System, method, and tool assembly for removing a component from a mandrel assembly

A separating system comprising:

• a mandrel assembly including an upper ring removably secured to a tower;
• a cured composite component secured around at least a portion of the tower;
• and
• a component-removal tool assembly configured to initially remove the upper ring from the tower and subsequently remove the component from the tower, the component-removal tool assembly comprising:
• a main frame;
• a plurality of rotational input devices extending from the main frame, wherein each of the plurality of rotational input devices is operatively coupled to a respective plunger that is configured to be actuated against a portion of the mandrel assembly;
• and
• a synchronizing link that synchronously couples the plurality of rotational input devices together, wherein the synchronizing link operates to synchronize movement of the plurality of rotational input devices, and wherein movement of one or more of the plurality of rotational input devices causes the plungers coupled to the plurality of rotational input devices to exert a uniform and consistent disconnecting force into the mandrel assembly,
• wherein the synchronizing link comprises a single, common roller chain coupled to each of the plurality of rotational input devices, and
• wherein each of the plurality of rotational input devices comprises a gear operatively coupled to the single, common roller chain,
• wherein the component-removal tool assembly is positioned on the tower and secured to the upper ring, wherein at least one of the plurality of rotational input devices is initially rotated to separate the upper ring from the tower, wherein the component-removal tool assembly is initially moved off of the tower to remove the upper ring from the tower, wherein the upper ring is removed from the component-removal tool after the component-removal tool assembly is initially moved off of the tower, wherein the component-removal tool assembly is re-positioned on the tower and secured to the component, wherein at least one of the plurality of rotational input devices is subsequently rotated to separate the component from the tower, wherein the component-removal tool assembly is subsequently moved off of the tower to remove the component from the tower, and wherein the component is removed from the component-removal tool after the component-removal tool assembly is subsequently moved off of the tower.

A method of removing a cured, composite component from a mandrel assembly, the method comprising:

• coupling a plurality of synchronized rotational input devices of a component-removal tool assembly to a single, common roller chain, wherein the coupling comprises operatively coupling a gear of each of the plurality of synchronized rotational input devices to the single common roller chain;
• positioning the component-removal tool assembly on a tower of the mandrel assembly;
• securing the component-removal tool assembly to an upper ring that connects to the tower;
• initially rotating at least one of the plurality of synchronized rotational input devices in a disconnecting direction to separate the upper ring from the tower
• wherein the initially rotating operation causes all of the synchronized rotational input devices to rotate in the disconnecting direction, wherein the initially rotating operation comprises actuating a plurality of plungers operatively coupled to respective ones of the plurality of synchronized rotational input devices into a portion of the tower;
• initially moving the component-removal tool assembly off of the tower to remove the upper ring from the tower;
• removing the upper ring from the component-removal tool after the component-removal tool assembly is moved off of the tower;
• re-positioning the component-removal tool assembly on the tower;
• securing the component-removal tool to the component;
• subsequently rotating at least one of the plurality of synchronized rotational input devices in the disconnecting direction to separate the component from the tower, wherein the subsequently rotating operation causes all of the synchronized rotational input devices to rotate in the disconnecting direction, wherein the subsequently rotating operation comprises actuating the plurality of plungers operatively coupled to the respective ones of the plurality of synchronized rotational input devices into the portion of the tower;
• subsequently moving the component-removal tool assembly off of the tower to remove the component from the tower;
• and
• removing the component from the component-removal tool after the component-removal tool assembly is subsequently moved off of the tower.

A component-removal tool assembly configured to remove a component from a mandrel assembly, the component-removal tool assembly comprising:

• a main frame including one or more sprockets;
• a plurality of rotational input devices extending from the main frame, wherein each of the plurality of rotational input devices is operatively coupled to a respective plunger that is configured to be actuated against a portion of the mandrel assembly;
• and
• a synchronizing link that synchronously couples the plurality of rotational input devices together, wherein the synchronizing link operates to synchronize movement of the plurality of rotational input devices, and wherein movement of one or more of the plurality of rotational input devices causes the plungers coupled to the plurality of rotational input devices to exert a uniform and consistent disconnecting force into the mandrel assembly,
• wherein the synchronizing link comprises a single, common roller chain coupled to each of the plurality of rotational input devices, and wherein the one or more sprockets are operatively coupled to the single, common roller chain.

A separating system comprising:

• a mandrel assembly including an upper ring removably secured to a tower;
• a cured composite component secured around at least a portion of the tower;
• and
• a component-removal tool assembly configured to initially remove the upper ring from the tower and subsequently remove the component from the tower, the component-removal tool assembly comprising:
• a main frame;
• a plurality of rotational input devices extending from the main frame, wherein each of the plurality of rotational input devices is operatively coupled to a respective plunger that is configured to be actuated against a portion of the mandrel assembly;
• and
• a synchronizing link that synchronously couples the plurality of rotational input devices together, wherein the synchronizing link operates to synchronize movement of the plurality of rotational input devices, and wherein movement of one or more of the plurality of rotational input devices causes the plungers coupled to the plurality of rotational input devices to exert a uniform and consistent disconnecting force into the mandrel assembly,
• wherein the synchronizing link comprises a single, common roller chain coupled to each of the plurality of rotational input devices, and
• wherein the main frame comprises one or more sprockets operatively coupled to the single, common roller chain,
• wherein the component-removal tool assembly is positioned on the tower and secured to the upper ring, wherein at least one of the plurality of rotational input devices is initially rotated to separate the upper ring from the tower, wherein the component-removal tool assembly is initially moved off of the tower to remove the upper ring from the tower, wherein the upper ring is removed from the component-removal tool after the component-removal tool assembly is initially moved off of the tower, wherein the component-removal tool assembly is re-positioned on the tower and secured to the component, wherein at least one of the plurality of rotational input devices is subsequently rotated to separate the component from the tower, wherein the component-removal tool assembly is subsequently moved off of the tower to remove the component from the tower, and wherein the component is removed from the component-removal tool after the component-removal tool assembly is subsequently moved off of the tower.