Even the largest and most advanced piece of machinery is made up of a large number of smaller, more intricate parts. When it comes to holding every one of these pieces together, nuts and bolts are perfect for the job – and one can only imagine the catastrophic consequences that would occur should even one of these come loose. Used to fasten and unfasten nuts and bolts, this humble piece of equipment is often the only thing standing between a successful production line and the loss of time, money and even life.
There are even more factors to consider when it comes to fastening one object to another. Any vibration when fastening can cause the bolt to come loose, while fastening it too tightly can cause stress and eventually breakage. A wrench that can offer complete and precise control during the fastening process is therefore required.
Modern-day operations have benefitted from years of trial and error where the hydraulic wrench is concerned. As little as 40 years ago, the only torque wrenches available operated manually. As projects grew in scale and scope, the need for a more efficient mechanism arose, which led to the development of a hydraulic wrench that could apply thousands of pounds in pressure in remove or add items to machinery – some of which had were jammed or stuck due to years of inactivity, rust, and corrosion. The hydraulic wrench of 2014 is governed by several characteristics, including the cylinder’s fluid pressure and position, as well as the wrench’s arm length. It also offers tightening accuracy of + 1/2 to – 3%, which is better than that provided by pneumatic/electric wrenches.
The wrench operates when it receives pressurised fluid from a pump that is powered either electronically or pneumatically. This pressurised fluid then mechanically operates the drive pawl through an attached lever arm. This causes a considerable amount of pressure to build up, which in turn is used in the wrenching process. High-end models such as the Enerpac W15000 of the LP series have been known to deliver over 15000 Ft. Lbs at a pressure of 10000 psi, offering users the option of controlling the exact amount of torque delivered (useful in bolting functions). It also offers a higher flow rate that increases the rotating speed, which in turn saves you time and money!
