AU721162B2 - Cyclone bolt tensioner - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

P/00/011/ Regulation 3!2 Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "CYCLONE BOLT TENSIONER" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a means to work with systems using threaded rod or bolt by which to run a nut or other body there along, to function as the driver or a tightening or tensioning means. In particular the invention relates to tools or driver means by which nuts and the like may be driven along or onto long threaded shafts, rods, bolts or the like. The invention may comprise a system involving a plurality of the afore defined parts, together with complementary connection pieces and drive arbours and the like, as will become clear hereinafter.

10 The invention relates to tools by which elements may turned or screwed on threaded shafts. For the sake of convenience the invention will be described herein in respect of the turning of nuts and nut like bodies on rods and bolts. However these terms are intended to call up broader concepts of any body top be run along a S• 15 thread. The threaded rods may be Brooker rod, All Thread, cyclone bolts, etc. The threaded bodies may be standard nuts, butterfly nuts, i toggle nuts, and other special constructions as are used in the construction trades.

Various tools exist by which nuts may be wound onto a threaded shaft and driven to tension the shaft in order to effect a desired outcome, usually to holding of one member up against another. In the building trades, particularly in high wind or cyclone zones, long threaded rods or bolts are utilised in order to tie down frame plates, to secure roof structures, and the like. The usual tools by which nuts may be driven along these rods are not efficient when the thread is long. The position of the rods around a building is often such that the person called on to drive a nut and effect tensioning is required to work from disadvantageous positions.

There is a need to provide drivers able to drive a nut along a long thread from an axially oriented position. Working along the axis requires that the length of the threaded rod needs to be accommodated. The usual driver which connects a powered tool to a 10 socket, applied to the nut being worked, enables operation from some ~distance but the combination only works with short rods, operating from a distance by means of driver shafts of various lengths.

In the-construction industry, formwork for concrete pours can involve sizeable arrays of threaded rods on which formwork 15 positioning nuts are wound, usually by hand. The setting up can be a •lengthy procedure because of the lengths of thread which may be involved.

In circumstances such as those set out above, it can be difficult to tighten the nut to full torque, working along the full threaded length, particularly if there be any damaged thread, or obstructed radial swing acting against use of conventional tool movement. In practice, the tensioning of nuts may not be completed for reasons of difficulty in wrenching down, one turn at a time. This is 4 a problem which concerns local government and regulated building industry. There is a fear of failure of the systems established by regulation, with consequent risks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above set out problems in an improved tool able to more efficiently, and effectively, drive a nut along a threaded rod or bolt.

The invention achieves its object in the provision of a tool or driver means comprising: a shaft or elongate body part having a passage or bore therethrough between first and second ends; said first end being shaped to connect or engage with, in use, a nut or the like, to be driven thereby, or a connecting piece or inter-engagement means whereby the driver is operatively connected to or engaged with, a second like type tool or driver means; said second end being shaped to connect to or engage oo: with, in use, a driver arbour or like type driving means, or a connecting piece or inter-engagement means, whereby the driver is either operatively activated, in use, or connected to a second driver; 20 said first and second ends being of identical dimensions oo• and being sheathed internally, or externally, with a strengthening oooo 6 o• material; and aid bore and any connecting piece associated therewith being respectively adapted to pass the length of a shaft of a threaded rod or bolt therethrough.

In realisation of the invention the first and second ends may be each established with their respective required geometries being established by press forming, machining or forging the geometry in an end of a respective piece of hollow stock with the respective pieces being press fitted to said shaft or elongate body part at the respective first and second ends. A driver in accordance with the invention may have first and second ends which are formed directly in respective ends of the shaft or elongate body part.

A driver in accordance with the invention may be fitted with a connecting piece or inter-engagement means or the like with a 10 complementary bore there through, which is coaxial, in use, with the bore of the driver when the connecting piece is fitted thereto. The driver may be fitted with a lug, wing or finger means to operatively engage or interact with a respective or complementary feature of a nut or locking device, to be rotated thereby along a threaded rod. The driver may be fitted with a connecting piece or inter-engagement e means which is fitted with a lug, wing or finger to operatively engage or interact with a nut or locking device, to be rotated thereby along a *O threaded rod when the connector piece is received within said first end.

