Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a self-retaining drive shaft assembly for use with a device for tightening and loosening of an industrial fastener having: a drive retainer drive shaft; a drive retainer cap; a drive retainer plunger; and a drive retainer segment assembly. The segment assembly is formed between the drive shaft and the cap. The cap is formed between the segment assembly and the plunger. The segment assembly, the cap and the plunger are formed substantially within the drive shaft. Advantageously the retainer assembly is of unitary construction; requires no loose parts or external implements to engage and secure the drive shaft to a drive head of the device; reduces likelihood of device failure during operation due to improper engagement of the drive shaft; and increases user safety during device operation.

Abstract: A rotation angle indicating retainer assembly for use with and/or integrated with a hydraulically driven device for tightening and loosening a threaded fastener is disclosed and includes: a retainer cap assembly having a hollow cylindrical shape with an upper hollow portion, a lower hollow portion, a hollow disc, a ring having polygonal connection formations and a ball bearing assembly; a plunger assembly having a cylindrical shape with a connection portion, a depression portion, a compression spring and a lower retaining ring; a rotation angle scale assembly having a hollow cylindrical shape with an upper hollow disc with an arrow indicator and a lower portion having polygonal formations; a rotation angle indicator assembly having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with an upper rotation angle dial, a lower portion having a rotation angle scale, an upper retaining ring, a wave spring and friction ring; and wherein the rotation angle scale assembly is nonrotatably attachable to a driving portion of a ho

Abstract: An ultrasonic cross-sectional image measuring device has: a living body compressing device including an annular compression band wrapped around a portion of the living body, an ultrasonic transmission plate material allowing transmission of ultrasonic waves, disposed on a portion of the compression band, and brought into close contact with the portion of the living body, and an actuator adjusting a tension of the compression band to change a compression pressure of the ultrasonic transmission plate material to the living body; a container including an opening closed by the ultrasonic transmission plate material and filled with a liquid; an ultrasonic probe housed in the container and transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through the ultrasonic transmission plate material to and from the portion of the living body; and a control device generating an ultrasonic cross-sectional image based on an ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic probe.

Abstract: The present invention seeks to protect Applicant's HYTORC® LITHIUM SERIES™ Torque Gun Tools for tightening and/or loosening of industrial threaded fasteners. Such tools include: a drive input and output assembly; a turning force multiplication assembly; a dual drive output and reaction assembly; and a yoke-style shifting assembly for any torque mode from lower and/or higher resistance and/or speed. A preferred embodiment includes an electric motor of the drive input and output assembly powered by a battery pack. Advantageously, the yoke-style shifting assembly: improves and simplifies design and operation of shifting; reduces tool size and cost; and increases tool portability, efficiency, reliability and repeatability, all without sacrificing Applicant's many innovations in hand-held, multispeed torque intensifying tools.

Abstract: The invention provides a radially expanding fastener/alignment plug assembly for use with a torque power tool, the assembly including: a sleeve member (10), insertable into a hole of an object, having radial expansion elements with inner surface portions which are tapered towards a first end; an expanding member (20), insertable in the sleeve member, having an outer surface portion which is tapered towards a first end, cooperating with the inner tapered surface portions of the radial expansion elements of the sleeve member; and a displacement member (30) formed between a second end of the sleeve member and a second end of the expanding member. Advantageously, the assembly is self-reacting allowing an actuation torque to be applied to and reacted upon to create high levels of pulling and expansion force without the need for an external reaction point.

Abstract: The present invention seeks to protect Applicant's HYTORC® Z® System which involves: tools having multi-speed/multi-torque modes with torque multiplication and vibration mechanisms without use of external reaction abutments; a force transfer means to yield in-line co-axial action and reaction for use with such tools; driving means and shifting means capable of attaching to washers under the nut for use with such tools and force transfer means; associated washers for use with such tools, force transfer means and driving means; and related accessories for use with such tools, force transfer means, driving means and washers.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an automatic reaction pawl-assembly (“ARPA”) which includes; a shaft assembly; a pawl fixed rotatably relative to the shaft assembly; and a torsion lever torsionally coupled with the paw) about the shaft assembly. Advantageously the ARPA enhances belting efficiency, increases torque accuracy and maximizes operator safety. Torsion springs of the shaft assembly overcome a housing spring and automatically disengage the pawl from a ratchet wheel. The pawl releases without advancing the fastener, touching the tool or raising the hydraulic pressure beyond an intended torque value. This allows for hands free operation of one or more tools. During SWULTORC® the operator no longer needs to determine which tool; is locked on to its fastener.

