Radiused Lead-In for Interference Fit Fasteners
First Claim
1. A fastener comprising:
- a head;
a shank extending from the head, the shank comprising an external surface that is circular cylindrical;
a mating portion comprising external projections; and
a transition portion disposed between the shank and the mating portion,wherein the transition portion comprises a first radiused lead-in section that meets the shank at a shank/lead-in intersection and a second radiused lead-in section that meets the first radiused lead-in section, the first radiused lead-in section curves gradually in a first axial direction toward the mating portion and has a first profile that is a circular arc having a first radius, and the second radiused lead-in section curves abruptly in the first axial direction and has a second profile that is a circular arc having a second radius which is smaller than the first radius.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly comprising first and second structural elements having aligned holes, an fastener that occupies at least respective portions of the holes without a surrounding sleeve, and a mating part that is coupled to the fastener. The fastener comprises: a head; a circular cylindrical shank extending from the head; a mating portion comprising external projections; and a transition portion disposed between the shank and the mating portion. The transition portion comprises a first radiused lead-in section that meets the shank at a shank/lead-in intersection and a second radiused lead-in section that meets the first radiused lead-in section. The first radiused lead-in section curves gradually in a first axial direction toward the mating portion and has a first profile that is a circular arc having a first radius, while the second radiused lead-in section curves abruptly in the first axial direction and has a second profile that is a circular arc having a second radius which is much smaller than the first radius.
4 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fastener comprising:
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a head; a shank extending from the head, the shank comprising an external surface that is circular cylindrical; a mating portion comprising external projections; and a transition portion disposed between the shank and the mating portion, wherein the transition portion comprises a first radiused lead-in section that meets the shank at a shank/lead-in intersection and a second radiused lead-in section that meets the first radiused lead-in section, the first radiused lead-in section curves gradually in a first axial direction toward the mating portion and has a first profile that is a circular arc having a first radius, and the second radiused lead-in section curves abruptly in the first axial direction and has a second profile that is a circular arc having a second radius which is smaller than the first radius. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for fastening a first structure having a first hole and a second structure having a second hole, the first and second holes having a same hole diameter, comprising:
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placing the first and second structures together with the first and second holes aligned; inserting a mating portion of a fastener into the first hole until an edge of the first hole in the first structure is in contact with and surrounds a radiused lead-in section of the fastener that tapers gradually toward the mating portion, the fastener further comprising a head and a circular cylindrical shank connecting the head to the radiused lead-in section, the shank having a shank diameter greater than the hole diameter; forcing the fastener further into the aligned holes of the first and second structures to cause the shank to contact the edge of the first hole, push through the first hole, and then push through the second hole until the mating portion of the fastener projects beyond the second structure; and coupling a mating part to the mating portion of the fastener. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An assembly comprising a first structural element having a first hole, a second structural element having a second hole aligned with the first hole of the first structural element, a fastener that occupies at least respective portions of the first and second holes in the first and second structural elements without a surrounding sleeve and extends beyond the second structural element, and a mating part that abuts the second structural element and is coupled to the fastener, wherein the fastener comprises:
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a head; a shank extending from the head, the shank comprising an external surface that is circular cylindrical; a mating portion comprising external projections; and a transition portion disposed between the shank and the mating portion, wherein the transition portion comprises a first radiused lead-in section that meets the shank at a shank/lead-in intersection and a second radiused lead-in section that meets the first radiused lead-in section, the first radiused lead-in section curves gradually in a first axial direction toward the mating portion and has a first profile that is a circular arc having a first radius, and the second radiused lead-in section curves abruptly in the first axial direction and has a second profile that is a circular arc having a second radius which is smaller than the first radius. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification