US2276344A - Connector - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1942. G. D. ROGERS 2,276,344

` GONNEVCTOR Filed April 18, 1941 l NVENTOR EEDD e D Hngera l B* WW-hm ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR George D. Rogers, United states Army, -Washingtom D. C.

Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,190 i claim. '(ol. ss-s) The invention described herein may be4 manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me'of any royalty thereon. v

This invention relates to devices of the type used for temporarily securing together articles such as plates preparatory to the riveting or other permanent fastening thereof.

This invention has as an object the provision of an improved device for aligning and securing holed plates to each other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a connector which can be operated with one hand in restricted spaces and in spaces where the back of the work to be secured is inaccessible.

Another object of the invention isto provide ka connector having means to secure positive alignment of the parts to be connected.

A- still further object of the invention is to produce a connector by means of which-connecting pressure can be applied symmetrically about the periphery of the holes in the plates for securing the plates to be connected without distortion or straining thereof.

` The specic natureof the invention as well as other objects` and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device of this application.

Figure12 is a vertical section of the device aty one stage of its operation taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 taken at another stage in the operation of the device. A

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bolt member.

The connector comprises a bolt member 3 hollow for the greater portion of its length and adapted to be inserted through apertures 4 and 5 formed respectively in plates 6 and 1. The bolt member 3 is split longitudinally from its lower end to allow for expansion and provided with an enlarged head 8 having shoulders 9 adapted to engage the surface of the plate l surrounding the aperture 5. The bolt member is provided at its other eng with a-flange I0 adapted to'engage a spring II. 'Ihe longitudinal expansion splits above referred to are formed by a plurality of radial cuts extending longitudinally from the head end to near the anged end as best seen in Figure 4. The upper portion of the ange I0 mental setting members I2 for apurpose as will ating surfaces 20 and 2|.

hereinafter appear.

The bolt member is contained in a case I3 having a base I4 adapted to engage the upper surface of the plate 6 and having an aperture I5 through which the head 8 protrudes. Between the flange I0 and base I4 is inserted a spring II tending to draw the head 8 within the case I3. At its upper portion the case I3 is provided with a cover I6 having apertures I1 formed therein for the reception of the segmental setting ymembers I2. The cover may be secured to the casev4 in any suitable manner which will provide a flange I8 extending beyond the outer surface of .the case. The cover IIv is also centrally provided with an inwardly extending pin I9 inserted into the axial passage in the boltl member 3. The pin I9 is provided at its lower end with a tapering portion 29 adapted to engage cooperating surfaces 2| at the lower end of the axial passage in the bolt member. As the bolt member is drawn within the casing under the iniluence of the spring, the tapering portion of the pin will expand the split shank of the bolt member owing to the wedge action between cooper- The relative dimensions of the parts to be secured govern the length and diameter of the bolt member and expanding pin.

The connector-ls applied in practice by grasping it with a special tool 2 which engages the flange I8 and the setting members I2 as shown inFig. 1 and serves to compress the spring II'.

Owing to the resiliency of the material of which the bolt member is constructed the head 8 will .contract to its minimum diameter and in thisA condition it is inserted into the holes 4 and 5 in the plates 8 and 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon removal of the tool2 the head 8 will be expanded, as shown in Fig. 3, serving to properly align the holes and the shoulders 9 will on engaging the surface of the plate il serve to draw it firmly into contact with plate 6. This contact will be maintained at spring pressure untilthe connector is 5 withdrawn and while the plates are thus temporarily secured permanent fastening means may be inserted in adjacent holes which likewise will have been drawn into alignment or necessary plate fitting operations may be .carried out. The device may be removed by vagain grasping it with the tool 2 and recompressing the spring upon which the head will contract and can be readily withdrawn from the work.

It is to be understood that the form of my 1nis provided with two or more upstanding segvention specifically shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size and arrangement oi parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention as described in the appended claim.

I claim: A device for securing superposed perforated plates comprising a bolt member having a head on one end, said bolt memberhaving a plurality of radial cuts extending longitudinally from the head end to near the opposite end and a spring engaging ange formed on said last mentioned end, an axial passage in said bolt member intersectingthe radial cuts and extending to the end opposite the head, upstanding setting members.

for the .passage of said setting members, and a wedge member secured to said cover and thereby supported in the anal passage, said wedge member being adapted to cause the head to expand radially.

` GEORGE D. ROGERS.

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