Abstract: Disclosed inventions include:•integrated pneumatic flow pressure regulator assemblies with and/or without filters and/or swivels, per FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, 1K, 1L, 1M and 1N for use with all of Applicant's pneumatic torque gun models;•activation, or trigger, lock safety assemblies, per FIGS. 2A1, 2A2, 2B1 and 2B2, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models;•automatic torque gun shifting assemblies including:—rotation speed-sensing centrifugal multi-speed automatic shifting assemblies, per FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models;—torque-sensing centrifugal multi-speed automatic shifting assemblies, per FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, and 4I, for use with all of Applicant's electric and pneumatic torque gun models;•helical cam, or wobbling, turning force multiplication assemblies, per FIGS.

Abstract: Torque tools of the present invention include: a hydraulic cylinder assembly (40); a drive assembly (600, 60); a flexible linkage connection, or force transfer, assembly formed between the hydraulic cylinder assembly (40) and the drive assembly (600, 60); all of which is formed within or adjacent to a housing assembly (70). They provide large, accurate torque for limited clearance applications. The flexible linkage connection assembly (50) includes a rocker arm assembly (51) and a chain link-pin assembly. The flexible linkage connection assembly (50) maintains the relationship between the line of action of the linear force generated on the rocker arm assembly (51) by the hydraulic piston assembly (44, 50)(ies) and rotary force generated on the ratchet drive socket (9) by the rocker arm assembly (51) via the chain link-pin assembly at close to the optimized position throughout the entire travel of a drive plate assembly (61) of the drive assembly (600, 60).

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-part tapered thread nut assembly (3402) including: a rigid inner member (3410) having an inner surface (3411, 3421) threadedly engagable with the fastener and an outer surface (3412, 3422) defined by a thread formation that forms a taper; an outer member (3420) having an inner surface (3411, 3421) defined by an inversely tapered thread formation (3425) that is threadedly engagable with the tapered thread formation (3416) of the outer surface (3412, 3422) of the inner member (3410); and wherein the two-part nut assembly (3402), when rotated by an action portion of the torque device, applies a load to the threaded fastener.

Abstract: The invention is related to a threaded fastener for fastening objects including: a stud rotatably coupled to a stud-head having a bottom surface; and the bottom surface having friction coefficient increasing treatments biased in areas outward from the stud.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in operations of tightening and/or loosening threaded fasteners of the kind having a nut and stud about an axis are disclosed and include: a threaded assembly threadedly engageable with exposed threads of the stud above the nut and either a nut, a tool socket and/or a tool housing engagement assembly. Torque tools of the kind having a pass-through socket including the apparatus are disclosed. And systems including the torque tools of the kind having a pass-through socket including the apparatus and threaded fasteners are disclosed.

Abstract: A rotation angle indicating retainer assembly, wherein a retainer cap assembly (102) having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with an upper hollow portion (202), a lower hollow portion (203), a hollow disc (209), a ring (114) having polygonal connection formations (115) and a ball bearing assembly (111); wherein a plunger/button assembly (103) having substantially cylindrical shape with a connection portion (210), a depression portion (225), a compression spring (110) and a lower retaining ring (213); wherein a rotation angle scale assembly (104) having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with an upper hollow disc (191) with an arrow indicator (192) and a lower portion 177 having polygonal formations (178); and wherein a rotation angle indicator assembly (105) having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with an upper rotation angle dial (240), a lower portion having a rotation angle scale (241), an upper retaining ring (242), a wave spring (243) and friction ring (244).

