EP0179543B1 - Fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector - Google Patents

Fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0179543B1
EP0179543B1 EP19850302971 EP85302971A EP0179543B1 EP 0179543 B1 EP0179543 B1 EP 0179543B1 EP 19850302971 EP19850302971 EP 19850302971 EP 85302971 A EP85302971 A EP 85302971A EP 0179543 B1 EP0179543 B1 EP 0179543B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piston
wrench
cylinder
reaction
threaded connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19850302971
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0179543A1 (en
Inventor
John K. Junkers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=24664081&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0179543(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0179543A1 publication Critical patent/EP0179543A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0179543B1 publication Critical patent/EP0179543B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B21/00—Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose
    • B25B21/004—Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose of the ratchet type
    • B25B21/005—Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose of the ratchet type driven by a radially acting hydraulic or pneumatic piston

Definitions

  • most of the fluid-operated wrenches include also a reaction member, for instance adapted to abut against a threaded connector adjacent to the one to be turned, to counteract this force as disclosed, for example, in US-A-4,336,727. If the threaded connector has to be turned in its tightening direction, this reaction member has to abut against one side of the adjacent threaded connector and if the wrench is used for loosening a threaded connector, the reaction member has to abut against the other side of the adjacent connector.
  • Fluid-operated wrenches which have reversible transmission means, whereby a ratchet of the wrench can be driven in the opposite direction, as disclosed for example in DD-A-107 402.
  • the apparatus disclosed in said document comprises the features of the first part of the independent claim.
  • the wrench in this document has a reaction member which is adjustably fitted to permit it to react against a stationary object adjacent to the threaded connector.
  • the axis of a reaction support portion which supports the reaction member is not coaxial with the axis of the connector engaging means and the reaction member cannot be turned to be adjacent to either side of the threaded connector.
  • This invention seeks to provide a reversible fluid-operated (e.g. a cylinder/piston powered) wrench with a universally applicable reaction member.
  • a reversible fluid-operated (e.g. a cylinder/piston powered) wrench with a universally applicable reaction member.
  • cylinder/piston powered ratchet wrenches are constructed to turn and ratchet in just one direction, the wrench has to be turned over to provide a turning action in the opposite direction.
  • This wrench was invented by Wilmeth in 1978, however, it requires, the use of a reaction socket that fits over the adjacent nut.
  • reaction socket of this known wrench is attached to the housing portion which contains a pivotally attached cylinder.
  • the present invention makes the necessity of special sockets obsolete by using a reaction member which abuts against the outside of either one of the adjacent nuts as a result of its universal reaction member, which is attached around the reaction portion located around the drive member.
  • Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a fluid-operated wrench in which the overall height of the wrench is reduced to a minimum, but which can be used for tightening or loosening a threaded connector without turning the wrench around.
  • a further aim of the present invention is to provide the wrench with an adjustable reaction member which can be used even in situations where the reaction member cannot be placed between an adjacent threaded connector and the outer surface of a flanged tube.
  • the fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector without turning the wrench around comprises fluid operated cylinder and piston means, ratchet means, transmission means interconnected between said cylinder and piston means and said ratchet means to drive the latter in one direction during movement of said piston means, means connected to said ratchet means for engaging a threaded connector to be turned, and a reaction member to absorb the reaction force generated on turning the threaded connector in said one direction, the transmission means being reversible whereby the ratchet means can be driven in the opposite direction also, and the reaction means being adjustably fitted on the wrench to permit it to react against a stationary object.
