Flange Bolting Management System And Method

Abstract

A lock ring tightening mechanism includes a rotary pawl carrier disposed in a radial guide track and moveable by a piston connected to the rotary pawl carrier and a ratcheting lock ring configured for rotational actuation in a tightening direction by actuation of the rotary pawl carrier by the piston. A return spring is configured to return the rotary pawl carrier to a starting position and wherein repeated rotational actuation of the ratcheting lock ring serves to maintain tension in a fastening

Claims

1. A lock ring tightening mechanism comprising: a rotary pawl carrier disposed in a radial guide track and moveable by a piston connected to the rotary pawl carrier; a ratcheting lock ring configured for rotational actuation in a tightening direction by actuation of the rotary pawl carrier by the piston; a return spring configured to return the rotary pawl carrier to a starting position; and wherein repeated rotational actuation of the ratcheting lock ring serves to maintain tension in a fastening.

2. The lock ring tightening mechanism of claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to stroke alternately forward and reverse to each end of one of an air cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder; and where a connecting link is configured to pull and push the rotary pawl carrier, to drive the ratcheting lock ring to tighten a fastening.

3. The lock ring tightening mechanism of claim 2, wherein a ratcheting pawl drive is mounted to a jack body and is configured with a spring-loaded “torque pack” to bias the lock ring to rotate only in one direction to remain flush with a load face of the jack body.

4. The lock ring tightening mechanism of claim 3, wherein the pawl is driven using at least one of pneumatic power and electric power to turn the ratcheting lock ring.

5. The lock ring tightening mechanism of claim 1, further comprising tensioning assemblies to prevent broken parts from detaching from a rotating mill when a bolt breaks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and

[0031] FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 show various views of flange fastening management systems according to several embodiments.

[0032] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The following description is of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth herein. It should be appreciated that the description herein may be adapted to be employed with alternatively configured devices having different shapes, components, mechanisms and the like and still fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

[0034] Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0035] FIGS. 1-20 illustrate different views of a fastening management system according to various embodiments.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 1, a fastening management system includes a jack tensioner body supporting a ratcheting lock ring, pawl, ratchet drive, and jack piston.

[0037] With reference now to FIG. 2, a fastening management system is shown for use with helper plates on a rotating mill application, including use of quick-connect hydraulic fittings, SPC4 wireless probes, and integrated hydraulic load cells.

[0038] With reference now to FIG. 3, a connection link is shown for use with the ratchet actuator according to one embodiment.

[0039] With reference now to FIG. 4, a pawl carrier and bearing tracks are shown for use with the ratcheting lock ring according to one embodiment.

[0040] With reference now to FIG. 5, components of the ratcheting lock ring and pawl are shown according to one embodiment.

[0041] With reference now to FIG. 6, components of the ratcheting lock ring and pawl are shown according to one embodiment.

[0042] With reference now to FIG. 7, components of the ratcheting lock ring and pawl are shown according to one embodiment.

[0043] With reference now to FIG. 8, broken bolt retaining blocks, helper plates, load indicating bolts, wireless load transmitter, and air and oil channels are shown according to one embodiment. Load indicating fasteners are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,024,979 to Ronald Clarke, which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0044] With reference now to FIG. 9, components of the fastening management system are shown according to one embodiment, in which M64 12 pt bolts with wireless transmitting probes are used.

[0045] With reference now to FIG. 10, a pair of ratcheting lock rings is shown according to one embodiment.

[0046] With reference now to FIGS. 11-12, a ratchet pawl, actuator, pawl return spring, and pawl release lever are shown according to one embodiment.

[0047] With reference now to FIG. 13, a jack piston, jack cylinder, torque spring, torque ring, jack lock ring, and related components are shown according to one embodiment.

[0048] With reference now to FIG. 14-15, hydraulic channels for fluid communication with the jack cylinders are shown according to one embodiment.

[0049] With reference now to FIG. 16-18, an assembled fastening management system is shown according to one embodiment.

[0050] With reference now to FIG. 19, an alternative embodiment of a fastening management system is shown.

[0051] With reference now to FIG. 20, another alternative embodiment of a fastening management system is shown.

[0052] With reference now to FIG. 21, another alternative embodiment of a fastening management system is shown.

[0053] In some implementations, multiple flange bolts can be simultaneously preloaded, using hydraulic tensioners/nuts with a remote-controlled lock ring. Hydraulic cylinders may be made integral and machined into helper plates, which enables internally drilled oil holes (eliminating hoses), while also lessening the assembly width while fitting into existing mill flange hole spacing. Load monitoring of the assembly may be achieved using load indicating fasteners and wireless transmitters to provide mine operators loading data for individual bolts in real time. This real time information on flange assembly tightness is invaluable to plan and schedule maintenance shutdowns. It also allows for a closed-loop automatic tightening software program whereby all fasteners are pulled up and verified to target values that are fed back from each bolt.

[0054] Thus, remote-controlled lockrings for hydraulic jacks and nuts may be configured as a spring loaded version mounted on the jack, a pneumatic style with a bracket mounted to the jack, or as a ratchet drive bracket mounted to the helper plate to manage a flange fastening.

[0055] A number of implementations of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

[0056] Finally, while the present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments, many changes, combinations and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various components may be implemented in alternative ways. These alternatives can be suitably selected depending upon the particular application or in consideration of any number of factors associated with the operation of the device. In addition, the techniques described herein may be extended or modified for use with other types of devices. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.