A METHOD AND TOOL FOR THE FREEING OF PARTS HELD FAST TOGETHER

Abstract: A method and a tool for the freeing of parts held fast, especially for the freeing of bolts and nuts rusted fast under water. According to the invention an electric arc is created between the rotating endpiece (21) of the tool and the fast held part (1), with which the fast held part (1) is heated and/or thermally cut, after which the fast held part can be freed from the fastened object.

Description: A method and tool for the freeing of parts held fast together The object of this invention is a method according to the introductory part of Patent Claim 1 and a tool according to the introductory part of Patent Claim 3 for the freeing of parts held fast together, espec¬ ially for the freeing of rusted bolts and nuts. According to prevailing current practice percussion wrenches or hydraulic tools are used for the freeing of rusted nuts. Among the drawbacks of such solutions it must be mentioned that the work is physically ard¬ uous and that at every moment there is the danger of industrial accident. Particularly awkward in the freeing of rusted nuts is the long-established addit¬ ional use of heat, when by using gas welding equipment the nut to be removed is heated. > Among the disadvantages of such heating method must be mentioned that the gas bottles and pipes must be. conveyed to the object to be freed which is often located in sites that are difficult to reach and even hazardous. Naturally this is especially undesirable and timeconsum- ing It must be further mentioned as a drawback connect¬ ed with the use of gas welding equipment that in the heat¬ ing of larger nuts in difficult places the flame may be¬ come excessive which can damage the flanged or machined sur aces. The objective of this invention here presented is to eliminate suchlike shortcomings and drawbacksσf the long-established freeing methods. This objective is • achieved wi h the method according to the invention iio. which the special features mentioned in the characterist¬ ics part of the attached Patent Claim 1 are peculiar, and by the tool according to the invention,to which the SUBSTITUTE SH5ΞT special features mentioned in the characteristics part of Patent Claim 3 are peculiar. An advantage of the invention which must be mentioned is that the physical accomplishment of freeing is accelerated, which significantly shortens the working time taken by the freeing operation. Further it must be realised that a gas flame is not needed at all, t so that the freeing- operation can be accomplished without difficulty in connection with various cast construct¬ ions and in machine repairs. In accordance with the invention heat does not rise too high so that fire-and • •■ metallic damage are avoided. It must.be held as an especially significant advantage that working in fire and explosion-hazard sites is safe and also that freeing work can be performed in underwater circumstances. Cer ain advantageous modes of application of the invention are described in the following with the aid of reference to the accompanying drawing, which depicts the tool for freeing parts held fast together according to the invent¬ ion, inpart -cross section as seen from the side. As is evident from the drawing the freeing tool according to the invention comprises a rotated, electrically icond- ucting and spring-loaded endpiece 21 4nd means for the conduction of electricity to the aforementioned end piece 21. Both endpiece 21 and the electricity-conducting : •* equipment to it are fitted to advantage to the tool body • part 20. Use of the tool according to the invention, in freeing the fast-bound part 1, especially a rust-bound nut, takes place as follows: first the electrically-conducting endpiece is pressed against the nut to be freed, after which an electrical potential difference is created JDU.---•-.-' = ' «-» " -« « —. ! ----- » " between the nut and endpiece, which induces arcing from endpiece 21 to nut 1, which arc in developing thermal energy 'heats the nut 1. which due to thermal expansion expands, which makes possible freeing of the nut. In accordance with an advantageous application mode of the method.according to the invention the endpiece 21 is essentially rotated throughout the heating stage, when in addition to heating of the nut, thermal cutting of nut 1 is possible. It is then advantageous that the end¬ piece 21 be formed at its its end as an open hollow part and manufactured from melting material, prevailingly of thermitic substance. In this connection there is reason to emphasize that, as is clear to the expert in the weld¬ ing fdeld, the heating or thermal cutting temperatu e to be reached can be decisively effected by material selection. In using the aforementioned hollow part as endpiece' 21 and by measuring the thread of the corresponding nut. to be freed the threads of the fast-bound nut 1 can be burnt away with¬ out difficulty by thermal action. Since the endpiece 21 is rotated continuously throughout the heating or thermal cutting stage it removes the melt material between the endpiece 21 and the nut 1 all the time.as the result of the rotational movement. After the thread has been burnt away the nut may be simply pulled free from the bolt or some other fastening device.of its kind. One of the advantageous modes of application of the tool 2 according to the invention is so constructed that in¬ side the cylindrical body part 20 is a shaft 22, concentri¬ cally rotating in bearings, in the end of which is a:« hollow space 23, the inside of which is arranged to be locked for rotation with shaft 22, the detachableendpiece 