Patent ID: 12247600

In the drawings, where multiple instances of the same or similar features exist, only a representative one or some of the instances of the features have been provided with numeric references for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS.1and2show a swaged fastener10, the swaged fastener10including a coated collar12for location in use on a pin14. In an unswaged condition, the coated collar12comprises a substrate material16having a substrate colour and an indicator material20having an indicator colour. The indicator material20is located on the substrate material16. The indicator colour is visually different to the substrate colour.

The coated collar12includes a swaging surface18to which, in use, a swaging force is applied to move the collar12from the unswaged condition to a swaged condition.

The indicator material20comprises at least part of the swaging surface18and is arranged so that, in a correctly swaged condition, the indicator material20comprising the swaging surface18is substantially removed to expose the substrate colour and thereby provide a visual indication that the swaging process has been correctly carried out.

The swaged fastener10comprises the pin14.

In the example shown, the pin14is a lockbolt and the swaged fastener10is a lockbolt fastener.

The pin14comprises a head40, a body42and a tail46. The body42includes body groove formations44which could be threaded, annular or a combination thereof. The tail46includes tail groove formations48which could be threaded or annular.

The coated collar12includes a body30and a flange32. The flange32is located at one end of the body30and has an enlarged diameter relative to the body30. The coated collar12defines a plain (unthreaded) bore34, which, in use, receives the pin body42therethrough.

The body30includes a collar body lateral surface36which comprises the swaging surface18.

The indicator material20comprises at least part of the collar body lateral surface36.

The coated collar12has a longitudinal axis22.

The swaging surface18(and the collar body lateral surface36) is laterally (sidewardly) outwardly directed relative to the longitudinal axis22.

The indicator material20comprises a coloured dye or pigment62.

In one example, the colour of the indicator material20is red and the dye or pigment62is red.

The substrate material16has a self-colour, which is the substrate colour. In one example, the substrate material16is a metal and the self-colour is grey. In one example, the substrate material16could a grey zinc plated carbon steel.

The indicator material20could be located on a portion28of the swaging surface18. In one example, as shown inFIGS.1C and2A, the portion28is a band24which extends continuously around the swaging surface18. In other examples (not shown) the portion28could be a patch or spot which does not extend continuously around the swaging surface18.

In Use

FIGS.2A and2Bshow the swaged fastener10in use, being used to fasten two items56together. In one example, the items56are formed of metal. The pin14is located through holes58defined by the items56and the coated collar12is located on the pin body42so that the pin body42passes through the bore34.

A swaging tool38grips the tail groove formations48and moves along the longitudinal fixing axis22so that forming surfaces68move along and over the swaging surface18, applying a swaging force thereto which compresses the coated collar12into the body groove formations44, moving the coated collar12to the swaged condition as shown inFIG.2B. The swaging force reduces the diameter of the swaging surface18.

When correctly carried out the forming surfaces68move over substantially the whole of the collar body lateral surface36and the swaging surface18to the collar flange32.

The movement and pressure of the forming surfaces68on the swaging surface18removes the indicator material20from the swaging surface18, exposing the grey self-colour substrate material16to be seen on the swaging surface18and the collar body lateral surface36.

Advantageously, the change in colour of the collar body lateral surface36from red to grey enables easy checking and identification of the swaged fasteners10for which the swaging process has been correctly carried out and permits those swaged fasteners10for which the swaging process has not been carried out to be easily identified.

Advantageously, the checking does not require close examination, since the change in colour of the swaging surface18is apparent from a distance and can be observed even if the swaged fastener10is relatively inaccessible.

FIGS.3A,3B and4show another embodiment of the invention, many features of which are similar to those already described in relation to the embodiment ofFIGS.1A,1B,1C,2A and2B. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiment will only be described in so far as it differs from the embodiment already described. Where features are the same or similar, the same reference numerals have been used and the features will not be described again.

In the embodiment ofFIGS.3and4, the indicator material20is located over substantially the whole of the swaging surface18. Advantageously, the greater area of the indicator material20means that there is a greater difference in visual appearance between the coated collar12in an unswaged condition and the correctly swaged condition.

A further advantage is shown inFIG.4in which the forming surfaces68of the swaging tool38have only travelled partway along the collar body lateral surface36so that the swaging process is incomplete. The part of the collar body lateral surface36which has not been swaged is still visually apparent as coloured red, providing an indication that the swaging process has not been correctly carried out.

In the embodiment ofFIGS.3and4, the indicator material20could be located on all of the surfaces (both internal and external) of the collar12.FIG.5shows a process50for locating the indicator material20on all of the surfaces of the collar12.

