Unex Corporation

Hytorc Division Unex Corporation

Jetyd Corp.

Hytorc Div. Unex Corporation

Peter Koppenhoefer

John K Junkers

Eric P Junkers

Calvin A Bonas

Thomas F McLoughlin

Steven Spirer

Richard J Raska

Calin Voicu

Neil Smith

Edward Kim

A low clearance hydraulic torque tool for tightening or loosening fasteners has an apparatus to transfer torque formed within a link drive means between a first and a second side plate. The apparatus includes: a drive plate having piston engagement means at a first end and a machined face gear with radial serrations at a second end; a ratchet drive having a machined face gear with corresponding radial serrations at a first end and a threaded fastener engagement means at a second end; and a wave spring formed between the drive plate and one of the side plates of the torque tool. The side plates of the link drive means are tapered from a first end, adjacent piston engagement means, to a second end, adjacent the threaded fastener engagement means, such that the width of the link drive means at the second end is substantially thinner than the width of the link drive means at the first end.

Apparatus for tightening threaded fasteners

Torque tools of the present invention include: a hydraulic cylinder assembly (); a drive assembly (); a flexible linkage connection, or force transfer, assembly formed between the hydraulic cylinder assembly () and the drive assembly (); all of which is formed within or adjacent to a housing assembly (). They provide large, accurate torque for limited clearance applications. The flexible linkage connection assembly () includes a rocker arm assembly () and a chain link-pin assembly. The flexible linkage connection assembly () maintains the relationship between the line of action of the linear force generated on the rocker arm assembly () by the hydraulic piston assembly ()(ies) and rotary force generated on the ratchet drive socket () by the rocker arm assembly () via the chain link-pin assembly at close to the optimized position throughout the entire travel of a drive plate assembly () of the drive assembly (). The resulting efficiency increase of converting linear force and displacement into rotary torque and angular displacement allows for generation of large and accurate torque in minimal cross-sections necessary to access hidden, limited clearance and/or inaccessible threaded fasteners.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an automatic reaction pawl-assembly ('ARPA') which includes; a shaft assembly; a pawl fixed rotatably relative to the shaft assembly; and a torsion lever torsionally coupled with the paw) about the shaft assembly. Advantageously the ARPA enhances belting efficiency, increases torque accuracy and maximizes operator safety. Torsion springs of the shaft assembly overcome a housing spring and automatically disengage the pawl from a ratchet wheel. The pawl releases without advancing the fastener, touching the tool or raising the hydraulic pressure beyond an intended torque value. This allows for hands free operation of one or more tools. During SWULTORC&#xae; the operator no longer needs to determine which tool; is locked on to its fastener.

A link attachmentfor use with a devicefor effecting an intermittent turning forcewhich oscillates in a forward and a backward directionandfor tightening or loosening a fastener including: &#x2014;a link housing; a link drive inputoperatively connectable with device; a link drive leveroperatively connected with link drive input; a link drive plateoperatively connected to link drive leverat a pivot pointby a link drive pin; a link ratcheting mechanismoperatively connected to link drive leverby a drive pawl; a link attachment drive outputoperatively connected with link ratcheting mechanismand operatively connectable with the fastener; and link attachmentbeing operatively connectable to deviceto provide intermittent turning forceto turn the fastener. Advantageously link attachment: is operatively connectable to deviceeither by itself or via a drive extension; limits the need for movable components in device; engages inaccessible fasteners; and magnifies and transfers intermittent turning forceto the fastener.

Apparatus for tightening or loosening fasteners pneumatically, electrically, hydraulically and manually driven are disclosed, and in one example includes: a receiving member, rotatably supported in the apparatus for tightening or loosening, for receiving the fastener; a device for effecting rotation of the receiving member to tighten or loosen the fastener; and an apparatus which transfers a reaction force during tightening or loosening of the fasteners. The apparatus which transfers a reaction force includes: a first force-transmitting element rotatably attachable about a turning force axis of the device for effecting rotation; and a second force-transmitting element either rotatably attachable about, extensibly and retractably attachable along, or rotatably attachable about and extensibly and retractably attachable along at least a portion of the first element.

