US 5,329,694 AGranted

Apparatus for attaching a fastener to an enclosed structure

AssigneeMultifastener Corporation

InventorsDavid W. Sickels, Robert E. Sills

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Abstract

The disclosed method and apparatus is adapted to attach a self-attaching fastener, such as a pierce or clinch nut or stud to a metal wall of an enclosed structure, such as a tube, from inside the structure. The method includes rigidly supporting the self-attaching fastener within the enclosed structure on an anvil with the fastening portion extending toward and located adjacent an inner surface of the wall. A die member is then driven against the outer surface of the wall to deform the wall into locking engagement with the self-attaching fastener. Where a pierce nut or stud is used, the nut simultaneously pierces the wall from inside the structure and clinches the wall as the die member is driven against the outer surface of the wall. The apparatus includes an expandable anvil assembly having opposed surfaces which conform generally to the opposed surfaces of the enclosed structure and a pocket which receives and rigidly supports the body portion of the self-attaching fastener. The anvil assembly further includes relatively movable parts having mating inclined surfaces and the parts are moved to expand or contract the anvil assembly. The method then includes inserting the body portion of a self-attaching fastener in the anvil pocket, inserting the anvil in the enclosed structure, then expanding the anvil to locate or position the fastener adjacent the inner surface of the wall. The die member then installs the nut in the wall. Finally, the anvil is contracted to remove the anvil from the assembly.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An apparatus for attaching a self-attaching fastener to a generally cylindrical metal tube having a generally cylindrical inner surface from inside said tube, said self-attaching fastener having a body portion and a fastening portion projecting from said body portion, said apparatus comprising:

a cradle having a concave generally cylindrical exterior surface configured to receive said generally cylindrical tube;
a mandrel having a generally cylindrical convex external surface configured to be received within said tube and mate with said tube inner surface and said mandrel having a generally flat surface opposite said mandrel generally cylindrical surface;
a cam member having a flat surface received on said mandrel flat surface and an opposite cam surface inclined relative to said cam member flat surface;
a fastener holder having an inclined cam surface received on said cam member cam surface, said fastener holder having a fastener pocket configured to receive said self-attaching fastener body portion in a surface of said fastener holder opposite said fastener holder cam surface, and said fastener holder having generally cylindrical convex support surfaces on opposite sides of said fastener pocket spaced above the plane of said fastener pocket configured to mate with said tube inner surface;
and
a die member having an opening configured to receive said self-attaching fastener fastening portion, and said die member having die surfaces on opposite sides of said die opening configured to deform said tube toward said fastener holder fastener pocket into locking engagement with said self-attaching fastener fastening portion;
whereby a self-attaching fastener supported in said fastener holder of said apparatus may be received in said tube and moved to adjacent said tube inner surface by movement of said cam member relative to said fastener holder and said mandrel, thereby bringing said generally cylindrical support surfaces of said fastener holder into engagement with said tube inner surface and rigidly supporting said self-attaching fastener during installation in said tube by said die member.

4 more elements

An apparatus for attaching a self-attaching fastener to a generally cylindrical tube having a generally cylindrical inner surface from inside said tube;

said self-attaching fastener having a body portion and a fastening portion projecting from said body portion, said apparatus comprising:
a mandrel having a generally cylindrical convex external surface configured to be received within said tube and mate with said tube inner surface and said mandrel having a flat surface opposite said generally cylindrical surface;
a cam member having a flat surface received on said mandrel flat surface and an opposite cam surface inclined relative to said cam member flat surface;
a fastener holder having an inclined cam surface received on said cam member cam surface, said fastener holder having a generally cylindrical convex support surface configured to be received within said tube inner surface and a saddle-shaped recess in said cylindrical surface including a flat bottom surface and opposed outwardly inclined surfaces extending from said flat surface to said generally cylindrical surface, and a fastener pocket in said flat surface configured to receive and support said body portion of said self-attaching fastener;
means adapted to move said cam member relative to said fastener holder and mandrel to increase or decrease the distance between said fastener holder and said tube inner surface to move said self-attaching fastener to locate said fastening portion adjacent said tube inner surface and said fastener holder generally cylindrical convex surface into engagement with said tube inner surface;
and
a die member having an opening configured to receive said fastening portion of said self-attaching fastener and die surfaces on opposed sides of said die opening configured to deform said tube into said saddle-shaped recess of said fastener holder and into locking engagement with said self-attaching fastener fastening portion.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.