Screw fastener engaging/disengaging apparatus suitable for attaching/detaching wheels to/from vehicles has a frame and a set of parallel spindles mounted on the frame for holding one type of screw fastener at the spindle ends. The spindle ends are arranged in a circular array with the spindles rotatable about their longitudinal axes. The screw fasteners are configured for screw engagement with screw fasteners of another type mounted on a wheel attachment member to/from which a wheel can be attached/detached. An adjustment mechanism collectively changes positions of the spindle axes between a circular array with a first radius and a circular array with a second radius.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A fastening apparatus includes: a plurality of fastening tools; a first movement mechanism configured to rotate the plurality of fastening tools in a circumferential direction; a second movement mechanism configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a radial direction; and a third movement mechanism configured to rectilinearly move the plurality of fastening tools in a vertical direction. In particular, the first movement mechanism includes a closed-curve guide unit having a closed-curve shape and configured to define a route along which the plurality of fastening tools rotates in the circumferential direction.

A wheel lock key assembly includes a wheel lock key portion configured to engage with keyslot features on a wheel lock. A driving tool coupling portion is connected to the wheel lock key portion and includes a surface structured to be rotationally coupled to a driving tool so as to enable rotation of the wheel lock key portion by the driving tool by a force acting on the surface. The surface extends along a plane extending parallel to the wheel lock key portion rotational axis. A retaining member is deformable to vary a radial distance the exterior surface extends from the rotational axis. A retaining member deformation mechanism is actuatable to deform the retaining member to vary the radial distance, such that the exterior surface extends at least a predetermined distance past the plane prior to rotational coupling of the wheel lock key assembly to the driving tool.

This fastening method is a method for fastening a plurality of types of fastening members stored in a cartridge, the cartridge includes a plurality of attachments, the attachment has one end in which a first fitting part that fits to a fastening force receiving part of a corresponding fastening member of the plurality of types of fastening members is formed and another end in which a second fitting part that fits to a fastening force working part of the fastening means is formed, and the cartridge is supplied in a state in which the plurality of types of fastening members and the plurality of attachments are arranged based on the order of fastening the plurality of types of fastening members to the object to be fastened.

A torque wrench for multiple bolts or nuts comprises multiple drive spindles that are arranged annularly around a center and are equipped or able to be equipped at the end with respective torque-applying tools, and a ratchet drive, associated with each drive spindle and driven by means of a hydraulic piston drive, for driving the drive spindles. In addition to the ratchet drive, a locking ratchet for locking the drive spindle acts on each drive spindle to keep it from turning back when exercising a return stroke movement of the drive ratchet. The locking ratchets are arranged in a locking bracket, which is penetrated by the drive spindles. The locking bracket has means for loosening the locking ratchets.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

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.

A tensioning apparatus is provided that is arranged to simultaneously tension a plurality of jackbolts of a multi jackbolt tensioner (MJT). The tensioning apparatus has a housing that is arranged for receiving a drive gear from a drive unit. The tensioning apparatus includes one or more planetary gears that are retained within the housing and which mesh with the drive gear in use. A ring gear encircles the one or more planetary gears and meshes with them. A plurality of spindle gears is retained in the housing. Each of the spindle gears has a spindle for coupling to a respective one of the jackbolts. The spindle gears are located around the ring gear and mesh with teeth on an outside of the ring gear. In use the drive gear rotates the one or more planetary gears to thereby rotate the spindle gears via the ring gear to thereby tension the jackbolts. The tensioning apparatus may be made compact by overlapping gear disks of the spindle gears and acts as a torque multiplier between the planetary gears and the spindle gears.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.