The high-torque tools from Heico provide bolted joint tightening without reaction arms and reliable protection against self-loosening
The Heico-lock reaction washers, from Heico, make sure bolt connections are secure whilst reducing the risk of accidents when using electrical, pneumatical or hydraulic high-torque tools
Tightening large bolted joints is usually a challenging and time-consuming process; despite this, large bolted connections are not rare, especially in wind turbines, the oil and gas industry, hydropower plants, and on pumps and pipes.
Even for bolted joints with a nominal size of M24 (1") or bigger, the tightening torque needed often exceeds what can be easily applied manually. For these situations, electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic torque tools are usually necessary to help with efficient assembly and disassembly.
High-torque tools are being used more often for smaller nominal sizes, primarily for multi-series bolt connections. If bolts of the same type are regularly used in large quantities, it is worth investing in a suitable torque tool, even with a nominal size of M16.
High-torque tools usually require a supporting arm that absorbs the reaction torque that occurs when the bolt is tightened and transfers it to a suitable adjacent surface, offering a tenously secure hold during the tightening process.
The unwieldy reaction arm and additional mounts on the tool can cause serious accidents, often occurring when using these powerful machines.
Sven Heggemann, certified fastener engineer (DSV) and technical sales manager at Heico Group, said: “The safety aspect was clearly the focus when developing the Heico-lock reaction washers.”
"We wanted to create a highly efficient bolt locking device that can be used with virtually all common torque tools from leading manufacturers and eliminates the need for reaction arms and supports on the tool or component."
Like all bolt locking devices in the Heico-lock range, the new reaction washers are a two-washer system based on the wedge-locking principle. This proven principle ensures reliable clamp-load retention, preventing bolted joint self-loosening caused by vibration and dynamic loads.
Special dual sockets from Heico allow the use of reaction washers with torque tools from almost all well-known manufacturers, so users can continue to utilise their existing torque tools.
Reaction arms and supporting devices are no longer needed as the torque wrench's reaction torque is simultaneously applied and supported via the special dual socket on the gear-shaped outer contour of the Heico-lock reaction washers.
As a result, the tightening torque is applied in the axial direction, eliminating the adverse bending moment acting on the bolt during tightening, enhancing tightening accuracy and extending the service life of the high-torque tool.
To enable the use of Heico-lock reaction washers in through-bolt connections without backup wrenches or risky manual counter-holding by an operator, the Heico Group has launched the Heico-one safety washer, a new friction-based, self-locking backup-washer.
This washer features wave-shaped locking ribs on both sides that embed themselves into the mating material or nut/bolt head, directly and effectively preventing the passive side from rotating when the bolt/nut is tightened, making the Heico-one safety washer ideal for safely and accurately tightening through-hole connections.
