High speed fastener and method of assembling duct sections using the same

Abstract

A high speed fastener member and method of assembling duct sections, uses an externally threaded element having a threaded portion of known diameter, and a piloted nut having a threaded cavity configured to threadedly receive the externally threaded portion, and an open ended unthreaded cavity connected to the threaded cavity, the unthreaded cavity having a known diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the externally threaded portion and being aligned with the threaded cavity. The externally threaded portion is inserted through holes of associated corner elements of flanges of the duct sections, and into the unthreaded cavity to align the threaded portion for threaded engagement, and at least one of the nut and externally threaded element is rotated to threadedly engage them to hold the duct flanges together, eliminating need to start the engagement by hand and allow fastening using a power tool such as a drill only.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high speed fastener member, comprising:
 a nut having an internally threaded surface defining and bounding a threaded cavity configured to threadedly engage an externally threaded portion of an externally threaded element, and a generally smooth internal surface defining and bounding an open ended unthreaded cavity connected to the threaded cavity, the unthreaded cavity having a known diameter slightly larger than a diameter of the externally threaded portion and being aligned with the threaded cavity, and the unthreaded cavity being configured to receive the externally threaded portion such that the internal surface will align with the externally threaded portion for threadedly engaging therewith in a manner to substantially eliminate cross-threading thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 1 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the nut is larger than the threaded cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 1 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the nut has a length about equal to a length of the threaded cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 1 , wherein the unthreaded portion of the nut is configured to align the externally threaded portion of the externally threaded element received therein for threadedly engaging with the threaded cavity by rotation using a power tool only. 
     
     
         5 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 1 , wherein the externally threaded element comprises a bolt. 
     
     
         6 . A high speed fastener member, comprising in combination:
 an externally threaded element having an elongate externally threaded portion having a known diameter; and   a piloted nut having an internally threaded surface defining and bounding a threaded cavity configured to threadedly engage the threaded portion of the externally threaded element, and a generally smooth internal surface defining and bounding an open ended unthreaded cavity connected to the threaded cavity, the unthreaded cavity having a known diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded portion of the externally threaded element and being aligned with the threaded cavity;   wherein the unthreaded cavity of the piloted nut is configured to receive the threaded portion of the externally threaded element such that the internal surface will align the threaded portion of the externally threaded element for threadedly engaging the threaded cavity of the piloted nut in a manner to substantially eliminate cross-threading thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 6 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the piloted nut is larger than the threaded cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 6 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the piloted nut has a length about equal to a length of the threaded cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 6 , configured for connecting corner elements of adjacent duct sections for assembling the duct sections. 
     
     
         10 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 9 , wherein the threaded portion of the externally threaded element is configured for insertion through clearance or tap holes of the corner elements. 
     
     
         11 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 6 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the piloted nut is configured to align the threaded portion of the externally threaded element with the threaded cavity to eliminate any need to start the threaded engagement by hand such that the externally threaded element is threadedly engageable with the nut using only a power drill. 
     
     
         12 . The high speed fastener member of  claim 6 , wherein the externally threaded element comprises a bolt. 
     
     
         13 . A method for assembly of duct flanges, comprising steps of;
 providing a high speed fastener member including an externally threaded element having an elongate threaded portion having a known diameter, and a piloted nut having an internal threaded surface defining and bounding a threaded cavity configured to threadedly receive the threaded portion of the externally threaded element, and a generally smooth internal surface defining and bounding an open ended unthreaded cavity connected to the threaded cavity, the unthreaded cavity having a known diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded portion of the externally threaded element and being aligned with the threaded cavity;   inserting the threaded portion of the externally threaded element through holes of corner elements associated with the opposing duct flanges, and into the unthreaded cavity to align the externally threaded portion for threaded engagement therewith; and   rotating at least one of the externally threaded element and the piloted nut to threadedly engage the externally threaded portion with the threaded cavity to hold the duct flanges together.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of rotating is performed using only a power tool. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of inserting the threaded portion of the externally threaded element through holes of corner elements comprise insertion through clearance or tap holes of the corner elements. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the nut provided is larger than the threaded cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the unthreaded cavity of the nut provided has a length about equal to a length of the threaded cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the externally threaded element comprises a bolt.