GB2490376A

GB2490376A - Apparatus and Method for the Remote Removal of Fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2490376A
Application number: GB201119568A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Jones; Scott Jones
Original assignee: BOLTING PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: BOLTING PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-28
Filing date: 2011-11-14
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-14
Also published as: GB201119568D0; GB2490376B; GB201107263D0

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting at least one fluid powered torque wrench on a structure comprises at least one clamp member for attachment to a structure, the clamp member including at least one aperture for alignment with a fastener of the structure and for receiving a socket drivable by a respective one fluid powered torque wrench, and a lock member adapted to secure the fluid powered torque wrench to the clamp member.

Description

Apparatus and Method for the Remote Removal of Fasteners

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the removal of fasteners and in particular to the remote removal of fasteners.

Background of the Invention

Oil wells often include structures, such as pipe work, joined by fasteners in the form of screws or bolts. From time to time these fasteners need to be either tightened or slackened. The tools used to perform these operations are typically hydraulically powered wrenches that are positioned and at least partially held in position by an operator. Where the part of the structure in which the fasteners are situated is sub-sea, the tool would be operated by a diver.

Whilst steps are taken to reduce pressures in pipelines before fasteners are removed, there is a risk that pressurised fluid will be present in a pipellne where a fastener is to be released or removed, and that the slackening off of such a fastener will result in a release of pressure. Such a release of pressure may present a danger to the diver operating the wrench.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a means of tightening or slackening fasteners remotely.

Structures are often joined together by multiple fasteners. It would also be desirable to provide a means of tightening or slackening multiple fasteners.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for mounting at least one fluid powered torque wrench on a structure, the apparatus comprising at least one clamp member for attachment to a structure, the clamp member including at least one aperture for allgnment with a fastener of the structure and for receiving a socket drivable by a respective one fluid powered torque wrench, and a lock member adapted to secure the fluid powered torque wrench to the clamp member.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a biasing means adapted to exert a biasing force on the socket in the direction of the fastener with which it is engaged. The biasing means may be a spring, such as a compression spring, which in use is advantageously situated about the shaft of the socket and between the rear face of the socket head and a surface of the fluid powered torque wrench.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a plurality of clamping members. Adjacent clamping members may be attachable to one another. Bach clamping member may include a male connector element at one end and a female connector element at the other end. When adjacent clamping members are attached together, a male connector of one clamping member engages with a female connector element of an adjacent clamping member.

Each clamping member may include apertures adapted to align with one another when adjacent clamping members are coupled together, and a pin may be inserted into the aligned apertures to secure adjacent clamping members together.

The at least one aperture for alignment with a fastener of the structure may include a portion of greater dimension than the aperture. Such portion may be of substantially U-shape. Such portion may include a chamfered edge.

The at least one clamping member may include lifting means, which may include at least one handle and/or at least one lifting eye for example.

The at least one clamping member may include a reaction member adapted to engage with the fluid powered torque wrench.

The lock member advantageously is pivotally mounted on the clamping member. The lock member may include a detent configured to engage a boss attached to the clamping member. The lock member may include an opening configured to receive the shaft of a socket drivable by the fluid powered torque wrench.

The apparatus further includes fluid supply means for driving the at least one fluid powered torque wrench. Advantageously, there is provided a fluid out line and a fluid return line. Multiple fluid powered torque wrenches may be attached to the fluid out line and the fluid return line.

The fluid powered torque wrench may be powered by a pressurised liquid, for example pressurised hydraulic oil, or a pressurised gas, for example pressurised air.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a clamping means of the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of slackening and/or tightening fasteners, such as screws or bolts, comprising the steps of: Mounting the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention on a structure; and Delivering pressurised fluid to the or each fluid powered torque wrench.

Preferably, pressurised fluid is delivered to multiple fluid powered torque wrenches simultaneously.

The apparatus of the invention provides for the tightening and slackening off of fasteners to be carried out with personnel situated at an appropriate and safe distance from the structure. Further, there is no requirement for an operator to hold the fluid powered torque wrench in position. Stili further, the time taken to tighten and slacken off fasteners may be reduced, as the apparatus may tighten or slacken off ali the fasteners of a part of a structure, such as a fast lock of an oil wei Christmas tree, simultaneously.

