Patent ID: 6735843
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: B25B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for installing a hollow threaded insert into a hole in a substrate having first and second surfaces where the insert has a hollow shaft having a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion between the first end portion and second end portion, the insert having a front flange surrounding the first end portion of the shaft for engaging the front surface of the substrate around the hole, the second end portion of the shaft having an internal thread and, said intermediate portion comprising a gripping means that engages the second surface when a force is applied that pulls the second end portion toward the first end portion; said method comprising:activating a rotatable drive having a single attached drive shaft in turn having an attached externally threaded mandrel so that the threaded portion of the mandrel rotates into the hollow threaded portion of the insert through the flange until a non-rotatable nose retainer, through which the mandrel passes, contacts the flange of the insert; moving the drive, drive shaft, mandrel and attached insert to place the shaft of the insert into the hole in the substrate so that the flange of the insert contacts the first surface of the substrate; applying pressure to a piston within a cylinder where the piston has a central bore retaining the drive shaft that passes through the bore so that the applied pressure moves the drive shaft toward the drive so that the motion of the drive shaft and attached mandrel pulls the second end portion of the insert toward the second surface of the substrate and collapses the intermediate portion of the insert to grip the second surface of the substrate; turning the drive in a reverse direction to disengage the mandrel from the threads in the insert; moving the mandrel, nose retainer, drive shaft and drive in a direction away from the flange of the installed insert; and controlling foregoing steps of the method by means of a controller comprising a programmed logic chip that receives data from a plurality of sensors.