Cherry Maxibolt® Blind Bolt System

The Cherry Maxibolt® blind bolt, available in alloy steel and A-286 CRES materials, comes in
four different nominal and oversized head styles. [Figure 10] One tool and pulling head installs all three
diameters. The blind bolts create a larger blind side footprint and they provide excellent performance in
thin sheet and nonmetallic applications. The flush breaking stem eliminates shaving while the extended
grip range accommodates different application thicknesses. Cherry Maxibolts® are primarily used in
structures where higher loads are required. The steel version is 112 KSI shear. The A286 version is 95
KSI shear. The Cherry® G83, G84, or G704 installation tools are required for installation.

Figure 10. Maxibolt® Blind Bolt System installation

Huck Blind Bolt System

The Huck Blind Bolt is a high strength vibration-resistant fastener. [Figure 11] These bolts have
been used successfully in many critical areas, such as engine inlets and leading edge applications. All
fasteners are installed with a combination of available hand, pneumatic, pneudraulic, or hydraulic pull-
type tools (no threads) for ease of installation.
 Figure 11. Huck blind bolt system
Huck Blind Bolts can be installed on blind side angle surfaces up to 5° without loss of
performance. The stem is mechanically locked to provide vibration-resistant FOD-free installations. The
locking collar is forced into a conical pocket between stem and sleeve, creating high tensile capability.
The lock collar fills the sleeve lock pocket to prevent leakage or corrosion pockets (crevice corrosion).
Flush head blind bolts are designed to install with a flush stem break that often requires no
trimming for aerodynamic surfaces. The Huck Blind Bolt is available in high-strength A286 CRES at
95KSI shear strength in 5⁄32-inch through 3⁄8-inch diameters in 100° flush tension and protruding head.
Also available are shear flush heads in 3⁄16-inch diameter. A286 CRES Huck Blind Bolts are also
available in 1⁄64-inch oversize diameters for repair applications.

Drive Nut-Type of Blind Bolt

Jo-bolts, Visu-lok®, Composi-Lok®, OSI Bolt®, and Radial-Lok® fasteners use the drive nut
concept and are composed of a nut, sleeve, and a draw bolt. [Figure 12] These types of blind bolts are
used for high strength applications in metals and composites when there is no access to the blind side.
Available in steel and titanium alloys, they are installed with special tooling. Both powered and hand
tooling is available. During installation, the nut is held stationary while the core bolt is rotated by the
installation tooling. The rotation of the core bolt draws the sleeve into the installed position and continues
to retain the sleeve for the life of the fastener. The bolt has left hand threads and driving flats on the
threaded end. A break-off relief allows the driving portion of the bolt to break off when the sleeve is
properly seated. These types of bolts are available in many different head styles, including protruding
head, 100° flush head, 130° flush head, and hex head.

Figure 12. Drive nut blind bolt

Use the grip gauge available for the type of fastener and select the bolt grip after careful
determination of the material thickness. The grip of the bolt is critical for correct installation. [Figure 13]

Figure 13. Drive nut blind bolt installation tool

Installation procedure:
1. Install the fastener into the hole, and place the installation tooling over the screw (stem) and nut.
2. Apply torque to the screw with the installation tool while keeping the drive nut stationary. The
screw continues to advance through the nut body causing the sleeve to be drawn up over the
tapered nose of the nut. When the sleeve forms tightly against the blind side of the structure, the
screw fractures in the break groove. The stem of Jo-bolts, Visu-lok®, and Composi-Lok® II
fasteners does not break off flush with the head. A screw break-off shaver tool must be used if a
flush installation is required. The stem of the newer Composi-Lok3® and OSI Bolt® break off
flush.

