Nutless bolt
US12196244B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jan 14, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16B35/041
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nutless bolt 10 for fastening a wear plate 12 to a structure 14 comprises a body 16 having a shaft 18 and a stop 20 coupled to the shaft 18. Shaft 18 is dimensioned to pass through a hole 22 in structure 14 while stop 20 is configured to stop the body 16 from falling wholly into or through the hole 22, and to engage with the wear surface plate. An axial bore 24 is formed in body 16 and houses locking balls 58 and a rod 28. The body 16 also has radial channels along which the balls 58 can roll. The rod 28 has a tapered portion 70 which increases in outer diameter from a first location L1 to a second location L2. In use the balls 58 are initially at the first location L1 on the rod 28 and partially within respective channels 56. Pulling the rod 28 in an up-hole direction results in the rod 58 moving in a radial outward direction as they roll along the tapered portion 70 to the location L2. The balls now lie partially outside of the of the body 16 locking the bolt 10 in the hole 22. Applying additional pulling force on the rod increases tension in the rod to intentionally cause a controlled break or separation of the rod into a first portion 72 that is withdrawn from the bore and a …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.