WINTER 2014

62 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

62 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK Anthony Di Maio Anthony E. Di Maio attended Wentworth Institute and Northeastern University. In 1962 he started working with Blind Fasteners as Vice-President of Engineering & Manufacturing for two blind rivet manufacturers. He has been Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI) and is still involved in the writing of IFI specifications. In 1991, he started ADM Engineering and is working with Fastener Manufacturers developing new fasteners and special machinery. He can be reached at ADM Engineering, 6 Hermon Ave., Haverhill, MA 01832; phone and fax 978-521-0277; e-mail: tdimaio@verizon.net. EXTENDED USE OF BLIND RIVETS Sealants have been introduced to threaded fasteners including blind rivets. The addition of sealant has extended the applications for blind rivets. SEALANT bodies, recreational vehicles, trailers, motor homes and construction. The Closed End with sealant has been 100% effective as a liquid and gas tight fastener. Sealant is also now being applied to Open-End blind rivets. Figure 1 - Closed End The closed-end blind rivet was the first blind rivet that sealant was applied. This rivet is water and air tight through it's center, because the mandrel end is inside the rivet body and the rivet body has a flange or head on one end, and a closed end at the opposite end. SEALANT SEALANT The addition of sealant to Open-End rivets has given the Open-End blind rivet the ability to be used on applications where liquid flowing over the flange of the blind rivet and make the rivet watertight. The upset mandrel head is water tight enough to prevent liquid from passing through the center of the Open-End blind rivet. The Structural blind rivet has also been made completely watertight. SEALING RING Figure 3 - Open End Figure 2 - Set Closed End Sealant is applied to the barrel side of the flange. When the closed-end rivet is set, the sealant seals the outside diameter of the rivet barrel so no liquid or air can pass through the hole of the work piece that the rivet was set in. Thus making a totally sealed blind rivet application. At one end ofthe set rivet body and at the opposite end we have sealant that seals the hole in the application. Closed end blind rivets are now being used on outside applications. Such as, outer surfaces of truck SEALANT Figure 4 - Structural The Structural blind rivet has a sealing ring at the mandrel head. When the Structural blind rivet is set, this sealing ring seals the upset end of the rivet body and makes the set rivet water tight. please turn to page 200