MXPA99010207A - A power tool for and a method of moving an element relative to an object - Google Patents

Abstract

For moving an element (6) in an axial direction relative to an object (8), a plurality of screw members (9) are screwable in the element (6) and are arranged around an axis (A) so as to be spaced from one another, each of the screw members (9) has a first end adapted to interact with the object (6) and an opposite second end, and a drive unit includes an action drive and a reaction drive arranged coaxially to the axis (A) and with one another and turnable in opposite directions, one (4, 5) of the drives engages an outer circumference of the screw members (9) while the other (2, 3) of the drives engages an inner circumference of the screw members (9) so that when the power tool is activated the drives (2, 3;4, 5) are turned in opposite directions and turn the screw members (9) in one and the same direction to thereby move the element (6) in the axial direction.

Description

MECHANICAL TOOL AND METHOD TO MOVE AN ELEMENT IN RELATION TO AN OBJECT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a mechanical tool and methods for moving elements relative to an object, for example to move a nut which is screwed into a bolt, a head of a bolt, etc. The mechanical tools of the general type mentioned above are known in the art. Torque tools driven by a known power have an opposite action and reaction force. The force of action is usually exerted by a thrust member adapted to rotate an element.

The reaction force is usually transferred to an object adjacent to the element to be rotated, by means of a reaction rod. The reaction bar is usually connected to the accommodation tool. In this way only one of the two opposing forces that are being used. A mechanical tool for this purpose is described in my U.S. patent. do not. 5,499,558. The tool has a coaxial action and reaction, and parts applied to the corresponding action and reaction. However, only one of these rotates while the other remains immobile. This does not provide for the application of opposite turning forces of a mechanical tool action and reaction simultaneously to one or more members, so that they turn in the same direction.

