Blind fastener with frangible nut
AssigneeSPS Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTerry VOVAN, Brian HOFFARTH, Su HUYNH, Florentin POPESCU
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blind fastener for connecting a plurality of panels includes a core bolt and a core nut. The core nut surrounds the core bolt. The core nut includes a main body, a nut head, and a tool engagement section. The nut head has a larger outside diameter than the main body. The core nut defines a frangible portion between the nut head and the tool engagement section. The frangible portion is configured to allow the tool engagement section to break off from the nut head when a torque applied to the tool engagement section is greater than a threshold torque after the blind fastener is installed in the plurality of panels.
Claims20
A blind fastener for connecting a plurality of panels, comprising:
- a core bolt;
- and
- a core nut surrounding the core bolt, the core nut including a main body, a nut head, and a tool engagement section, the nut head having a larger outside diameter than the main body,
- wherein the core nut defines a frangible portion between the nut head and the tool engagement section, the frangible portion configured to allow the tool engagement section to break off from the nut head when a torque applied to the tool engagement section is greater than a threshold torque after the blind fastener is installed in the plurality of panels.
A blind fastener for connecting a plurality of panels, comprising:
- a core bolt including a first tool engagement section, a threaded section and a bolt head, the threaded section including a first frangible portion configured to break the threaded section when a torque applied to the first handling section exceeds a first threshold torque, the threaded section being axially between the first tool engagement section and the bolt head;
- and
- a core nut including a main body, a nut head, a second frangible portion, and a second tool engagement section, the second frangible portion frangibly coupling the second tool engagement section to the nut head and configured to break the second tool engagement section off from the nut head when a torque applied to the second tool engagement section exceeds a second threshold torque, the nut head being axially between the second frangible section and the main body,
- wherein at least one of the main body and the nut head defines internal threads configured to engage the threaded section of the core bolt, and the bolt head is configured to engage an end of the core nut that is opposite the nut head.
An assembly comprising:
- a front panel defining a front surface;
- a rear panel defining a rear surface;
- a blind fastener inserted into holes of the front and rear panels for connecting the front and rear panels together, the blind fastener comprising:
- a core bolt received in the holes of the front and rear panels and defining a break-off notch and a bolt head;
- and
- a core nut surrounding the core bolt, the core nut including a main body, a nut head, a sleeve, and a tool engagement section, the main body extending within the holes of the front and rear panels, the nut head disposed in a counterbore or countersink of the hole of the front panel, the tool engagement section disposed outside the front and rear panels and adjacent to the front panel, the sleeve being coupled to an end of the main body that is opposite the nut head and disposed outside and adjacent to the rear panel, the sleeve being configured to be deformed by axial force imparted by the bolt head moving toward the panels, the core nut further defining a break-off groove that frangibly couples the tool engagement section to the nut head,
- wherein the break-off groove of the core nut and the break-off notch of the core bolt are flush with or recessed from the front surface of the front panel when the blind fastener is fully installed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.