  • the wrench is characterised in that the reacton member abuts in use against the stationary object, the reaction member being fitted to a reaction support portion and the reaction support portion being coaxial with the turning axis of the connector engaging means so that the reaction member can abut against the stationary object, adjacent to either side of the threaded connector to be turned depending on the direction of turning of the threaded connector.
  • the illustrated wrench comprises support means including, as best shown in Figure 3, a drive support portion 1, a transmission support portion 2 arranged symmetrically with respect to said drive support portion 1 but extending angularly with respect thereto, and a reaction support portion 3 extending perpendicular to one side from the transmission support portion.
  • the support portions 1, 2 and 3 are operatively connected to each other.
  • the transmission support portion 2 is connected by screws 4 to the drive support portion 1 whereas the reaction support portion 3 is shown as being integral with and projecting to one side of the transmission support portion 2.
  • Other arrangements for connecting these portions together may, of course, also be employed.
  • a fluid-operated cylinder and piston means is mounted on the drive support portion 1 extending substantially in the direction of the latter.
  • This fluid-operated cylinder and piston means includes a cylinder 5 provided at the end thereof facing the drive support portion 1 with a pair of trunions 6 projecting to opposite sides of the cylinder and being pivotally engaged in appropriate bores 7 in the drive support portion 1.
  • a piston 8 is slidably located in the cylinder 5 for movement between a forward and a return stroke.
  • Means 9 and 10 are connected to the outer end of the cylinder 5 for feeding pressure fluid in a known manner not specifically shown in the drawing, to opposite sides of the piston 8 to reciprocate the latter along the forward and return strokes.
  • the piston 8 is provided, in the usual manner, with annular seals 11 properly sealing the outer surface of the piston against the inner surface of the cylinder 5.
  • a piston rod 12 is connected, for instance by a nut 13, to the piston 8, but on the other hand, the piston rod 12 may also be integrally connected to the piston 8. If the piston rod is connected by the nut 13 as shown in Figure 2, an additional annular seal 14 is provided around the portion of the piston rod 12 extending through the piston 8.
  • a further annular seal 15 is provided at the end of the cylinder 5 facing the transmission support portion 2 and one of the fluid feeding means opens at 16 adjacent to the end seal 15, whereas the other of the fluid feeding means passes through an opening 17 in the rear wall 5' of the cylinder 5.
  • the transmission support portion 2 comprises two side walls 18, 18', best shown in Figure 4, preferably integral with a top wall 18".
  • a pair of lever means 20 and 20', best shown in Figures 2 and 4 are arranged parallel and closely adjacent to the side walls 18 and 18' of the transmission support portion 2.
  • These lever means 20 and 20' are pivotally connected to the outer end 12' of the piston rod 12 by a pin 21 extending through an appropriate bore 22 in each lever means 20, 20'.
  • the lever means 20, 20' are in the region of their lower ends freely pivotable on a shaft 23 which extends through respective bores in the lever means as well as through respective bores in the side walls 18 and 18' and with an end portion thereof extending beyond one of the side walls, here shown as the side wall 18.
  • the outer end portion of the shaft 23 is preferably of square cross-section and is adapted to receive a standard socket 49 for engagement with the head of a threaded connector or a nut to be turned.
  • a sprocket 24, best shown in Figure 2 is fixed to the shaft 23 for rotation therewith by being, for instance, connected by a key 25' thereto.
  • a member 26 is pivotally mounted on the lever means 20 and 20' between the upper ends of the latter and the sprocket 24.
  • Two curved pawls 27 and 27', integrally connected to the member 26, project to opposite sides thereof and define, with the sprocket 24, ratchet means for incrementally rotating the shaft 23.
  • a switching arrangement 28 is provided to bring a selected one of the two pawls into engagement with the teeth of the sprocket 24.
  • the illustrated switching arrangement comprises a manually operated handle 29 pivoted by a pivot pin 30 on the lever means 20 and 20' and ending in a sleeve 31.
  • a compression spring 32 is housed in the sleeve 31 and acts on a plunger 33 guided in the sleeve 31 and extending to a pin 34.
  • the pin 34 has its lower end engaged in a groove 35 provided on the upper surface of the pawl 27 of the member 26.
  • the wrench can be used in a very simple manner for tightening or loosening a threaded connector without turning the wrench around.