The invention may be embodied in a system of tools or driver means comprising a plurality of the above defined drivers together with connecting pieces or inter-engagement means, and drive arbours or driver means therefor whereby a tool or driver of desired length can be assembled from the elements of the system. The system of tools or driver means may be provided with a split connector means comprised of mirror image parts formed about a longitudinal or axial plane having a thread therein to perform a thread chaser function.

The invention will now be described with reference to a various preferred embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention applied to a threaded rod; 10 FIGS. 2 to 4 show end views of alternate drivers according to the invention; FIGS. 5 to 11 show different drivers, arbours and joining pieces, in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 12 shows how a number of drivers, in accordance with the invention, are joined in use; ee FIG. 13 is an elevation of an apparatus which might be used to produce drivers in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 14 is a elevation of a die former which might be used in the apparatus of FIG. 13.

In FIG. 1, a hollow driver 10 is formed with at least one nut engaging means at an end thereof such as socket ends 11 and 12.

Socket end 11, in use, is formed in or applied (as, for example, is herein described below) to nut 13 on threaded rod 14. The threaded rod 14 extends, as shown, through the socket end 11 into the bore, passage or hollow of the driver, to permit the nut 14 to be turned, screwed or otherwise operatively driven along the rod and/or to its point of engagement and into tension. With socket end 12 open, the end 15 of rod 14 is able to pass there through should its length be such as to require it. At this point, rather than changing to a longer driver in place of driver 10, an extra driver 17 may be fitted as will become more clear herein below. An interconnecting element, joiner means, coupling nut or connecting piece 16, also hollow, is the z 10 means by which the two drivers may be joined.

In FIG. 2 is seen an end view of a driver with socket 19 leO• with a hexagonal geometry to accept hexagonal nuts, drive arbours (see below), connecting pieces (as above) and like type devices. The bore 23 of the driver passes through the full length of the driver. In 15 FIGS. 3 and 4 are seen possible, alternate shaped or configured socket end geometries 20, 21 (respectively) adapted to other shaped nuts, etc. It should be understood that the driver of the invention can be fitted with socket ends of any desired geometry to work with particular geometry nuts, arbours and the like.

In FIG. 5, the driver 10 is shown with an interengagement means or connector piece 24 in which there may be provided a transverse passage, hole, bore or the like 25. Bore 25 is a means by which a rod or like type engagement means may be passed therethrough to provide the means by which an operator might wind a nut (not shown) by hand.

In FIG. 6, the driver 10 is shown with a drive arbour or stud drive 26. The drive arbour 26 is fitted with a complementary hexagonal (in this case) end 27 to fit in socket end 12. The drive arbour 26 may be also fitted with a rod 28 by which to engage in the chuck of an electric drill, in the usual manner, to effect driving of a nut by that means.

In FIG. 7, the driver 10 is shown with a second driver 29 10 with a connecting piece 24 (of FIG. 5) being the means whereby they may be operatively joined to effectively constitute an extended driver to accommodate longer threaded rods.

In FIG 8, a drive arbour or in-hex stud drive 30 has a hexagonal end 31 to mate with socket end 12 of driver 10. The drive arbour 30 has a hexagonal drive shaft 32 to mate with systems employing that pattern.

In FIG. 9, the connecting piece 33 (which may serve as a .9 thread chaser or cleaning means as is known in the art) to fit socket end 12 of driver 10. It is a two piece construction comprised of mirror image parts 34, 35, produced essentially by cutting a connecting piece as described hereinabove into two, in a plane which is along the axis of the bore of the driver to produce parts equivalent to 34 with groove 36 (threaded in the case of a thread chaser) and flat faces 37, 38.

In FIG. 10 is seen a particular engagement means 39 which, in use, is received in socket end 12 of driver 10. The engagement means 39 has an arm, butterfly bar, finger or the like 41 extended therefrom, by means of a joint or integral connection or mounting between extension 40 and the body of the engagement means 39. In use, the finger 41 engages with a part of a locking means, such as a wing on a butterfly style nut, which is to be driven along a threaded rod (as is used, for example, in concrete formwork with a specially formed nut, fitted with wings to enable hand winding).

10 In use of the present driver, the finger 41 catches behind a wing or the like and rotates or turns it.

In FIG. 11 is seen a variation on the arrangement in FIG.

in which the driver 42 has a finger 43 mounted directly thereto q without the now redundant socket end.

