Fastener arrangements

{
  "publication_number": "US8690505B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fastener arrangements",
  "abstract": "A fastener arrangement for fastening two or more articles together, the two or more articles having a first length, the fastener arrangement including: a fastener including an elongate clamping member for being received in an aperture of the two or more articles, the elongate clamping member being moveable between a contracted configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is less than the first length and a lengthened configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is greater than the first length, the elongate clamping member being resiliently biased towards the contracted configuration; and an actuator for moving the elongate clamping member, while in the aperture of the two or more articles, from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration to enable the elongate clamping member to protrude through the aperture and to engage the articles in a clamping manner.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fastener arrangement for fastening two or more articles together, the two or more articles having a first length, the fastener arrangement comprising: a fastener including an elongate clamping member for being received in an aperture of the two or more articles, the elongate clamping member being moveable between a contracted configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is less than the first length and a lengthened configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is greater than the first length, the elongate clamping member being resiliently biased towards the contracted configuration; an actuator for moving the elongate clamping member, while in the aperture of the two or more articles, from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration to enable the elongate clamping member to protrude through the aperture and to engage the articles in a clamping manner; and a guide which includes a recess for receiving the elongate clamping member of the fastener, wherein the guide and fastener combination are adapted to be moved through the aperture together.",
    "2. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide includes the actuator for moving the elongate clamping member.",
    "3. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a substantially straight elongate holding member for being received in the aperture of the articles, the elongate holding member having a length greater than the first length and being arranged to prevent the fastener from being removed from the two or more articles accidentally.",
    "4. A fastener arrangement as claimed claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism arranged to be received in the aperture, adjacent the elongate clamping member, and to prevent the fastener from being removed from the two or more articles.",
    "5. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the elongate clamping member is in the contracted configuration, the elongate clamping member has a concave profile.",
    "6. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the elongate clamping member is in the lengthened configuration, the elongate clamping member has a substantially straight profile.",
    "7. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate clamping member has a barbed end.",
    "8. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide and fastener combination are configured to be moved through the aperture together in a direction along the central axis of the aperture.",
    "9. A fastener arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastener further comprises a cavity, wherein the actuator is received in the cavity of the fastener.",
    "10. A fastener arrangement for fastening two or more articles together, the two or more articles having a first length, the fastener arrangement comprising: a fastener including an elongate clamping member for being received in an aperture of the two or more articles, the elongate clamping member being moveable between a contracted configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is less than the first length and a lengthened configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is greater than the first length, the elongate clamping member being resiliently biased towards the contracted configuration; an actuator for moving the elongate clamping member, while in the aperture of the two or more articles, from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration to enable the elongate clamping member to protrude through the aperture and to engage the articles in a clamping manner; and a guide which includes a recess for receiving the elongate clamping member of the fastener, wherein: the guide and fastener combination are adapted to be moved through the aperture together, the guide includes the actuator for moving the elongate clamping member, and the actuator is arranged such that when the guide is removed from the fastener when the elongate clamping member is in the aperture, the actuator acts on the elongate clamping member and moves it from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration.",
    "11. A method of fastening two or more articles together, the two or more articles having a first length, the method comprising: providing a fastener including an elongate clamping member; inserting the elongate clamping member into an aperture of the two or more articles, the elongate clamping member being moveable between a contracted configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is less than the first length and a lengthened configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is greater than the first length, the elongate clamping member being resiliently biased towards the contracted configuration; inserting the elongate clamping member of the fastener into a recess included on a guide and moving the combination of the guide and the fastener through the aperture together; and moving the elongate clamping member, while in the aperture of the two or more articles, from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration to enable the elongate clamping member to protrude through the aperture and to engage the articles in a clamping manner.",
    "12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fastener further comprises a substantially straight elongate holding member for being received in the aperture of the articles, the elongate holding member having a length greater than the first length and being arranged to prevent the fastener from being removed from the two or more articles accidentally.",
    "13. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising providing a locking mechanism and inserting the locking mechanism in the aperture, adjacent the elongate clamping member, to prevent the fastener from being removed from the two or more articles.",
    "14. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the elongate clamping member is in the contracted configuration, the elongate clamping member has a concave profile.",
    "15. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the elongate clamping member is in the lengthened configuration, the elongate clamping member has a substantially straight profile.",
    "16. A method of fastening two or more articles together, the two or more articles having a first length, the method comprising: providing a fastener including an elongate clamping member; inserting the elongate clamping member into an aperture of the two or more articles, the elongate clamping member being moveable between a contracted configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is less than the first length and a lengthened configuration in which the elongate clamping member has a length which is greater than the first length, the elongate clamping member being resiliently biased towards the contracted configuration; inserting the elongate clamping member of the fastener into a recess included on a guide and moving the combination of the guide and the fastener through the aperture together; moving the elongate clamping member, while in the aperture of the two or more articles, from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration to enable the elongate clamping member to protrude through the aperture and to engage the articles in a clamping manner; and removing the guide from the fastener while the elongate clamping member is in the aperture.",
    "17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the guide is removed from the fastener, an actuator portion of the guide acts on the elongate clamping member and moves it from the contracted configuration towards the lengthened configuration."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Embodiments of the present invention relate to fastener arrangements. They relate to fastener arrangements for gas turbine engines. In many industries, it is desirable to fasten and clamp together a plurality of articles so that they effectively become a unitary body. For example, it is often desirable to clamp together two or more sheets of metal in the manufacture of gas turbine engines. The fasteners which are currently used comprise a resiliently deformable head with two or more barbed arms which extend from the head. In order to insert such a fastener, it is necessary to insert the fastener into an aperture of the plurality of articles with a large insertion force so that the head may deform and allow the barbed arms to engage the plurality of articles in a clamping manner. However, the above mentioned fasteners are not suitable for all applications. If the plurality of articles are delicate, the large insertion force needed for the fastener may damage the articles. Additionally, if there is little space around the plurality of articles, it may be difficult to provide a sufficiently large force to deform the head so that the fastener may engage the plurality of articles.\n\nTherefore, it is desirable to provide an alternative fastener arrangement.",
  "cpc": [
    "F01D 25/28",
    "F16B 19/1081",
    "F16B 21/065",
    "Y10T 24/42",
    "Y10T 24/44026",
    "Y10T 24/45251",
    "Y10T 29/49947"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 13/04",
    "F16B 13/10"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "BISHOP JEFFREY C",
    "ROLLS ROYCE PLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "BISHOP JEFFREY C"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2008-10-01",
  "publication_date": "2014-04-08",
  "grant_date": "2014-04-08",
  "priority_date": "2007-10-31",
  "application_number": "US-68098708-A",
  "family_id": "38834558",
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}