My patent application from E.U.A. No. 08 / 957,618, discloses a nut member having a plurality of engaged bolt members bolted thereto. Figure 3 shows a modality for rotating the screws simultaneously by applying a rotary force to the outer circumference of the gears, while Figure 4 shows an embodiment for rotating the bolts simultaneously by applying a rotary force to the internal circumference of the gears. In the known mechanical tools of this type there are three negative forces that can act when a bolt etc., is extended via torque: a lateral load, a bending force and a torsional force. If a torque wrench is used and only one thrust is applied to turn the screws, three things can occur: the tool would have to react against the stationary object near it, producing a lateral load on the ring member; - if the rotating friction of the screws exceeds the friction of the protrusion of one of the ends of the screw members, the ring type member could rotate causing twisting; - if the gear head flexes a screw slightly and the teeth coupling is skipped, then the screw would not extend equally with the others causing a bending force of a ring type member. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical tool of the aforementioned type which evades the disadvantages of the prior art. To maintain with these objectives and with others which will be apparent hereinafter, one aspect of the present invention resides, in summary, in a mechanical tool which has a plurality of screw members which can be screwed into the element and are coupled about an axis so as to separate one from the other, each of the members of the screw having a first end adapted to interact with an object and a second opposite end; and thrust means including a thrust of action and a reaction thrust coupled coaxially to the shaft and with another and that can rotate in opposite directions, one of the thrusts that engages an outer circumference of the screw members, while the other of the The thrusts engage an internal circumference of the screw members in this manner when the mechanical tool is activated. The thrusts rotate in opposite directions and rotate the screw members in one and in the same direction to move the element in the axial direction. The present invention also agrees with a method, according to which a plurality of screw members are screwed into an element, for example in a nut on a bolt end, and are arranged around an axis so as to separate one from the other, a first end of each The screw member is adapted to abut an object, and the screw members are coupled by action and reaction thrusts opposingly rotating coaxially with one of the thrusts that engage an outer circumference and the other thrust that couples an internal circumference of the members of the screw, such that when the thrusts are rotated in opposite directions the members of the screw rotate in one and the same direction to thereby move the element in an axial direction. When the mechanical tool is designed and the method is carried out in accordance with the present invention, the opposing rotational forces of the action thrust and the reaction thrust of the mechanical tool are applied simultaneously to one or more members, so that they rotate in the same direction. The force of action of the tool is applied to one circumferential side of the screw members, while the reaction force of the tool is applied to the other circumferential of the screw members. A lateral load, a torsion or a bending force is no longer applied to the element. When the screws are screwed into the element, the element will have to move axially. The simultaneous rotation of both the action thrust and the reaction thrust also eliminates any type of tool reaction that is transferred to the hand of the tool operator, simply because both rotate or stop. According to another aspect of the present invention, each screw member is provided with a gear in such a way that a gear ring is formed, and the thrusts engage the outer and inner circumferences of the gear ring. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, each gear is composed of two axially spaced gear portions that have different engagement characteristics and are engaged by the corresponding thrusts. Because the outer circumference of the gear ring is longer than the inner circumference of the gear ring, the use of a simple gear on the end of each screw member will result in a different speed of rotation between the thrusts of action and of reaction. By using two gear portions having different engagement characteristics, the rotation speeds of the action and reaction thrusts can be adjusted accordingly. The novel aspects which are considered as characteristics for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention by itself, however, both its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the coupled drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. Figure 1 is a view showing a mechanical tool according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view showing a further embodiment of the inventive mechanical tool; Figure 3 shows a detail of the inventive mechanical tool. Figure 4 shows an assembly composed of several parts of the inventive mechanical tool. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES. A mechanical tool according to the present invention which operates according to the inventive method has a housing which is identified as a whole with a reference number 1. A main thrust unit not shown is accommodated in the housing 1 and it can be formed, for example, as a cylinder piston unit operated with fluid provided, for example, with an external rotating member to produce a rotating action. The mechanical tool is provided with a thrust of action and a thrust of reaction. One of said thrusts includes a central arrow 2 which is connected to the rotating element of the main thrust unit. At the opposite end of the arrow 2 is connected with a central gear 3 having external teeth. The other thrust includes a central disc 4, is provided with external coupled formations formed, for example, as slots, and an annular member 5 having internal slots that engage with the external slots of the central disc 4. Arrow 3 extends centrally through the central disk 4 with an opening therebetween to allow independent rotation of the arrow 2 and the central disk 4 in relation to one another. The central disk 4 can be carefully connected to the housing 1. The thrusts 2, 3 and 4, 5 are coaxial with each other and with a central axis A. The mechanical tool according to the present invention is used to provide an axial movement of an element related to an object. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the element is represented by a nut 6 which is screwed onto a bolt 7 extending through an object 8, for example a flange and the like. A plurality of screws 9 are screwed into threaded apertures of the nut 6 and are separated from one another in a circumferential direction about the axis A. Each screw has a first end 10 adapted to interact directly or indirectly with the object 8, for example for adjacent to the object 8, for coupling the object 8, to adjoin against a washer located between the element 6 and the object 8, etc., and another end 11. The thrust 2, 3 is arranged to couple the screws 9 inwards on the inner side, while the thrust 4, 5 engages to couple the screws 9 outwardly on the outer side. To this end, at a location axially spaced from the first end 10 towards the other end 11, each screw 6 is provided, for example, with at least one gear 12. The gears 12 are separated from each other circumferentially around the axis A and together they form a ring or set of gears. As can be seen from the drawings, the central gear 3 of the first thrust 2, 3 engages the gear ring 12 inwardly on the inner circumference, or in other words couples each gear 12 radially on its inner side. The annular member 5 of the other thrust 4, 5 engages the outer circumference of the gear ring, or in other words couples each gear 12 on its outer side radially. The mechanical tool according to the present invention as defined in claim 1, operates as follows: When the mechanical tool is activated, the main thrust unit causes the rotation of the arrow 2 in one direction, through the rotating element not shown, and therefore also rotates the central gear 3 of the first thrust 2, 3. As a result of a reaction force, the housing 1 of the tool rotates in an opposite direction, and therefore, rotates the central disk 4, which in turn, rotates the annular member 5 in the opposite direction. As a result, the gears 12 are rotated in one and in the same direction under the action of rotating forces applied radially outwardly and radially inwardly for each gear 12. In response to the rotation of the gears 12, the screws 9 move axially towards the object or away from the object, depending on the direction of rotation, in such a way that it axially unfolds the nut 6 and therefore tightens or loosens the pin 7 in the object 8. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The parts of the mechanical tool shown in Figure 2 which are similar to the parts of the mechanical tool shown in Figure 1, are identified by the same reference number. The gears of the mechanical tool of this mode are formed differently. Each gear 19 has two members 20 and 21 which are separated from one another in an axial direction. The gear member 20 of each gear 19, is engaged by the central gear 3 of the thrust 2, 3, while the gear member 21 of each gear 19 is engaged by the annular member 5 of the thrust 4, 5. The gear member 20 and 21 of the same gear 19 have different engagement characteristics for example, different diameters, different numbers of teeth, different separations, etc. These different gear characteristics may be selected in such a way that the speed of rotation of the thrusts 2, 3 and 4, 5 is adjusted. This, of course, is not necessary to make the gears 12 or 19 integrally with the corresponding screws 9. As shown in Figure 3, a gear 12 'is formed as a separate member. This is provided with an internal polygonal opening and mounted on a polygonal projection of a screw 9 '. Various parts of the mechanical tool of the invention can together form a single unit which is shown in Figure 4. The gears 12 'are rotatably fixed between the central gear 3 and the annular member 5. When the annular member 5 is mounted on the central disk 4, the central gear 3 is mounted simultaneously on the central arrow 2. The mechanical tool together with the unit assembled in this way is now applied to the polygonal screws 9 '.