  • the wrench illustrated also includes a holding pawl 36' engaging the teeth of the sprocket 24 and pivoted at one end thereof by trunnions 37 respectively projecting to opposite sides and located in grooves 38 provided in a boss 39 projecting to one side of the transmission support portion 2 between the side walls 18 and 18' thereof.
  • a first leaf spring 40 extending around the lower end of the holding pawl 36 and abutting with opposite ends against the lever means 20 and 20' holds the holding pawl 36' in engagement with the teeth of the sprocket 24.
  • a second leaf spring 41 extending about the outer surface of the first leaf spring 40 is anchored at one end of a pin 42 extending between the side plates 18 and 18', whereas the other end of the second spring 41 terminates within a coil spring 43 housed in a bore 44 and compressed therein by a screw 45 in this bore.
  • the holding pawl 36' has of course to be reversed to extend in the downward direction. This can be accomplished by loosening the screw 45 and turning the sprocket 24 in the appropriate direction, so that the trunnions 37 at the end of the holding pawl 36' will slide upwardly in the groove 38 and the holding pawl will then extend somewhat in the downward direction, thereafter the screw 45 is again tightened, to bring the free end of the holding pawl 36' into proper engagement with the teeth of the sprocket 24.
  • the switching arrangement 28 can bring either the pawl 27 or the pawl 27' into engagement with the teeth of the sprocket 24, so that during the reciprocation of the piston 8 in the cylinder 5, a nut or the like engaged in the socket 49 may be turned either in tightening or loosening direction.
  • the wrench illustrated is constructed in such a manner that during engagement of the pawl 27 with the teeth of the sprocket 24, that is when the ratchet is turned in the loosening direction of a right-hand thread, the pressure fluid will act through the opening 17 in the end wall 5' of the cylinder on the full face of the piston 8 during the forward stroke of the piston 8 in the cylinder 5, whereas if the pawl 27' is engaged with the teeth of the sprocket 24, the pressure fluid flowing through the opening 16 will act on the annular face of the piston 8 reduced by the cross-section of the piston rod as the piston 8 moves in the rearward direction.
  • the wrench of the present invention includes also a reaction member to abut against a stationary object adjacent to the threaded connector to be turned. If the threaded connectors are used to connect two flanged tube member this reaction member may abut against the outer surface of one of the flanges. Since the wrench of the present invention may be used for tightening or loosening a threaded connector without turning the wrench around, the reaction member has to be adjustable, since the aforementioned reaction force will tend to turn the support means in the one or the other direction.
  • a splined reaction support portion 3 projects normal to the outside of the side wall 18 of the transmission support portion 2 coaxial with the shaft 23, which in turn extends through and beyond an opening in this reaction support portion.
  • the reaction member 46 comprises a first splined annular portion 47 engaging with the splines of the reaction support portion 3 and a second portion integral with the first portion and extending laterally from the latter substantially in the direction of the axis of the ratchet 24, to abut, for instance on the outer surface of the flange in which the threaded connectors are provided.
  • the reaction member 46 is thus adjustable to any desired position depending on the direction in which the reaction force will act.
  • the wrench illustrated is characterised by a simple and sturdy construction of relatively small overall height. Its drive means are cylinder and piston means which are simpler in construction than rotary drive means and which require no gears for transmitting the drive from a rotary drive means to the socket to be engaged with the threaded connector to be turned. Nevertheless, the wrench illustrated is provided with a simple switching arrangement which permits the use of the wrench in tightening or loosening a threaded connector without turning the wrench around. In conjunction with this feature, the wrench includes also an adjustable reaction member which can be easily brought into the correct position depending on whether the wrench is used for tightening or loosening a connector.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Spanners, Wrenches, And Screw Drivers And Accessories (AREA)
  • Hand Tools For Fitting Together And Separating, Or Other Hand Tools (AREA)
EP19850302971 1984-10-22 1985-04-26 Fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector Expired EP0179543B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US66399684A 1984-10-22 1984-10-22
US663996 1984-10-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0179543A1 EP0179543A1 (en) 1986-04-30
EP0179543B1 true EP0179543B1 (en) 1988-12-07

