A lock nut includes: a first nut having a tapered cavity; and a second nut including a base portion and a tapered lug boss arranged the base portion. The tapered lug boss can be coupled inside the tapered cavity. The first and second nuts are used in pair by self-locking. A straight slot is formed in the lug boss. Under the locking action of the first nut, the straight slot is deformed to further lock a bolt, or is discontinuously engaged with teeth of the bolt to increase an effective stress surface and locking performance of the second nut for locking the bolt. A convex reinforcing rib extends on a first surface of the first nut. An annular groove is formed in a second surface of the second nut. The convex reinforcing rib is coupled with the annular groove to enhance the strength and reliability of locking.

Example valve stem and plug connections and example staking tools are described herein. An example apparatus includes a valve plug having a first side, a second side opposite the first side and a bore extending from the first side to the second side. A first portion of the bore is tapered from a first diameter to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A valve stem is disposed within the bore of the valve plug. The valve stem includes a first section, a second section and a third section between the first and second sections. The third section is tapered from a third diameter to a fourth diameter smaller than the third diameter. The tapers of the first portion of the valve plug and the third section of the valve stem, when engaged, create a frictional force that resists movement of the valve stem out of the bore.

There is provided a steering apparatus including a fixing mechanism for fixing a driven pulley and a rolling nut to each other, the fixing mechanism configured to suppress at least one of deformation of external teeth of the driven pulley and an increase in size of a housing surrounding the driven pulley. A steering apparatus includes: a steered shaft; a ball screw mechanism including a rolling screw portion, a rolling nut, and rolling elements; a motor; a belt transmission mechanism including a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a toothed belt; and a fixing mechanism. The fixing mechanism includes an internal thread, a cutout section, and a locknut. The cutout section is provided at a position offset, in the axial direction, from a range of second external teeth in the axial direction, and the locknut includes a locknut body, a locking lug, and a remaining portion.

Disclosed is a combination screw and rivet fastener that couples a cover plate to a ratchet head. The fastener is inserted into the ratchet head and then screwed into a hole of the cover plate. Thereafter, the tip of the fastener opposite the fastener head is deformed in a rivet operation.

An improved fastener comprising a fastener body orientated about a central axis and having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving portion; a shroud concentrically mounted in the shroud-receiving portion to rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque and having an outwardly extending annular shoulder; the shroud-receiving portion comprising an inwardly deformed stop radially overlapping the outwardly extending annular shoulder of the shroud; and the deformed stop of the shroud-receiving portion and the annular shoulder of the shroud forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis.

An improved fastener comprising a fastener body having a tool-engaging portion, a threaded fastening portion and a shroud-receiving body portion; a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud-receiving body portion and having an inner surface facing an outer surface of the shroud-receiving body portion; the inner surface of the shroud comprising an annular groove and the shroud-receiving body portion comprising a substantially arch-shaped axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion extending outwardly transverse to the central axis and disposed in the annular groove of the shroud; and the annular protrusion and annular groove of the shroud forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis such that the shroud will rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque prior to the fastener body rotating when the fastener is engaged with an external structure at a design installation torque.

A method for securing a threaded element screwed into a threaded seat wherein the threaded element is at least partially plastically deformed by a deformation element of a tool such that the threaded element is subsequently arranged secured against rotation in the threaded seat. The tool is thereby placed axially in front of the threaded element in that a guide element of the tool is inserted axially in a drive mount of the threaded element, wherein the deformation element thus placed axially in front of the threaded element is accelerated in the direction of the threaded element, and wherein the deformation element shifts relatively with respect to the guide element inserted in the drive mount such that at least the first thread of the threaded element and/or the threaded seat facing the tool is deformed by the deformation element in order to secure the threaded element in the threaded seat.

A fastener assembly includes a fastening element. The fastening element includes a head portion and a shank portion fixedly coupled to the head portion. The fastener assembly also includes a clip removably coupled to the fastening element. The clip includes an annular, base portion and a pair of first retention elements, at least a portion of the first retention elements is disposed oblique to diametrically opposing ends of the base portion. The clip defines a receiving space. The fastener assembly further includes at least one conical spring washer received within the receiving space of the clip. The at least one conical spring washer is disposed between the base portion of the clip and the head portion of the fastening element.