BLIND FASTENER ASSEMBLY

Abstract: A blind fastener assembly is disclosed, which is suit­ able for use in joint assemblies including advanced com­ posite materials. The fastener assembly includes a pin (20), an expander (22), a sleeve (24), and an expandable washer (26), each of which have an initial diameter which permit them to pass through a hole in the workpiece. The washer is mounted about the pin shank between the sleeve and a tapered nose portion of the expander. The fastener assem­ bly is inserted in a hole in the workpiece so that the expan­ der head abuts the workpiece. Rotation of the pin causes the sleeve to force the washer to slide over the tapered nose (42) portion of the expander causing it to expand and abut the blind side of the workpiece. In one embodiment the pin threadably engages the expander and the head of the pin is positioned on the blind side of the workpiece. The washer is initially seated in a groove (36) in the pin shank. Rotation of the pin causes its head and the sleeve to advance toward the workpiece, and the washer is forced from the groove by the sleeve causing it to partially expand. Expansion is com­ pleted when the sleeve forces the washer over the tapered nose portion of the expander. In another embodiment the pin head is positioned on the accessible side of the work­ piece and the pin threadably engages the sleeve. The wash­ er is mounted about the pin on an extended portion of the expander which extends from the nose position. Rotation of the pin causes the sleeve to advance toward the workpiece forcing the washer over the tapered nose portion of the expander until it is fully expanded and abuts the workpiece.

Description: BLIND FASTENER ASSEMBLY. This invention relates to improvements in blind fasteners and the joints produced therewith. Advanced composite materials have recently been gaining increasing useage in various aerospace applications because they offer potential weight savings and increased stiffness. The anisotropic properties of composite materials present a unique opportunity to optimize certain structural designs such as elongated aircraft stringers and ribs. In order to form acceptable joints of relatively thi sheet composite materials, conventional blind fasteners have not proven to be completely acceptable. One reason is the low allowable bearing stress of composite materials which means that the full tensile strength of the blind fastener may not be realized because of bearing failure of the composite material. Present blind fasteners have a relatively limited blind side bearing area and typically expand to approximately 1.3 times the original sleeve diameter. Another reason is that composite materials are weaker in shear, thus causing any holes to require greater edge distances and more area buildup to develop full efficiency of the composite material. Advanced composite materials are constructed of a resin matrix which has a tendency to crack when holes in the material are expanded, such as by cold working or by an interference fit fastener. Rivets which swell when upset may also crack the resin matrix. Finally, fasteners which form against the blind side composite material surface tend to damage the relatively soft material surface by digging or gouging out some of the material during the bearing surface formation process. Additionally, fasteners which form against the blind side composite material surface may cause stress concentrations, during the formation process, which exceed the compressive strength of such materials, thus causing damage. Some blind fasteners taught by the prior art, form a bearing surface on the blind side of the workpiece, before contact is made with the workpiece. However, such fasteners have not proven entirely satisfactory for a variety of reasons, including problems associated with consistently and reliably forming the bearing surface before contact with the workpiece. Additionally, some conventional blind fasteners cannot conform to the irregular contour of the composite material blind surface and tend to crush the raised points of the material, thus reducing overall material strength. In order to solve these problems, the present invention is directed to an improved blind fastener assembly which has a large bearing area, does not expand the holes in the respective workpieces in which the fastener assembly is installed, forms consistently and reliably away from the blind side workpiece surface, and in which the formation of the blind side bearing surface is not sensitive to variations in grip length. Accordingly, it is the general purpose and object of the present invention to provide an improved blind fastener assembly. It is a further object to provide an improved blind fastener assembly for use with composite materials. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved blind fastener assembly which forms away from the blind side workpiece surface. It is still another object to provide a blind fastener assembly in which the formation of the blind side bearing surface is not sensitive to variations in grip length. