Reactive Fasteners

Abstract

Reactive fasteners are described herein. The reactive fasteners are utilized in place of jam nuts and Belleville washers providing for the storage of a pre-load and effectively providing a locking function to prevent unintended loosening of an associated bolt. The reactive fasteners resiliently deform under load to store pre-load or live load energy. Further, the reactive fasteners provide a means for interfacing with a self-reacting tightening power tool which can eliminate or minimize the need for reaction arms. The resilient deformation of the biasing fasteners permits the live load to be stored therein and accordingly lessens the risk of loosening of the bolted joint due to exteriorly applied forces such as, but not limited, to vibration and thermal expansion and contraction.

1 ) A biasing fastener comprising:
 top and bottom surfaces;   one or more side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the one or more side surfaces being adapted to receive a tightening tool preventing rotational movement between the fastener and a portion of the tightening tool in direct contact with the fastener;   an unthreaded bore having a bore axis, the bore axis being generally centered relative to at least one of the top or bottom surfaces;   wherein at least one of the one or more side surfaces is one of a concave and convex surface.   
     
     
         2 ) The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more side surfaces are hexagonally arranged. 
     
     
         3 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         4 ) (canceled) 
     
     
         5 ) The fastener of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom surfaces is comprised of at least one pointed protrusion, the at least one pointed protrusion being integrated to at least one of the top and bottom surfaces at each intersection of at least two of the one or more side surfaces. 
     
     
         6 ) The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom surfaces is comprised of at least one pointed protrusion. 
     
     
         7 ) The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one of the top and bottom surfaces is a knurled surface 
     
     
         8 ) The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is comprised of low carbon steel. 
     
     
         9 ) The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is comprised of high carbon steel. 
     
     
         10 ) The fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of a thickness between the top and bottom surfaces and an outer diameter of the fastener is about 0.10. 
     
     
         11 ) A fastener comprising:
 one of a high carbon steel, a stainless steel, and an alloy steel;   top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of the top and bottom surfaces being one of concave and convex;   one or more side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces, the one or more side surfaces being adapted to receive a tightening tool preventing rotational movement between the fastener and a portion of the tightening tool in direct contact with the fastener;   an unthreaded bore having a bore axis, the bore axis being generally centered relative to at least one of the top or bottom surfaces.   
     
     
         12 ) The fastener of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom surfaces is comprised of a plurality of pointed protrusions. 
     
     
         13 ) The fastener of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of one of the top and bottom surfaces is a knurled surface. 
     
     
         14 ) The fastener of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more side surfaces comprises six side surfaces hexagonally arranged. 
     
     
         15 ) The fastener of  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of a thickness between the top and bottom surfaces and an outer diameter of the fastener is about 0.17. 
     
     
         16 )- 20 ) (canceled)