structure, and a shank extending from the head to a second end, the shank including an elongate slot configured to be disposed at least partially above the second flange when the shank is inserted into the second flange,
• a wedge sized so that at least a portion of the wedge may extend through the elongate slot and including an upper side surface and a lower side surface, the wedge having a width between the upper side surface and the lower side surface that increases from a first end to a second end, the first end including at least one threaded bore,
• a jack plate including at least one threaded coupling bolt configured to engage the at least one threaded bore when at least a portion of the wedge is inserted through the elongate slot in the shank, and
• two adjustment bolts engaged with the jack plate on opposing sides of the wedge and extending to contact the shank on opposite sides of the elongate slot, the two adjustment bolts configured to pull the wedge through the elongate slot until the lower side surface of the wedge urges the second flange toward the support structure.