SELF EXPANDING FASTENER

A method to join a first structure to a second structure comprises aligning a first hole in the first structure with a second hole in the second structure and inserting a fastener into the first hole and the second hole. The fastener comprises a shape memory alloy which was formed into a first shape...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors KIRKWOOD, BRAD L, FIRTH, LEE C, WIDDLE, RICHARD D, CROW, WESLEY B
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 17.10.2012
Subjects
BLASTING
DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING
ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS
GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS
HEATING
LIGHTING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
WEAPONS
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Summary:A method to join a first structure to a second structure comprises aligning a first hole in the first structure with a second hole in the second structure and inserting a fastener into the first hole and the second hole. The fastener comprises a shape memory alloy which was formed into a first shape having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of the first hole and the second hole when the shape memory alloy was in an austenite state and reduced to a second shape having a diameter less than the diameter of the first hole and the second hole when the shape memory alloy was in a martensite state. The method further comprises heating the fastener above an austenite start transition temperature.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP20100779164