Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Having separate expander means – Including sleeve and distinct tapered expander
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-03-13
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Having separate expander means
Including sleeve and distinct tapered expander
C411S055000, C411S060200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200080
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a sleeve to form with a bolt, a fastener for securing an electrical terminal to a railway line for example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various proposals have been made, U.S. Pat. No. 1,748,532, U.S. Pat. No. 2,248,845, GB 214139, for fasteners for electrical terminals, the fasteners usually comprising a sleeve with a tapered portion which may be split, or non-split, and a terminal collar, for use in conjunction with a bolt having a tapered head to pass into the sleeve when the latter is located in a hole, e.g. in the web of a railway rail, to secure the fastener in the hole.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
A basic object of the present invention is the provision of an improved sleeve and a sleeve and bolt combination to constitute a fastener.
SUMMARY OF A FIRST ASPECT OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sleeve to form one component of a fastener, the sleeve comprising a body portion which is externally cylindrical and is provided at one end thereof with an enlarged diameter collar, the body portion being internally tapered down from its end remote from the collar as far as the collar, and the collar being internally tapered down from its end remote from the body portion as far as the body portion.
The invention thus provides a sleeve with a double taper, the taper within the collar serving to accommodate metal deformed from the collar in the course of securing the sleeve in a hole.
In detail, the sleeve may have an internal taper of 8° or thereabouts, and the collar may also have an internal taper of 8° or thereabouts.
Preferably, the sleeve is of copper, preferably tin coated for enhanced electrical connection.
SUMMARY OF A SECOND ASPECT OF THE INVENTION
According to a second aspect of the invention, of independent significance, there is provided a sleeve in accordance with the first aspect, in combination with a bolt comprising a threaded stem adapted to pass through the sleeve and a tapered head at one end of the stem adapted to engage the internal taper of the body portion of the sleeve.
Preferably, the bolt is of 304 stainless steel.
Preferably, the bolt is tightened by a nut, preferably of BZP steel, preferably with an interposed washer, also preferably of BZP steel. The nut is preferably of the Nylock type, i.e. provided with an integral nylon locking member.
In use, after a hole has been drilled, e.g. in the web of a railway rail, where it is required to insert an electrical connection terminal, the hole diameter approximating of course to the external diameter of the body portion of the sleeve, and the length of the body portion approximating to the thickness of the rail web, the sleeve is manually inserted into the hole until its enlarged diameter collar abuts the side of the web. From the opposite side of the rail web, the stem of the bolt is then inserted through the sleeve to receive the nut, with the washer interposed between the nut and the sleeve collar. Progressive tightening of the nut results in progressive tighter engagement of the taper surfaces of the bolt head and the sleeve, with deformation of the softer material of the sleeve during tightening being accommodated in the annular space provided by the internal taper of the enlarged collar.
The aspects of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2321170 (1943-06-01), Wallace
patent: 4289060 (1981-09-01), Emmett
patent: 4978264 (1990-12-01), Philippe
patent: 5374145 (1994-12-01), Mairesse et al.
patent: 5521951 (1996-05-01), Charnley et al.
patent: 5803686 (1998-09-01), Erbes et al.
patent: 0214139 (1924-04-01), None
patent: 2225401 (1990-05-01), None
Patents Act 1977 Search Report under Section 17 (a Search Report relating to the corresponding British patent application).
Trexler, Bushnell Giangiorgi, Blackstone & Marr, Ltd.
Universal Drilling & Cutting Equipment Limited
Wilson Neill
LandOfFree
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