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved blind fastener assembly which does not expand the holes in the workpieces in which it is installed. It is another object of the invention to provide a blind fastener assembly in which the blind side bearing surface will conform to an irregular contour of the blind side workpiece surface. And, it is an object of the present invention to provide a blind fastener assembly which is expandable to approximately 1.4 times its unexpanded diameter. These and other objects are accomplished according to the present invention by a blind fastener assembly, including a pin, a sleeve, an expandable washer, and an expander. The expander has a head at one end and a tapered nose portion at the other end. The expander and sleeve are both mounted on the pin. The expandable washer is positioned about the pin, between the tapered nose portion of the expander and the sleeve. The assembly is adapted to be placed through an opening in a workpiece so that a head of the expander abuts the accessible side of the workpiece. Axial movement of the pin causes the sleeve to advance towards the blind side of the workpiece forcing the washer to expand as it slides over the tapered nose portion of the expander, until it is fully expanded and abuts the blind side of the workpiece. While the invention will be described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which: Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view, with parts in elevation, illustrating a first embodiment of a blind fastener assembly installed in a pair of workpieces prior to any forming operation, in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a first intermediate position. Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of Fig 1 in a second intermediate position, showing the washer in a partially expanded condition on the pin. Fig. 4 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a third intermediate position with the sleeve partially expanded and the washer positioned on the tapered nose portion of the expander. Fig. 5 shows the embodiment of Fig. 7 in a fourth intermediate position, with the sleeve partially expanded and the washer fully expanded prior to contacting the blind side workpiece surface. Fig. 6 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 in a finally formed condition with the washer abutting the blind side workpiece surface. Fig. 7 shows an side elevation view of one embodiment of a washer which may be used in the present invention. Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of a washer having tapered ends which may be used with the present invention. Fig. 9 shows the washer illustrated in Fig, 8 having chamfered interior edges. Fig. 10 shows a second embodiment of a pin which may be used with the present invention, having a breakneck groove formed therein. Fig. 11 shows a second embodiment of a sleeve which may be used with the present invention, having a chamfered interior edge. Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view with parts in elevation, illustrating a second embodiment of a blind fastener assembly in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 13 shows the embodiment of Fig. 12 in a first intermediate position, showing the washer abutting the tapered nose portion of the expander Fig. 14 shows the embodiment of Fig. 12 in a second intermediate position, showing the washer fully expanded in a finally formed condition with the washer abutting the blind side workpiece surface. Fig. 15 is an alternate version of the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 without the extended nose portion of the expander, showing the washer frictionally engaged between the expander tapered nose portion and the sleeve. Fig 16 is an alternate version of a sleeve which may be used with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12-14. Referring to Figs. 1 through 6, a first embodiment of a blind fastener assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in varying stages of installation. Workpieces 10 and 12 which have aligned holes 14 and 16 are shown with a blind fastener assembly 18 passing therethrough. The fastener assembly 18 includes a pin member 20, an expander 22, a sleeve 24, and an expandable washer 26 The pin member 20 has an enlarged head 28 at one end thereof and may, in one configuration, include standard external threads 30 which are designed to engage mating threads 32 on expander 22 Appropriate rotation of pin 20 with respect to expander 22 will draw the head 28 of the pin toward workpieces 10 and 12, also drawing sleeve 24, which is carried on the shank of pin 20 adjacent to head 28, toward expander 22. In the particular embodiment shown, a wrenching configuration such as a pair of flats 34 are included on pin 20 for accepting a tool driving bit. It should be understood that pin 20 may include a plurality of circumferential grooves (not shown) instead of external threads 30 and mating threads 32 on expander 22. Such grooves are commonly employed on similar pulling pin devices and are formed to be gripped by any one of a number of conventional pull-type guns for exerting the necessary axial force on pin 20. This arrangement is not illustrated because it is quite conventional and fully known to those skilled in the art. Pin 20 includes a groove 36 in its shank. Positioned in the groove is washer 26 which is formed to be radially expandable. Adjacent groove 36 is a shank portion 37 on the outside diameter of the pin. Expander 22 includes an enlarged head 38 which bears on the workpiece surface, a first shank portion 40 of constant outside diameter which extends through aligned openings 14 and 16 in workpieces 10 and 12, and a nose portion 42 on the end opposite its head 38 having a tapered surface 44. Tapered surface 44 forms an angle on the order of approxifflately twenty degrees with the longitudinal axis of expander 22, but may generally be within the range of about 15 degrees to 30 degrees. The intersection line between shank portion 40 and tapered surface 44 will be designated as 46, and the forward end of nose portion 42 will be designated as 45. The head 38 of expander 22 may include a slot 48 for accepting a portion of the power tool bit (not shown) to