Family

ID=24664081

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850302971 Expired EP0179543B1 (en) 1984-10-22 1985-04-26 Fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0179543B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS61100377A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3566631D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8701194D0 (en) * 1987-01-20 1987-02-25 Hedley Purvis Ltd Torque wrenches
US4825730A (en) * 1987-09-29 1989-05-02 Junkers John K Fluid operated wrench
US5203238A (en) * 1989-10-27 1993-04-20 Raymond Engineering Inc. Low profile rack and pinion wrench
DE4042070C2 (de) * 1990-01-13 1995-06-08 Wagner Paul Heinz Druckmittelbetriebener Kraftschrauber
BE1007526A3 (fr) * 1993-10-25 1995-07-25 Torrekens Daniel Octaaf Ghisla Cle de serrage.
WO2003006208A1 (de) * 2001-07-07 2003-01-23 Paul-Heinz Wagner Druckbetriebener kraftschrauber mit messabschnitt
US7765895B2 (en) * 2007-10-29 2010-08-03 Junkers John K Fluid-operated torque wrench for and method of tightening or loosening fasteners

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DD107402A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1973-11-05 1974-08-05
JPS5127520A (en) * 1974-08-29 1976-03-08 Hideo Kawasaki Mamekariki
FR2332106A1 (fr) * 1975-11-19 1977-06-17 Junkers John Cle hydraulique
US4201099B1 (en) * 1978-08-14 1993-12-07 K. Junkers John Hydraulic wrench
DE2945397A1 (de) * 1979-11-09 1981-05-27 Dietrich 8000 München Eckart Werkzeug zur direkten oder unterstuetzten ausfuehrung von drehbewegungen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0530595B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1993-05-10
JPS61100377A (ja) 1986-05-19
EP0179543A1 (en) 1986-04-30
DE3566631D1 (en) 1989-01-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4706527A (en) Fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector
US6427559B2 (en) Universal power tool
US4409865A (en) Continuous ratchet drive
US4794825A (en) Hydraulic power wrench
EP0754527B1 (en) Fluid operated tool for elongating and relaxing a threaded connector
US4671142A (en) Fluid operated wrench
EP0276936B1 (en) Improvements in or relating to torque wrenches
KR940011353B1 (ko) 유체작동형 렌치
US5495672A (en) Tube cutter
JPS603558B2 (ja) 油圧レンチ
US3930776A (en) Hydraulic wrench
EP0179543B1 (en) Fluid operated wrench for tightening or loosening a threaded connector
EP0382408B1 (en) Hydraulic torque wrench
US4748873A (en) Power wrench
GB2142855A (en) Power wrenches
US4446762A (en) Universally usable hydraulic wrench for simultaneously tightening or loosening two threaded connectors or for tightening or loosening a single threaded connector with a greater force
KR100369962B1 (ko) 연속유체작동형 렌치
US5016502A (en) Power wrench
US4706526A (en) Fluid operated wrench
EP1325794B1 (en) Fluid-operated torque wrench
EP1052067B1 (en) Fluid-operated tool
JPH0714593B2 (ja) トルクレンチ
US5235719A (en) Power ratchet wrench assembly
EP0432884A2 (en) Power wrench
CA2412817C (en) Torque wrench

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19860930

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19870708

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19881207

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3566631

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19890112

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
ET Fr: translation filed
PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: MASCHINENFABRIK WAGNER GMBH KG

Effective date: 19890905

NLR1 Nl: opposition has been filed with the epo

Opponent name: MASCHINENFABRIK WAGNER GMBH KG

PLBN Opposition rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED

27O Opposition rejected

Effective date: 19920103

NLR2 Nl: decision of opposition
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20040326

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20040428

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20040429

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20040629

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20050425

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20050426

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

NLV7 Nl: ceased due to reaching the maximum lifetime of a patent

Effective date: 20050426

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO