Method of securing workpieces

Abstract

A method of securing at least two workpieces, which includes inserting a bolt shaft through a bore hole formed in each of the workpieces, and applying a sealant to the workpieces. Further, the method includes engaging a locking collar with the bolt shaft such that the locking collar is securely deformed in a locking manner thereby forcing the sealant to uniformly distribute and form a thin surface sealant layer on the bolt shaft.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of securing at least two workpieces, comprising: 
 inserting a bolt shaft through a bore hole formed in each of the at least two workpieces;    applying a sealant to the at least two workpieces; and    engaging a locking collar with the bolt shaft such that the locking collar is securely deformed in a locking manner thereby forcing the sealant to uniformly distribute and form a thin surface sealant layer on the bolt shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the applying step applies the sealant to the two workpieces before the inserting step inserts the bolt shaft into the bore hole of each of the at least two workpieces.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the applying step applies the sealant directly to the bolt shaft before the inserting step inserts the bolt shaft into the bore hole of each of the at least two workpieces.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bolt shaft has a locking portion including a plurality of grooves around a surface of the bolt shaft and a plurality of peaks at least some having a parallelogram shape and being disposed between the plurality of grooves, and 
 wherein the sealant is uniformly distributed via the plurality of grooves around the surface of the bolt shaft when the engaging step engages the locking collar with the bolt shaft.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of grooves extend in spiral directions helically around the surface of the bolt shaft.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of grooves include a first group of spiral grooves that respectively extend in a clockwise spiral direction and a second group of spiral grooves that respectively extend in a counterclockwise spiral direction and intersect with said first group of spiral grooves.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of grooves include a plurality of first grooves extending in a circumferential direction of the bolt shaft and a plurality of second grooves extending in a direction parallel to the circumferential direction such that the first and second grooves intersect with each other  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the parallelogram shape is a diamond parallelogram shape.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the parallelogram shape is a pyramid shape with a four-sided base.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the parallelogram shape is a square or rectangular shape.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when the engaging step engages the locking collar with the bolt shaft, excess sealant is squeezed out a second end of the bolt shaft via at least one groove on a surface of the bolt shaft that opens to an outside at an axial end of the locking portion.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein respective ones of said plurality of grooves intersect with one another so that all of said plurality of grooves are interconnected and intercommunicated with each other, and 
 wherein at least one of said plurality of grooves extends to and opens at an open groove end at an axial end of said locking portion along an axial direction of the bolt shaft such that excess sealant is squeezed out the open groove.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said locking portion excludes all annular circumferential grooves.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of peaks includes a parallelogram shape.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 breaking off a break-away portion of the bolt shaft that is connected to said locking portion.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the breaking step breaks off the break-away portion by breaking a constricted neck encircled by a circumferential groove.