B23P19/069

Torque wrench system having multiple torque stations

An improved multi-bolt and nut torque wrench for installing and removing bolts or nuts from flanged joints or the like which includes a plurality of torque stations having a plurality of high torque wrenches for engaging the heads of the bolts or nuts during a high torque phase of removal or installation; a plurality of low-torque motors operatively engaged with the wrenches for rotating the bolts or nuts during the low torque phase of removal or installation; a source of hydraulic fluid for driving the low-torque motors during the low-torque phase, and driving the high-torque wrenches during the high torque phase; and a mechanism for switching between the two phases depending on the torque needed.

APPARATUSES FOR COUPLING THREADED FASTENERS
20190299345 · 2019-10-03 ·

A rotary-drive sub-assembly includes a tool, a tool retainer, and a retaining member. The tool includes a fastener-engagement portion, a first threaded portion, and a tool-change-engagement portion between the fastener-engagement portion and the first threaded portion. The tool retainer includes a body. The body includes a symmetry axis, a second threaded portion and a key. The second threaded portion is configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion of the tool so that the tool is rotationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer about the symmetry axis and is translationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer along the symmetry axis. The key is fixed relative to the second threaded portion. The retaining member is removably coupled to the body at a fixed location.

Subsea Flange Tool
20190301641 · 2019-10-03 ·

A torquing tool for rotating bolts connecting a pipe flange in a subsea environment, comprising a first guide for guiding movement of the torquing along a pipe, a socket for engaging a first bolt, a shaft for transferring torque from a motor to the socket, and a first protruding member for insertion between the pipe and a second bolt of the pipe flange, to prevent the torquing tool from rotating due to counter torque created while applying torque to the first fastener. The torquing tool can further comprise a second protruding member adjacent the socket, wherein the second protruding member can be inserted between the pipe and a third bolt of the pipe flange. The torquing tool can further comprise an angled shaft for transferring torque from the motor to the socket, wherein an axis of rotation of the motor is different from an axis of rotation of the socket.

Autonomous traverse tire changing bot, autonomous tire changing system, and method therefor

An autonomous traverse tire changing bot includes a carriage having a carriage frame with a carriage drive section effecting autonomous traverse of the carriage, along a traverse path, relative to a traverse surface or a floor on which the bot rests, and a bot frame including at least one actuator mounted to the carriage and a bot drive section with a motor defining an actuator degree of freedom, wherein the at least one actuator has an end effector having a tire engagement tool disposed so that articulation of the at least one actuator with the actuator degree of freedom effects engagement contact of the tire engagement tool and a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a controller effects traverse of the bot along the traverse path effecting dynamic positioning of the at least one actuator relative to a variable position of the vehicle with the tire mounted thereon.

Methods for coupling threaded fasteners

A method of threadably coupling a first fastener with a second fastener using a rotary drive including a tool. The method includes rotationally anchoring the second fastener relative to the tool by co-axially urging a fastener-engagement portion of the tool against the second fastener and rotating the tool relative to the second fastener using a socket of the rotary drive until the fastener-engagement portion of the tool mates with a receiving portion of the second fastener, receiving the first fastener within the socket of the rotary drive co-axially with the fastener-engagement portion of the tool, and rotating the first fastener with the socket of the rotary drive relative to a housing of the rotary drive to cause the first fastener to threadably engage the second fastener.

Reconfigurable fastener multi-spindle tool and method

A reconfigurable fastener multi-spindle tool system includes multiple spindle assemblies, each including a support ring and a support arm sleeve received in the support ring and rotatable on a central longitudinal axis of the support ring. At least one support arm is connected to the support ring. The at least one support arm rotates with respect to the central longitudinal axis. A spindle is fixed to the support arm and is displaceable with respect to the central longitudinal axis. The spindle has an adaptor to temporarily retain and torque a fastener. A reaction plate is connected to the spindle and has a geometric shape. At least one template plate has multiple openings each having a geometric shape matching the geometric shape of the reaction plate. One of the openings receives the reaction plate thereby preventing axial rotation of the spindle.

Temporary fastening tool
10322479 · 2019-06-18 · ·

A temporary fastening tool has a tool main body, a grip, a transmission mechanism, a socket, a plurality of pins, and two magnets. At least a portion of a side surface of the pin protrudes from an inner surface section of the socket toward a central axis of the socket. The magnets are disposed such that centers of the magnets are disposed outside of an imaginary circle having a radius of a circle that circumscribes an outer circumferential section of a screwing member that includes corner sections. The magnets are disposed at positions that do not overlap the pins when the socket is seen from a side of an opening section.

Mobile Fastener Machine Platform

An apparatus for providing an efficient platform for installing screws can include a cart with wheels and a screw assembly mounted to the cart. The screw assembly can include a screwing device that rotates a drive shaft that engages a screw, a screw guide tube and a screw feeding tube connected to the screw guide tube. In another embodiment, an assembly is provided. The assembly may include a bracket for coupling to a moveable platform, a screwing device coupled to the bracket and that rotates a drive shaft that engages a screw, a screw guide tube and a screw feed tube connected to the screw guide tube.

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISASSEMBLING A PITCH BEARING FROM A WIND TURBINE HUB
20190063400 · 2019-02-28 ·

In a first aspect, a method of lowering a wind turbine blade assembly comprising a wind turbine blade and a pitch bearing from a wind turbine hub is provided. The method of lowering a wind turbine blade assembly comprises positioning the wind turbine blade in a substantially horizontal position, holding the wind turbine blade in the substantially horizontal position with a crane, removing the blade assembly from the hub and lowering the blade assembly with the crane. In a further aspect, a method of disassembling a pitch bearing from a wind turbine hub using a tool having a socket wrench is provided. In yet a further aspect, tool for connecting or disconnecting a wind turbine blade assembly to or from a hub of a wind turbine is provided.

TOOL SWITCHING/HOLDING DEVICE AND ROBOT SYSTEM
20190001451 · 2019-01-03 · ·

Even with a simple structure, tool exchange can be efficiently performed. Provided is a tool switching/holding device including: a base; a Y-axis slide base; a Y-axis actuator that moves the Y-axis slide base in a Y-axis direction; X-axis slide bases that are provided on the Y-axis slide base; tool mounting members that are provided on the X-axis slide bases and on which a tool is mounted; an X-axis actuator that selectively holds one of the tool mounting members and that moves the held tool mounting member in the X-axis direction; and a retreating/locking sections that cause the tool mounting member other than the tool mounting member that is selectively held by the X-axis actuator to retreat to a position away from the X-axis actuator in the Y-axis direction or the X-axis direction and that lock the retreating tool mounting member.