Hydraulic torque wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12551995-B2
Application number	US-202218720136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2022
Priority date	Dec 15, 2021
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A hydraulic torque wrench ( 10 ), comprising: an input, for pressurised hydraulic fluid; a drive connector ( 14 ); a drive connector ( 13 ), driven by hydraulic fluid introduced at the input and arranged to drive the drive connector ( 14 ) to rotate; a drive member ( 1 ) for connecting to an item to be rotated by the hydraulic torque wrench ( 10 ), the drive member ( 1 ) comprising: a drive member ( 16 ), which engages the drive connector ( 14 ) so as to be driven by the drive connector ( 14 ) and a second part ( 18 ) arranged to be coupled to the item to be rotated. In which the drive member ( 1 ) comprises a retention mechanism which has two states: a first state, in which it prevents removal of the drive member ( 1 ) from the drive connector ( 14 ); and, a second, state in which it permits removal of the drive member ( 1 ) from the drive connector ( 14 ). In which the retention mechanism remains connected to the drive member ( 1 ) in the first state and in the second state. In which the retention mechanism comprises at least one retractable pin in the drive member ( 1 ), the retractable pin extending from the drive member ( 1 ) into the drive connector ( 14 ) in the first state and retracting into the drive member ( 1 ) in the second state. In which the drive member ( 16 ) of the drive member ( 1 ) has splines ( 15 ), and the drive connector ( 14 ) has splines ( 15 ) complementary to those of the drive member ( 16 ) of the drive member ( 1 ). In which each pin protrudes from the splines ( 15 ) of the drive member ( 1 ). There is no need to remove a separate retention member to change the drive member ( 16 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A hydraulic torque wrench, comprising:
an input for pressurized hydraulic fluid; a drive connector; a drive mechanism driven by hydraulic fluid introduced at the input and arranged to drive the drive connector to rotate; a drive member for connecting to an item to be rotated by the hydraulic torque wrench, the drive member comprising a first part which engages the drive connector so as to be driven by the drive connector and a second part arranged to be coupled to the item to be rotated; wherein:
the drive member comprises a retention mechanism which has two states: a first state in which the retention mechanism prevents removal of the drive member from the drive connector and a second state in which the retention mechanism permits removal of the drive member from the drive connector;
the retention mechanism remains connected to the drive member in the first state and in the second state;
the retention mechanism comprises at least one retractable pin in the drive member, the retractable pin extending from the drive member into the drive connector in the first state and retracting into the drive member in the second state;
the first part of the drive member has splines, and the drive connector has splines complementary to those of the first part of the drive member; and
each pin protrudes from the splines of the drive member.

2 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 1 , in which the splines of the drive member and of the drive connector comprise ridges separated by grooves, each pin protrudes from the grooves of the drive member, so as to engage a ridge of the drive connector.

3 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 1 , wherein the first part of the drive member comprises an internal bore.

4 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 3 , wherein each pin works in a pin bore in the drive member in communication with the internal bore, such that more of each pin protrudes into the internal bore in the second state than in the first state.

5 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 4 , comprising a spring in each pin bore which tends to bias each pin into the second state.

6 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 4 , wherein the first part of the drive member comprises an eccentric cam member which can rotate in the internal bore coaxially with the internal bore and having a radius, the cam member having at least one wider part and at least one narrower part, with each wider part having a larger radius than each narrower part, and wherein in the first state one wider part engages each pin and forces the pin along the pin bore and in the second state a narrower part engages each pin.

7 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 6 , wherein the cam member is elliptical.

8 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 6 , wherein each narrower part is provided with a recess for a pin.

9 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 3 , wherein the first part of the drive member is provided with a locking mechanism, which will only allow a transition from the first state to the second state when unlocked.

10 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a button member which can slide in the internal bore and which is fixed relative to the cam member.

11 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises a square, hexagonal or other drive for the item to be rotated.

12 . A hydraulic torque wrench, comprising:
an input for pressurized hydraulic fluid; a drive connector; a drive mechanism driven by hydraulic fluid introduced at the input and arranged to drive the drive connector to rotate; a drive member for connecting to an item to be rotated by the hydraulic torque wrench, the drive member comprising a first part which engages the drive connector so as to be driven by the drive connector and a second part arranged to be coupled to the item to be rotated; wherein:
the drive member comprises a retention mechanism which has two states: a first state in which the retention mechanism prevents removal of the drive member from the drive connector and a second state in which the retention mechanism permits removal of the drive member from the drive connector;
the retention mechanism remains connected to the drive member in the first state and in the second state;
the retention mechanism comprises at least one retractable pin in the drive member, the retractable pin extending from the drive member into the drive connector in the first state and retracting into the drive member in the second state;
the first part of the drive member has splines, and the drive connector has splines complementary to those of the first part of the drive member;
each pin protrudes from the splines of the drive member;
the first part of the drive member comprises an internal bore;
the first part of the drive member is provided with a locking mechanism, which will only allow a transition from the first state to the second state when unlocked;
the locking mechanism comprises a button member which can slide in the internal bore and which is fixed relative to the cam member; and
the button member is provided with at least one protrusion each of which works in two connected slots in the internal bore: an axial slot along a length of the internal bore, and a circumferential slot around the internal circumference of the internal bore.

13 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a spring arranged to bias the button member axially away from each circumferential slot.

14 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 12 , in which the splines of the drive member and of the drive connector comprise ridges separated by grooves, each pin protrudes from the grooves of the drive member, so as to engage a ridge of the drive connector.

15 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 12 , wherein the second part comprises a square, hexagonal or other drive for the item to be rotated.

16 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 12 , wherein each pin works in a pin bore in the drive member in communication with the internal bore, such that more of each pin protrudes into the internal bore in the second state than in the first state.

17 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 16 , comprising a spring in each pin bore which tends to bias each pin into the second state.

18 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 16 , wherein the first part of the drive member comprises an eccentric cam member which can rotate in the internal bore coaxially with the internal bore and having a radius, the cam member having at least one wider part and at least one narrower part, with each wider part having a larger radius than each narrower part, and wherein in the first state one wider part engages each pin and forces the pin along the pin bore and in the second state a narrower part engages each pin.

19 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 18 , wherein the cam member is elliptical.

20 . The hydraulic torque wrench of claim 18 , wherein each narrower part is provided with a recess for a pin.

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Ind Technique Ab

Inventors

• O'Brien Ian
• Gill Joseph
• Dodds Tony
• O'Brien Teresa

Classifications

• B25B23/0035

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title

• B25B21/005 Primary

  driven by a radially acting hydraulic or pneumatic piston · CPC title

• B25B23/145 Primary

  specially adapted for fluid operated wrenches or screwdrivers · CPC title