MXPA00006238A - Power tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A power tool for tightening and loosening threaded connectors has a link (1) having a link housing (2, 3, 4) and a ratchet mechanism (10) for turning an engaging element (11) so as to turn a threaded connector engaged by the engaging element, a first hydraulic drive unit (21) including a drive housing (22) and a hydraulically movable driving element (24), a second non-hydraulic drive unit (31) including a drive housing (32) and a non-hydraulically moveable driving element (35), a first connection (16, 26, 39) provided on the link housing (2, 3) and on the drive housings (22, 32) of the hydraulic drive unit (21) and the non-hydraulic drive unit (31), so that alternatingly either the housing (22) of the hydraulic drive unit (21) or the housing (32) of the non-hydraulic drive unit (31) can be connected with the link housing (2, 3), and a second connection (8, 27, 40) for connecting the ratchet mechanism (10) alternatingly with the driving element (24) of the hydraulic drive unit (21) or the driving element (35) of the non-hydraulic drive unit (31), so that the driving element (24) of the hydraulic drive unit (21) and alternatingly the driving element (35) of the non-hydraulic drive unit (31) during its movement turns the ratchet mechanism (10) of the link (1) and thereby turns a threaded connector engaged by the engagement element (11) of the link (1) to be tightened or loosened.

Description

POWER TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to power tools for tightening and loosening threaded connectors. More particularly, it relates to such power tools having a housing, coupling means for coupling with a threaded connector to be tightened and loosened, a ratchet mechanism for rotating the coupling means for rotating a threaded connector coupled by the latter, and a transmission acting on the ratchet means for rotating the ratchet means together with the coupling means and thereby rotating the threaded connector. Such power tools are well known in the art.

The transmission means for such power tools may be a hydraulically operated transmission medium, for example as deciphered in my U.S. Patent Nos. 5,005,447; 5,029,497; RE.33951, etc. These tools operate only in conjunction with hydraulic power. However, there are many applications where a customer does not require accuracy in the torque provided by hydraulically operated power tools of this type or the power provided by the hydraulics. Rather, the customer will prefer, instead of using the hydraulically operated transmission power tool which requires more lateral and top space, to use a limited space tool without having to resort to hydraulics. In other cases, the client looks for a torque contribution greater than that provided with his current tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power tool that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and that is a further improvement of the existing tools. Keeping these objectives and others that will be apparent here later, one aspect of the present invention resides, briefly said, in a power tool having a link having a link housing, coupling means for coupling a threaded connector to be tightened and loosened, and ratchet means for rotating the coupling element to rotate a threaded connector coupled by the coupling means; first hydraulic transmission means including a transmission housing, and a hydraulically operated transmission provided with a hydraulically movable propulsion element; and non-hydraulically driven means including a transmission housing, and non-hydraulically operated transmission provided with a non-hydraulically movable propulsion element; first connector means provided in the link housing and in the transmission housing of the hydraulic transmission means, so that either the housing of the hydraulic transmission means or the housing of the non-hydraulic transmission means can be connected alternatively with the housing of the hydraulic transmission means. link; and second connector means for connecting the ratchet mechanism alternatingly with the propelling element of the hydraulic transmission means or the propelling element of the non-hydraulic transmission means when the transmission housing of the hydraulic transmission means is connected with the link housing or the housing The transmission means of the non-hydraulic propulsion means is connected to the link housing in a corresponding manner, so that the propelling element of the hydraulic transmission means and alternatively the transmitting medium of the non-hydraulic transmission means during its movement rotates the ratchet mechanism of the link and therefore a threaded connector rotates coupled by the coupling means to be tightened or loosened. When the power tool is designed in accordance with the present invention, a customer can use the hydraulically operated transmission means in combination with the link to operate with the power tool hydraulically operated. At the same time, when necessary, a non-hydraulically operated transmission means may be used in combination with the link to use a non-hydraulically operated power tool. The non-hydraulically operated power tool thus formed using a cam also provides an input / output advantage and is relatively inexpensive. Also, it can be used for manual torsion torque wrenches, manual multipliers, air multipliers, air wrenches, electric wrenches, electric multipliers, impact wrenches, etc., that customers already have in their possession. The present invention provides an economical alternative for the industry to multiply its tool supply force or to convert its square propulsion tools to 8-point hex tools or 12 points of limited space. It also allows customers to start with their hand tools and convert them later to hydraulics if required. The novel aspects that are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both in its construction and in its method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures 1 and 2 are a plan view and a side view of a link of a power tool according to the present invention; Figures 3 and 4 is a front view and a side view of the first transmission means of the power tool of the invention; Figures 5 and 6 are a front view and a side view of the power tool of the present invention, with the means of transmitting the first mode connected to the link means; and Figure 7 is a side view of the power tool of the invention with means of transmitting a second mode, connected to the same link.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED MODALITIES A power tool according to the present invention has a link that is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1 in Figures 1 and 2. The link has a housing that is composed of two plates 2 and 3 of housing and a cover 4. The housing plates 2 and 3 are connected to each other by rivets 6. The link 1 is further provided with a propulsion lever 7 which is received so that it can rotate in the plates 2 and 3 through of a pivot pin 8 which is movable in the grooves 9 provided in the face surfaces of the plates. A ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet 10 that is rotatably disposed in the link 7 and has an internal coupling formation 11 that is formed, for example, as a hexagonal opening, a hexagonal arrow, etc. The ratchet 10 has external teeth 12 which are engageable with teeth 13 of a pawl 14. The pawl 14 is slidably received in an opening of the propulsion lever 7 and spring-biased by a spring 15 towards the ratchet 10. The housing of the link or in particular the plates 2 and 3 are provided with connecting means including openings 16. The power tool further has first propulsion means that are identified as a whole with the reference numeral 21. The first transmission means 21 is formed as a hydraulically operated transmission medium. The first transmission means includes a housing 22 that forms a hydraulic cylinder with a piston 23 movably alternating therein, and a propeller member that is formed as a piston rod 24 connected to the piston 23. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to chambers opposite ones formed by the piston 23 in the cylinder 22 through hydraulic connecting elements 25 which are connected with a source of hydraulic fluid not shown. The propulsion housing 22 is provided with confective means which are formed by the openings 26. The propellant element or the piston rod 24 is also provided with conissator means 27 which can be formed as an opening. When the power tool according to the present invention operates as a hydraulically operated power tool, the hydraulic transmission housing 22 is connected to the link housing 1 by aligning the openings 16 with the openings 22 and passing corresponding connecting elements. through the aligned openings, for example, pins 41 and ios like. The free end of the piston rod 24 of the hydraulic transmission is connected to the pin 8 of the link means 1, for example by inserting the pin 8 in the opening 27. When a hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder of the propulsive unit, the piston 23 displaces and displaces the piston rod 24 which in turn rotates the propulsion lever 7 and the pawl 14 disposed thereon, the ratchet 14 rotates the ratchet 10, and the ratchet rotates a threaded connector, such as, for example, a nut, a screw head, etc., which is coupled by means 11 of coupling the ratchet. A threaded fastener tightens or loosens. The power tool according to the present invention has a second transmission means which is identified as a whole with the reference numeral 31. The second transmission means has a housing 32, a cam 33 that can rotate in the housing and formed, for example, as a double cam, a cam roller 34, and a propeller member ß which is formed, for example, as a cam rod and displaced during rotation It gives the cam 33 through the roller 34 and a guide ring 36. The compression spring 37 located in a spring sleeve 38 operates as a return spring. The transmission housing 32 has means 39 conctors, while the cam rod 35 has connecting means 40 formed for example as openings. When it is desired to use a non-hydraulically operated power tool, a customer disconnects the hydraulically operated transmission means 21 from link 1 and connects the transmission means 31 to the link means 1 by aligning the openings 39 of the non-hydraulic transmission means 31 with the openings 16 of the link 1 passing confective elements, such as pins 41 through the aligned openings. The connector element 40, for example, an opening in the end of the cam rod 35 fits over the pin 8 of the propulsion lever 7. When the cam is rotating, the cam rod has oscillating movement and the propulsion lever 7 rotates with the ratchet 14, so that the ratchet 14 rotates the ratchet 10, and by this a threaded connector assembled by means of the coupling means 11. ratchet 10 is rotated too. The cam 33 is provided with a third connector means 41 formed for example as a polygonal (square) projection or aperture. The third means 41 connector can be coupled by an additional tool, such as for example a manual torque torque, a manual multiplier, an air key, an electric key, an electric multiplier, an impact key, etc., that a client has in his possession, to rotate cam 33. It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, can also find a useful application in other types of constructions that differ from the types described above. Although the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in power tool, it is not intended to be limited by the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes can be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so completely reveal the fundamental of the present invention that others, applying current knowledge, can quickly adapt it for various applications without omitting aspects which, from the point of view of the prior art, constitute just essential characteristics of the aspects generic or specific of this invention.

