A fastening element is adapted to cooperate with a tie member to exert a compressive force on first and second components. The fastening element has an inner portion (50) resiliently joined to an outer portion (52), such that when a tensile reaction force is applied to the tie member as a result of
A fastening element is adapted to cooperate with a tie member to exert a compressive force on first and second components. The fastening element has an inner portion (50) resiliently joined to an outer portion (52), such that when a tensile reaction force is applied to the tie member as a result of the compressive force, the reaction force causes the outer portion (52) to be displaced relative to the inner portion (50). The fastening element may further include a washer (56) rotatably attached to the outer portion (52) by a cage (54). An indicator element for use with such a fastening element is also provided, together with a method of securing a first component to a second component by means of such a fastening element.
대표청구항▼
1. A fastening element for use with a tie member to fasten a first component to a second component, the fastening element being adapted for attachment to the tie member to exert a compressive force on the components, wherein the fastening element comprises an outer portion and an inner portion; a f
1. A fastening element for use with a tie member to fasten a first component to a second component, the fastening element being adapted for attachment to the tie member to exert a compressive force on the components, wherein the fastening element comprises an outer portion and an inner portion; a first end of the inner portion is resiliently joined to a first end of the outer portion, in such a way that, when the fastening element is stressed, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes a second, opposite end of the outer portion to be displaced relative to a second, opposite end of the inner portion; the second ends of the inner and outer portions have flat end faces which are coplanar when the fastening element is not stressed. 2. A fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion is formed integrally with the outer portion. 3. A fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer portions are so positioned relative to one another that the displacement of the outer portion relative to the inner portion is an axial displacement. 4. A fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion is tapped so as to be engageable with a threaded portion of the tie member. 5. A fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the outer portion is formed with flats for engagement with a tool. 6. A fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element is formed from sheet or strip spring steel. 7. A fastening element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises a nut, for use with a tie member in the form of a bolt or stud. 8. A fastening element according to claim 7, wherein the fastening element further comprises a washer that is rotatably attached to the nut, and that, in use, is interposed between the nut and the components. 9. A fastening element according to claim 8, wherein the washer is annular, such that in use, the tie member passes through the washer. 10. A fastening element according to claim 8, wherein the fastening element further comprises a connecting part having first and second pluralities of radially inwardly projecting claws, the first plurality of claws being engageable with the nut and the second plurality of claws being engageable with the washer. 11. A fastening element according to claim 10, wherein the nut is formed with a generally frusto-conical portion and the washer is formed with a groove in an external circumference thereof, and the first plurality of claws are engageable with the frusto-conical portion of the nut and the second plurality of claws are engageable with the groove of the washer. 12. A fastening element according to claim 10, wherein the connecting part is formed from mild or spring steel. 13. A fastening element according to claim 8, wherein the washer is formed from hardened steel. 14. In combination, an indicator element and a fastening elements; the fastening element being adapted for use with a tie member to fasten a first component to a second component, for attachment to the tie member which in use passes through a part of at least one of the components, and for cooperating with the tie member to exert a compressive force on the components; the fastening element comprising an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion; the indicator element being releasably engageable with the fastening element such that the indicator element is retained by the fastening element when the outer portion of the fastening element is displaced relative to the inner portion, and released if the displacement of the outer portion relative to the inner portion decreases sufficiently. 15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the indicator element is adapted to be engageable with an internal surface of the outer portion of the fastening element when the outer portion is displaced relative to the inner portion. 16. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the indicator element comprises a cap for placing over the fastening element, the cap having a central internal tubular member with a radially outwardly projecting lip that is engageable with an internal surface of the outer portion of the fastening element when the outer portion is displaced relative to the inner portion. 17. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the indicator element is formed from a plastics material. 18. The combination according to claim 17, wherein the indicator element is formed from nylon-66. 19. A method of securing a first component to a second component, by means of a fastener comprising a fastening element and a tie member adapted for attachment to the fastening element, the method comprising the steps of: passing the tie member through a part of at least one of the components; cooperating the fastening element with the tie member to apply a progressively increasing compressive force to the two components, wherein the fastening element comprises an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion; and determining whether a displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion reaches a minimum magnitude indicative of the soundness of the attachment of the two components; wherein said determining comprises engaging an indicator element with the fastening element, and observing whether the indicator element is retained by the fastening element. 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the indicator element is releasably engageable with the fastening element such that the indicator element is retained by the fastening element when the outer portion of the fastening element is displaced relative to the inner portion, and released if the displacement of the outer portion relative to the inner portion decreases sufficiently. 21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the inner portion of the fastening element is tapped and the tie member has a matching threaded portion, the compressive force being applied by screwing the tapped inner portion of the fastening element onto the threaded portion of the tie member. 22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the outer portion of the fastening element is formed with flats for engagement with a tool, and the compressive force is applied by applying a torque to the fastening element using said tool. 23. A method of securing a first component to a second component, by means of a fastener comprising a fastening element and a tie member adapted for attachment to the fastening element, the method comprising the steps of: passing the tie member through a part of at least one of the components, cooperating the fastening element with the tie member to exert a progressively increasing compressive force to the two components, wherein the fastening element comprises an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion; and determining whether a displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion reaches a minimum magnitude indicative of the soundness of the attachment of the two components; wherein said determining includes measuring the displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion. 24. A method of securing a first component to a second component, by means of a fastener comprising a fastening element and a tie member adapted for attachment to the fastening element, the method comprising the steps of: passing the tie member through a part of at least one of the components; cooperating the fastening element with the tie member to exert a progressively increasing compressive force to the two components, wherein the fastening element comprises an inner portion resiliently joined to an outer portion, in such a way that, a force exerted by the tie member on the fastening element, as a result of said compressive force, causes the outer portion to be displaced relative to the inner portion; determining whether a displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion reaches a minimum magnitude indicative of the soundness of the attachment of the two components; and determining whether the displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion is less than a maximum magnitude, corresponding to a maximum desired magnitude of compressive force. 25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the step of determining whether the displacement reaches a minimum magnitude includes visual inspection of the displacement of the inner portion relative to the outer portion. 26. A fastener comprising a nut and a bolt for use therewith; said nut comprising an inner tubular portion and an outer tubular portion; each of said inner and outer portions having opposite first and second ends; the first ends of said inner and outer portions being resiliently joined to one another; the inner portion defining a passage extending between the first and second ends of said inner portion: said nut further comprising a plurality of threads extending over a predetermined axial extent of said passage to define a threaded region, a remaining portion of said passage being unthreaded up to said first end of said inner portion; and said bolt entering the passage from the first end of the inner portion and comprising threads matching and effecting threaded contact with the threads of the threaded region of the nut so as to exert a force on the nut, which force causes the second end of the inner portion to be displaced relative to the second end of the outer portion. 27. The fastener of claim 26, wherein said outer portion, in a region corresponding to the unthreaded portion of said passage, flares in a direction from the first end towards the second end of said outer portion so as to form an enlarged base of said nut. 28. The fastener of claim 27, wherein said inner portion, in a region corresponding to the unthreaded portion of said passage, also flares in the direction from the first end towards the second end of said outer portion so as to physically contact the outer portion in said enlarged base of said nut. 29. The fastener of claim 26, wherein an outer surface of the second end of said inner portion physically contacts an inner surface of the second end of said outer portion. 30. The fastener of claim 29, wherein the outer surface of the second end of said inner portion is a cylindrical surface and the inner surface of the second end of said outer portion is a planar surface.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Becker Charles H. (Braintree MA), Free spinning washer-nut assembly.
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