Stud manipulating device

Abstract

A device for inserting and removing studs 16 from bores 19 in a workpiece, for example a nuclear reactor vessel, comprises manipulating devices 22 for operating on individual studs. Each device 22 is capable of tensioning a stud 16, slackening a working nut 17 on the stud, and subsequently removing the stud from the bore. A ring 92 has dogs 93 which can engage recesses in the working nut to interlock with the nut against relative rotation. Motors 100 are coupled to the ring 92 and operable to rotate the working nut. A top nut 51 is coupled to motor 100 which are operable to rotate the nut and screw it onto the stud 16. The top nut 51 together with other operating parts of the device can be raised and lowered on a tube 61 by means of a hydraulic actuator 65. A hydraulic load cell 52 is located between the top nut and a stool 53 which rests on the workpiece. The load cell 52 can be pressurized to tension the stud 16 by means of the top nut 51 and thus facilitate rotation of the working nut 17 when tightening or slackening. A dog clutch mechanism 26 provides means for engaging an end fitting 25 on the stud and locking it against relative axial and rotational movement. The dog clutch mechanism can be raised and lowered on a guide member 36 by an actuator 38. The dog clutch mechanism has a tubular member 42 and the drive coupling for the motor 100 to the top nut 51 includes a tubular member 61. Both of the tubular members 42 and 61 carry teeth 43 and 85 which are engagable with one another to provide a clutch. The teeth 43 and 85 are engaged when the top nut 51 is raised and the dog clutch mechanism 26 is lowered, to provide a coupling between the motors 100 and the dog clutch mechanism for rotating the stud.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.