# How a Tool Automatically Installs Blind Rivet Nuts > This patent describes a method for a tool to automatically install a blind rivet nut by first pushing it against a surface, then rotating it, and finally pulling it back to deform and secure it. - **Patent:** US 12734657 - **Original title:** Blind rivet nut-setting tool - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, mechanical, robotics, industrial_equipment ## What it does This patent describes a method for operating a blind rivet nut-setting tool. The process begins by pressing a blind rivet nut, which is held on the tool's output shaft, against a workpiece. This action applies an external force that pushes the output shaft backward along its longitudinal axis, moving it from a first position to a second position. Upon reaching this second position, the output shaft activates a limit switch. This activation triggers a first motor, which rotates the output shaft, causing the blind rivet nut to undergo plastic deformation. Following this, a second motor is activated to pull the output shaft further backward along the longitudinal axis, causing additional plastic deformation and permanently setting the blind rivet nut on the workpiece. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover manual blind rivet nut installation tools that rely solely on operator force. - Does not cover tools that only rotate or only translate the output shaft, but not both in the described sequence. - Does not cover tools where the initial movement of the output shaft is not caused by pressing the nut against a workpiece. - Does not cover tools that do not use a limit switch to trigger the first motor's rotation. - Does not cover tools that perform the rotation and translation steps simultaneously rather than sequentially. ## The clever bit The clever bit is the automated, sequential operation: using the workpiece itself to trigger the initial shaft movement, which then activates a limit switch to engage a first motor for rotation, followed by a second motor for translation, ensuring precise and automated setting of the blind rivet nut. ## Real-world examples 1. Automotive assembly lines 2. Aerospace manufacturing 3. Sheet metal fabrication 4. Appliance manufacturing 5. Industrial machinery assembly 6. Construction equipment manufacturing ## Why it matters Automated rivet nut setting can significantly speed up assembly processes in manufacturing environments. This method could improve consistency and reduce operator fatigue compared to manual tools, leading to more reliable fastening. It is particularly relevant for industries requiring high-volume fastening solutions where efficiency and precision are critical. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Tool Automatically Installs Blind Rivet Nuts cover? This patent describes a method for a tool to automatically install a blind rivet nut by first pushing it against a surface, then rotating it, and finally pulling it back to deform and secure it. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Automated rivet nut setting can significantly speed up assembly processes in manufacturing environments. This method could improve consistency and reduce operator fatigue compared to manual tools, leading to more reliable fastening. It is particularly relevant for industries requiring high-volume fastening solutions where efficiency and precision are critical. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover manual blind rivet nut installation tools that rely solely on operator force. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734657/blind-rivet-nut-setting-tool **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734657 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Robotic Surgical Tool Clamps Tissue Manually and Automatically](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11786761/ultrasonic-robotic-tool-actuation) — This patent describes a surgical tool for robotic operations that can clamp tissue using a motor-driven yoke, but also allows a surgeon to manually control the clamping action. - [How a Robot Actuator Controls Force and Speed with Gears](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8209052/high-performance-differential-actuator-for-robotic-interaction-tasks) — This patent describes a compact robot actuator that uses a special gear system and two motors with different electrical resistance to precisely control both the force and speed applied to a robotic arm or tool. - [Surgical Tool with Flexible, Articulating, and Rotating End Effectors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10736702/activating-and-rotating-surgical-end-effectors) — This patent describes a surgical tool with a flexible tip that can bend in multiple directions and also twist, allowing surgeons to precisely control instruments like graspers and cutters inside the body. - [How a Robot Arm Can Be Manually Moved While Staying Safe](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12064197/system-and-methods-for-positioning-a-manipulator-arm-by-clutching-within-a-null-) — This patent describes how a robotic arm can be partly moved by a human, like pushing it, while the robot's computer automatically handles other movements to keep it stable or avoid obstacles. - [How Aircraft Engine Oil Is Drained and Checked Automatically](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12012230/starship-isru-in-situ-resource-utilization) — A specialized tool on an extendable arm that connects to an airplane to drain engine fluid and test its quality in real-time.