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.

An adaptive mechanical joint control and stabilization process and device having particular usefulness in mechanical joints employing U-bolts. The method and device monitors at least two predetermined metrics during a fastener tightening clampload cycle and compares the work expended in achieving a target limit value. Through examining the work expended through the monitored metrics, additional clampload cycles will automatically be run until the monitored work expended for all of the fasteners falls within predetermined values increasing the stabilization of the joint and further advantages of increased residual clampload. The process and device is useful in separating clampload cycles which form or yield the fastener from a final clampload cycle which properly elongates the fastener for a secure clampload and stabilized joint.

A mounting frame for being mounted with either one of first and second screwdrivers, includes a main frame, a mounting seat, and first and second mounting plates. The mounting seat has a plate attachment hole set. The first mounting plate has a first seat attachment hole set operable to be connected to the plate attachment hole set, and a first driver attachment hole set for the first screwdriver to be attached thereto. The second mounting plate has a second seat attachment hole set operable to be connected to the plate attachment hole set, and a second driver attachment hole set for the second screwdriver to be attached thereto.

A fastening component supplying apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed fastening component supplying apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for supplying a plurality of bolts aligned by a bolt aligning device to a fastening portion of a fastening target part includes: a bolt picking unit rotatably installed to an arm front end of a handling robot and picking a plurality of bolts aligned in the bolt aligning device; and a bolt drop unit installed to an arm front end side of the handling robot and dropping the bolts picked by the bolt picking unit to the fastening portion.

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 nut temporary tightening device has bearing parts, a first support plate, a second support plate, and socket assemblies. Each bearing part has a cylindrical sleeve extending in an up-down direction and a flange provided at an intermediate portion of the sleeve. The first support plate has a plurality of first support holes that each support a corresponding bearing part along the outer circumference, on an upper end side, of the bearing part. The second support plate has a plurality of second support holes that each support a corresponding bearing part along the outer circumference, on a lower end side, of the bearing part. Each socket assembly has a driving shaft, a driving part, and a socket.

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.

Present embodiments relate to a riser bolt torque device that is configured to couple a first riser joint to a second riser joint to form a riser of a subsea drilling system. The riser bolt torque device includes a first arm and a second arm, multiple torque tools supported on the first arm and the second arm, and one or more actuators configured to drive the first arm and the second arm to pivot relative to one another from an open configuration to a closed configuration to enable alignment between the multiple torque tools and a flange of the first riser joint.

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.

The invention provides a subsea torque tool (10) for a subsea vehicle system (such as an ROV), a drive head selection mechanism (30), and a method of use. The tool comprises a tool housing and a plurality of torque drive heads (22, 24, 26). The drive mechanism (17, 18, 20, 28) is operable to rotate the plurality of torque drive heads, and the drive head selection mechanism is used to select a drive head to impart a torque to a subsea device. The drive head selection mechanism comprises a rotary actuator (14, 32), and rotation of the rotary actuator effects axial movement of at least one of the plurality of drive heads between an operative position and an inoperative position. In another aspect, the drive head selection mechanism comprises an actuator operable from the exterior of the torque tool. In a preferred embodiment, the drive heads are sockets (22, 24, 26), and the selection mechanism comprises a rotary actuator and a cam mechanism. The at least one socket may be permitted to rotate with respect to the cam mechanism when a driving torque is applied to the torque sockets.