October 30 2020
The world is full of tools that we use for various applications. When it comes to the tightening and loosening of bolts and nuts, a torque wrench is the most preferred tool. The tool can be used in almost every bolting application and still deliver accurate and consistent torque output. However, when we talk about major industries like oil & gas, power, wind, steel, cement, and mining industry that can complete bolting jobs faster and deliver lower downtime. To meet such industry requirements, the hydraulic torque wrenches delivers the best power to weight ratio.
Let us recap what is Torque and a wrench to understand torque wrenches better.
Torque is the measurement of force applied on an object which causes it to rotate.
Wrench is a tool used to provide torque to turn objects. The most common shapes are open-end wrench and box-end wrench. Generally, they are chrome-plated to resist corrosion and for ease of cleaning.
A torque wrench is an advanced version of wrench used to tighten and loosen fasteners to a predetermined torque value. These are operated either mechanically, pneumatically, Hydraulic or Electrically
2. How do Hydraulic Torque Wrenches work?
Among all the different types of torque tools available, the hydraulic torque wrench is the most preferred bolting tool to tighten and loosen large bolts with high accuracy.
In this torque wrench, the piston is connected to a ratchet through a reaction pawl assembly, which drives it to engage the ratchet teeth in the advance mode, to rotate the nut. Subsequently releases during piston retraction to reengage in the next push position. This repeats until the desired torque is met.
3. Type of Hydraulic Torque Wrenches
There are basically 2 types of hydraulic torque wrenches namely - square drive (external socket required) and low profile or direct fit (hex) drive.
Square drive Hydraulic Torque Wrench
With a powerful ratchet mechanism and a multi axis swivel provides impressive power to weight ratio.
Low Profile/ Cassette type or Direct Fit Hydraulic Torque Wrench
Square drive and hex drive bolting tools can resolve real time challenges. Choosing the correct bolting equipment purely depends on the job application. Low profile hydraulic torque wrenches are ideal for bolting applications that have space constraint. Square drive hydraulic torque wrenches are ideal for applications where speed and different bolt size handling are of great concern. Each of these tools have an equal importance in Industry.
5. Power Source
Hydraulic Pumps or Hydraulic Power packs are the source of pressure for these types of torque tools. The range with a portable pump is up to 700 bar (10,000 psi). Pumps operate with two primary power sources either air or electric to provide optimum performance of power and speed, even in the hardest and toughest conditions.
While pneumatic powered pumps are safer in explosive environments, electric pumps are simpler to operate in some cases.
To ensure
provide precise and accurate measurements, they must be calibrated periodically.
As tool accuracy deteriorates with age and usage of tool, it is important to calibrate these tools. The allowed range of calibration error is 3%. Any error beyond this value may potentially affecting the performance of the tool quite seriously. This could lead to accountability for product failure or application failure.
With so many methods are available for controlled bolting using torque tools, it is important to note that a hydraulic torque wrench is key in many industries for -
Irrigation - Tightening an offshore pump casing
Content Source :- ABS Group