Fastener installation system

Abstract

A blind fastener installation tool which accomplishes the blind installation of a series of fasteners is described in detail in this specification. The blind fastener installation tool comprises a structural housing which features a means for securing a fastener installation assembly in position relative to said structural housing during the blind installation of a fastener; and a means for reciprocating said fastener installation assembly relative to said structural housing at the conclusion of a cyclic blowline-fed or clip-fed blind installation of a fastener. The blind fastener installation tool also comprises a fastener installation assembly comprising (1) a pull rod assembly comprising means for pulling a first portion of a fastener; (2) an annular, piston-actuated, direct action, piston-decoupled pull rod actuation assembly to translate the pull rod assembly relative to said fastener installation assembly when said fastener installation assembly is secured at a fastener installation assembly fastener installation position, thereby pulling said first portion of said fastener until blind installation of said fastener is complete; and (3) a nose assembly comprising (3a) a fastener receptacle for securing the position of a fastener relative to said nose assembly during blind installation of said fastener; and (3b) one or more optional pull rod translation dampening assemblies to smoothly and effectually dampen the sudden translation of said pull rod assembly after pintail break during blind installation of a pintail-break-type fastener. The blind fastener installation tool also comprises an optional fastener delivery assembly, said optional fastener delivery assembly constituting: (1) a clip-fed fastener delivery system; or (2) a blowline-fed fastener delivery system.

1 . A blind fastener installation tool to effectuate the blind installation of a series of fasteners, said blind fastener installation tool comprising: 
 (a) a structural housing comprising: 
 (1) means for securing a fastener installation assembly in position relative to said structural housing during the blind installation of a fastener;  
 (2) means for reciprocating said fastener installation assembly relative to said structural housing at the conclusion of blind installation of a fastener; and  
   (b) a fastener installation assembly, said fastener installation assembly comprising: 
 (1) a pull rod assembly comprising a pull rod actuation member and means for pulling a first portion of a fastener;  
 (2) an annular, piston-actuated, piston-decoupled pull rod actuation assembly, said annular, piston-actuated, piston-decoupled pull rod actuation assembly featuring the direct action of a drive piston against said pull rod actuation member, said annular, piston-actuated, piston-decoupled pull rod actuation assembly translating the pull rod assembly relative to said fastener installation assembly when said fastener installation assembly is secured at a fastener installation assembly fastener installation position, thereby pulling said first portion of said fastener until blind installation of said fastener is complete;  
 (3) a nose assembly comprising a fastener receptacle for securing the position of a fastener relative to said nose assembly during blind installation of said fastener.  
   
   
   
       2 . The blind fastener installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said nose assembly further comprises one or more pull rod translation dampening assemblies to smoothly and effectually dampen sudden translation of said pull rod assembly after blind installation of a fastener.  
   
   
       3 . The blind fastener installation tool of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said one or more pull rod translation dampening assemblies dampens the sudden translation of said pull rod assembly after pintail break during blind installation of a pintail-break-type fastener.  
   
   
       4 . The blind fastener installation tool of  claim 3  wherein said structural housing further comprises a means for inter-connecting with a fastener delivery assembly; and wherein said blind fastener installation tool further comprises said fastener delivery assembly, said fastener delivery assembly comprising a clip-fed fastener delivery system, said clip-fed fastener delivery system comprising means for securing the sequential oriented placement of each fastener of said series of fasteners (said series of fasteners housed within a portable housing) within one or more fastener presenters, said one or more fastener presenters securely presenting each fastener in succession to said fastener receptacle as the fastener installation assembly is reciprocated and prior to said fastener installation assembly arriving at said fastener installation assembly fastener installation position.  
   
   
       5 . The blind fastener installation tool of  claim 3  wherein said structural housing further comprises a means for inter-connecting with a fastener delivery assembly; and wherein said blind fastener installation tool further comprises said fastener delivery assembly, said fastener delivery assembly comprising a blowline-fed fastener delivery system, said blowline-fed fastener delivery system comprising: means for securing the sequential oriented placement of each fastener of said series of fasteners (said series of fasteners housed within a bulk supply receptacle) into a blowline, said blowline transporting each said fastener in succession to a catcher and thereafter to one or more fastener presenters, said one or more fastener presenters securely presenting each fastener in succession to said fastener receptacle as the fastener installation assembly is reciprocated and prior to said fastener installation assembly arriving at said fastener installation assembly fastener installation position.