Tapered Shank Bolt

Tapered shank bolts, such as the Taper-Lok®, are lightweight, high strength shear or tension
bolts. This bolt has a tapered shank designed to provide an interference fit upon installation. Tapered
shank bolts can be identified by a round head (rather than a screwdriver slot or wrench flats) and a
threaded shank. The Taper-Lok® is comprised of a tapered, conical-shank fastener, installed into a
precision tapered hole. The use of tapered shank bolts is limited to special applications such as high stress
areas of fuel tanks. It is important that a tapered bolt not be substituted for any other type of fastener in
repairs. It is equally as important not to substitute any other type of fastener for a tapered bolt.
Tapered shank bolts look similar to Hi-Lok® bolts after installation, but the tapered shank bolts
do not have the hex recess at the threaded end of the bolt. Tapered shank bolts are installed in precision-
reamed holes, with a controlled interference fit. The interference fit compresses the material around the
hole that results in excellent load transfer, fatigue resistance, and sealing. The collar used with the tapered
shank bolts has a captive washer, and no extra washers are required. New tapered shank bolt installation
or rework of tapered shank bolt holes needs to be accomplished by trained personnel. Properly installed,
these bolts become tightly wedged and do not turn while torque is applied to the nut.

Sleeve Bolts
Sleeve bolts are used for similar purposes as tapered shank bolts, but are easier to install. Sleeve
bolts, such as the two piece SLEEVbolt®, consist of a tapered shank bolt in an expandable sleeve. The
sleeve is internally tapered and externally straight. The sleeve bolt is installed in a standard tolerance
straight hole. During installation, the bolt is forced into the sleeve. This action expands the sleeve which
fills the hole. It is easier to drill a straight tolerance hole than it is to drill the tapered hole required for a
tapered shank bolt.

Rivet Nut

The rivet nut is a blind installed, internally threaded rivet invented in 1936 by the Goodrich
Rubber Company for the purpose of attaching a rubber aircraft wing deicer extrusion to the leading edge
of the wing. The original rivet nut is the Rivnut® currently manufactured by Bollhoff Rivnut Inc. The
Rivnut® became widely used in the military and aerospace markets because of its many design and
assembly advantages.
Rivet nuts are used for the installation of fairings, trim, and lightly loaded fittings that must be
installed after an assembly is completed. [Figure 14] Often used for parts that are removed frequently, the
rivet nut is available in two types: countersunk or flat head. Installed by crimping from one side, the rivet
nut provides a threaded hole into which machine screws can be installed. Where a flush fit is required, the
countersink style can be used. Rivet nuts made of alloy steel are used when increased tensile and shear
strength is required.
 Figure 14. Rivet nut installation

Hole Preparation
Flat head rivet nuts require only the proper size of hole while flush installation can be made into
either countersunk or dimpled skin. Metal thinner than the rivet nut head requires a dimple. The rivet nut
size is selected according to the thickness of the parent material and the size of screw to be used. The part
number identifies the type of rivet nut and the maximum grip length. Recommended hole sizes are shown
in Figure 15.

Figure 15. Recommended hole sizes for rivets and nuts

Correct installation requires good hole preparation, removal of burrs, and holding the sheets in
contact while heading. Like any sheet metal fastener, a rivet nut should fit snugly into its hole.

Blind Fasteners (Nonstructural)

Pop Rivets
Common pull-type pop rivets, produced for non-aircraftrelated applications, are not approved for
use on certificated aircraft structures or components. However, some homebuilt noncertificated aircraft
use pull-type rivets for their structure. These types of rivets are typically made of aluminum and can be
installed with hand tools.

Pull-Through Nutplate Blind Rivet

Nutplate blind rivets are used where the high shear strength of solid rivets is not required or if
there is no access to install a solid rivet. The 3⁄32-inch diameter blind rivet is most often used. The nut
plate blind rivet is available with the pullthrough and self-plugging locked spindle. [Figure 16]
 Figure 16. Rivetless pull-through nutplate
The new Cherry® Rivetless Nut Plate, which replaces standard riveted nutplates, features a
retainer that does not require flaring. This proprietary design eliminates the need for two additional rivet
holes, as well as reaming, counterboring, and countersinking steps.