Method for replacing a tacking fastener

Abstract

A temporary fastener that fastens two adjacent workpieces. The fastener includes a shank that extends through a hole of the workpieces. Extending from one end of the shank is a conical shaped head. The fastener also contains a pull stem which has a head located adjacent to the blind end of the shank. The stem head is pulled through the shank to expand and tightly fasten the shank to the workpieces. The fastener is removed by drilling through the head and the shank. The diameter of the conical shank head is smaller than the diameter of the drill so that part of the head does not become attached to the drill bit and scratch the workpiece. The conical shape of the head also reduces the volume of fastener material to further reduce the size and amount of chips produced during the drilling process. The tightly engaged shank prevents the fastener from rotating during the drilling operation.A method of replacing a tacking fastener that temporarily joins two adjacent workpieces with a permanent fastener to permanently join the workpieces. A drill bit is engaged with an inner channel of the temporary fastener at a head of the fastener. The drill bit has a diameter larger than the head diameter. The head, the shank, the first workpiece, and the second workpiece are drilled through to form a hole through the workpieces. The first workpiece and the second workpiece are joined with a permanent fastener through the hole.

Description

[0001]Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,873. The reissue applications are application Ser. Nos. 09 / 444,537 and 10 / 131,629 (the present application) which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09 / 444,537, all of which are reissues of U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,873.<?insert-end id="INS-S-00002" ?>[0002]This is a Continuation of Reissue application Ser. No. 09 / 444,537, filed Nov. 22, 1999 pending, for reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,873, filed Nov. 6, 1996 and issued Nov. 25, 1997, which issued from a Divisional application of application Ser. No. 08 / 584,111, filed Jan. 11, 1996 now abandoned.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates to metal working and more particularly to a method for assembling that includes disassembling by destroying a temporary connector to create a hole for a permanent separate fastener for temporarily fastening two adjacent workpieces.[0005]2. Description of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The diameter of the conical shank head is smaller than the diameter of the drill so that part of the head does not become attached to the drill bit and scratch the workpiece. The conical shape of the head also reduces the volume of fastener material to further reduce the size and amount of chips produced during the drilling process. The tightly engaged shank prevents the fastener from rotating during the drilling operation.

Problems solved by technology

Some areas of the aircraft are not fully accessible, thereby requiring the use of a blind rivet which can be installed from only one side of a workpiece.

It has been found that drilling temporary blind fasteners of the prior art may create splinters and portions of the head that can scratch the surface of the outer workpiece.

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