A method for locking an internally threaded end piece such as a head piece, a tail piece, an end or sealing nut to a mandrel for a down hole tool to obviate the need for pins, set screws, and the like, to provide a more robust assembly. In two embodiments the threaded end piece is locked to the mandrel in a swaging operation.

In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that includes a plurality of elongated metallic fan blades, a first metallic end ring, a second metallic end ring, and a metallic hub support connected to the fan blades intermediate the first and second end rings. The fan blades include straight inlet edges radially inward from first and second radially inner edges of the first and second metallic end rings so that inlet portions of the blades extend radially inward from the first and second metallic end rings. In another aspect, a fan assembly is provided that includes a hub support having a hub strip and a hub ring. The hub strip has an elongate configuration with an attachment portion connected to the hub ring at one end of the hub strip and another attachment portion connected to the hub ring at an opposite end of the hub strip.

A joining method for members according to the present invention includes: providing a steel component including insertion holes, an aluminum pipe having a hollow shape, and a support component; inserting the aluminum pipe into the insertion holes of the steel component; and enlarging the aluminum pipe through deformation and joining the aluminum pipe to the steel component by press-fitting. The press-fit joining is performed while at least part of the support component is disposed in a press-fitting region.

A conductive sleeved fastener assembly includes an electrically-conductive fastener having a fastener head and a fastener shank extending from the fastener head and an electrically-conductive fastener sleeve receiving the fastener shank of the fastener and a fastener sleeve flange provided on the fastener sleeve and disposed in direct contact with the fastener head of the fastener. A method of preparing a conductive sleeved fastener for use is also disclosed.

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.

The disclosed and claimed concept provides for an overmold that is applied to substantially all of the exposed portions of a wood handle for a tool.

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.

A method is provided for connecting a ball to a first component having the following steps: providing a first component which has a through-hole; providing a ball and inserting the ball into the through-hole such that the ball protrudes out of the first component at opposite sides of the first component; placing a first pressing tool on the ball from a first side of the first component and placing a second pressing tool on the ball from a second side of the first component; plastically deforming the ball by pressing together the pressing tools, wherein material of the ball flows both on the first side as well as on the second side of the first component, such that material of the ball covers an edge of the through-hole on the first side and on the second side of the first component, whereby a formfitting connection is produced between the ball and the first component.

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.

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 having an inwardly facing annular groove orientated transverse to the central axis; a shroud concentrically mounted on the shroud-receiving portion to rotate relative to the fastener body under an applied external torque and having an axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion extending outwardly transverse to the central axis and disposed in the inwardly facing annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body; the axially-buckled radially-extending annular protrusion of the shroud and the annular groove of the shroud-receiving portion of the body forming a shroud-retaining element restraining the shroud from movement in at least a first axial direction along the central axis.