The present invention provides technology with which it is possible to highly accurately assess the quality of fastening of a screw. The present invention comprises a position acquisition unit (13) that acquires the axial-direction position of a driver (50), and a fault assessment unit (14) that assesses that a fault has occurred in fastening of a screw when the amount of change in the axial-direction position of the driver (50) from when temporary seating occurred is greater than a threshold value. The present invention provides a technology with which the quality of screw fastening can be assessed with high precision.

Improved radial pneumatic regulator systems, devices and methods are described herein. Embodiments may comprise regulators with adaptive radial seals to prevent air leakage, provide increased air supply use efficiency, and facilitate more efficient manufacture and assembly of systems. The regulator systems may be used in applications such as for pneumatic power tools.

A power tool includes a housing, a motor positioned within the housing, and an impulse assembly coupled to the motor to receive torque therefrom. The impulse assembly including a cylinder at least partially forming a chamber containing a hydraulic fluid, an anvil positioned at least partially within the chamber, and a hammer positioned at least partially within the chamber and engageable with the anvil for transferring rotational impacts to the anvil. The hammer includes a surface facing the anvil, a first through hole formed in the surface and a second through hole formed in the surface. The impulse assembly further includes a biasing member biasing the hammer towards the anvil. The flow of the hydraulic fluid through the first through hole varies as the hammer translates away from the anvil.

Disclosed inventions include: integrated pneumatic flow pressure regulator assemblies with and/or without filters and/or swivels, per FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, 1K, 1 L, 1M and 1N for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; activation, or trigger, lock safety assemblies, per FIGS. 2A1, 2A2, 2B1 and 2B2, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; automatic torque gun shifting assemblies including: rotation speed-sensing centrifugal multi-speed automatic shifting assemblies, per FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; torque-sensing centrifugal multi-speed automatic shifting assemblies, per FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, and 4I, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; helical cam, or wobbling, turning force multiplication assemblies, per FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F and 5G, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; pneumatic pressure release, or burst, valve assemblies, per FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6I and 6J, that allow bleeding of pressure to unstick a locked up tool for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; pneumatic fluid directional valve assemblies, per FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; pneumatic fluid directional and activation, or trigger, lock safety valve assemblies, per FIGS. 8A and 8B, for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; and pneumatic tool cycle counter, or odometer, assemblies, per FIGS. 9A and 9B, that recognize tool actuations as drops in pneumatic pressure for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models.

Disclosed inventions include: integrated pneumatic flow pressure regulator assemblies with and/or without filters and/or swivels, per FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, 1K, 1 L, 1M and 1N for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; activation, or trigger, lock safety assemblies, per FIGS. 2A1, 2A2, 2B1 and 2B2, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; automatic torque gun shifting assemblies including: rotation speed-sensing centrifugal multi-speed automatic shifting assemblies, per FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; torque-sensing centrifugal multi-speed automatic shifting assemblies, per FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, and 4I, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; helical cam, or wobbling, turning force multiplication assemblies, per FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F and 5G, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models; pneumatic pressure release, or burst, valve assemblies, per FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6I and 6J, that allow bleeding of pressure to unstick a locked up tool for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; pneumatic fluid directional valve assemblies, per FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; pneumatic fluid directional and activation, or trigger, lock safety valve assemblies, per FIGS. 8A and 8B, for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models; and pneumatic tool cycle counter, or odometer, assemblies, per FIGS. 9A and 9B, that recognize tool actuations as drops in pneumatic pressure for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models.

A torque wrench includes a first part, a second part, a first spring, a block and a second spring. The first part includes a first section and a second. An axial passage is defined through the first part and a second part is received in the passage. The first part and the second part are connected to each other. The first spring is securely located in the second section. A pushing member is located in the first spring and includes a second contact portion. The block is removably in contact between the first and second contact portions. A second spring is mounted to the pushing member. The block is disengaged from the first and second contact portions when the torque wrench rotates clockwise or counter clockwise.

A torque wrench includes a first part, a second part, a first spring, a block and a second spring. The first part includes a first section and a second. An axial passage is defined through the first part and a second part is received in the passage. The first part and the second part are connected to each other. The first spring is securely located in the second section. A pushing member is located in the first spring and includes a second contact portion. The block is removably in contact between the first and second contact portions. A second spring is mounted to the pushing member. The block is disengaged from the first and second contact portions when the torque wrench rotates clockwise or counter clockwise.

A drive system for an industrial tool (e.g., a hydraulic torque wrench) includes a cylinder, a first piston, a first rod, a second piston, and a second rod. The cylinder includes a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The first piston is disposed within the cylinder and movable along the longitudinal axis. The first rod is coupled to the first piston and extends toward the first end of the cylinder. The second piston is disposed within the cylinder and movable along the longitudinal axis. The second rod is coupled to the second piston and extends toward the first end of the cylinder.

In a method for the documented tightening or tightening up of a heavily loaded screw connection of a threaded bolt and a nut screwed on the threaded bolt by using an axially operating tensioning device and a process control unit provided with a documentation module, the screw connection is identified by scanning an identification provided on the screw connection and data determined by scanning the identification is stored in the documentation module. The screw connection is lengthened by the tensioning device by axially pulling on a threaded end of the threaded bolt and a tightening force (F.sub.A) and/or a tightening pressure (P.sub.A) exerted by axially pulling on the threaded end is stored in the documentation module. After lengthening, the nut is turned by using a hand torque wrench and an actually exerted hand torque applied for turning the nut is stored in the documentation module.

Methods and apparatus to remove frangible fastener remnants are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to install a frangible fastener includes a drive tool having a drive socket operable to rotate a separable nut portion of the frangible fastener, and a fastener interface defining an interior for receiving at least the nut portion, the fastener interface being disposed on a drive end of the drive tool, where the drive socket is movable within the fastener interface and operable to rotate the frangible fastener, and where the separable nut portion of the frangible fastener is removed when the frangible fastener is installed. The apparatus also includes a nut-portion removal tube depending from the interior of the fastener interface, and a vacuum generator in fluid communication with the removal tube and configured to cause the separable nut portion to be removed from the interior and through the removal tube.