US 2016/0258459 A1 · NON-CYLINDRICAL FASTENING SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to non-cylindrical fastening systems and related methods, such as methods of installing a non-cylindrical fastening system. Presently disclosed non-cylindrical fastening systems may include a first fastening component and a second fastening component, where the second fastening component includes an elongate shank configured to be inserted through a hole in the first fastening component and through a hole in a structure to which the first fastening component is being secured. The holes in the first fastening component and the structure may be non-circular, and the elongate shank may be non-circular in perpendicular cross-section. Disclosed fastening systems may also include a third fastening component configured to be installed onto the elongate shank, and substantially prevent axial movement of the elongate shank with respect to the structure and/or first fastening component. Such fastening systems may lower the number of parts required in manufacturing an apparatus, such as an aircraft.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fastening system configured to couple a first structure to a second structure, the first structure having a first hole formed therein and the second structure having a second hole formed therein, the fastening system comprising:

a fastening component having an elongate shank, the elongate shank having a length extending from a first shank end to a second shank end, the elongate shank being sized and shaped to be inserted through the first hole and the second hole, thereby securing the first structure to the second structure such that the first structure is substantially not rotatable with respect to the second structure, wherein the first hole and the second hole are not circular, and wherein a first perpendicular cross-section of the elongate shank is non-circular along at least a first portion of the length of the elongate shank.

A fastening system configured to be coupled to a structure having a first hole formed therein, the fastening system comprising:

a first fastening component having a second hole formed therethrough, wherein the first fastening component is configured to be positioned relative to the structure such that the first hole and the second hole are aligned with one another;
and
a second fastening component having an elongate shank, the elongate shank having a longitudinal axis and being sized and shaped to be inserted through the second hole in the first fastening component and into the first hole in the structure, thereby securing the first fastening component to the structure such that the first fastening component is substantially not rotatable with respect to the structure about the longitudinal axis of the elongate shank, wherein the first hole and the second hole are non-circular, wherein the elongate shank of the second fastening component comprises a non-circular portion extending along at least a portion of the elongate shank, and wherein the non-circular portion has a first perpendicular cross-section that is non-circular and non-polygonal.

A method of coupling a first structure to a second structure, the method comprising:

providing a fastening system, the fastening system comprising:
a fastening component having an elongate shank, the elongate shank having a length extending from a first shank end to a second shank end, the elongate shank being sized and shaped to be inserted through a first hole formed in the first structure and a second hole formed in the second structure, wherein the first hole and the second hole are not circular, and wherein a first perpendicular cross-section of the elongate shank is non-circular along at least a first portion of the length of the elongate shank;
and
inserting the elongate shank through the first hole and the second hole, thereby coupling the first structure to the second structure and substantially preventing rotation of the first structure with respect to the second structure about a longitudinal axis of the elongate shank, the longitudinal axis being oriented along the length of the elongate shank.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Non-cylindrical fastening systems and related methods

Life of this patent

Non-cylindrical fastening systems and related methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20