keep expander 22 from rotating with respect to workpieces 10 and 12, during the assembly of the joint. It is to be understood that head 38 may be of any configuration while still remaining within the scope of the present invention. An end 54 of sleeve 24 which faces workpiece 10 has a counter-bore or area of increased interior radius 52 along an axial portion of the sleeve. As will be subsequently described, the gap which is formed between pin shank 37 and counter-bored region 52 of sleeve 24 is adapted to receive end 45 and tapered surface 44 of expander 22. During installation of fastener assembly 18, pin 20 is caused to move axially so as to draw head 28 of pin 20 toward expander 22 and, hence, workpieces 10 and 12. Such movement is caused when an axial force is exerted on pin 20 by exerting a torque on pin 20 or by pulling on pin 20 by means of a pull-gun (not shown). Referring to Fig. 2, as the pin is advanced through workpieces 10 and 12, washer 26 is brought into contact with end 45 of the expander nose portion 42. Continued advancement of pin 20 causes nose portion 42 of expander 32 to force washer 26 out of groove 36 and onto shank 37 of pin 20. This necessarily results in a partial radial expansion of washer 26. As is shown in Fig. 3, continued advancement of pin 20 causes the washer to become sandwiched between end 45 of the expander nose portion 42 and end 54 of sleeve 24. As is shown in Fig. 4, washer 26 is radially expanded again as it is forced onto inclined surface 44 of expander nose portion 42 during further advancement of head 28 toward workpieces 10 and 12 The washer is forced to expand onto tapered surface 44 by end 45 wedging between shank 37 and the inside diameter surface of washer 26. Once the washer is expanded, end 45 advances into the gap between pin shank 37 and counter-bored region 52 of sleeve 24, causing the sleeve to expand and advance along tapered surface 44. The washer 26 is fully expanded after it passes intersection line 46. Continued movement of head 28 and sleeve 24 toward the workpieces causes washer 26 also to move toward the workpieces, resulting in further advancement of the expander nose portion 42 between sleeve 24 and pin shank 37, as is shown in Fig. 5. The washer is ultimately caused to seat against the surface of workpiece 10, as is shown in Fig. 6. Advancement of pin 20 through the workpieces is continued subsequent to the seating of washer 26 against workpiece 10, until the desired preload is reached. Thereupon, the pin fractures at washer groove 36 or at a separate breakneck groove 50, which may be provided, as shown in Fig. 10. It should be understood that some form of locking configuration (not shown) may be provided between pin 20 and expander 22 to keep the pin from moving in an axial direction after the joint is formed, and to maintain the desired preload in the joint. Examples of such a locking configuration could be a prevailing torque feature between the mating threads or any one of the numerous known conventional locking features. The blind fastener assembly 18 of the present invention has been designed to work reliably and consistently with workpieces which are constructed of advanced composite materials. Advanced composite materials generally have a compressive strength limit within the range of 15,000 to 30,000 psi. Steady state clamping loads, or preloads, for joints of advanced composite materials are generally desired to be of an order of magnitude of approximately 10,000 psi. It is therefore desirable for the surface which is to form the bearing surface on the blind side of such a joint assembly to be formed without requiring contact with the advanced composite material. The present invention provides a member having such a bearing surface by causing washer 26 to become fully expanded prior to its contacting the surface of workpiece 10. One form of washer 26 is shown in Fig. 7 and is formed in the shape of a helical spring having two turns. While a washer having two turns is shown, it should be l-r understood that more or less that two turns could be used. The spring is designed so that when it is fully expanded, there will be no overlap of ends 56 and 58, thus presenting a flat bearing surface to the blind side of the workpiece. Another embodiment of the spring, 26a is shown in Fig. 8 wherein ends 56a and 58a are tapered so that when spring 26a is fully expanded, the tapered end portions will overlap, forming a split washer having uniform thickness. This is desirable since a flatter surface will be presented to the blind side workpiece surface, thereby reducing or eliminating any stress concentrations which might otherwise be produced in the advanced composite material. Washer 26a depicted in Fig. 8 is shown in Fig. 9 as 26b with chamfered edges 60 and 62 formed on its interior end faces. Chamfered edges 60 and 62 permit washer 26b to more easily slide out of groove 36 in pin 20 during installation, and thereafter to more easily permit end 45 of expander nose portion 42 to force itself between washer 26 and pin shank 37. The chamfered edges 60 and 62 may also be formed on the washer shown in Fig. 7. The shank portion 37 of pin 20 is shown in Fig. 10 with an optional breakneck groove 49. Breakneck groove 49 is formed in the pin so as to cause it to fracture when the desired preload is reached. Washer groove 36 is shown having an inclined face 58, which permits washer 26 to be more easily expanded and forced out of groove 36. Another embodiment of the sleeve, 24a, is shown in Fig. 11 in which counter-bore 52 is eliminated and replaced with a chamfered edge 64 on its interior radius on the end facing the blind side workpiece surface. The void region formed by chamfered edge 60 serves the same purpose as counter-bored region 52 (as shown in Figs. 1 through 3) in that it permits expander nose portion 42 to more easily be forced between sleeve 24a and pin shank 37 so as to cause the sleeve to expand and advance along tapered surface 44. Heretofore, the blind fastener assembly 18 constructed in accordance with the present invention has been described as being particularly well-suited for use with advanced composite materials. It should be understood that this invention can also be used with conventional materials with equally effective results. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 12 through 14. As previously indicated, the primary difference between the two embodiments is that the orientation of the pin is reversed so that the head is on the accessible side in the second embodiment. Additionally, the sleeve threadably engages the pin in the second embodiment, whereas the expander threadably engages the pin in the first embodiment. The fastener assembly 118 includes a pin member 120, an expander 122, a sleeve 124, and the expandable washer 26. The pin member 120 has an enlarged head 128 at one end thereof and includes standard external threads 130 which are designed to engage mating threads 131 on sleeve 124. Appropriate rotation of the head 128 of pin 120 with respect to expander 122 will draw sleeve 124 toward workpieces 10 and 12 and expander 122. Expander 122 includes an enlarged head 138 which bears on the workpiece surface, a first shank portion 140 of constant outside diameter which extends through aligned openings 14 and 16 in workpieces 10 and 12, and a nose portion 142 on the end opposite its head 38 having a tapered surface 144. Tapered surface 144 forms an angle on the order of approximately twenty (20) degrees with the longitudinal axis of expander 122, but may generally be within the range of about fifteen (15) degrees to thirty (30) degrees. The intersection line between shank portion 140 and tapered surface 144 will be designated as 146. Protruding from the tapered nose portion 142 of expander 122 is an extended cylindrical portion 141 having an outer surface 143 and a forward end 145. As in the first embodiment, the head 138 of expander 122 may include a slot 148 for accepting a portion of a power tool bit (not shown) to keep expander 122 from rotating with respect to workpieces 10 and 12, during the assembly of the joint. It is to be understood that head 138 may be of any configuration while still remaining within the scope of the present invention. The expandable washer 26 is slideably mounted about pin member 120 on the extended portion 141 of expander 122. An end 154 of sleeve 124 which faces workpiece 10 has a counter-bore or area of increased interior radius 151 along an axial portion of the sleeve and a chamfered region 155. As will be subsequently described, the gap which is formed between pin shank 37 and counter-bored region 152 of sleeve 124 is adapted to receive end 145, surface 141, and tapered surface 144 of expander 122. Prior to installation of fastener assembly 118, the components are assembled as shown so that end 145 of expander 122 frictionally engages end 154 of sleeve 124. Such frictional engagement is necessary so that sleeve 124 will not rotate, and therefore will advance, upon rotation of pin 120. During installation of fastener assembly 118, pin 120 is caused to rotate so as to draw sleeve 124 toward expander 122 and, hence, workpieces 10 and 12. Such movement is caused by exerting a torque on the pin, as previously described. Referring to Fig. 13, the sleeve 124 is advanced toward tapered nose portion 142 expanding over end 145 and extended portion 141 of the expander sliding washer 26 over extended portion 1-41. As is shown in Fig. 14, washer 26 is radially expanded as it is forced onto the inclined surface 144 of expander nose portion 142 during further advancement of sleeve 124 toward workpieces 10 and 12. The washer is forced to expand onto tapered surface 144 by the end 154 of sleeve 124. The washer 26 is fully expanded after it passes intersection line 146. Continued rotation of head 128 and movement of sleeve 124 toward the workpieces causes washer 26 to continue to move toward the workpieces. The washer is ultimately caused to seat against the surface of workpiece 10, as is shown in Fig. 14. Advancement of sleeve 124 toward the workpieces is continued subsequent to the seating of washer 26 against workpiece 10, until the desired preload is reached, as determined by a conventional torque wrench. As shown in Figs. 12 through 14, sleeve 124 has a region of reduced outer diameter 150 and a region of increased diameter 152. The region of reduced diameter 150 facilitates the expansion of that region as it is forced to expand over the extended nose portion 141 and tapered nose portion 142 of expander 122. The region 152 of increased diameter provides structural support for the interior threaded region 131 of sleeve 124 which engage pin 120. This second embodiment of the invention is illustrated as having extended nose portion 141, upon which washer 126 is positioned. In another version of the second embodiment extended portion 141 may be eliminated, as is shown in Fig. 15. In this version washer 126 is frictionally engaged between end 145 of expander 122 and end 154 of sleeve 124. An alternate version of a sleeve for use with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12-14 is shown in Fig. 16. Sleeve 160 is shown mounted on pin shank 137 and frictionally engaged with expander 122. The sleeve has a region of increased interior diameter 161 and