Importance

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Abstract

A self-plugging blind fastener of the type having a tubular, headed, body, and a stem which is pulled and locked relative to the body to set the fastener, has improved locking means provided in the form of a deformable annular locking collar which is disposed on the stem, a locking groove on the plug part of the stem, and an annular recess at the head end of the body provided as an enlargement of the bore. The recess has a generally cylindrical outer region of substantially greater diameter than the main region of the bore, and a tapered inner region in which the diameter of the recess reduces to that of the main region of the bore. The recess can be stepped between the outer and inner regions. The locking collar has a locking portion of small external diameter which seats in the inner region of the recess, and a load-bearing head portion of larger diameter, and more massive, than the locking portion, but which can be forced into the outer region of the recess, causing the locking portion to be urged radially inwardly. The locking portion is supported by the stem until the locking groove comes into register with the recess, after which the collar can be forced further into the recess which guides the locking portion into the locking groove where it meets a reaction face of the groove and then back-fills the groove to abut a locking face. Stop faces on the stem and body ensure that the locking groove registers correctly with the recess. The fastener can be set by a single action tool which pulls the stem and applies reaction force to the collar only.

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First Claim