21 and ■ the > endpiece 21 spring-loading device 24, advantageously with a spiral spring, which at one end supports the • end of the aforementioned hollow space 23 and at the other end the endpiece 21. For the rotation of shaft 22 and the endpiece to be rotated with it, any driving device that is considered suitable may be used (not illustrated in the diagram) which can be mounted for example with a flange connection to the other end of shaft 22. Suitable power units for the application are, for example, various electical, hydraulic, pneumatic or' mechanical rotating devices. As has already been established, endpiece 21 is of elec¬ trically conducting material, advantageously of thermitic material self-combustible on attainment of a known temp¬ erature. In order that vibrations can be minimised and that the compressive force and the arc between nut 1 and the endpiece will remain as stable as possible, the endpiece 21 is spring-loaded, so that the spring 24 continually presses the endpiece upwards from the hollow space 23. It is not essential from the invention standpoint how the endpiece 21 is held for its movement in the axial di¬ rection and for its rotation with shaft 22.in the hollow space 23. Such constructions are fully within the capabili¬ ties of any professional person and cause no difficulty. There is however cause to observe that from the point of view of trouble-free use of tools it is advantageous that suitable quick-locking elements be used between the hollow space 23 and the endpiece 21. As suitable elements for this purpose flexible clip elements could be used, which being fastened to the enclosing walls of hollow space 2'3 press against the outer circumference of the stem part of end¬ piece 21 thrust into hollow space 23, advantageously into a groove formed therein. As a merit of the quick-locking .;"-"-? C' "" ^\7 device the endpiece 21 of tool 2 can be rapidly exchanged for another. For the thermal cutting of the threaded portion of nut 1 or corresponding ' -part the endpiece 21 is shaped asa hό.iblow part, most advantageously as a cup shape, when the spiral spring 24 thusts into the outer surface at the base of the oupped endpiece 21. The endpiece 21 can also be made of pipe material, when it is necessary to fit for the spiral spring 24 a metal plate, this being the electrϊ ically conducting material between spiral spring 24 and endpiece 21. The-: : diameter for the periphery of the hollow endpiece which is pressed against the nut to be removed (1) is selected to correspond with the thread diameter of the nut (1). to be freed, for thermally cutting away the threaded portion. Since the size of the nut 1 to be re¬ moved commonly varies within wide limits it is, from the point of view of work flow, advantageous that the tool aςcording to the invention can' be connected to endpieces 21 of various diametral dimensions. For the attainmelnt of this objective the stem part of endpiece 21 is of constant dimension and form for fitting into the hollow space 23 of all tool 2 body parts 20 and the end part- projecting from the holjLow space 23 for ' its part varies in progressive sizes within wide limits, whereupon the endpieces 21 make up a so-named freeing piece set, from which is found a suitable freeing endpiece 21 for,each nut size. According to one of the advantageous modes of application of the invention both the hollow space 23 and the endpiece 21 stem part are polygonal in cross sect¬ ion and the end part of endpiece 21 protruding from the hollow space 23 is for its part cylindrical. , -_ . •"«- « -ι-Λ (S r r' In addition to freeing of nuts 1 the tool according to the invention can be used for amongst other things,as an example,for the heating oflarge metal platas in the shipbuilding industry. For this purpose hollo .pieces are used as end piece 21, which enlargenfrom hollow space 23 outwards in a bowl-like form. In the exemplary circumstances according to the drawing the equipment to lead electricity to the endpiece 21 includes connector .30, to which the current coming from a trans- jbrnϊer is run by means of cables. The connector 30 is connected to the electrically conducting supply ring 31, which is concentrically fitted around the shaft 22 and from which the slide ring ' 32, brush 33 and brush flange ' 34, which being in contact with shaft 22, lead έlβctri- cal currentto shaft 22, the Rollow space 23 in the end of whichis .arranged as has been previously explained, to rotate endpiece 21 together with the shaft. According to one advantageous mode of application of the invention, the hollow space 23 is fitted with an electr¬ ically conducting fluid medium, advantageously mercury, electrical current being conducted by this means from the shaft 22 to the endpiece 21. To ensure the retention of mercury in the hollow space 23 and for example, for mak¬ ing possible the use of the tool under water,the adaptor between the endpiece 21 and the hollow space 23 is tight and possibly additionally furnished with a seal. In addition an insulation sheet is installed in hollow space 23 between the base of the hollow space 23 and the spiral spring 24 to control the electrical current supply and prevent return of the spiral spring. • For prevention of the entry of foreign bodies and also for making possible the use of tool 2 under water, the space between body part 20 and shaft 22 is furnished with the lipped seal 4. Especially for the control of work in fire hazard areas the bellows pipe 5 is fitted to the the end of the body part 20 on the endpiece 21 side, which encloses the endpiece 21 and the nut to be freed 1, when the endpiece 21 is used to advantage with fluid filling the inside of- bellows pipe 5. An advantageous mode of application according to the invent¬ ion is -the rotatable socket 6 detachably fitted to the rotating shaft 22. with the aid of which the nut 1 loosened by heating with the endpiece 1 is freed. Then with the aid of endpiece 21 the nut 1 is first loosen- -, ed and on the i.temperature having risen sufficiently the electrical supply current is cut off and tool 2 is thrust progressively deeper towards nut 1, -or.socket 6 is moved with shaft 22 towards nut, when socket 6 is moved onto nut 1 ' and by rotation of the socket 6 nut 1 can be released. There is also cause to emphasise in this connect¬ ion a feature promoting work flow, that the sockets 6 are of different sizes in order that there should be a suitably sized socket for every nut to be freed,. The invention has heretofore only been described with the aid of some of its ' advantageous modes of application.' It was naturally not in any way desired here to limit,the in - VJntion as'the invention' can be varied very considerably in its detailed features within the enclosed patent claims in the framework of the specified inventive concept. Separately there is cause to further emphasize the special features connected with this invention in that by changing the direction of rotation of shaft 22 the tool can be used as a nut or bolt tightening unit, and that by changing the endpiece material the tool can be used as a weld joining device, when conically narrowing elements are used as an endpiece which is welded to the basic material or plate through the conically narrow±ng hole in the part to be welded fast.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A method for the freeing of fast-held parts (1), such as bolts, nuts, or similar objects, with the aid of a tool (2) c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t, in the method the electrically conducting endpiece ( 21 ) of the tool ( 2 " ) is pressed against the part that is held fast together, that an electrical potential difference is created between the fast-held part ( 1 * ) and the endpiece ( 21 " ) , which induces an electric arc, and that with the thermal energy generated by the arc the fast-held part ( 1 ) is heated and/or thermally cut, after which the fast-held part ( 1 ' ) • is freed from its fastening point. 2. A method according to Patent Claim11 c h a r a c - e r i s e d i n t h a t . ., that at least during the heating and/or thermal cutting stage, the endpiece ( 21 ) is ro¬ tated. 3. A tool for the freeing of parts held fast together, such as nut, bolts and similar objects, c h a r a c t e r- i s e d i n t h a t.-, that the tool ( 2 ) comprises its body part ( 20 ) as fitted with an electricity con¬ ducting , detachable and advantageously sprung endpiece ( 21 ) and equipped for the conduction of electrical current to the endpiece for the formation of an electri¬ cal arc. 4. A tool according to Patent Claim 3 c h a r a c t e r- i s e d i n t h a t, that inside the body part ( 20 ) is a rotatable shaft ( 22 ) in bearings, in the end of which is a hollow space ( 23 ' ) , the inside of which is suited to the endpiece ( 21 ) and the spring equipment ( 24 ' ) ,. to load the endpiece,and rotating with the shaft. 5. A tool according to Patent Claims 3 or 4 c h a r r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t, that the endpiece ( 21 ' ) is at its head an open, hollow part. 6, A tool according to Patent Claim 5, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d i n t h a t , that the endpiece ( 21 ) is cup-like. 7. A tool according to Patent Claim 5, c h a r a c t e r¬ i s e d i n t h a t , that the endpiece ( 21 ) enlarges bowlπlike outwards from the hollow space ( 23 ) . • 8. A tool according to Patent Claim 6 or 7, c h a r - c t e r i s e d i n t h a t , that the .detachable endpieces ( 21 ) make up a set of freeing and/or tight¬ ening endpieces for nut or bolt, in which set is a stem part of constant dimensions, the form of which corres¬ ponds to the form of the hollow space ( 23 ) and assem¬ bled to the progressively changing end part., 9. A tool according to any one of .vthe foregoing Patent Claims 3 . . . 8 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t that the equipment for conduction of the electric current to' the endpiece C21' ) is arranged to lead the electrical current through shaft ( 22 ' ) to the hollow space ( 23 ). 10. A tool according to Patent Claim 9, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i s e d i n t h a t , that the hollow space ( 23 ' ) is filled with an electrically conducting medium, • advantageously with mercury. 11. A tool according to any one of the foregoing Patent Claims ' 3 '... .10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t , that a bellows pipe ( 5 ) is fastened to the end of the body part (20 ' ) on the endpiece (21 ) side. 12. A tool according to any one of the Patent Claims 3 ' ... 11, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n t h a t , that a detachable socket ( 6 ) is fitted to rotate with shaft . ( 22 ) for the freeing of the heated nut or bolt ( 1 ) with the aid of the endpiece ( 21 ' ) . • *_ ' *-'.„.._ < " - • . • -"7 •

Inventors: MAEKELAEINEN HANNU KALERVO, NIINIVAARA JUHANI ENSI KYOESTI, MAEKELAEINEN, HANNU, KALERVO, NIINIVAARA, JUHANI, ENSI, KYOESTI
Applicants: GSS GENERAL SEA SAFETY LTD OY, MAEKELAEINEN HANNU KALERVO, NIINIVAARA JUHANI ENSI KYOESTI, MAEKELAEINEN, HANNU, KALERVO, NIINIVAARA, JUHANI, ENSI, KYOESTI, OY GSS GENERAL SEA SAFETY LTD
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B25B27
IPC codes: B25B21, B25B27, H05B7