threads 162 which engage mating threads on pin shank 137. The end of the sleeve facing the blind side of the assembly is pinched or crimped so as to deform and create a region of reduced interior diameter 163 which is adapted to frictionally engage extended portion 141 of expander 122. Such deformation may be performed on two opposing locations, or as in the preferred embodiment, be performed on three locations. Both versions of the second embodiment of the invention may use the various configurations of washer 26 which have been previously described and which are shown in Figs. 7 through 9. The first embodiment of the present invention is desirable for those applications wherein maximum bearing surface area is desired, as provided by washer 26. The first embodiment provides for a greater degree of expansion of the washer as it has a smaller initial interior diameter resulting from the fact that it is initially seated in the groove in the pin. However, for most applications the second embodiment of the invention will be satisfactory. The second embodiment has certain manufacturing advantages resulting from the elimination of the groove in the pin, the lack of a requirement to place interior threads on the expander which is generally constructed of titanium, and, in general, a wider permissable range of manufacturing tolerances. While the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included-within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A blind fastener assembly, adapted to be installed in a workpiece having a first and a second surface with an opening therebetween, comprising: a pin member including a shank portion formed to pass through the workpiece opening and an enlarged head at one end thereof; expander means including an enlarged head at one end thereof formed to bear against the first surface of the workpiece, a tapered nose portion at the other end thereof, and a shank portion therebetween, said expander means being adapted to fit into the opening in the workpiece, and having a bore therethrough adapted to receive said pin member shank portion of said pin; expandable washer means positioned about said pin member shank portion between said expander means nose portion and the end of said pin member which passes through the workpiece opening, said washer means being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece in its unexpanded state and to be expanded and axially moved toward the workpiece second surface; and expandable sleeve means carried on said pin member shank portion between said washer means and the end of said pin member which passes through the workpiece opening and adapted to expand and force said washer means to expand by forcing said washer means over said expander means tapered nose portion until it contacts and bears agains the second surface of the workpiece, said sleeve means being operably engaged with said pin member so that said pin member causes said sleeve means to abut said washer means and advance toward the workpiece. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said expandable washer means is a coil spring which unwinds as it is expanded. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ends of said spring are tapered so that said tapered ends overlap upon complete expansion of said washer means, thereby presenting a substantially uniform bearing surface to the second surface of the workpiece. 4. The apparatus of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein said head of said pin member abuts said head of said expander means and said pin member is threadably engaged with said sleeve means so that rotation of said pin member causes advancement of said sleeve means toward the workpiece second surface thereby causing the expansion of said washer means. 5. The apparatus of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein said head of said pin member is positioned on the side of the workpiece having the second surface, said pin member being adapted to be advanced through said expander means thereby causing said head of said pin member to force said sleeve means against said washer means and advance said washer means toward the second surface of the workpiece. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pin member is slideably engaged with said expander means so that said pin member may be pulled to cause said advancement. 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pin member is threadably engaged with said expander means so that rotation of said pin member will cause said advancement. 8. A blind fastener assembly, adapted to be installed in a workpiece having a first and a second surface with an opening therebetween, comprising: a pin member including a shank portion having a first circumferential groove formed therein and an enlarged head at one end thereof, said head being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece; expander means including an enlarged head at one end thereof formed to bear against the first surface of the workpiece, a tapered nose portion at the other end thereof, and a shank portion therebetween, said expander means being adapted to fit into the opening in the workpiece, and having a bore therethrough adapted to receive said pin member shank portion so that it may advance through said bore along its longitudinal axis; expandable washer means positioned in said first groove of said pin member shank, said first groove being formed to be positioned between said expander means and said pin head, said washer being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece it its unexpanded state and thereafter, said washer to be expanded, forced from said groove by said expander means, and axially moved toward said pin member head along said pin member shank as said pin member is advanced through said expander means so that said pin head is moved toward the second surface of the workpiece; and expandable sleeve means carried on said pin member shank portion between said first groove and said pin member head and adapted to expand and force said washer means to further expand by forcing said washer means over said expander means tapered nose portion until it contacts and bears agains the second surface of the workpiece as said pin member head advances toward the workpiece. