WO1992005917A1

WO1992005917A1 - Fluid-operated wrench

Info

Publication number: WO1992005917A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/002795
Authority: WO
Inventors: John K. Junkers
Original assignee: Junkers John K
Priority date: 1990-10-08
Filing date: 1991-04-19
Publication date: 1992-04-16
Also published as: DE69129799D1; EP0504331A1; AU641502B2; BR9105922A; ATE168308T1; ES2118083T3; ZA915517B; KR970001153B1; EP0504331A4; DE69129799T2; JPH05504918A; AU7760291A; EP0504331B1; KR920702273A; JPH0755453B2; DK0504331T3

Abstract

A fluid-operated power wrench has a housing (5), a fluid-operated drive (1), a ratchet (6) turnably mounted in the housing (5) and connected with the drive (1) so as to be turned by the latter, and also formed as a one-way ratchet so that when going from loosening of a threaded connector to tightening of a threaded connector and vice versa, the housing (5) together with the ratchet (6) is to be turned over. A first engaging element (19) is connected with the ratchet (6) for loosening the threaded connector on one side of the housing (5) and for tightening the threaded connector on the other side of the housing (5). A second engaging element (24) is connected with the housing (5) for loosening a threaded connector on the one side of the housing (5) and for tightening a threaded connector on the other side of the housing (5). A reaction element (27) is connected with the second engaging element (24) so as to transfer the reaction force to a stationary object during tightening and loosening, so that the housing (5) becomes stationary while the first engaging element (19) turns.

Description

Description Fluid-Operated Wrench

Technical Field

The present invention relates to flui -operated wrenches or torque tools.

More particularly, it relates to a wrench which has a reaction elemenL. and which does not have to be turned over when switching from the process of tightening a threaded connector to the process of loosening the threaded connector.

Background Ar_t hydraulic wrenches of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. One of such fluid-operated wrenches is disclosed, for example, in my U.S. Patent 4,706,527. The wrench disclosed in this reference has a two-way ratchet which permits the above mentioned retention of the tool on the threaded connector, regardless of whether the threaded connector is to be ightened or loosened. The two-way ratchets used in such tools necessitate further research and development simply because two-way ratchets as they are commonly known frequently cannot be subjected to high force output of many fluid-operated torque wrenches. It is believed to be clear that further improvements of the existing tools would be desirable.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid operated tool which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a fluid-operated tool which has to be turned around when switching from the tightening process of the threaded connector to the loosening process of the sane and which also has a reaction member attached around a drive axis of the ratchet.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present inventio resides, briefly stated, in a fluid-operated power wrench which has a housing, a fluid-operated drive, a ratchet turnably mounte in the housing and connected with the drive to be turned by the latter, the ratchet being formed as a one-way ratchet so that when going from loosening of a threaded connector to tightening threaded connector and vice versa, the housing together with th ratchet is to be turned over, first engaging means connected wi the ratchet so as to loosen a threaded connector on one side of the housing and to tighten a threaded connector on the other si of the housing, the first engaging means being engageable with threaded connector to be losened or tightened, second engaging means connected with the housing so as to be located on one sid of the housing for loosening threaded connector and to be locat on the other side of the housing for tightening a threaded connector; and reaction means connected with the second engagin means and extending as to transfer the reaction force to a stationary object during the tightening and loosening so that t housing becomes stationary while the first engaging means turn.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic fo the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claim The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages ^hereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection wit the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a view showing schematically a fluid-operated tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a section of the fluid-operated too of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a reaction arm of the inventive fluid-operated tool;

SUBSIPTE SHEET FIG. 4 is a view from below of the reaction arm of FIG. 3;

FIG. !> is a view showing a f uid-operated tool in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. G is a view showing a retaining element of the inventive fluid-operated tool.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Λ fluid-operated wrench in accordance with the present invention has a fluid-opera ed drive which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1. The drive includes, as usual, a cylinder 2 and a piston 3 movable in the cylinder 2 and provided with a piston rod. Two side plates 5 are connected in a known manner with the cylinder 2 of the drive and form together with the cylinder a housing of the tool.

The luid-operated tool further has a ratchet-pawl mechanism which includes a ratchet 6 and a pawl 7 engaging one another through respective teeth. The ratchet is provided with an inner opening 8. The opening 8 is preferably nonround and its wall has a plurality of engaging formations, for example splines. The pawl 7 is turnably mounted on a pin 9 which is held in two drive plates 10. The drive plates 10 surround the pawl on both opposite sides and are sandwiched between the side plates 5. The upper ends of the drive plates are pivotally connected with the end of the piston rod 4 of the drive 1, for example by a pin 12. The side latde- 5 are also connected with one another for example by a pin 13. Each side plate is provided with an inner opening 14 with a plurality of engaging formations for example splines 15. Two bushes 16 are arranged at both sides of the ratchet 6 and have inner openings 17 provided with engaging formations for example splines 18.

