Fastening element
AssigneeITW Limited
InventorJonathan Paul Anthony Cheal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastening element is adapted to cooperate with a tie member to exert a compressive force on first and second components. The fastening element has an inner portion (50) resiliently joined to an outer portion (52), such that when a tensile reaction force is applied to the tie member as a result of the compressive force, the reaction force causes the outer portion (52) to be displaced relative to the inner portion (50). The fastening element may further include a washer (56) rotatably attached to the outer portion (52) by a cage (54). An indicator element for use with such a fastening element is also provided, together with a method of securing a first component to a second component by means of such a fastening element.
Claims30
A fastening element for use with a tie member to fasten a first component to a second component, the fastening element being adapted for attachment to the tie member to exert a compressive force on the components, wherein
- the fastening element comprises an outer portion and an inner portion;
- a first end of the inner portion is resiliently joined to a first end of the outer portion, in such a way that, when the fastening element is stressed, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes a second, opposite end of the outer portion to be displaced relative to a second, opposite end of the inner portion;
- the second ends of the inner and outer portions have flat end faces which are coplanar when the fastening element is not stressed.
In combination, an indicator element and a fastening elements;
- the fastening element being adapted for use with a tie member to fasten a first component to a second component, for attachment to the tie member which in use passes through a part of at least one of the components, and for cooperating with the tie member to exert a compressive force on the components;
- the fastening element comprising an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion;
- the indicator element being releasably engageable with the fastening element such that the indicator element is retained by the fastening element when the outer portion of the fastening element is displaced relative to the inner portion, and released if the displacement of the outer portion relative to the inner portion decreases sufficiently.
A method of securing a first component to a second component, by means of a fastener comprising a fastening element and a tie member adapted for attachment to the fastening element, the method comprising the steps of:
- passing the tie member through a part of at least one of the components;
- cooperating the fastening element with the tie member to apply a progressively increasing compressive force to the two components, wherein the fastening element comprises an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion;
- and
- determining whether a displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion reaches a minimum magnitude indicative of the soundness of the attachment of the two components;
- wherein said determining comprises
- engaging an indicator element with the fastening element, and
- observing whether the indicator element is retained by the fastening element.
A method of securing a first component to a second component, by means of a fastener comprising a fastening element and a tie member adapted for attachment to the fastening element, the method comprising the steps of:
- passing the tie member through a part of at least one of the components,
- cooperating the fastening element with the tie member to exert a progressively increasing compressive force to the two components, wherein the fastening element comprises an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion;
- and
- determining whether a displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion reaches a minimum magnitude indicative of the soundness of the attachment of the two components;
- wherein said determining includes measuring the displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion.
A method of securing a first component to a second component, by means of a fastener comprising a fastening element and a tie member adapted for attachment to the fastening element, the method comprising the steps of:
- passing the tie member through a part of at least one of the components;
- cooperating the fastening element with the tie member to exert a progressively increasing compressive force to the two components, wherein the fastening element comprises an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion;
- determining whether a displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion reaches a minimum magnitude indicative of the soundness of the attachment of the two components;
- and
- determining whether the displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion is less than a maximum magnitude, corresponding to a maximum desired magnitude of compressive force.
A fastener comprising a nut and a bolt for use therewith;
- said nut comprising an inner tubular portion and an outer tubular portion;
- each of said inner and outer portions having opposite first and second ends;
- the first ends of said inner and outer portions being resiliently joined to one another;
- the inner portion defining a passage extending between the first and second ends of said inner portion:
- said nut further comprising a plurality of threads extending over a predetermined axial extent of said passage to define a threaded region, a remaining portion of said passage being unthreaded up to said first end of said inner portion;
- and
- said bolt entering the passage from the first end of the inner portion and comprising threads matching and effecting threaded contact with the threads of the threaded region of the nut so as to exert a force on the nut, which force causes the second end of the inner portion to be displaced relative to the second end of the outer portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.