It will be understood that some modifications are possible. For example, the arrow 2 can be connected immovably to the tool housing, while the central gear 4 can be rotated by a rotating element of the tool. The annular member 5 can be immobile connected to the housing and the central disc 4 can be removed. Because the mechanical tool of the invention can be used by moving the elements (nuts, bolts, etc.) of different diameters related to the object, the Corresponding parts of the tool can be removable and interchangeable by similar parts that have different diameters. For example, the central gear 3, instead of being integral with the arrow 2, can be removably mounted on the interacoplating arrow and polygonal formations and the like, and replaced by central gears of different diameters when necessary. The central disc 4 and / or the annular member 5 can be removably mounted to the housing and replaceable by the central discs and / or annular members of different diameters. It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. While the invention has been illustrated and described as a modality in a mechanical tool for moving an element, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes can be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will fully disclose the essence of the present invention which, applying current knowledge, others can easily adapt for various applications without omitting the aspects which, from the point of view of the prior art, constitute the essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. What is claimed as new and is desired to be protected by the Patent Title is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A mechanical tool for moving an element in an axial direction in relation to an object, comprising a plurality of members of the screw which are screwed into the element and are coupled about an axis in such a way that they separate one from the another, each member of the screw having a first end adapted to interact with the object and a second opposite end; thrust means including a thrust of action and a reaction thrust coupled coaxially to said axis and with another and which can in opposite directions, one of said thrusts coupling an external circumference of said member of the screw while the other thrust engages an internal circumference of said screw members such that when the mechanical tool is activated, said thrusts rotate in opposite directions and rotate said screw members in one and in the same direction thereby moving the element in an axial direction.
2. 2. A mechanical tool as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said screw members is provided with at least one gear so as to form a ring of gears, said thrusts correspondingly coupling an outer circumference and an internal circumference of said gear ring.
3. A mechanical tool as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said gears has a first engagement member and a second engagement member separated from one another in an axial direction and having different gear characteristics in such a manner which adjusts the speed of rotation of said action thrust and said reaction thrust.
4. 4. A mechanical tool as defined in claim 2, wherein said thrust includes an annular member having a portion which engages each of said gears from the outside.
5. A mechanical tool as defined in claim 4, wherein said thrust further has a central disc which engages said annular member inwardly at an axial location spaced from a location in which the annular member engages said gears from the outside.
6. 6. A mechanical tool as defined in claim 2, wherein the other thrust includes a central gear which engages each of said gears from the inside.
7. 7. A mechanical tool as defined in claim 6, wherein the other thrust also has a central arrow which connects to said central gear.
8. 8. A mechanical tool as the claim is defined 5, wherein the other thrust also has a central arrow and a central gear which engages each of said gears from the inside, said central arrow freely extending through said disk with a radial distance therebetween and being located within said annular member.
9. 9. A method for moving an element in an axial direction relative to an object by a mechanical tool, the steps of screwing a plurality of members of the screw into the element; interacting at one end of the screw members with the object; coupling the screw members by action and reaction thrusts which can rotate oppositely in a coaxial manner so that one of the thrusts engages an internal circumference and the other of the thrusts engages an outer circumference of the screw members; and rotating the thrusts in opposite directions in such a way as to rotate the screw members in one and in the same direction and thus moving the element in an axial direction.