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first groove includes a surface sloping toward said pin head to facilitate the expansion and removal of said washer means from said first groove. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the end of said sleeve means facing the workpiece has a recessed region proximate said pin member shank portion to-facilitate engagement and expansion thereof by said expander means tapered nose portion. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said recessed region is a chamfered surface. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said recessed region is a counter-bored portion of said sleeve means. 13. The apparatus of claims 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 wherein said expandable washer means is a coil spring which unwinds as it is expanded. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the ends of said spring are tapered so that said tapered ends overlap upon final expansion of said washer, thereby presenting a substantially uniform bearing surface to the second surface of the workpiece. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said washer means has a chamfered interior edge adjacent said pin member to facilitate removal of said washer from said first groove. 16. The apparatus of claims 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 wherein said pin member further includes a second groove in said shank portion thereof designed to break at a predetermined load. 17. A joint assembly comprising: a workpiece having a first and a second surface with an opening therebetween; a pin member including a shank portion having a first circumferential groove formed therein and an enlarged head at one end thereof, said head being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece; expander means including an enlarged head at one end thereof formed to bear against the first surface of the workpiece, a tapered nose portion at the other end thereof, and a shank portion therebetween, said expander means being adapted to fit into the opening in the workpiece, and having a bore therethrough adapted to receive said pin member shank portion so that it may advance through said bore along its longitudinal axis; expandable washer means positioned in said first groove of said pin member shank, said first groove being formed to be positioned between said expander means and said pin head, said washer being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece it its unexpanded state and thereafter, said washer to be expanded, forced from said groove by said expander means, and moved toward said pin member head along said pin member shank portion as said pin member is advanced through said expander means so that said pin member head is moved toward the second surface of the workpiece; and expandable sleeve means carried on said pin member shank portion between said first groove and said pin member head and adapted to expand and force said washer means to further expand by forcing said washer means over said expander means tapered nose portion until it contacts and bears against the second surface of the workpiece as said pin member head advances toward the workpiece. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said first groove includes a surface sloping toward said pin head to facilitate the expansion and removal of said washer means from said first groove. 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the end of said sleeve means facing the workpiece has a recessed region proximate said pin member shank portion to facilitate engagement and expansion thereof by said expander means tapered nose portion. 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said recessed region is a chamfered surface. 21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said recessed region is a counter-bored portion of said sleeve means. 22. The apparatus of claims 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 wherein said expandable washer means is a coil spring which unwinds as it is expanded. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the ends of said spring are tapered so that said tapered ends overlap upon final expansion of said washer, thereby presenting a substantially uniform bearing surface to the second surface of the workpiece. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said washer means has a chamfered interior edge adjacent said pin member to facilitate removal of said washer from said first groove. 