Over the years many types of fasteners have been developed. While things like nuts, bolts and rivets have been around since forever, the innovation in these products never ceased. Many people may not even give a second thought to these products but items like rivet bolts and nuts play a very instrumental role in keeping things together and making some of the most complex machinery working day in and day out. Innovation is fastener solutions have been ongoing and new customizations are made every once in a while which make things work much better for everyone. 

What are Rivet Nuts and Bolts?

Rivets, nuts and bolts each are a very different type of fastener and as per the understanding of most people, while rivets are commonly used on their own, nuts and bolts are used on a complimentary basis. Rivet bolts and nuts are a more complex solution to the whole joining two or more things and keeping them secure with each other's problems.

Rivet bolts are a specialized type of fastener with a bolt (with threads on one end) and a sleeve or body that expands when the bolt is tightened. The bolt is inserted into a pre-drilled hole, and as it is tightened, the sleeve expands to create a secure and tight connection on the blind side of the joint. They are a blind installation solution which only requires access from one side.

These were developed to fit in applications where using a traditional nut and bolt solution is not feasible because of access issues. Plus they also create a more secure bond than your regular nut and bolt. It is not impossible to open it but it is also much harder to open a rivet bolt than the traditional nut and bolt. 

Rivet nuts are a different product which is also known as a nutsert. These are threaded fasteners and come with a threaded hole. Rivet nuts are installed by compressing them into a pre-drilled hole. These are used in materials where it may not be practical to use a traditional tapped hole.

These fastener solutions are commonly used in thin materials where access to the back of the workpiece is limited as they can be installed from one side of the material. The key factor with rivet nuts is that they offer a strong and reliable threaded connection.

Applications:

There are many industries which make use of these specialized fastener solutions. From construction to automotive and from aviation to shipping even submarine vehicles, you can see them being used to connect and secure many things. 

Automotive and railroad sector is one of the largest users of rivet nuts and bolts. They are used in the manufacture of vehicles, especially for securing components in areas where it may be challenging to access both sides of the joint. Similarly they are used in manufacturing of rolling stock for railways, rail car components and even signaling and other support equipment that is deployed on rail tracks, maintenance yards, railway stations etc.

Aerospace as well as marine and shipping industries are also large scale consumers where they are used in joining panels as well as fixing parts securely. Rivet bolts and nuts are also used for creating threaded holes in aircraft interiors and components.

Construction activities of various kinds including residential, commercial and industrial make use of these specialized fasteners. Rivet nuts are used in construction and metal structures for creating threaded holes in situations where welding or tapping may not be feasible. Rivet bolts are used for joining structural elements where access to both sides is limited, such as in steel framing. These are also used in installation of HVAC systems, especially the large scale centralized systems.