The invention relates to a connecting element for pressing into or embedding in a component, having a shank which extends along a longitudinal central axis of the connecting element, wherein the shank is provided with ribs extending in a radial direction with respect to the shank and wherein the shank has, at least partially, a polylobular cross section, wherein the periphery of the polylobular cross section is convexly curved along its entire length, is arranged between a circumscribed circle and an inscribed circle, and, as seen in the radial direction, has regions with a larger radius and regions with a smaller radius, wherein an angular position of the regions with a smaller radius and of the regions with a larger radius changes along the shank, as seen along the longitudinal central axis.

Interface for fastening a first component to a second component providing a fastening collar made from composite material intended to be overmoulded at least on a part of the first component and including a bearing surface intended to bear on the second component and a fastening insert extending along an axis of elongation substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface of the collar for fastening to the second component, the fastening collar being overmoulded around the insert.

A ballistic resistant fastener having a ballistic resistant face plate includes a plurality of layers of aramid synthetic fibers or carbon nanotubes, a plug body having a threaded body bore extending into the body, a helical thread insert within the plug body, and a bolt engaging the helical thread insert.

Systems and methods for sealing bolted flange joints to stop or prevent leakage are disclosed. The system includes a sealant injection nut. The sealant injection nut generally comprises a threaded nut configured to be threaded onto a stud bolt of a flange joint. The nut is configured to inject sealant into the internal passages of the flange joint. The nut includes a passageway drilled through the sidewall. Fitted to the passageway is a high-pressure sealant-compatible injection fitting and an internal check-valve. Provided within the central cavity of the nut, at the flange-facing end, is a groove that facilitates the flow of sealant injected through the passageway into the passages of the bolted flange. A method is also provided for manufacturing the sealant injection nut. A method is also provided for repairing leaking bolted flange joints using the sealant injection nut.

An assembly with an aircraft fuel tank is disclosed having a captive nut with an internal thread, a secondary structure, and a fastener which secures the secondary structure to the fuel tank. The fastener has a shaft which passes through the secondary structure and has an external thread coupled to the internal thread of the captive nut. The fuel tank has a fuel tank element with a hole, and the captive nut has a sleeve which is located in the hole with an interference fit between an outer surface of the sleeve and an inner surface of the wall of the hole.

Systems and methods for sealing bolted flange joints to stop or prevent leakage are disclosed. The system includes a sealant injection nut. The sealant injection nut generally comprises a threaded nut configured to be threaded onto a stud bolt of a flange joint. The nut is configured to inject sealant into the internal passages of the flange joint. The nut includes a passageway drilled through the sidewall. Fitted to the passageway is a high-pressure sealant-compatible injection fitting and an internal check-valve. Provided within the central cavity of the nut, at the flange-facing end, is a groove that facilitates the flow of sealant injected through the passageway into the passages of the bolted flange. A method is also provided for manufacturing the sealant injection nut. A method is also provided for repairing leaking bolted flange joints using the sealant injection nut.

A method of anchoring a connector in a first object includes providing the connector, the connector having a liquefiable material that is liquefiable by mechanical vibration, such as a thermoplastic material, bringing the connector into contact with low density layer that has an arrangement of discrete elements and gas-filled (empty) spaces between the discrete elements, pressing the connector against the low density layer and coupling mechanical vibration energy into the connector to cause the connector to penetrate into the low density layer to deform the discrete elements, until a flow portion of the liquefiable material becomes flowable and is caused to interpenetrate spaces between the deformed discrete elements so that an intertwined structure of the liquefiable material and the deformed discrete elements results, and stopping the mechanical vibration energy and causing the flow portion to re-solidify to anchor the connector in the low density layer.

A fastener structure includes a body portion, a control portion and a fastening portion. The control portion is movably fitted to the body portion. The control portion has a head portion and a limiting portion. The fastening portion is movably disposed at the body portion. The limiting portion is adapted to limit the fastening portion. Therefore, the body portion is disposed at the second object, and the control portion causes the fastening portion to be coupled to or separated from the first object, so as to couple together and separate at least two objects repeatedly and rapidly.

A cast-in-place anchor assembly is disclosed for suspending objects below a metal deck. The assembly includes an anchor body and an anchor support. The anchor body includes a threaded opening. The anchor support includes a central member which, in use, extends from a first upper side of the metal deck to a second lower side of the metal deck. The central member further includes a connector. The central member also includes a biasing portion which cantilevers radially outward. The central member further includes a stopping member sized to be larger than a deck opening. An end of the anchor body is connected to a connector to conceal the threaded opening from poured concrete. The stop member flexes to pass through the opening in the metal deck and the stop member and the biasing member flexingly bias the anchor support into position relative to the metal decking.

Embodiments of systems and methods for positioning and bonding a nutplate to a substrate comprising at least one aperture, wherein the system includes a nutplate engagement fixture formed from a rigid tube and an elastomeric tube, a heater operable to deliver heat to a bonding surface of the nutplate, at least one temperature sensor operable to measure the temperature of the bonding surface of the nutplate, a temperature sensor retention fixture operable to position and secure the at least one temperature sensor to the nutplate, and a heater controller operable to control the output from the heater.