Referring toFIG.5, the process50comprises an ink forming step55in which a coloured dye or pigment62and a carrier liquid64are added to ink forming apparatus54to form an ink60.

In one example, the carrier liquid64could comprise an alcohol and could more specifically comprise propan-1-ol.

The dye could comprise eosin. The pigment could comprise iron oxide.

The carrier liquid64could comprise a resin, which could be non-polar.

The ink60could be a marker pen ink and could be a permanent marker pen ink.

Following the ink forming step55, the process50comprises a diluting step71in which the ink60and a diluent66are added to a mixer70to form a coating liquid52.

In one example, the diluent66could comprise an alcohol, and could more specifically comprise propan-1-ol. Optimally, the diluent66could comprise substantially only propan-1-ol.

In one example, the coating liquid52could comprise the ink60and the diluent66in a ratio of ink:diluent by volume no less than 2:1 and desirably no less than 2.5:1. In other examples, the ink:diluent ratio could be no more than 4:1 and desirably no more than 3.5:1.

In one example, the ink:diluent ratio could be optimally 3:1.

Following the diluting step71, the process50comprises a coating step73in which the coating liquid52is applied to an uncoated collar26to form a wet coated collar80.

The coating liquid52could be applied to the uncoated collar26in a coater72.

The coater72could comprise a rotating drum and the coating liquid52could be applied by tumbling the uncoated collar26in the coating liquid52in the drum, so that the uncoated collar26is coated on all of its surfaces.

In other examples, the coating liquid52could be applied by painting, spraying, dipping, brushing or any other suitable method.

Following the coating step73, the process50comprises a draining step75in which the wet coated collar80is drained of excess coating liquid in, for example, a drainer74.

Following the draining step75, the process50comprises a curing/drying step77in which the wet coated collar80is heated in an oven76to form the coated collar12.

In one example, the wet coated collar80could be heated for a heating time. The heating time could be at least 60 minutes and desirably could be at least 70 minutes. In one example, the heating time could be no more than 90 minutes and desirably could be no more than 80 minutes.

In one example, the wet coated collar80could be heated at a heating temperature. The heating temperature could be at least 65° C. and desirably could be at least 75° C. In one example, the heating temperature could be no more than 95° C. and desirably no more than 85° C.

In a particular example, the wet coated collar80is heated at 80° C. for 75 minutes.

Following the curing/drying step77, the process50comprises a cooling step79in which the hot coated collar12is allowed to cool in, for example a cooler78. Advantageously, the relatively low temperature of the curing/drying step77means that only a relatively short time is required for the collar12to cool adequately before packing or use.

The Applicant has found that when processed at these conditions, the indicator material20on the cooled coated collar12remains slightly sticky or tacky, but not so that the collar12adheres to other collars12or to other items.

In use, the Applicant has found that the process50using the relatively dilute coating liquid52produces the indicator material20which has sufficient colour depth/intensity to produce the visual indication required, but without detrimental staining or colour contamination of the swaging tool38.

Other Modifications

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The pin, the collar and the indicator material could be of any suitable size and shape, and could be formed of any suitable material (within the scope of the specific definitions herein).

The pin14could be of any suitable type. In one example, the pin14is a lockbolt and could comprise a “bobtail” or “pintail” pin. In some examples, the pin14could comprise a tail which breaks away during installation, for example, a “pintail” pin. In other examples, the pin14could comprise a tail which remains in place after installation, for example, a “bobtail” pin.

In other examples, the swaged fastener could comprise any fastener which is fastened by swaging. For example, certain blind fasteners are fastened by swaging.

In some examples, the collar12could be of a different shape, and could be flangeless, eg a so-called “standard” collar.

The substrate material16could comprise a surface finish (not shown), to which the coating liquid52is applied. The surface finish could comprise an anti-corrosion material and/or a lubricating material. The anti-corrosion material could comprise zinc plating. The lubricating material could comprise wax. In the swaging operation, the surface finish could be partially or wholly removed.

The substrate material could be a different colour to grey. The indicator material could be a different colour to red.

Any of the features or steps of any of the embodiments shown or described could be combined in any suitable way, within the scope of the overall disclosure of this document.

There is thus provided a swaged fastener with a number of advantages over conventional arrangements. In particular, the swaged fasteners of the invention include a collar which is marked with an indicator material which is removed by correct swaging and thus permits easy checking and identification of correctly swaged fasteners and incorrectly swaged fasteners. The checking does not require close examination or touching and can be undertaken by relatively unskilled operatives.