Hydraulic Torque Tool Pneumatic Piston Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulically powered bolting tools require significant space and complexity due to mechanical springs for energy storage and multiple hydraulic connections for piston retraction, limiting energy density, tool size, and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
An internal pneumatic energy storage assembly that compresses during the advance stroke and expands during the retract stroke of the piston, eliminating the need for hydraulic lines and reducing the number of hydraulic connections, allowing for a more compact design and simplified hydraulic pump controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a mechanical spring is used to store energy for cylinder retraction, then the tool can operate portably, but the tool volume increases significantly due to limited energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring with a pneumatic energy storage system using compressible gas (such as nitrogen) contained in a reservoir. The gas compresses during the advance stroke and expands during the retract stroke, providing the necessary energy for cylinder retraction. This pneumatic approach achieves higher energy density compared to mechanical springs, allowing for a more compact tool design while maintaining portable operation.
2Device complexity
If separate hydraulic lines are used to advance and retract the cylinder, then the hydraulic system is simple to understand, but the number of connections increases, increasing tool size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the advance and retract functions into a single hydraulic connection system. The internal pneumatic energy storage device provides the retraction force, eliminating the need for a separate retract hydraulic line. This merging reduces the number of hydraulic connections from two (advance and retract lines) to one, thereby reducing tool size, simplifying the hydraulic pump, and decreasing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of understanding.
3Ease of operation
If multiple hydraulic connections are required for cylinder operation, then the hydraulic system provides complete control, but the tool footprint increases and accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retract hydraulic connection from the system by replacing it with an internal pneumatic energy storage device. This elimination of the retract line reduces the number of external connections required, thereby minimizing the tool footprint and improving accessibility to the work space. The single remaining hydraulic connection for the advance function can be positioned optimally without the constraint of requiring space for a second retract connection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution increases energy density, reduces tool size, enhances bolting speed, improves accessibility, and simplifies the hydraulic system, leading to a more reliable and efficient hydraulically driven torque tool.
Implementation Method 1
an internal energy storage assembly which operates by a pneumatic fluid which compresses during an advance stroke of a piston assembly of tool (1) and expands during a retract stroke of the piston assembly
Implementation Method 2
an internal energy storage assembly which operates by a pneumatic fluid which compresses during an advance stroke of a piston assembly of tool (1) and expands during a retract stroke
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An apparatus for use with a hydraulically driven torque tool for tightening or loosening threaded fasteners including an internal energy storage assembly for automatic piston return is disclosed. In one embodiment, the internal energy storage assembly operates by a pneumatic fluid which compresses during an advance stroke of a piston assembly of the tool and expands during a retract stroke of the piston assembly of the tool. In such embodiment, the internal energy storage assembly includes a hydraulic assembly and a pneumatic assembly. Advantageously it: has a higher energy density than a mechanical spring; does not have geometric limitations as the pneumatic fluid may be contained in internal volume available of the tool; and increases bolting speeds as the return stroke no longer requires hydraulic fluid to force back the piston; has reduced tool size by elimination of one hydraulic connection and location of the remaining connection that improves accessibility of the tool into the work space; requires a simplified hydraulic pump and controls; and increases bolting system reliability.