Innovative Fasteners Add "Wrenching Power" for Critical Bolt Applications

For every design, mechanical, and material engineer who has ever embarked on a search for the elusive fastener that unrelentingly holds up under critical applications, yet allows removal at will, the journey appears to have come to a satisfying conclusion with the proven track record of a unique fastener locking system that acts like a small wrench. Dubbed GrooveLokTM by developers STAGE 8 Locking Fasteners, Inc.—a San Rafael, California-based manufacturer specializing in industrial fastener technology—this innovative system is already setting new standards in reliability. To date, the system has no reported failures in over 10,000,000 installations of these fasteners.

This technology promises to reverse decades of nut and bolt failures that have resulted in costly consequences to industry: untimely repairs, replacement of equipment, production downtime, dissatisfied customers and loss of business. At its worst, the failure of a fastened joint can lead to lethal consequences and subsequent lawsuits.

“Even if the equipment itself is not severely damaged, it may be very time-consuming to repair, especially if the joint is difficult to get at,” says Tim Brown at the Dayton, OH branch of Sunsource, a designer and distributor in the fluid power and motion control industry. “Either way, in a production situation you are out of business for awhile.”

Only too often, the practice of specifying a particular fastener type has degenerated to simply picking a commercial off the shelf (COTS) item offered by the lowest bidder. Today, responsible engineers are now evaluating the cost-performance benefits of components that can make their products better, safer and less expensive to operate. Even though slightly more expensive, the use of a specialized fasteners can result in major savings through prevention of premature failures and related service cost. Stage 8's GrooveLok system is one such product.

Already proven in applications ranging from mining, construction, manufacturing, food processing and oil-field drilling assemblies, the success of the GrooveLok industrial fastener arises from its unique design that effectively prevents bolts from loosening in the first place. In theory, the system operates as a permanently-mounted mini-wrench to secure all types of nuts and bolts.

A retaining tab, completely surrounds and secures the head of the bolt or nut. This tab acts as a wrench handle by bracing itself against any nearby abutment. If no abutment is available a strap retainer can be used. To ensure that the retaining tab never comes up, a clip fits over the top. Once in place, this system of fasteners is foolproof. Yet, removal of the clip, then the retaining tab, allows quick dismantling of the part when necessary. The system retrofits to existing components and is fully reusable.

"After reviewing the STAGE 8 fastener design we decided it might be an excellent way to avoid premature pivot failures. We field tested the setup and it worked very well. In fact, we are now using these in our production," says Mike Swanson, a project engineer for tool-manufacturer Stanley LaBounty of Two Harbors, Minnesota, who successfully incorporated the GrooveLok fasteners into its Universal Processor™ hydraulic scissors.

Stage 8 Locking Fasteners
Glenn Thompson
glennthompson@stage8.com
Phone: (415) 485-5340
Fax: (415) 485-0552
94901
http://www.stage8.com