Patent ID: 7082858
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: B23D,B25B

Abstract:
1. A hydraulically operated flange spreader comprising: a hydraulic drive unit having a generally cylindrical body having a front wall and an end cap and defining a hydraulically operated piston driving a piston rod, said front wall having an axially located bushing for reciprocally supporting said piston rod, said piston rod having an actuating end opposed to said piston, said piston rod actuating end having opposing connectors extending from the periphery of said actuating end having a threaded bore for threadingly receiving a hub screw, said cylindrical body having a female cylindrical boss extending axially from the front wall of said cylindrical body; and a flange spreader for spreading flanges after removal of fasteners comprising: a wedge rod having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end having a wedge connected thereto, said wedge having a lower edge oriented for insertion between flanges; a horizontally disposed, elongated spreader plate having a lengthwise central axis and an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral edge surface and having a wide central portion tapering to two relatively narrow opposed end portions, said spreader plate tapering from said central portion to said end portions, respectively, said spreader plate defining a large centrally located aperture for receiving a cylindrical male connector body, and a plurality of spaced vertical bores located along said central axis at each end portion of said spreader plate; a threaded rod extending vertically through one of said plurality of spaced vertical bores at each of said end portions of said spreader plate, each said threaded rod being diametrically attached as by welding to a respective pin ring having an outer circumferential peripheral surface thereof such that said pin rings extend downwardly; a horizontally disposed pin of such length and diameter as to be collectively received and supported by said pin rings; a tightening nut located on each said threaded rod above said spreader plate, and a horizontally disposed pin extending through said pin rings; a cylindrical male connector body extending vertically through said centrally located aperture and extending upward for axial insertion within said female cylindrical boss, said cylindrical male body having a collar extending from its base, said collar being at least partially countersunk into said spreader plate through its lower surface; and an inverted “U”-shaped piston connector mounted on the upper end of said wedge rod and having such size as to be received in said piston rod actuating end connectors and removably attached thereto by a hub screw; said female boss being removably mountable over said male connector body and having a plurality of radially directed, circumferentially spaced, threaded through-bores and said male cylindrical body having a plurality of outward opening, radially directed, circumferentially spaced bores corresponding in location to said bores of said female cylindrical boss; and said female boss and said male connector body having a plurality of connecting pins, each having an outer threaded portion and an inwardly tapered inner portion, each pin being threadably insertable through said through-bore of said female boss and into a said tapered male body bore such that said female boss and said male connector body may be connected at one of a plurality of selected radial angles; whereby said pin is removed from said rings, said flange splitter is aligned such that said edge of said wedge is located at the connected surfaces of two flanges having all fasteners removed, said threaded rod is extended on opposite sides of the connected flanges so as to align the depending rod rings with aligned fastener bores of said connected flanges, said threaded rod is placed through the depending rings and tightened against the outer peripheral surfaces of said connected flanges by means of said tightening nuts pulling said flange spreader plate and thereby said wedge against said flange connection, and applying hydraulic pressure against said wedge thereby separating said flanges.