A releasable restraint for an evacuation system includes a plug body and a socket body. A ball, a plunger, a first spring member, and an adjustable fastener are disposed at least partially within the plug body. A spring force of the first spring member is adjustable in response to moving the adjustable fastener with respect to the plug body. The first spring member urges the plunger against the ball, and in response, the ball extends through a sidewall of the plug body and at least partially through a sidewall of the socket body to lock the plug body to the socket body. In response to a tensile force applied to the releasable restraint, the ball is configured to retract at least partially into the plug body, against the urging of the first spring member, to release the socket body from the plug body.

A reusable blind fastener including a bushing, a nut, a tail, a receiver, an expansion device, and a screw. The expansion device having an exterior surface that is discontinuous and configured for selective elastic deformation when engaging a portion of the screw.

In an embodiment, a self-locking pin includes a cylindrical shaft having a slot at a front end, an enlarged head at the rear end of the shaft, first and second toggles mounted within the slot, a compressible biasing member mounted between the toggles, and a mounting pin extending through the shaft and the toggles. The mounting pin is fixed in position on the shaft and the toggles are movable relative to the mounting pin. Each toggle is movable from a first position in which the respective toggle extending outwardly from an open end of the slot to a second position in which each toggle is pushed inwardly into the slot. The biasing member is compressed when the toggles are in the second positions. A single toggle can also be provided.

A method for temporarily closing openings in an aircraft part during a manufacturing process by providing a first part that has a first opening and positioning a temporary closure member inside that first opening. The temporary closure member has an RFID tag that has stored on it a unique identification. At a later stage in the aircraft manufacturing process, a scanning device is used to scan for the RFID tag based on the identification. The temporary closure member is removed from the first opening and subsequently replaced by a permanent member.

Fastener embodiments of the invention comprise a freely translatable collet body, which at least partially translates within an auxiliary structure, and further comprise a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement through substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means. The screw comprises a free-spin feature that functionally, but not physically, decouples a drive tool from the collet body.

A fastener system shifting shear stresses away from a collet body and provides clamping action to targeted structures. The fastener system includes feet in the collet body that mate with openings in a sleeve at least partially surrounding the collet body. The sleeve or the collet body includes interior threads that engage with a stud that is configured to extend through the collet body and bend the feet such that they project outward from the sleeve openings in an engaged configuration.

Fastener embodiments of the invention comprise a freely translatable collet body, which at least partially translates within an auxiliary structure, and further comprise a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement through substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means. The screw comprises a free-spin feature that functionally, but not physically, decouples a drive tool from the collet body.

The present invention is concerned with improvements to removable fasteners and particularly relates to removable and re-usable fasteners with features that allow them to be gripped and handled positively. The present invention therefore provides a fastening system comprising a fastener and a tool, the tool being suitable for installing and removing the fastener from an aperture in a work-piece, wherein the fastener has a main body and a head at one end, and wherein the head of the fastener and the tool have grip features that allow the fastener to be releasably locked to the tool to prevent separation of the fastener and tool during installation and removal of the fastener. This allows the fastener to be handled positively without fear of the fastener becoming misaligned, or dropping off the tool.

Fastener embodiments of the invention comprise a freely translatable collet body, which at least partially translates within an auxiliary structure, and further comprise a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement through substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means. The screw comprises a free-spin feature that functionally, but not physically, decouples a drive tool from the collet body.

A device for setting a temporary fastener. The temporary fastener includes a body with an expandable/retractable end and a rotary element capable of being driven in rotation so as to cause the expandable/retractable end to expand/retract. The device includes a support module that is able to house a temporary fastener and has a holder for holding the temporary fastening inside the module. The holder is movable between at least: a locking position in which the holder is deployed inside the module so as to cooperate with a temporary fastener placed in the module in order to prevent it from moving in translation inside the module, and a rest position in which the holder is retracted so as to allow a temporary fastener to pass through the module.