Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an anti-rotation device for a fastener. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device that limits the rotation of a fastener when tightening or loosening the corresponding fastener. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A gas turbine engine has several modules. The first module, in terms of axial flow path, is the compressor section. Ambient air enters the engine through the compressor section. The compressor section pressurizes the air. 
         [0003]    The second module is the combustion section. The combustion section introduces fuel to the air previously compressed by the compressor section. The combustion section then ignites the mixture. 
         [0004]    The third module is the turbine section. The turbine section extracts energy from the exhaust produce by the compressor section. The turbine section is coupled to the compressor section so that the exhaust drives the compressor. 
         [0005]    Finally, the air exits the engine as thrust. 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of part of a gas turbine engine  210 . The drawing shows a first module, such as a compressor section  211 , adjacent a second module, such as a combustion section  213 . The cases of these sections  211 ,  213  have corresponding flanges  215 ,  217  which abut and define a joint  219 . 
         [0007]    Fasteners, such as 12-point bolts  221  and nuts  223 , extend through aligned openings in the flanges  215 ,  217  to seal the joint  219 .  FIG. 1  displays the conventional method of tightening the bolts  221  and nuts  223 . The typical method requires the operator first to manipulate both a manual wrench W and a pneumatic impact wrench I. The manual wrench W engages the nut  223  and the pneumatic wrench I engages the bolt  221 . After actuating the impact wrench I, the operator prevents rotation of the nut  223  by applying torque to the wrench W. As the bolt  221  and nut  223  tighten, the operator must apply an increasing amount of torque to the wrench W. The operator replaces the impact wrench I with another manual wrench W to provide the final torque to the fasteners. Now, the operator must apply torque to both manual wrenches W. 
         [0008]    Loosening the bolts  221  and nuts  223  is similar. The operator engages the nut  223  with the wrench W and the bolt  221  with the second manual wrench W. The operator applies torque to both manual wrenches to loosen the fasteners slightly. Then operator then replaces the second manual wrench W with the impact wrench I. The operator then actuates the impact wrench I to remove the loosened bolt  221 . The operator applies the greatest amount of torque to the wrench W during initial loosening of the fasteners. As the bolt  221  and the nut  223  loosen further, the operator can apply a decreasing amount of torque to the wrench W. 
         [0009]    The operator must apply a typical torque of between approximately 30 and approximately 1000 in-lbs. Since the joint  19  may have up to 160 pairs of bolts  221  and nuts  223 , the possibility of operator fatigue does exist. Since the engine  210  may have at least four joints  219 , the possibility of fatigue becomes even more apparent. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    These and other features of this application will be better understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description: 
         [0011]    According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a tool for assembling parts to be connected to each other includes a body for rotating one of a bolt or a fastener, the bolt having a first end and a second end. A holder attaches to the body for holding an other of bolt or the fastener against rotation and in alignment with the second end of the bolt. The other of the bolt or the fastener does not rotate while the second end of the bolt receives the fastener. 
         [0012]    According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a method for attaching a plurality of work pieces with a bolt, includes the steps of providing a body for rotating one of a bolt having a first end and a second end or a fastener, providing a holder attaching to the body for holding an other of the bolt or the fastener against rotation and in alignment with a second end of the bolt, gripping one of the first end of the bolt or the fastener with the holder against rotation, and driving one of the first ends of the bolt or the fastener, the second end of the bolt being received by the fastener. 
         [0013]    According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a method for attaching a plurality of work pieces with a bolt, includes the steps of: providing a body for manipulating a bolt having a first end and a second end, providing a holder attaching to the body for holding a fastener against manipulation and in alignment with a second end of the bolt, gripping the fastener with the holder against manipulation, and manipulating the first end of the bolt, the second end of the bolt being received by the fastener. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is prior art view of a methodology for attaching bolts to an aircraft component. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a tool showing the first embodiment described herein. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a view of a clamp used in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the tool of  FIG. 1  being used. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a variant of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the tool of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a still further variant of the tool of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows a variant of a clamp for use with the tool of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  shows a second embodiment of a tool employing the concepts disclosed herein sectional. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows a plurality of fastener holders that may be exemplarily used herein. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows a second embodiment of the fastener holder that may e used with the embodiments disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , a schematic embodiment of a tool  10 , such as a driver or a wrench, is shown herein. The tool  10  includes a motor portion  15  connected to a neck  20  that connects in turn to a transverse gearing portion  25  that connects to a vertically disposed chuck  30  that holds a driver  35 . 
         [0027]    An attachment, such as a clamp  37 , has a left half  40  and a right half  45 . A semi-circular recess  50  is disposed in the left half  40 , and a semi-circular recess  55  is disposed in the right half  45 . The semi-circular portion  50  is in register with the semi-circular portion  55  to encircle the neck  20  which may have a tapered shape. A tensioning bolt  60  keeps the right half  45  and the left half  40  together to engage the neck  20  securely. Each half  40 ,  45  has a pivot hole  65  that holds a pivot pin  70 . 