Historically, when structures are sub-sea divers have been required to operate individual fluid powered torque wrenches. The apparatus of the invention may allow the requirement for diver time to be reduced. However, the apparatus may be manufactured in parts of a size suitable to allow a diver to assemble the apparatus manually sub-sea.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of an apparatus for the remote manipulation of fasteners, and which are by way of example: Figure I is a schematic representation of the apparatus attached to part of an oil well Christmas tree; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a hydraulic circuit having a plurality of hydraulic torque wrenches plumbed into the hydraulic circuit; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of hydraulic couplers used in the apparatus iliustrated in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a multi-segment clamp forming part of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the multi-segment clamp illustrated in Figure 4 partially attached to a part of an oil weli Christmas tree; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the multi-segment clamp secured to the oil weli Christmas tree; Figure 7 is an exploded view of part of the apparatus of the invention; and Figure 8 is a detail view showing one hydrauilc torque wrench of the apparatus secured to the multi-segment clamp.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to Fignre 1, there is shown a part of an oil well Christmas tree I including a fast lock and having attached thereto the apparatus 2 of the invention in fully assembled form. The apparatus 2 comprises a multi-segment clamp 3 for attachment to the Christmas tree 1, a hydraullc fluid circuit 4 delivering hydraulic fluid to and from hydraulic torque wrenches 10 mounted on the clamp 3. The apparatus I of Figure 1 supports sixteen hydraulic torque wrenches.

Assembly of the apparatus I will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 9. The apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 to 9 mounts twelve hydraulic torque wrenches 10 rather than sixteen as in the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 2 illustrates twelve hydraulic torque wrenches 10 hydraulically connected to a common hydraulic fluid out line 20 and common hydraulic fluid return line 20'. The hydraulic fluid out line 20 and return line 20' are formed by elements of hydraulic hose 19, 19' connected to T-pieces 18, 18', the lines 20, 20' terminating at the end most T-piece which has one port thereof capped off Each torque wrench is attached to the out line and return line by respective T-pieces 18, 18' and hoses 12, 12'.

Figure 3 illustrates male female quick couplers used to join sections of hydraulic hose together.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, the multi-segment clamp 3, in the illustrated example, is formed of four segments of substantially equal size. However, the clamp 3 may be formed of any number of segments.

Each clamp segment 3' is configured to cooperate with and attach to adjacent clamp segments.

One end of the clalm is provided with a male connector element 4, and the other end is provided a female connector element formed by upper and lower plates 5 wbich are so shaped and dimensioned so as to receive the male connector element 4. The male connector element 4 is includes a hole 4'. The plates 5 of the female connector element each include a corresponding hole. When the male connector element 4 is positioned in the female connector element the holes align and a pin 9 is passed through the aligned holes to secure the clamp segments together.

The clamp segments 3' each include two handles 6. These handles ailow the clamp segments to be lifted and moved by an operator. When the apparatus is used sub-sea the operator would be a diver.

Each clamp segment 3' includes a plurality of holes 7 which align axially with the collars I' and associated screws 1". Looking at the inside wail of the clamp segment 3', it can be seen that the inner end 7' of the hole 7 is substantiaily U-shaped and of greater dimension than the hole 7 itselfi The inner end 7' includes a chamfered face having a semi-circular lower part and wails that extend vertically to a top plate 3a of the clamp segment 3'. The provision of tbis inner end 7' ailows the clamp segment 3' to be more easily attached to a structure because the operator may locate the clamp segment on the collars 1' without the holes 7 and coilars 1' being in perfect axial alignment.

Each clamp segment 3' mounts a bracket 8 pivotaily and in close proximity to one of the holes 7.

Each hole 7 is provided with a corresponding bracket 8. The bracket 8 includes a detent 8" which in use attaches on to a boss 17, and an opening 8a through which in use the shaft of a socket passes as described in greater detail with reference to subsequent figures.

In the iilustrated example, each clamp segment includes a hole 7a between adjacent holes 7. This hole 7a is for alignment with a grease nipple situated between adjacent coilars 1'. Typicaily, there would be only a single grease nipple. However, by providing each clamp segment 3' with a hole 7a any of the clamp segments may be used to attach to the part of the Christmas tree I including the grease nipple.

