Tensioning device for threaded connections

Abstract

A tensioning device for threaded joints, characterized by comprising an expanding system (1) formed by: in one part of the threaded joint, a compartment (5) with a sealing O-ring (1.1), a reactive material (1.2), and a brittle capsule (1.3) containing a fluid (1.4) configured to react with the reactive material (1.2) and produce an increase in volume; a projection (6) in a second part of the threaded joint, facing and insertable into the compartment (5), for pushing the O-ring (1.1) against the capsule (1.3).

Description

Tensioning device for threaded connections OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as the title of this specification indicates, is a tensioning device for threaded connections. It is an innovation that offers advantages previously unknown within current techniques. TECHNICAL SECTOR The present invention falls within the sector of mechanics, lighting, heating, armament and blasting in devices for joining or locking the constructive elements or parts of machines, for example, nails, dowels, nuts, screws, bolts, spring rings, clamps, flanges, staples, wedges; joints or articulations, as well as in friction pressure fasteners that can be released especially in the subclass corresponding to internal, i.e. acting by expansion. STATE OF THE ART The present invention arises from the observation that structural bolted joints present a significant difficulty due to friction between the screw and the nut, which complicates the calculation and application of the tightening torque necessary to achieve the appropriate screw tension. This difficulty negatively impacts efficiency in various sectors, such as the wind power industry, where precision and safety are fundamental. In everyday maintenance and assembly operations, excessive friction not only prolongs working times, but also increases the risk of errors in screw tightening, compromising the stability of structures. In this sense, this invention presents a tensioning device for threaded joints designed not only to improve the efficiency and precision in the installation and maintenance of bolted structures, but also to increase the safety and reliability of the joints, especially in critical applications such as wind turbine industry structures. Currently, there is no known existence of any tensioning device for threaded joints that presents structural and constitutive technical characteristics equal or similar to those described in this descriptive report, as claimed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is the creation of a tensioning device for threaded joints that provides a notable innovation within its field of application in the current state of the art, the characterizing details that make it possible being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany the present description. The present invention describes a tensioning device for threaded joints comprising an expanding system integrated into a component of the threaded joint, such as a washer, screw, or nut. The component of the threaded joint may be threaded or unthreaded, and either male or female. This expanding system is designed to generate the necessary thrust to extend the screw without rotating the nut, eliminating the effect of friction by creating tension in the screw and thus eliminating the need for heavy and slow equipment to apply the tightening torque. This invention solves the problem of friction in structural bolted joints, simplifying the calculation and application of the tightening torque required to achieve adequate tension. By using an expanding system, the need to turn the screw or nut during final tightening is eliminated, removing friction and facilitating the process, resulting in a more efficient and precise application of tightening torque. This innovation offers numerous practical benefits. By eliminating friction and simplifying tightening, installation and maintenance time are optimized, especially in critical industries such as wind energy. Furthermore, eliminating friction and simplifying the process reduces the risk of errors and failures in the joints, ensuring a firmer and safer connection and improving the overall reliability of the structures. The expanding system, which is an important part of this invention, comprises, in one of the threaded joint components, a compartment containing an O-ring, a reactive material, and a brittle capsule containing a fluid that reacts with the reactive material, generating an increase in volume. In another, adjacent threaded joint component, a thrust protrusion is positioned over the O-ring. Thus, when the threaded joint is made, once the two components are brought together, the protrusion pushes the O-ring, which in turn presses the capsule, causing it to rupture and mix the fluid with the reactive material. The increase in volume presses the O-ring against the protrusion, increasing the tightening force. It is irrelevant which component contains the compartment and which the protrusion, as long as they are facing each other. In particular, the O-ring may have a thin configuration and be made of a deformable material, such as copper or brass, which acts under pressure to seal the compartment where the aforementioned expansion system is located. Furthermore, the reactive material can be presented in the form of a dry powder which, when mixed with the fluid, triggers a controlled expansive chemical reaction that forms a paste that solidifies and becomes an expansive solid block. The capsule containing the fluid can be made of a material such as glass, and can be inserted in the middle of the reactive material to release the fluid when it breaks and directly produce the reaction. On the other hand, the fluid can be in liquid form, such as water, in a sufficient quantity to react with the reactive material and generate an expansive paste that solidifies and acquires expansive resistance properties. It is important to mention that the invention can be included in a washer, with the expanding system oriented in one or both directions to increase the tightening with the screw, with the nut with another washer... Similarly, the expansion system can be in the head of a screw. Finally, the expansion system can be equipped with a visual verification element, such as an elastic ring that surrounds the system's operating area at rest and closes when the screw has been stretched, filling the gaps and allowing visual confirmation of the system's effective application. This feature acts as an additional component that not only ensures the correct functioning of the expansion system but also facilitates the distribution of forces across the ring, resulting in a stronger and more robust connection between the components and improving the stability and effectiveness of the tensioning device for threaded joints. To use this tensioning device for threaded joints, the user should attach the integrated system to one or more washers, the bolt, or the nut as needed, ensuring the protrusion faces the O-ring. Then, apply light pressure to minimize friction without turning the nut. This procedure ensures efficient and precise torque adjustment, guaranteeing a firm and secure connection in bolted joints. The