Apparatus and methods for impact tool testing

A method of operating a torque testing device comprising:

• providing a torque testing device comprising:
• a body defining an interior volume, wherein the interior volume is defined by an interior wall, the interior wall having a non-circular cross-section taken perpendicular to a central axis, and
• a movable portion having a contact axis, the movable portion located within the interior volume, wherein the movable portion includes a first component configured to move relative to a second component in a direction along the contact axis and perpendicular to the central axis to create a fluid pressure between the first component and the second component,
• the contact axis is colinear with a first dimension of the interior volume when the movable portion is in a first orientation and the contact axis is colinear with a second dimension of the interior volume when the movable portion is in a second orientation, the second dimension being less than the first dimension;
• and
• moving the movable portion from the first orientation to the second orientation such that the first component moves into an aperture defined by the second component to increase the fluid pressure in the aperture.

A method of operating a torque testing device comprising:

• providing a torque testing device comprising:
• a body defining an interior volume centered about a central axis, wherein the interior volume is defined by an interior wall, the interior wall having a non-circular cross-section taken perpendicular to the central axis;
• a movable portion within the interior volume, the movable portion comprising:
• a core, the core being selectively movable from a first orientation within the interior volume to a second orientation within the interior volume, the core defining an aperture having an axis perpendicular to the central axis;
• and
• a piston, a portion of the piston cooperating with the aperture of the core, wherein
• when the core is in the first orientation, the piston is located at a first distance from the core, the first distance measured along the axis of the aperture and perpendicular to the central axis, and
• when the core in the second orientation, the piston is located at a second distance from the core, the second distance measured along the axis of the aperture and perpendicular to the central axis, the second distance being less than the first distance;
• attaching a torque tool to the core;
• and
• operating the torque tool to rotate the movable portion about the central axis to generate a fluid pressure between the piston and the core until the fluid pressure between the piston and the core is great enough to resist further rotation of the movable portion.

A torque testing device comprising:

• a body defining an interior volume;
• and
• a selectably rotatable load cell located in the interior volume of the body, the rotatable load cell having a first position and a second position, the rotatable load cell comprising:
• a movable portion within the interior volume, the movable portion being selectively movable from the first position within the interior volume rotatable about a central axis to the second position within the interior volume, the moveable portion comprising:
• a core, defining an aperture;
• a piston, a portion of the piston cooperating with the aperture of the core;
• and
• a gauge attached to the aperture and in fluid communication with the aperture, the gauge configured to measure pressure within the aperture,
• wherein:
• rotation of the rotatable load cell from the first position to the second position increases a fluid pressure within the aperture, and
• the rotatable load cell comprising a closed hydraulic system such that the aperture is sealed to prevent fluid communication with an exterior volume relative to the rotatable load cell.