Apparatus for tightening or loosening fasteners

A torque intensifying tool for tightening and loosening threaded connectors has at least one torque intensifier unit with a torque intensifier housing portion, an input and a first output and a second output, a drive connected with the input unit for transmitting a torque from the drive through the intensifying unit to a threaded connector, so that in one mode of operation the housing portion together with the first and the second outputs turn in the same direction, and in another mode of operation the housing portion together with one of the first and second outputs receives a turning force in one direction while the other one of the first and second outputs receives an equal turning force in the opposite direction, and so that one of the first and second output means turns in the one mode and in the another mode while the other of the first and second output means turns in the one mode and reacts in the another mode.

Power-driven torque intensifier

A torque tool for tightening or loosening connections has a driving element engageable with a turnable part of the connection for turning the turnable part of the connection for tightening or loosening the connection and turnable about an axis, and a power drive configured for acting on the driving element such that the drive acts on the driving element to turn the driving element and thereby to turn the turnable part of the connection over a partial stroke and a space is formed between the drive and the driving element, and the drive is then displaced over the space toward the driving element to act again on the driving element to turn the driving element and thereby to further turn the turnable part of the connection over a further partial stroke.

Torque tool for tightening or loosening connections, and method of tightening or loosening the same

A holding socket for a fastener having a nut arrangeable on a threaded element, and a washer located between the nut and an object, the holding socket has a body having two opposite ends with a first end connectable to a part of a power tool and a second end which is axially spaced from the first end and connectable with the washer so as to hold the washer against rotation, and a locking element located in an area of the second end of the body and displaceable transversely to the body between a position in which it is located axially between the second end of the body and the nut and therefore prevents a removal of the socket from a fastener and another position in which it is no longer located axially between the second end of the body and the nut, and therefore allows withdrawal of the socket from the fastener.

Holding socket for a threaded fastener

A fluid-operated power tool has a drive including a fluid-operator cylinder-piston unit, a first housing accommodating the drive, a lever-drive mechanism connected with the drive and powered by the latter and also engageable with a fastener for bolting applications, a second housing accommodating the lever-drive mechanism, the housings being interconnected so as to turn a fastener when the lever-drive mechanism is connected to the fastener and powered by the drive, and a connection for releasably connecting the housings with one another so that the housings are connectable with one another and disconnectable from one another, the connection including a female portion provided in one of the housings and a male portion provided in the other of the housings and engageable with the female portion for operatably connecting the first housing and the second housing with one another without subsequently requiring additional pins, screws and other means to provide a connection between the housings.

Fluid-operated power tool

A fluid operated torque wrench has a housing having a cylinder portion with a cylinder having an axis and a driving portion; two pistons movable in the cylinder along the axis independently from one another and having piston rods; two ratchet-lever mechanisms located in the driving portion; a drive element to which both the ratchet-lever mechanisms are connected; a fluid supply into the cylinder, the pistons being formed so that when the fluid is supplied at opposite sides of the pistons, either one ratchet-lever mechanism turns and the other ratchets, or vice versa.

Fluid-operated torque wrench

A mechanical tensioner for a nut-bolt assembly has two input elements engaging with one another and engageable by an actuating tool so that the input elements are turnable relative to one another in opposite directions, one of the input elements being engageable with a bolt so that when the input elements are turned relative to one another the one engaging element pulls the bolt in an axial direction, an output element engageable with a nut so as to turn the nut, and a transmission connecting the other input element with the output element so that when the other input element is turned the output element turns through the transmission and thereby turns the nut. The transmission is formed so that the output element is turnable with a speed which is substantially greater than a speed of turning of the other input element.

Mechanical tensioner

For tightening or loosening a threaded connector which has a part to be turned with a plurality of engaging formations, a power tool is utilized in which at least two pawls engage the engaging formations and are displaced to turn the part which is to be turned, and at the same time the pawls are arranged so that a distance between the pawls is smaller than the distance between the engaging formations so as to reduce a power stroke of the drive of the power tool.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, PA, United States of America

Peter Koppenhoefer