IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,742,467
Granted Patent B2
US 12,742,467 · App. 18/703,656 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Multi-piece fasteners and methods of fastening

Inventor: James L. Wollard, Jr. (Waco, TX)
Assignee: HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.
F16B19/05F16B2200/95
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,742,467
App. No.
18/703,656
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Multi-piece fasteners and methods of fastening are provided. The multi-piece fastener comprises a fastening collar and a pin. The fastening collar comprises an inner collar surface defining a collar cavity, an outer collar surface, a coating on the outer collar surface, and a lubrication layer intermediate the coating and the outer collar surface. The coating comprises a resin and a metal pigment. The pin is configured to be at least partially received by the collar cavity. The pin comprises a first pin end, a second pin end, and a shank extending intermediate the first pin end and the second pin end. The fastening collar is configured to be deformed onto the shank by forcibly contacting the outer collar surface of the fastening collar. Forcibly contacting the outer collar surface at least partially removes the coating on the outer collar surface and indicates installation of the multi-piece fastener.

Claims (42)

1 . A multi-piece fastener comprising:

a fastening collar comprising

an inner collar surface defining a collar cavity,

an outer collar surface,

a coating on the outer collar surface, the coating comprising a film-forming resin and a metal pigment, and

a lubrication layer intermediate the coating and the outer collar surface; and

a pin configured to be at least partially received by the collar cavity, the pin comprising

a first pin end,

a second pin end, and

a shank extending intermediate the first pin end and the second pin end;

wherein the fastening collar is configured to be deformed onto the shank by forcibly contacting the outer collar surface of the fastening collar, and wherein forcibly contacting the outer collar surface at least partially removes the coating on the outer collar surface and indicates installation of the multi-piece fastener, and

wherein the coating does not increase a coefficient of friction of the outer collar surface of the fastening collar.

2 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the metal pigment comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a combination thereof.

3 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises no greater than 0.01% by weight titanium dioxide based on total weight of the coating.

4 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises no greater than 0.01% by weight metal oxide based on total weight of the coating.

5 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the coating further comprises at least one of a fluorescent dye and a fluorescent pigment.

6 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein a CIELAB L* value of at least a region of the outer collar surface of the fastening collar is no greater than 10.

7 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , further comprising a corrosion resistant layer intermediate the coating and the outer collar surface.

8 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the fastening collar further comprises a flange and the coating is not present on the flange.

9 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the coating is in the shape of a strip.

10 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the coating has an opacity of at least 25%.

11 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the shank comprises at least one of a generally smooth region, an annular shoulder, a groove, and a threaded region.

12 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the multi-piece fastener is configured to be installed in a bore in a structure and wherein the structure is at least one of an aerospace part or component, an automotive part or component, a transportation part or component, and a building and construction part or component.

13 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the shank is in a range of 0.06 inch to 4 inches.

14 . The multi-piece fastener of claim 1 , wherein the multi-piece fastener comprises at least one of a metal and a metal alloy.

15 . A lockbolt comprising the multi-piece fastener of claim 1 .

16 . A method for fastening, the method comprising:

inserting a first pin end of a multi-piece fastener into a bore in a structure, the multipiece fastener comprising

a fastening collar comprising

an inner collar surface defining a collar cavity,

an outer collar surface,

a coating on the outer collar surface, the coating comprising a film-forming resin and a metal pigment, wherein the coating does not increase a coefficient of friction of the outer collar surface of the fastening collar, and

a lubrication layer intermediate the coating and the outer collar surface, a pin configured to be at least partially received by the collar cavity, the pin comprising

the first pin end,

a second pin end, and

a shank extending intermediate the first pin end and the second pin end;

inserting the pin at least partially into the collar cavity; and

forcibly contacting the outer collar surface of the fastening collar with an anvil of a fastening collar installation apparatus and thereby deforming the fastening collar onto the shank of the pin, wherein forcibly contacting the outer collar surface at least partially removes the coating on the outer collar surface and indicates installation of the multi-piece fastener.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first pin end comprises a pull region and the method further comprises:

forcibly contacting the pull region with jaws of a collet of the fastening collar installation apparatus.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the metal pigment comprises aluminum.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein forcibly contacting the outer collar surface removes at least 90% of a total visible surface area of the coating from the outer collar surface of the fastening collar.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2024
From: WOLLARD, JAMES L., JR.
To: HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.
Reel/Frame 067188/0904 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63264667 · Nov 30, 2021
Related Publication 20240418197A1 · Dec 19, 2024
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