user will experience optimized installation and maintenance, especially in critical applications where precision is essential. EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES To complete the description being made and in order to help in the better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by some figures in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented. Figure 1 illustrates the expansive system in its non-activated state, where the capsule remains intact before the fluid release. Figure 2 shows the expansive system in operation, with the capsule releasing the fluid. Figure 3 shows the solid, expansive block generated by the activation of the expansive system, where the released fluid mixes with the reactive material. Figure 4 shows a version of the tension device designed for threaded joints, in which the expansion system is integrated into the washers. Figure 5 shows another variant of the tensioning device designed for threaded joints, in which the expansion system is integrated between the nut and the washer. Figure 6 shows another variant of the tensioning device designed for threaded joints, in which the expansion system is integrated between the screw head and the washer. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION. The tensioning device for threaded joints comprises an expanding system (1) with a compartment (5) integrated into a washer (2), a screw (3), or a nut (4), and a protrusion (6) on an adjacent part of the joint, the protrusion (6) being oriented to enter, at least partially, into the compartment (5). This system is designed to generate the necessary thrust to allow the screw (3) to be stretched without requiring the nut (4) to be turned, minimizing friction through light pressure, thus eliminating the need for heavy and slow equipment to apply the tightening torque. The expansion system (1) includes an O-ring (1.1) that seals the compartment, a reactive material (1.2), and a brittle capsule (1.3) containing a fluid (1.4) that reacts with the reactive material (1.2) to produce an increase in volume. These components work together to facilitate the operation of the device under controlled conditions. The protrusion (6) compresses the O-ring (1.1) against the walls of the compartment (5), sealing it and facilitating the controlled rupture of the capsule (1.3). In a preferred embodiment, the O-ring (1.1) has a thin configuration and is made of deformable materials, such as copper or brass. This design allows it to act under pressure to seal the compartment (5) where the expanding system (1) is located, while still allowing the capsule (1.3) to rupture, thus ensuring efficient operation. Typically, the reactive material (1.2) is in the form of a dry powder, such as cement, which, when mixed with the fluid (1.4), triggers a controlled chemical reaction. This reaction generates a paste that solidifies, becoming a solid block (1.5). It is preferable for the reaction to be as rapid as possible. The capsule (1.3) is made of a fragile material, such as glass, and is located in the middle of the reactive material (1.2). This design allows the capsule (1.3) to release the fluid (1.4) when it breaks in the center of the material, accelerating the mixing. Alternatively, the fluid (1.4) is in liquid form, such as water, in sufficient quantities to hydrate the reactive material (1.2), forming the paste that acquires expansive resistance properties upon solidification. In a preferred mode, the washer (2) adopts a double washer configuration, with two parts that must collaborate, where the compartment (5) with the expansion system (1) is located between the internal contact zones, facing the protrusion (6). In another preferred embodiment, the screw (3) is a conventional screw with a head. In this case, the screw (3) incorporates in its head, in the contact area with the workpiece into which it is inserted, the compartment (5) containing the expansion system (1) or the protrusion (6). It should be considered that the protrusion (6) can be located on the edge of a hole drilled in a machine element, a structure, etc., thus increasing the versatility of the invention. Preferably, the expansion system (1) includes a visual verification element (7), such as an elastic ring that surrounds the operating area of ​​the expansion system (1) in its resting state. This visual verification element (7) closes when the screw (3) has been stretched, filling the gaps and allowing visual confirmation of the correct application of the expansion system (1). This feature acts as an additional component that not only ensures the correct operation of the expansion system (1) but also facilitates the distribution of forces across the ring, resulting in a stronger and more robust connection between the components and improving the stability and effectiveness of the tensioning device for threaded joints. The compartment (5) preferably occupies the entire perimeter of the male part or stem of the threaded joint, without it being necessary for the protrusion (6) to meet this condition. The protrusion (6) may consist of one or more peaks aligned with the compartment (5). In the double washer system, for example, the compartment (5) may consist of several dispersed recesses, each with its own protrusion (6), since rotation between the two parts is not required. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field may understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it, it being noted that, within its essentiality, it may be put into practice in other modes of embodiment that differ in detail from the one indicated by way of example, and which will also achieve the protection sought provided that its fundamental principle is not altered, changed or modified.

Claims

1. A tensioning device for threaded joints, characterized by comprising an expanding system (1) formed by: in one part of the threaded joint, a compartment (5) with a sealing O-ring (1.1), a reactive material (1.2), and a brittle capsule (1.3) containing a fluid (1.4) configured to react with the reactive material (1.2) and produce an increase in volume; a projection (6) on a second part of the threaded joint, facing and insertable into the compartment (5), for pushing the O-ring (1.1) against the capsule (1.3).

2. A tensioning device for threaded joints according to claim 3, characterized in that the O-ring (1.1) is made of a deformable material.

3. A tensioning device for threaded joints according to claim 3, characterized in that the capsule (1.3) is inserted into the reactive material (1.2).

4. Tensioning device for threaded joints, according to claim 3, characterized in that the fluid (1.4) is a liquid. 5.A tensioning device for threaded joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a double washer (2), between whose internal contact areas the compartment (5) is arranged with the expansion system (1) facing the protrusion (6).

6. A tensioning device for threaded joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a screw (3) with a head in which the compartment (5) is arranged.

7. A tensioning device for threaded joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a visual inspection element (7).

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