Various implementations of grounding clamps and torque-controlled fasteners are disclosed. The grounding clamps may be used to attach grounding conductors to various structures, such as pipes, conduit, grounding rods etc. The torque-controlled fasteners may use various techniques to control the amount of torque applied to the fasteners used with the grounding clamps described herein.

An electric tool includes a motor section, a head section, a handle section, a coupling section, a battery, and a fragment ejecting mechanism. The head section is configured to twist off the fragment portion of a shear bolt. The coupling section detachably couples the head section to the motor section and allows the pointing direction of the front end of the head section to be changed along the radial direction of the motor shaft in the motor section. The fragment ejecting mechanism has a pushing portion and a driving portion. The pushing portion is provided in the head section and is configured to push out the twist-off fragment portion. The driving portion is provided at the coupling section and is configured to drive the pushing portion. The electric tool can twist off and then eject the fragment portion of a shear bolt even after the head section has changed direction.

A tooling assembly for fastener installation has a socket body reversibly rotatable by a driving mechanism. A bore in the socket body has a first end portion and a central portion incorporating threads. A second end portion of the bore receives and engages a severable section of a frangible fastener. A pin is received in the bore and constrained from rotation by the driving mechanism. The pin has an ejection shaft with mating threads selectively receivable in the threads of the central portion of the bore. The socket body is freely rotatable with the mating threads positioned in the first end portion of the bore. Rotation of the socket body in torques the frangible fastener on a stud fracturing the severable section. Reverse rotation of the socket body engages the mating threads in the threads translating the pin. The ejection shaft ejects the severable section from the second end portion.

A shear wrench tool including a motor; a transmission operatively connected to the motor; a first socket arranged to engage a tip of a bolt to be sheared; and a second socket arranged to engage a nut threaded on the bolt; wherein the first and second sockets are operatively connected to the transmission and rotate in opposite directions relative to each other when the motor provides a torque to the transmission; and wherein the motor can be driven in both forwards and reverse directions.

A shear wrench tool including a motor; a transmission operatively connected to the motor; a first socket arranged to engage a tip of a bolt to be sheared; a second socket arranged to engage a nut threaded on the bolt; wherein the first socket and second sockets are operatively connected to the transmission and rotate in opposite directions relative to each other when the motor provides torque to the transmission in use; an ejector mechanism comprising an ejector pin coaxial with the first and second sockets and moveable between a retracted position for enabling the tip of a bolt to be sheared to be received in the first socket and an extended position for urging a sheared tip from within in the first socket.

A tooling assembly for fastener installation has a socket body reversibly rotatable by a driving mechanism. A bore in the socket body has a first end portion and a central portion incorporating threads. A second end portion of the bore receives and engages a severable section of a frangible fastener. A pin is received in the bore and constrained from rotation by the driving mechanism. The pin has an ejection shaft with mating threads selectively receivable in the threads of the central portion of the bore. The socket body is freely rotatable with the mating threads positioned in the first end portion of the bore. Rotation of the socket body in torques the frangible fastener on a stud fracturing the severable section. Reverse rotation of the socket body engages the mating threads in the threads translating the pin. The ejection shaft ejects the severable section from the second end portion.

A screwdriving end fitting for a screwdriving tool for tightening a self-breaking fastener, such as a self-breaking nut or screw, includes a screwdriving socket and a retention module. The self-breaking fastener includes a threaded portion linked to a screwdriving head via a breaking area. The screwdriving socket of the screwdriving end fitting is capable of cooperating with the self-breaking fastener in order to drive it in rotation, and the retention module retains a broken portion of the self-breaking fastener in the screwdriving socket after the fastener has broken. The retention module includes at least one retainer movable between a locked position in which the retainer inhibits the broken portion of the self-breaking fastener from exiting the screwdriving socket and an unlocked position in which the retainer allows this exit.

Improved techniques for maintaining connector integrity are provided. In some aspects, specialized connector systems are provided in conjunction with sensors for detecting proper characteristics and connection conditions for a particular connector. In other aspects, multiple-section connectors are included, which may be self-tightening, and create detectable tightness and integral conditions, aiding in identifying a connector aspect that has loosened, slipped, or may be in need of recharging, tightening or replacing. A specialized connector head may selectively break away before stripping and thereby expose a stronger, secondary driver head. A specialized cord connector has testable connecting fiber sections, allowing for greater safety (e.g., in climbing or suspension bridges).

An item for tightening including a first part including a first end part forming an end piece to engage with the head of a screw, and a second end part to engage with an actuating member, such that activation of the actuating member causes turning of the screw and the tightening, this first part being able to break into two portions upon reaching the recommended tightening torque, respectively a first portion including the first end part and a second portion including the second end part. A second part is mounted tightly about the first part, a holding device is provided in part on the first part and in part on the second part and being able to retain the second portion of the first part inside the second part of the item in order to prevent this second portion leaving this second part of the item after rupture of the first part.

A system includes a fastener and a fastener installation tool. The fastener includes a sleeve having a tubular portion with an internal threaded portion having an internal thread, and a head. The head of the sleeve is configured to be installed in an accessible hole in a workpiece having a surface. The fastener includes a pin member having a threaded portion with an external thread. The pin member is disposed within the sleeve and the external thread of the pin member is configured to threadedly engage the internal thread of the sleeve. The fastener installation tool includes a nosepiece having a face configured to engage the head of the sleeve without the face contacting the surface of the workpiece.