System, method and apparatus for installing a torque tube

A system, comprising:

• a torque tube having a ring gear and a barrel portion extending from the ring gear and defining a shoulder portion therebetween;
• a wheel frame having a seal ring coupled to the torque tube and providing a seal between the seal ring and the torque tube;
• and
• a spacing device coupled to the torque tube at a predetermined axial location along the torque tube, the spacing device including a plurality of depending legs that are configured to contact the wheel frame to set a predetermined clearance between the torque tube and the seal ring.

An apparatus for installing a torque tube, comprising:

• a first clamp portion, the first clamp portion being arcuate in shape and having opposed first distal ends;
• a second clamp portion, the second clamp portion being arcuate in shape and having opposed second distal ends configured to abut the first distal ends of the first clamp portion to form a ring, the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion being configured to clamp a torque tube therebetween;
• a plurality of legs depending downwardly from the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion and configured to set a spacing between the torque tube and a seal ring, wherein the legs are configured to contact a flange of a wheel frame containing the seal ring to arrest axial movement of the torque tube with respect to the wheel frame to set the spacing between the torque tube and the seal ring;
• plural tabs at least one or more of which are coupled to the first clamp portion and at least one or more others of which are coupled to the second clamp portion, the tabs extending inwardly toward a center of the ring and being configured to contact a shoulder of the torque tube to align the apparatus at a predetermined axial location on the torque tube;
• opposed first clamp blocks coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the first clamp portion adjacent to the first distal ends, respectively;
• opposed second clamp blocks coupled to an outer peripheral surface of the second clamp portion adjacent to the second distal ends, respectively, the first and second clamp blocks forming opposed clamp block pairs;
• a fastening means associated with each clamp block pair for urging the opposed first distal ends of the first clamp portion and the opposed second distal ends of the second clamp portion towards one another to decrease a diameter of the ring;
• and
• at least one rib extending generally perpendicular from each of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion, the at least one rib including a lifting aperture permitting the apparatus and the torque tube clamped therein to be lifted.