25. The apparatus of claims 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 wherein said pin member further includes a second groove in said shank portion thereof designed to break at a predetermined load. 26. A blind fastener assembly, adapted to be installed in a workpiece having a first and second surface with an opening therebetween, comprising: a pin member including a shank portion having an enlarged head at one end thereof; expander means including an enlarged head at one end thereof formed to bear against the first surface of the workpiece, a tapered nose portion at the other end thereof, and a shank portion therebetween, said expander means adapted to fit into the opening in the workpiece and having a bore therethrough adapted to receive said pin member shank portion so tat it may rotate within said bore along its longitudinal axis, said pin member head being adapted to abut said expander means head; expandable washer means positioned about said pin member shank portion between said expander means nose portion and the end of said pin member which passes through the workpiece opening, said washer being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece in its unexpanded state and thereafter, said washer to be expanded and moved toward said expander means head; and expandable sleeve means threadably engaged about said pin member between said washer means and the end of said pin member which passes through the workpiece opening and adapted to expand and force said washer means to expand by forcing said washer means over said expander means tapered nose portion until it contacts and bears against the second surface of the workpiece, said sleeve means being operably caused to advance toward the workpiece due to rotation of said pin member. 27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said expander means includes an extended portion extending from said nose portion, said washer means being mounted about said pin member on said expander means extended portion. 28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the end of said sleeve means facing the workpiece has a counter-bored region proximate said pin member shank portion to facilitate engagement and expansion thereof by said expander. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the end of said sleeve means having said counter-bored region has a chamfered surface. 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said sleeve means includes a region of increased outer diameter having threads which engage said pin member. 31. The apparatus of claims 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 wherein said expandable washer means is a coil spring which unwinds as it is expanded. 32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the ends of said spring are tapered so that said tapered ends overlap upon expansion of said washer thereby presenting a substantially uniform bearing surface to the second surface of the workpiece. 33. A joint assembly comprising: a workpiece having a first and second surface with an opening there between; a pin member including a shank portion having an enlarged head at one end thereof; expander means including an enlarged head at one end thereof formed to bear against the first surface of the workpiece, a tapered nose portion at the other end thereof, and a shank portion therebetween, said expander means adapted to fit into the opening in the workpiece and having a bore therethrough adapted to receive said pin member shank portion so that it may rotate within said bore along its longitudinal axis, said pin member head being adapted to abut said expander means head; expandable washer means positioned about said pin member shank portion between said expander means nose portion and the end of said pin member which passes through the workpiece opening , said washer being adapted to fit through the opening in the workpiece in its unexpanded state and thereafter, said washer to be expanded, and moved toward said expander means head; and expandable sleeve means threadably engaged about said pin member between said washer means and the end of said pin member which passes through the workpiece opening and adapted to expand and force said washer means to expand by forcing said washer means over said expander means tapered nose portion until it contacts and bears against the second surface of the workpiece, said sleeve means being operably caused to advance toward the workpiece due to rotation of said pin member. 34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said expander means includes an extended portion extending from said nose portion, said washer means being mounted about said pin member on said expander means extended portion. 35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the end of said sleeve means facing the workpiece has a counter-bored region proximate said pin member shank portion to facilitate engagement and expansion thereof by said expander. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the end of said sleeve means having said counter-bored region has a chamfered surface. 37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said sleeve means includes a region of increased outer diameter about the region thereof having threads which engage said pin member. 38. The apparatus of claims 33, 34, 35, 36, or 37 wherein said expandable washer means is a coil spring which unwinds as it is expanded. 39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the ends of said spring are tapered so that said tapered ends overlap upon expansion of said washer thereby presenting a substantially uniform bearing surface to the second surface of the workpiece. 40. The apparatus of claims 26 or 27 wherein said end of said sleeve means facing the workpiece second surface is inwardly deformed so as to create a region which is adapted to frictionally engage said expander means. 41. The apparatus of claims 33 or 34 wherein said end of said sleeve means facing the workpiece second surface is inwardly deformed so as to create a region which is adapted to frictionally engage said expander means.

Inventors: KULL, RICHARD J.
Applicants: SPS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: F16B19
IPC codes: F16B19