Patent ID: 8439617

Claim:
A self tapping insert for disposing within a smooth bore, said self-tapping insert comprising: a cylindrical body having a top, a bottom, an interior portion comprising a first set of threads, and an exterior portion, the cylindrical body defining a central axis; the exterior portion comprising, in relative order from the bottom of the cylindrical body, a plurality of cutting threads, the cutting threads comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge for cutting insert locking threads in the smooth bore, and a plurality of engagement threads, the engagement threads sized to engage the insert locking threads; a removable pilot extension member having a generally smooth uninterrupted surface with a diameter and a first length, the diameter sized to penetrate the smooth bore and the first length configured to maintain the central axis of the self-tapping insert in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the smooth bore; and a drive bolt made up into the first set of threads for driving the cylindrical body into the smooth bore, wherein the removable pilot extension member is threadably engaged with the drive bolt, and further wherein the drive bolt comprises, in relative order from the top of the drive bolt, a polygonal head, a threaded shank having threads compatible with the first set of threads, and a threaded stem having a diameter less than the diameter of the threaded shank.