Reduced weight aircraft collar and method of making same

Abstract

A nut or collar formed from a high-speed cold working process wherein the nut or collar has portions of the material forming the nut or collar removed therefrom thereby maintaining the strength of the nut or collar. The removed material is preferably in the form of curved scallops at the base of the collar or nut at spaced locations thereon formed during the cold working process.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A reduced weight aircraft collar comprising: 
 a base portion having an outer periphery and a terminal end;    a forward shank portion;    an intermediate portion interconnecting said base portion and said shank portion;    a throughbore extending through said collar; and    a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion.    
     
     
         2 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein a portion of said throughbore is threaded.  
     
     
         3 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein said cut-out portions are scalloped portions, each of said scalloped portions having an arched portion adjacent the terminal end of said base portion, with spaced side portions extending from opposite sides of said arched portions to the junction of said base portion with said intermediate portion.  
     
     
         4 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein said collar is of metal formed from a high-speed cold-worked process.  
     
     
         5 . The collar of  claim 4  wherein said collar is of stainless steel.  
     
     
         6 . The collar of  claim 3  wherein six scalloped portions are provided.  
     
     
         7 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein said intermediate portion has an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said shank portion.  
     
     
         8 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein said base portion has a first generally cylindrical portion tapering to an enlarged circular portion at said terminal end.  
     
     
         9 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein said intermediate portion is generally cylindrical and lesser in outer diameter than said base portion.  
     
     
         10 . The collar of  claim 1  wherein a breakaway groove separates said shank portion from said intermediate portion.  
     
     
         11 . The collar of  claim 10  wherein said shank portion is hex-shaped in outer configuration.  
     
     
         12 . The collar of  claim 10  wherein said shank portion is smooth walled in outer configuration.  
     
     
         13 . A reduced weight aircraft collar comprising: 
 a base portion having an outer periphery and a terminal end;    a shank portion integral with said base portion;    a throughbore extending through said portions; and    a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion.    
     
     
         14 . The collar of  claim 13  wherein said at least one of said portions of said throughbore is threaded.  
     
     
         15 . The collar of  claim 13  wherein said shank portion is hex-shaped in outer configuration.  
     
     
         16 . The collar of  claim 13  wherein said shank portion is smooth-walled in outer configuration.  
     
     
         17 . The collar of  claim 16  wherein at least one of said portions of said throughbore is threaded.  
     
     
         18 . The collar of  claim 13  wherein said cut-out portions are scalloped portions, each of said scalloped portions having an arched portion adjacent the terminal end of said base portion, with spaced side portions extending from opposite sides of said arched portions to the junction of said base portion with said intermediate portion.  
     
     
         19 . A method of forming a reduced weight collar having a base portion having an outer periphery and a terminal end, a forward shank portion, an intermediate portion interconnecting said base portion and said shank portion, and a throughbore extending through at least one of said portions, the method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of forming said spaced cut-out portions includes the step of forming scalloped portions, each having an arched portion adjacent the terminal end of said base portion, with spaced side portions extending from opposite sides of said arched portions to the junction of said base portion with said intermediate portion.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of forming said portions includes the step of forming the same during a high-speed cold-working process.  
     
     
         22 . A reduced weight aircraft collar comprising: 
 a base portion having an outer periphery and a terminal end;    a forward shank portion integral with said base portion;    a throughbore extending through at least one of said portions; and    a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion.    
     
     
         23 . The collar of  claim 22  wherein said throughbore is threaded.  
     
     
         24 . The collar of  claim 22  wherein said cut-out portions are scalloped portions, each of said scalloped portions having an arched portion adjacent the terminal end of said base portion, with spaced side portions extending from opposite sides of said arched portions to the junction of said base portion with said shank portion.  
     
     
         25 . The collar of  claim 24  wherein said collar is of metal formed from a high-speed cold-working process.  
     
     
         26 . The collar of  claim 25  wherein said collar is of stainless steel.  
     
     
         27 . The collar of  claim 24  wherein six scalloped portions are provided.  
     
     
         28 . The collar of  claim 22  wherein said base portion has a first generally tapered portion tapering to an enlarged circular portion at said terminal end.  
     
     
         29 . The collar of  claim 22  wherein said shank portion is hex-shaped in outer configuration.  
     
     
         30 . The collar of  claim 22  wherein said shank portion is smooth walled in outer configuration.  
     
     
         31 . A method of forming a reduced weight collar from a round wire comprising the steps of: 
 cold-working said wire in a high-speed process to form the same into a collar having a base portion with an outer periphery and a terminal end, a forward shank portion, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the base portion and the shank portion with a throughbore through at least one of said portions, and a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion, the flow of grain of the material of said collar being along lines generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said collar, but flowing outwardly and curving about said scalloped portions at the terminal end of said base portion.    
     
     
         32 . A method of forming a reduced weight collar from a round wire comprising the steps of: 
 cold-working said wire in a high-speed process to draw the same into a collar having a base portion with an outer periphery and a terminal end, an integral forward shank portion with a throughbore through at least one of said portions, and a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion, the flow of grain of the material of said collar being along lines generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said collar, but flowing outwardly and curving about said scalloped portions at the terminal end of said base portion.    
     
     
         33 . A method of installing a nut or collar into an installation and removing the same therefrom comprising the steps of cold working a round wire to form a nut or collar. 
 cold-working said wire in a high-speed process to draw the same into a collar having a base portion with an outer periphery and a terminal end, an integral forward shank portion with a throughbore through at least one of said portions, and a plurality of spaced cut-out portions extending about the outer periphery of said base portion, the flow of grain of the material of said collar being along lines generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said collar, but flowing outwardly and curving about said scalloped portions at the terminal end of said base portion.