Claims (2)

1. CLAIMS 1. A power tool for tightening and loosening threaded connectors, comprising link means having a link housing, means for attaching a threaded connector for being tightened and loosened, and ratchet means for rotating said coupling means for rotating a threaded connector coupled by said coupling means; hydraulic transmission means including a transmission housing, and a hydraulically operated transmission provided with a hydraulically movable propeller element; and non-hydraulic transmission means including a transmission housing, and a non-hydraulically operated transmission provided with a non-hydraulically movable propeller element; first connector means provided in said link housing and in said transmission housing of said hydraulic transmission means and said non-hydraulic transmission means, so that alternatively said housing of said hydraulic transmission means or said housing of said hydraulic means can alternatively be connected. non-hydraulic transmission means with said link housing; and second connector means for connecting said ratchet mechanism alternatingly with said propelling element of said hydraulic transmission means or said propelling element of said non-hydraulic transmission means when said transmission housing of said hydraulic transmission means is connected to said housing of said link or said transmission housing of said non-hydraulic transmission means is connected to said link housing in a corresponding manner, so that said propelling element of said hydraulic transmission means and alternating said propelling element of said non-hydraulic transmission means during its movement rotates said ratchet mechanism of said link means and by this a threaded connector coupled by said means of gathering said link means to be tightened or loosened rotates.
2. 2. A power tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said non-hydraulic transmission means has at least one rotating feva acting on said propelling element of said non-hydraulic transmission means during rotation; and further comprising third connector means for connecting said at least one cam to a propulsion tool, so that when the propulsion tool is connected by said third connector means to said cam and said cam rotates, said cam acts on said element. propeller of said non-hydraulic transmission means and the latter rotates said ratchet mechanism to rotate said coupling means and thereby rotate a threaded connector to be tightened or loosened.