Squeezing clamp hammer union torque tool
AssigneeTorq/Lite, LLC
InventorsDale Francis, Nic Francis, William P. Bernard, Oswald J. Bernard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A uniquely designed torque wrench having a torque body, the torque body attached to a frictional squeezing clamp, and a lug socket which is rotationally connected to the frictional squeezing clamp. The frictional squeezing clamp entering a contracted stated during extension of a rod of a hydraulic cylinder, and entering an expanded state during the retraction of the rod of a hydraulic cylinder, the lug socket turning the wing nut of a hammer union.
Claims20
A method for tightening or loosening a wing nut having a plurality of lugs of a hammer union connection between first and second joints of pipe comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a fluid powered hammer union torque wrench including:
- (1) a body and a frictionally squeezing clamp rotationally connected to the body, the frictionally squeezing clamp having an opening with squeezing and relaxed states;
- (2) a lug socket connected to the body;
- (3) a single fluid cylinder and single rod operatively connecting the frictionally squeezing clamp to the body, the single rod having extension and retraction states;
- (4) the extension and retraction of the single rod relative to the single fluid cylinder respectively causing the frictionally squeezing clamp to enter the squeezing and relaxed states,
- (b) placing the frictionally squeezing clamp around the first joint of pipe, attaching the lug socket to one of the lugs of the wing nut, and powering the single fluid cylinder;
- (c) wherein
- (1) extension of the single rod causing both (i) the frictionally squeezing clamp to enter into the squeezing state wherein the opening is reduced to create frictional forces between the frictionally squeezing clamp and the first joint of pipe such that the frictionally squeezing clamp and the first joint of pipe are rotationally locked relative to each other, and (ii) relative rotation between the wing nut and the first joint of pipe;
- and
- (d) after step “c”, retraction of the single rod causing the frictionally squeezing clamp to enter into a relaxed state wherein the size of the opening is increased, the increase in size reducing frictional forces between the frictionally squeezing clamp and the first joint of pipe thereby allowing relative rotation between the frictionally squeezing clamp and the first joint of pipe while the wing nut remains substantially rotationally static relative to the first joint of pipe, and causing relative rotation between the lug socket and the clamp;
- and
- (e) repeating steps “c” and “d” until the hammer union connection is selectively tightened or loosened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.