SC: 15 In FIG. 12 is seen, in exploded form, an assembly of two •drivers 10 and 44 on a threaded rod 14, to drive a nut 13. The connector piece 24 joins the two in use. When end 45 projects too C. C far into the assembly, then a further third driver may be added and so on until the job is complete.

In FIG. 13 is seen an elevation of an apparatus which might be used to form a driver in accordance with the invention. An hydraulic pump 1 is used to activate a ram 2, pushing pivot lever 48 to move main drive shaft 51 in guide block 49. Hydraulic controls can be used by an operator to action the apparatus. A die head 52 is mounted on the end of shaft 6 and its movement is used to trip a lever and activate a lubricant pump 8 which delivers lubricant via misting tube 10. A reverse stop 54 is used to reverse the drive to the main shaft. An hydraulic ram 57 actions clam shells 58 around socket tube or driver 59 which is braced against bolster plate 60. Bolster plate is mounted adjustably to main frame 61. A die depth sensor 62 may be used to sense the depth to which die 52 is driven.

10 The production of drivers may commence with steel tube :,,cut to length. The tube length sets the length of the driver which is formed therefrom. Sleeves are cut from steel tube. The sleeves are dimensioned to be received either over or within the steel tube. If the inner form of sleeve is utilised then indents will be required so as to resist the formation pressures. The assembly of tube and sleeve is mounted in the aforesaid apparatus and located centrally in the split hollow clams so as to withstand and resist the pressure required to Fe p form the socket head. The rear bolster plate is used to absorb lateral pressure. The bolster is adjustable so as to meet the various tube lengths. The clam shells are closed around the socket tube. The ram is activated to form the socket head. The requisite socket die is threaded to the ram shaft. Movement of the ram activates the aforesaid mister and the die is driven to the requisite depth. The 11 socket is removed from the clam shells, the tube is reversed and the process is repeated. In forming an inner sleeve version of the tool.

Removable indent pins may be used to establish the indent which prevents the inner sleeve from being pushed back under pressure. The indent pins are preferably hardened steel pins.

In FIG. 14 is seen a more detailed view of a die or former 52 with a hexagonal end 63 and bore 64 by which is mounted to shaft 51 of FIG. 13.

*i

Claims (7)

1. A tool or driver means comprising: a shaft or elongate body part having a passage or bore therethrough between first and second ends; said first end being shaped to connect or engage with, in use, a nut or the like, to be driven thereby, or a connecting piece or interengagement means whereby the driver is operatively connected to or engaged with, a second like type tool or driver means; and said second end being shaped to connect to or engage with, in use, a drive arbour or like type driving means, or a connecting piece or inter-engagement means, whereby the driver is either operatively activated, in use, or connected to a second driver; said first and second ends being of identical dimensions and being sheathed internally, or externally, with a strengthening material; and said bore and any connecting piece associated therewith ~being respectively adapted to pass the length of a shaft or a threaded rod or bolt therethrough.

2. A driver as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: 20 the first and second ends are each established with their •Oil oo respective required geometries being established by press forming, machining or forging the geometry in an end of a respective piece of *o hollow stock with the respective pieces being press fitted to said shaft or elongate body part at the respective first and second ends. i

3. A driver as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: the first and second ends are formed directly in respective 13 ends of the shaft or elongate body part.

4. A driver as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein: there is additionally provided a connecting piece or inter- engagement means or the like with a bore therethrough, coaxial, in use, with the bore of the driver when the connecting piece is fitted thereto.

A driver as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein: the driver is fitted with a lug, wing or finger means to operatively engage or interact with a respective or complementary 10 feature of a nut or locking device, to be rotated thereby along a threaded rod. °ooo 9

6. A driver as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein: a connecting piece or inter-engagement means is fitted 99 with a lug, wing or finger to operatively engage or interact with a nut S. 15 or locking device, to be rotated thereby along a threaded rod when the connector piece is received within said first end.

7. A system of tools or driver means comprising a plurality .9 9 of said drivers according to claim 1 and connecting pieces or inter- engagement means, and drive arbours or driver means therefor whereby a tool or driver of desired length can be assembled from the elements of the system. A system of tools or driver means as claimed in claim 7 14 wherein there is provided a split connector means comprised of mirror image parts formed about a longitudinal or axial plane having a thread therein to perform a thread chaser function. DATED this Twenty-fourth day of December 1996. JOHN WALTER HERBERT By His Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY v oleo 9* S p* f