A hole 7b in the top surface of the clamp segment 3' allows lifting eyes 22 to be attached to the clamping segments to facilitate lifting thereof (see Figure 1).

Referring now to Figure 7, a hydraulic torque wrench 10 includes a drive member Ii which is adapted to receive the shaft 14 of a socket 13. The socket 13 includes a socket head 15. With the clamp 3 assembled, the socket 13 is inserted into one of the holes 7 and a spring 16 placed on to the shaft 14 of the socket such that the end of the spring 16 adjacent the socket head 15 engages the rear edge 15' of the socket head 15. The hydraulic torque wrench 10 is the mounted on the shaft 14 of the socket, the shaft 14 passing through the drive member 11 of the wrench 10. As will be appreciated from Figure 8 in particular, once the hydraulic torque wreuch is iu place, the lever 8 is lowered uutil the detent 8" lies over the boss 17. With the hydraulic torque wrench tO secured in place by lever 8, the socket 13 is held in place on the head of the screw 1" by means of the spring 16 which must be compressed to aliow the lever 8 to be lowered into the position where the detent 8" lies over the boss 17. The boss 17 includes a pin head 17' and a washer 17". The detent 8" engages the boss 17 behind the washer 17".

Hydraulic torque wrenches are powerful pieces of equipment. In view of this a hydraulic torque wrench in most cases must be able to react against an immovable object. In the present case, the hydraulic torque wrench 10 may react against a lower edge member 3b of the clamp segment 3'.

Figure 9 illustrates the embodiment of the apparatus mounting twelve hydraulic torque wrenches in assembled form. As will be appreciated from this Figure, the hydraulic torque wrenches tO are secured in position on the clamp 3 and the clamp is secured in position on the Christmas tree 1.

The apparatus of the invention may be used to either tighten or slacken screws or bolts. All that is required is for the hydraulic torque wrench to be reversed. This may be achieved by simply turning the hydraulic torque wrench around, or by reversing the direction of fluid flow within the wrench.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for mounting at least one fluid powered torque wrench on a structure, the apparatus comprising at least one clamp member for attachment to a structure, the clamp member including at least one aperture for alignment with a fastener of the structure and for receiving a socket drivable by a respective one fluid powered torque wrench, and a lock member adapted to secure the fluid powered torque wrench to the clamp member.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, including a biasing means adapted to exert a biasing force on the socket in the direction of the fastener with wbich it is engaged.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the biasing means is a spring.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the spring, in use, is situated about the shaft of the socket and between the rear face of the socket head and a surface of the fluid powered torque wrench.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a plurality of clamping members.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein adjacent clamping members are attachable to one another.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein each clamping member includes a male connector element at one end and a female connector element at the other end.
8. Apparatus according to any of Claims 5 to 7, wherein each clamping member includes apertures adapted to aiign with one another when adjacent clamping members are coupled together, and a pin for insertion into the aligned apertures to secure adjacent clamping members together.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the at least one aperture for alignment with a fastener of the structure includes a portion of greater dimension than the aperture.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the said portion of greater diameter is substantiaily U-shaped.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the said portion includes a chamfered edge.
12. Apparatus according to any of Claims 5 to Ii, wherein the at least one clamping member includes lifting means.
13. Apparatus according to any of Claims 5 to 12, wherein the at least one clamping member includes a reaction member adapted to engage with the fluid powered torque wrench.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock member is pivotally mounted on the clamping member.
15. Apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein the lock member includes a detent configured to engage a boss attached to the clamping member.
16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the lock member includes an opening configured to receive the shaft of a socket drivable by the fluid powered torque wrench.
17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further including fluid supply means for driving the at least one fluid powered torque wrench.
18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, further comprising a fluid out line and a fluid return line.
19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means to attach a multiplicity of fluid powered torque wrenches to the fluid out line and the fluid return line.
20. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one fluid powered torque wrench is powered by a pressurised liquid or a pressurised gas.
21. A clamping means adapted for use in the apparatus according to any preceding claim.
22. A method of slackening and/or tightening fasteners, such as screws or bolts, comprising the steps of: mounting the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention on a structure; and delivering pressurised fluid to the or each fluid powered torque wrench.
23. A method according to Claim 22, wherein the pressurised fluid is delivered to multiple fluid powered torque wrenches simultaneously.
24. Apparatus substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings.