Blind setting rivet assembly

A blind setting bolt rivet assembly, comprising:

• (a) a hollow rivet body having upper and lower ends separated by an enlarged flattened head adapted to abut the surface of a work piece, said enlarged flattened head having oppositely disposed inner and outer surfaces, wherein at least one of said inner and outer surfaces are serrated, said lower end comprising a hollow tubular sleeve having an inner diameter, and said upper end comprising a hollow cylindrical threaded bolt head onto which a nut may be removably affixed to secure one or more work pieces or components;
• (b) a mandrel disposed longitudinally within said rivet body comprising a shoulder section having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said sleeve so that said shoulder section radially compresses and spreads the lower end of said sleeve as said mandrel is retracted rearward relative to said rivet body, and a shank having an area of reduced diameter spaced rearward from said shoulder section and sized to allow said shoulder section of said mandrel to be detached from the shank upon application of predetermined tensile force applied to the shank;
• and
• (c) a locking washer to prevent rotation of the rivet body, said washer encircling said lower sleeve.

A blind setting bolt rivet assembly comprising:

• (a) a hollow rivet body having upper and lower ends separated by an enlarged flattened head adapted to abut the surface of a work piece, said lower end comprising a hollow tubular sleeve having an inner diameter, and said upper end comprising a hollow cylindrical threaded bolt head onto which a nut may be removably affixed to secure one or more work pieces or components;
• (b) a mandrel disposed longitudinally within said rivet body comprising a shoulder section having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said sleeve so that said shoulder section radially compresses and spreads the lower end of said sleeve as said mandrel is retracted rearward relative to said rivet body, and a shank having an area of reduced diameter spaced rearward from said shoulder section and sized to allow said shoulder section of said mandrel to be detached from the shank upon application of predetermined tensile force applied to the shank;
• and
• (c) a locking washer to prevent rotation of the rivet body, said washer encircling said lower sleeve;
• wherein said mandrel further comprises an elongated conical portion disposed between said shoulder section and said area of reduced diameter and a grommet encircling said mandrel between said shoulder section and said conical portion;
• said grommet providing a liquid and gas impermeable seal between said sleeve and said mandrel.

A self-tapping, blind setting bolt rivet assembly comprising:

• (a) a hollow rivet body having upper and lower ends separated by an enlarged flattened head adapted to abut the surface of a work piece, said lower end comprising a hollow tubular sleeve, and said upper end comprising a hollow threaded bolt head onto which a nut may be removably affixed to secure one or more work pieces or components;
• and
• (b) a mandrel disposed longitudinally within said rivet body comprising
• a grooved screw tip having a diameter at least equal to the outer diameter of said sleeve so that said sleeve may pass through an aperture formed by the grooved screw tip in said one or more work pieces,
• a shoulder section adjacent to the grooved screw tip having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of said sleeve so that the shoulder section radially compresses and spreads the lower end of said sleeve as said mandrel is retracted rearward relative to said rivet body, said shoulder section having a tapered upper face, and an area of enlarged diameter spaced between the shoulder section and the area of reduced diameter of the shank so that said shoulder section and said area of enlarged diameter act together to retain the grooved screw tip and shoulder section within the sleeve due to interference with the inner diameter of the said sleeve caused by deformation of the sleeve during application, and
• a shank having an area of reduced diameter spaced rearward from the shoulder section and sized to allow the grooved screw tip and shoulder section of said mandrel to be detached from the shank upon application of predetermined tensile force applied to the shank.

A process for applying a blind setting bolt rivet assembly, comprising the steps of:

• (a) drilling an aperture in a work piece, said aperture having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeve of the body of the bolt rivet assembly;
• (b) inserting the threaded bolt head and mandrel shank of the bolt rivet assembly in an adapter consisting of a blank having a generally cylindrical forward section having a forward face shaped to abut the rivet head, a generally cylindrical rear section having a threaded outer circumference to allow attachment of a hand or power tool, and a cylindrical aperture shaped to removably accept the threaded bolt head and mandrel shank of said bolt rivet assembly extending longitudinally through the center of said forward and rear sections, said aperture consisting of a forward cavity having a diameter and length slightly greater than the diameter and length of said threaded bolt head and a rear cavity having a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said mandrel shank, said rear cavity extending from the forward cavity through the rear section of the blank;
• (c) inserting the sleeve of the bolt rivet assembly through the aperture drilled in the work piece so that the rivet head is flush to the work piece;
• (d) holding the adapter firmly against the rivet head and work piece;
• and
• (e) axially retracting the mandrel shank until said shank separates.

A process for applying a blind setting bolt rivet assembly, comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a threaded bolt head and mandrel shank of the bolt rivet assembly in an adapter consisting of a blank including a generally cylindrical forward section having a forward face shaped to abut the rivet head, a generally cylindrical rear section having a threaded outer circumference to allow attachment of a hand or power tool, and a cylindrical aperture shaped to removably accept the threaded bolt head and mandrel shank of said bolt rivet assembly extending longitudinally through the center of said forward and rear sections, said aperture consisting of a forward cavity having a diameter and length slightly greater than the diameter and length of said threaded bolt head and a rear cavity having a diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of said mandrel shank, said rear cavity extending from the forward cavity through the rear section of the blank;
• (b) inserting a sleeve of the bolt rivet assembly through an aperture drilled in the work piece so that the rivet head is flush to the work piece;
• (c) holding the adapter firmly against the rivet head and work piece;
• and
• (d) axially retracting the mandrel shank until said shank separates.