The fluid-operated tool in accordance with the present invention further has first engaging means identified as a whole with reference numeral 19. The first engaging means can be formed as an elongated rod 20 provided with a plurality of splines 21. The rod 20 and its splines 21 are designed so that the splines 21 engage with the splines 9 of the ratchet 6 and the splines 18 of the bushes 1G and the rod 20 can displace in an axial direction of the tool through the opening 8 of the ratchet 6 and the opening 17 of the bushes 16. Both ends of the rod 20 have a shape required for engaging a threaded connector to be tightened or loosened. For example, the ends 22 can be provided with a hexagonal opening, hexagonal head, or a shape permitting attachment of a socket for engaging with a threaded connector, etc. The rod 20 can be axially displaced so that its end 22 extends axially outwardly beyond the tool as shown in FIG. 2 at the right side, or in an opposite direction so that its left end extends outwardly beyond of the tool at the left side. In each position the rod 20 can be fixed for example by a pin 22 extend¬ ing through the ratchet 6 and engaging in an elongated groove 23 so as to tighten the rod.

The fluid-operated tool of the invention further has second engaging means identified as a whole with reference numeral 24. The second engaging means includes a ring 25 which is located in the opening 14 of the side plate 5 and has splines 26 engaging with the splines 15. A reaction socket 27 is connected with the ring 25 and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 formed integrally of one piece with the ring. A turning socket 28 provided with inner splines is located inside the reaction socket 27. The turning socket 23 has an inner opening 31 provided with splines 32 engageable with the splines 21 of the rod 20. The pin 30 can engage in an elongated groove 33 in the reaction socket.

The operation of the tool is illustrated by an example of tightening of foundation bolts with one nut A tightened on top o another nut B to assure that the connection does not loosen by vibrations. When the nut B is tightened to a required torque, for example by reacting against an adjacent stationary object, the rod 20 is pushed to one side of the housing as shown in Fig. 2 for example and fixed in this position by the pin 22. Its end 22' engages the turning socket 28. Then the drive 1 is actuated the piston 3 with the piston rod 4 are displaced in the cylinder

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 2, the drive plates 10 are turned and turn the drive pawl 7 which in turn turns the ratchet 6. The latter turns the rod 20 and thereby the turning socket 28 and the nut A while the reaction socket 27 having a hexagonal end opening is held immovably on the nut B. When it is necessary to loosen a threaded connector, the rod 20 is pushed to the other side of the housing so that its other end projects outwardly beyond the left side plate 5, the tool is turned over, and the other end 22" of the rod 20 engages the turning socket 28 which in turn turns the nut to be loosened. Then again the drive 1 is actuated, the piston rod 4 turns the drive plates 10 which turn the drive pawl, the ratchet 6 is turned and turns the rod 20 which then turns the turning socket 28 and finally the nut to loosen the latter.

It is well known that during the operation of the fluid- operated tools, it is necessary to abut with a reaction element against an object for example a neighboring nut or bolt, flange, etc. In the inventive tool it is performed by the reaction socket 27. When during tightening of a threaded connector described hereinabove it is necessary to react against a neighboring object, the second engaging means 24 with the reaction socket 27 are mounted as shown in the drawing, at the right side of the tool. When it is necessary to loosen a threaded connector as described hereinabove, the second engaging means 24 witk- t e reaction socket 27 are removed from the tool together and mounted at the left side of the tool. To prevent an axial disengagement of the second engaging means 24 from the plate 5, known means can be provided for example a bolt extending through the reaction socket 27 into the side plate 5.

As described hereinabove, the first engaging means 19 are displaceable along the axis of the ratchet and cannot rotate relative to the ratchet. It is performed here by interengaging splines on the respective parts. However, it is to be understoo that this can be achieved in many different ways for example by forming the openings in the ratchet 6, the bushes 16 of a non- round shape, and respectively forming the rod 20 non-round as well, such as rectangular, hexagonal and other shapes.

In the embodiment shown in FIC. 5 a pawl 41 is held by a drive plate 42 which is sandwiched between two side plates 43, and engages with a drive ratchet 44. The pawl 41 and the drive ratchet 44 are provided with interengaging formations 45 and 46 respectively which can be formed as splines, sawteeth, etc. to permit a longitudinal displacement of the ratchet 41 relative to the pawl 42 in an axial direction of the ratchet. The first engaging means is again formed by a rod identified with reference numeral 47 and displaceable axially through the drive ratchet so that its one end or another end extend outwardly beyond the respective side of the tool. The second engaging means 48 is formed as a reaction sleeve arranged on a drive bushing 49 and having outer splines 50 and two depressions 51 spaced from one another in an axial direction.

