Clevis fasteners are commonly used in the aerospace manufacturing industry. These multipart fasteners allow engineers to quickly and easily secure components. Unlike blind rivets, they don’t require any special tools to install. Clevis fasteners can also be removed to release the components with which they are used. To learn more about the parts of a typical clevis fastener, keep reading.
Clevis
Clevis fasteners feature a clevis. The clevis is the largest part of a typical clevis fastener. Consisting of a U-shaped metal hook, it’s used to support all of the clevis fastener’s other parts.
The clevis is a U-shaped metal hook. At the ends of the clevis’ prongs is a hole. This hole is designed to accommodate a clevis pin (see below). You can slide a clevis pin through the hole at the end of the clevis’ prongs.
Clevis Pin
All clevis fasteners feature a clevis pin as swell. As shown in the photo above, clevis pins consist of a metal bolt-like part with a head and shank. But don’t let that fool you into thinking clevis pins are the same as traditional bolts. While they share some similar characteristics, they are two different types of fasteners.
Bolts typically have a solid shank. Clevis pins, in comparison, have a lateral hole at the end of their shank. Another difference between bolts and clevis pins is that the former is typically fully threaded, whereas the latter is either unthreaded or partially threaded. Regardless, clevis pins are fastening parts used in clevis fasteners. They feature a shank with a hole at the end.
Cotter Pin
Another essential part of a clevis fastener is a cotter pin. Cotter pins are used in conjunction with clevis pins. After placing a clevis pin through the components that you want to fasten and secure in place, you can then place a cotter pin through the hole at the end of the clevis pin.
The cotter pin will prevent the clevis pin from coming out of the components with which it’s used. Cotter pins are made of thick metal wire, and most of them feature a half-circular cross-section.
Cotter pins are available in the following materials:
- Carbon steel
- Stainless steel
- Bronze
- Aluminum
- More
In Conclusion
Clevis fasteners don’t consist of a single part. Rather, they are multi-part fasteners. Clevis fasteners feature a clevis, clevis pin and cotter pin. With these three parts, you can quickly and easily fasten components.