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus for coupling a shank of a threaded fastener and a torque device including: —a first coupling member having an external surface portion defined by more than two steps that forms a taper; a second coupling member having an inversely tapered internal surface portion non-rotatably engagable with the tapered external surface of the first coupling member; wherein the steps of the first coupling member and the second coupling member are shaped either as angled cylinders, frustums of an angled stepped cone or frustums of an angled curved solid; and wherein the diameters of the steps of the first coupling member and the second coupling member are less than the diameter of the shank.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus (1) for use with a threaded fastener including: —an inner sleeve member (100) having an internal surface threadedly engagable with the fastener and a tapered external surface; and an outer sleeve member (200) having an inversely tapered internal surface rotatably engagable with the tapered external surface of the inner sleeve member. Advantageously, the invention allows for an increased load bearing surface area between the inner sleeve member (100), which is clamped, and the outer sleeve members (200) without increasing the overall diameter of the apparatus (1) 6; a three dimensional load bearing surface area rather than a conventional two dimensional plane; more efficiently and evenly distributed load stress distribution over the load bearing surface area; higher torsion strength; and apparatus with lower mass, dimensions and volume.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a low clearance face tooth ratchet assembly for link drive means of hydraulic torque tools. The face tooth ratchet assembly includes: a drive plate having piston engagement means at a first end and a machined face gear with radial serrations at a second end; and a ratchet drive having a machined face gear with corresponding radial serrations at a first end and a threaded fastener engagement means at a second end. Advantageously the low clearance face tooth ratchet assembly minimizes volume and mass of the tool. Only one drive plate is necessary which is tapered from a first end to a second end. Further, side plates of the link drive means are tapered from a first end to a second end. Such geometry minimizes the width of portions of the link drive means making the second end, adjacent the threaded fastener engagement means, substantially thinner than the first end, adjacent the piston engagement means.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a three-piece self-reacting fastener, or lock nut, for connecting a joint having a threaded connector including: a first nut member engageable with the threaded connector and axially displaceable; a second nut member engageable with the first nut member and rotatable about an axis; a third nut member non-rotatably but axially displaceably connected with the first nut member, which during rotation about the axis, applies a load to the threaded connector and to tighten the lock nut; and a locking means which substantially non-rotatably connects the second nut member and the threaded connector with one another after tightening the lock nut.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an automatic reaction pawl-assembly (“ARPA”) which includes; a shaft assembly; a pawl fixed rotatably relative to the shaft assembly; and a torsion lever torsionally coupled with the paw) about the shaft assembly. Advantageously the ARPA enhances belting efficiency, increases torque accuracy and maximises operator safety. Torsion springs of the shaft assembly overcome a housing spring and automatically disengage the pawl from a ratchet wheel. The pawl releases without advancing the fastener, touching the tool or raising the hydraulic pressure beyond an intended torque value. This allows for hands free operation of one or more tools. During SWULTORC® the operator no longer needs to determine which tool; is locked on to its fastener.

Abstract: The present invention seeks to protect Applicant's HYTORC® Z® System which involves: tools having multi-speed/multi-torque modes with torque multiplication and vibration mechanisms without use of external reaction abutments; a force transfer means to yield in-line co-axial action and reaction for use with such tools; driving means and shifting means capable of attaching to washers under the nut for use with such tools and force transfer means; associated washers for use with such tools, force transfer means and driving means; and related accessories for use with such tools, force transfer means, driving means and washers.

Abstract: It is provided a blood vessel function inspecting apparatus including: a blood vessel diameter measuring portion configured to measure a diameter of a blood vessel; a blood vessel wall thickness measuring portion configured to measure a wall thickness of the blood vessel; and a blood vessel function index value calculating portion configured to calculate a function index value for diagnosing the blood vessel of its function, after releasing of the blood vessel from blood flow obstruction, by dividing an amount of dilatation of said diameter of the blood vessel continuously measured by said blood vessel diameter measuring portion, by the wall thickness measured by said blood vessel wall thickness measuring portion.