         [0028]    A flange  75 , which acts as a connector, has a hole  77  therein for receiving the pivot pin  70  to allow the flange  75  to rotate relative to the clamp  37 . The flange  75  also attaches/connects to a fastener holder  85 . One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that other ways to hold the flange  75  for rotation relative to the clamp  37  (and at different positions therein) are within the teachings herein. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , flanges  215  and  217  of the engine  210  are to be connected by a threaded bolt  90 , which has a bolt head  95 , and a fastener  100 , such as a nut that screws onto the bolt  90 . The tool  10  is tilted downwardly and the fastener holder  80  is placed over the fastener  100  to prevent the fastener  10  from rotating. The tool  10  is then rotated clockwise about the pivot pin  70  to have the drive  35  engage bolt, in this case through its head  95 . Once the bolt head  95  is engaged with the driver  35 , the tool  10  may be activated to rotate/manipulate the entire bolt  90  into the fastener  100  so that the bolt and nut are securely fastened without rotation of the fastener  100 . The tool  10  may be a torque wrench and the bolt will then be securely fastened to the fastener without significant variation to the torque required. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize from the teachings herein that other types of bolts or pins, including bolts without heads, may be utilized to connect the flanges  215 ,  217 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , one can see now that the flange  80  has an extension  105  that ends in a thumb portion  110 . A spring  115  is disposed between the motor portion  15  and the extension  105  to urge the fastener holder  80  into contact with the fastener  100  if the extension  105  and thumb portion  110  are not manipulated by the user. The spring  115 , which may also be a linear spring (not shown), is securely attached to the lever  105  and the tool  20  to minimize foreign object damage to any parts. Additionally, the spring may be a torsional spring (not shown) attached to the pin  70 . The flange  80  can now be manipulated by the thumb of a user holding the tool  10  and manipulating the thumb portion  110  so that one&#39;s other hand may be used to align the bolt  90  and the fastener  100 . One hand operation can greatly speed the installation of nuts and bolts and minimize user fatigue. There is no longer any need to use a wrench W, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9  it is seen that the driver shown herein is adjustable for differing situations a user may encounter. The flange  80  and its extension  105  may adjusted to pivot around openings  120  that are placed in each clamp half  40 ,  45  radially outboard from an axis  147  along which the tool  10  is disposed. This gives the tool the ability to secure flanges  215  and  217  to each other as shown in  FIG. 5  that may be thicker and require longer bolts than as shown in  FIG. 1 . A quick release pin  125 , which may screw into openings  120  or  65 , may extend through the flange  75  and allow rotation thereabout at differing location radial locations along the clamp  37 . The quick release pin  125  may be attached to the clamp by a lanyard  127  by conventional means to minimize foreign object damage to a part  210  or loss of the quick release pin  125 . One of ordinary skill will recognize that the openings  120  may be designed for the thickness of the flanges  215 ,  217  and the lengths of the bolts  90 . 
         [0032]    Flange  80  may also have additional openings  137  to allow for more than one pivot point of the flange  80  and the extension  105  to adjust for lower degrees or articulation as may be required. To use such an opening  137 , the quick release pin  125  is removed from the opening  77 , as is shown, or any of the holes  120 , from opening  77  and reinserted in opening  137  and in any of openings  77  or openings  120  as may be required. Furthermore, as indicated by arrow A, the clamp screws  135  and  60  may be loosened to move forward or backwardly, as each application may require, to enable fastener holder  80  to engage fastener  100 . One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand given the teachings herein, that the clamp  37  may have different openings in different places and the flange  75  and extension  105  may have holes in variable positions depending on necessities of the flanges  215 ,  217  and holders  80  and bolts  90  to be used. One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that other ways to hold the flange  75  for rotation relative to the clamp  37  along a length of the flange  75  are within the teachings herein. 
         [0033]    One can see in  FIG. 2  that a 12 point socket wrench acts as the fastener holder  80 . However, referring now to  FIG. 11 , other shapes of fastener holders  80  may be used. For instance an Allen head  150 , a box end  155 , an open end  160 , a flare nut end  165 , a non-ratchet head  170 , or a reversible ratchet  175 , or any other fastener holder may be used. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other shapes may be chosen for the use at hand. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a second embodiment is shown here. In this embodiment the transverse gearing portion  25  is removed so that the driver  35  acts to rotate in plane with the driver  110  along axis  147 . The embodiment in this instance is similar in all aspects to the tool  10  of the previous embodiment except that the flange  80  now has a portion  145  extending at a right angle to the axis  147  and to the flange  75 . The portion  145  now attaches to the fastener holder  80  that aligns with the driver  35 , the bolt  90  and the fastener  100  for assembly along that axis. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that other orientations between the driver  35  and the tool  10  are possible by providing the proper bend to the flange  75 . In this embodiment, the clamp  37  may slide along the neck  20  to account for the proper thicknesses of any vertically disposed flanges (not shown). 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 12 , the holder  80  is shown having a shaped, non-circular opening  180  including a keyhole  185 , an insert  190  having a twelve-point grip  192  for holding a fastener  100  (see  FIG. 5 ) and a key  195  for mating with keyhole  185  such that the insert  190  does not rotate relative to the holder  80 . A shelf or other mechanism  197  prevents the insert  190  from passing through the insert  80 . One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that other ways to hold the insert  190  within the holder  80  are within the teachings herein. 
         [0036]    One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that the tool  10  shown herein may also rotate the nut  223  while preventing the bolt  221  from rotation. 
         [0037]    Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Technology Category: 4