A reaction socket 52 in this embodiment is formed as separate member. The reaction socket 52 is mounted on the sleeve 48 by interengagement of the splines 53 of the reaction sleeve with the splines 50 of the skeeve 48. The sleeve 48 is retained on the side plate 43 by a retainer 54, while the reaction socket 52 is retained on the reaction sleeve 48 by a retainer 55 engaging in respective depressions 51. A turning socket 56 is turnably located inside^" the reaction socket 52 and its splines 57 engage the splines of the rod 47.

The drive ratchet 44 and the drive bushings 49 at both sides of the tool have inner engaging formations for example splines which engage with outer engaging formations, for example splines of the rod 47, so that the rod can displace axially without turning relative to the ratchet and the bushing.

In this embodiment when it is necessary for example to tighte a threaded connector, the rod 47 is pushed to the right and fixe in this position, and the drive ratchet 44 with the reaction sleeve 48 is also pushed to the right in the position shown in FIC. 5. When it is necessary, however, to loosen a threaded connector, the rod 47 is pushed to the left so that its left en extends outwardly beyond the left side plate 43, and the drive ratchet 44 together with the sleeve 48 and the drive bushing 49 is also pushed to the left, so that the left sleeve 48 and the drive bushing 49 extend outwardly beyond the left plate 43. Th reaction socket 52 with the turning socket 56 are removed from the right sleeve 48 and placed on the left sleeve 48 at the left side of the tool.

The reaction elements of this tool can react against any adjacent stationary object, including a part of the fastening device disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07/570,14 filed on August 17, 1990, in particular the top nut of the device. The reaction socket 27 can be formed as an arm so that it can abut against the adjacent nut, as shown in a broken line at the right side in FIG. 2 and identified with reference numeral 27 '.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a specific hydraulic tool, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way fro the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letter Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

SUBSTITUTE SHET

Claims

C laims

1. A hydraulic wrench comprising a housing having a front portion and a rear portion; fluid-operated drive means in said rear portion; a ratchet turnably mounted in said front portion and connected with said drive means so as to be turned by the latter, said ratchet being formed as a one-way ratchet so that when going from loosening of a threaded connector to tightening of a threaded connector and vice versa, said housing together with said ratchet is to be turned over; first engaging means connected with said ratchet so as to loosen a threaded connector on one side of said front portion and to tighten a threaded connector on the other side of said front portion, said first engaging means being engageable with a threaded connector to be loosened or tightened; second engaging means to be located on one side of said front portion fo loosening a threaded connector and to be located on the other side of said front portion for tightening a ^• threaded connector; and reaction means connected with said second engaging means and extending so as to transfer a reaction force to a stationary object during the tightening and loosening so that said housing become stationary while said first engaging means turns.

2. A flui -operated wrench as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means forming a throughgoing passage through the hydraulic wrench, said engaging means being arranged movably between a first position located on sai one side of said housing and a second position located a said other side of said housing and being movable throug said passage between said first and second positions.

SUBSTITUTE SHET

3. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 2, wherein said passage means includes a first passage formed in said ratchet so that said first engaging means being movable through said first passage.

4. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 3, wherein said passage forming means includes a second passage formed in said second engaging means, said first engagin means being movable between said first and second positions through said first and second passages.

5. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 4, wherein said passage forning means includes a first passage formed in said reaction means, said first engaging means being movable within said first and second positions through said first, second and third passages.

6. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said second engaging means and said reaction means are formed as one-piece integral member.

7. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 6, wherein said second engaging means and said reaction means are coaxial with said ratchet and with one another and located axially side-by-side with one another.

8. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said reaction means has at least a portion radially surrounding said second engaging means.

9. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 8, wherein said reaction means and said second engaging means are formed by separate members connectable with one another.

TITUTE SHET

10. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein said second engaging means and said reaction means are formed as separate merabers connectable with one another.

11. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means forming a throughgoing passage extending through the wrench, said second engaging means having a first position on said one side of said housing and the same position on the other side of said housing and being movable between said first and second positions by pushing through said passage.

12. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 11, wherein said reaction means is removably mounted on said second engaging means, so that before pushing said second engaging means through said passage, said reaction means is removed from said engaging means, and after reaching by said second engaging means one of said first and second positions said reaction means is again mounted on said second engaging means.

13. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means forming a throughgoing passage extending through the wrench, said first engaging means and said second engaging means having a first position o said one side of said housing and a second position on said other side of said housing and being movable together between said first position and said second position through said passage.

14. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 2; and further comprising guiding means allowing displacement o said first engaging means through said passage in an axial direction and at the same time preventing turning of said first engaging means relative to said ratchet.

SUBSTITUTE SHET

15. A fluid-operated wrench as defined in claim 11; and further comprising guiding means for allowing displacing of said second engaging means through said passage in an axial direction and at the same time preventing turning of said second engaging means relative to said housing.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET