System and method for securing a nut to an oil pan
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsMichael E. Ward, John H. Siegenthaler, Ryan P. Merrell, Michael J. Wiedemann, Charles T. Ferguson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oil pan nut configured to be secured to an oil pan includes a hub having an upper surface configured to support a mating surface of the oil pan, and a column integrally connected to the hub. A passage is formed through the hub and the column. The column is configured to be crimped over the upper surface of the hub in order to compressively sandwich at least a portion of the mating surface of the oil pan between the crimped column and the upper surface of the hub.
Claims19
An oil pan nut configured to be secured to an oil pan, the oil pan nut comprising:
- a hub having an upper surface configured to support a mating surface of the oil pan;
- and
- a column integrally connected to said hub, wherein a passage is formed through said hub and said column, and wherein said column is configured to be crimped over said upper surface of said hub in order to compressively sandwich at least a portion of the mating surface of the oil pan between said crimped column and said upper surface of said hub.
A method of securing an oil pan nut to an oil pan, the method comprising:
- positioning a mating surface of an oil pan on a support surface of a hub of the oil pan nut;
- crimping a cylindrical column extending from the support surface to the mating surface of the oil pan, wherein said crimping comprises folding the cylindrical column back over the mating surface of the oil pan;
- and
- compressively sandwiching the mating surface between the crimped cylindrical column and the support surface through said crimping.
An oil pan nut configured to be secured to an oil pan, the oil pan nut comprising:
- a hub having an upper support surface configured to support a mating surface of the oil pan;
- and
- a column integrally connected to, and extending from, said hub, wherein said hub and said column share a common central axis, wherein a passage is formed through said hub and said column, wherein said column is configured to be crimped over said upper surface of said hub in order to compressively sandwich at least a portion of the mating surface of the oil pan between said crimped column and said upper surface of said hub, and wherein said hub and said column are devoid of structures configured for welding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.